He added: ‘I'll be at Prescot, Neil Whalley and Tony Rodwell will be on the bench at Congleton.’

The trip to North West Counties outfit Congleton was not published along side the initial list of pre-season fixtures.

In Tuesday’s defeat to Radcliffe Borough, it was apparent to many that the fitness of the squad was below par.

The Congleton match will be held at the side's Booth Sreet ground, while a guide to Prescot Cables' Valerie Park can be found on Port Pie.

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The 19-year old, St. Helen’s-born midfielder made 5 league starts for the Sandgrounders last season and featured in 16 matches.

The PASE team graduate impressed many whilst deputising for regulars Chris Price and Steve Pickford, but in order to progress, boss Liam Watson feels the player needs first team football in a competitive environment.

Watson told the Southport Visiter: 'Daryl is possibly one for the future but he needs experience. He has shown me potential but we have a number of midfield players and it is no use for his future if he vegetates on the bench. He requires a step up from reserve team football and under Derek Brownbill he will have a good mentor.'

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Liam Watson and assistant Neil Whalley are splitting the first team squad into two so all the players will get 90 minutes under their belts. Watson will be at Prescot while Whalley takes charge at Congleton.

Next Tuesday the Sandgrounders take on Roly Howard's Marine at College Road followed by a trip to Formby on Thursday night, both kicking off at 7.30pm.

With Watson looking to develop his youth team graduates, he has sent out last season's reserve team captain, midfielder Daryl Allen, on a season's loan to Warrington Town. This is to get the 19-year-old regular first team experience in a competitive environment.

Watson explained: "Daryl is possibly one for the future but he needs experience. He has shown me potential but we have a number of midfield players and it is no use for his future if he vegetates on the bench.

"He requires a step up from reserve team football and under Derek Brownbill he will have a good mentor."

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

Around the town and talking to fans I can feel a real desire for Southport FC to succeed. The enthusiasm from local businesses has been outstanding.

As a manager with long-term ambitions to take the club forward, I want to make the club part of the town and get the town to really get behind the club

This can be done in many ways. One local business that has really got behind us is the Victoria Leisure and Fitness Centre. Practically, they have been able to give us first class training facilities. When I was a Preston player John Beck took us to the Victoria and I remember really enjoying my times at the Victoria.

I became aware during last season that we needed to develop our training facilities and range of activities, so I contacted owner Wally Birch. Without hesitation Wally stepped in to give us facilities second to none for the season ahead.

I want to say a big thank you to Wally on behalf of the club's management and players, who has offered the players the full range of excellent facilities.Plus, our excellent physio Bret Harris will now treat players with knocks or players needing rehab at the Victoria Leisure centre rather than at Haig Avenue.

This gives us a lot more professional back up and has been possible due to the goodwill and support of a local business. Wally has gone a step further, offering our season ticket holders special rates.

With our training facilities at the Everton academy and the Victoria we will be the envy of most clubs outside the Football League.

I have met a number of businesses who have been our matchday sponsors, that link and commitment is really appreciated. We also have our youth development PASE 16-18 year olds sponsored by Caterforce, so as the new manager I can see the town's businesses really wanting to see the club progress. It is my job along with our playing staff to achieve progress.

Results are not the be all and end all in pre-season and I could take positives out of both the weekend Burscough draw and the 3-2 defeat at Radcliffe. We really were coasting, two up before second-half individual errors cost us dear.They cannot happen when the real thing kicks off.

Lee Mulvaney, with two goals, and Kevin Leadbetter, ripped Radcliffe apart. Another plus was the performance of Ian Lowe in goal. It may sound bizarre but in a way I'm glad certain things did happen at Radcliffe because it was a warning that no one can be complacent and it reaffirmed my views for selection in two weeks time.

Tomorrow I've split the squad with some at Prescot and others at Congleton. I'll be at Prescot, Neil Whalley and Tony Rodwell will be on the bench at Congleton. Everybody should be fit, Steve Dickinson felt his heel in the warm up at Radcliffe and therefore we didn't risk him.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

However, ‘Port manager Watson has decided not to offer any contractual terms to the former Stalybridge and Rochdale man, as ‘he will not fit into the composition of the squad.’

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Southport Football Club donated two football shirts to cyclist Ian Short who has completed his ride from Blackpool Tower to Eiffel Tower Paris for Charity. He cycled with his friend Mike Carpenter of Carpenter Rees Jackson Ltd (in the form of Mike Carpenter, Steve Rees, and Stephen Jackson) who organised the sponsored bike ride from Blackpool to Paris.

The route covered approximately 500 miles.

They started their journey on Thursday 24 June 2004 at Blackpool Tower and finished at the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday 29 June 2004, a total of 4 days of 80 miles a day in this country, and 2 days of 65 miles a day in France.

One avid Southport FC fan, Paul Henderson, sponsored Ian Short for £100 if he was photographed wearing a Southport FC shirt under the Eiffel Tower.

Report: www.Southport.gb.com

'I am perfectly happy for us to be talked about as title contenders'; said Watson. 'The very least we will be aiming for is a place in the play-offs. There is a healthy competition for places and the challenge for met at the moment is to find the right balance. '

'Right now I don't know what my first choice team is but that is a good thing.

'John Coleman at Accrington once said to me that if you know who your best 11 players are then it means the others in your squad aren't good enough.

'I have thought about that since and I'm pleased to say that all 19 players in my squad should be able to hold down a regular place in the next season.

'They are all getting the chance in the friendlies to show why they deserve to be in the team that plays Vauxhall Motors on August 14'

So far Port have drawn both their friendlies; 2-2 against Everton reserves following by a 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic first team on Tuesday night.

'I made eight substitutions in that match against Wigan, six of them at half-time, and it didn't affect our performance levels' added Watson. 'That is a very good sign.'

The Port boss has been delighted by the displays so far from Farrell Kilbane, a summer signing from Lancaster City, while Earl Davis has also been impressive as they compete to partner Neil Fitzhenry in the centre of defence.

Lee Mulvaney and Steve Daly have also shown up well to ensure that Terry Fearns and Neil Robinson know that they cannot be guaranteed the striking roles when the new campaign starts.
The competition is strong in ever department except for virtually ever-present keeper Dickinson who is about to start his sixth season with the club.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

We started with a creditable two-all draw against Everton reserves. Results are not that important at this stage of the build up but it was a good feeling for us all when Neil Robinson and Lee Mulvaney combined enabling Lee to equalise in the final minutes.

Winning is a habit and the sooner we get into that frame of mind when we kick off in the Nationwide North the better for us all. For now it is all about laying the foundations for the next nine months

Tomorrow we are at Burscough and then next Tuesday travel to Radcliffe. We have away fixtures now until Saturday, August 7, when we are back at Haig Avenue against Accrington Stanley in our last prep before the real thing.

The Wigan match on Tuesday night was something else. The 1,248 gate created a great atmosphere, something I hope we can re-create when the serious stuff starts next month.

Paul Jewell did as he promised, bringing his full first team complement. To again draw was a big plus but much more importantly was the style of our performance.

Again I made wholesale half-time changes, six in all, and it was my challenge to the replacement lads to keep it going. And, as on Saturday, the depth in the squad and competition for places was there for all to see. That was the most important thing for me.

Against Everton, supporters may have noticed the pairings I made. That was done on purpose, psychologically I do not want, or expect, any player to assume they have a starting shirt.

Each one will have to be earned on performance and form.

What I am impressed with from the lads is their camaraderie, they are all getting along - they know competition for places is intense yet the centre halves are shaking hands with each other, same from the full-backs, midfielders and strikers.

Everyone appreciates that to achieve our targets and progress we have to have an 18-19 man squad plus a couple of younger ones coming along. That competition is great for me and the club.

Defensively, you look at Neil Fitzhenry and he is so consistent. Both Farrell Kilbane and Earl Davies played impressively alongside Neil.

On Tuesday night Steve Pickford was ruled out due to illness but we didn't miss him. That's a compliment to the other players, Steve is a very good player so it is credit to our other midfielders Dominic Morley, Kevin Lynch and Chris Price.

Jerome Fitzgerald made his first appearance at left-back and added both pace and height, he's another good acquisition.

Wigan Athletic had some top, top quality players against us on Tuesday and to compete the way we did was outstanding. One of the major reasons we could do that was our fitness levels.

Barry Simms' routines are top draw. I'm 34 and have lost ten pounds in pre-season. The players have, to a man, all put it in and we will definitely reap the benefits in the months ahead.

So to our supporters, so far so good. We know realistically we've only played friendlies but I hope everyone has seen the quality in the squad and our intention to play good attacking football.

The ethos is tight at the back, the midfielders get it down and play for

us to create width and provide our strikers with goal-scoring opportunities.

Haig Avenue is a big, wide pitch and you have to be ultra fit to carry out those tactics. Anyone who thinks differently is a fool.

story has been reproduced from the day's media

"We are underway now and we made a good start. Our work rate was there and at this stage our priority is fitness levels. I saw a number of positives and some areas to definitely work on. It will take time for players to bed in."

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

Potts will feature in tomorrow’s pre-season friendly against an Everton XI after completing training with the ‘Port squad.

The 25-year old, who can also play as a central striker, was a January transfer target for Yellow’s manager Liam Watson while at Northwich Victoria. The ex- Rochdale man, however, decided to stay at Wincham Park before opting for a move back to Stalybridge Celtic.

Potts joined the Vics in November from Celtic for £5,000, but failed to establish himself as a first team regular under Northwich boss Shaun Teale following the departure of Alvin McDonald.

Watson told the Visiter: ‘I’m top heavy with experienced players and we will have to make a decision regarding Colin.’

Colin is the son of the former Preston player Eric and with 22 goals in 67 appearances for Celtic, the right-winger clearly has an attacking eye for goal, breaking from his midfield position.

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The ‘Port kick-off their Conference North preparations at home to an Everton XI tomorrow (Saturday 17th July) and the prices will remain reduced until the season kicks off on August 14th.

Liam Watson’s side will play host to League Championship side Wigan Athletic on Tuesday 20th July, before their planning for the new season ends with the visit of Conference National side Accrington Stanley on Saturday 7th August.

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Each week he'll be bringing you his behind-the-scenes views on Southport FC and, no doubt, on broader issues affecting football.

One thing's for sure, Liam does not hold back when it comes to giving an honest opinion.

Enjoy the read.

I'M looking forward to being part of the Visiter team this season and I hope our endeavours at Southport Football Club will encourage more of the Southport public to become part of Southport FC's team.

Secretary Ken Hilton has kept me informed about the tremendous season ticket sales and that gives everyone encouragement. The training has gone really well so far without any real problems and our only casualty has been new signing Jerome Fitzgerald who has been laid low since being on holiday.

Barry Simms, our fitness coach, has drawn up a series of exacting, strenuous sessions and the players have not only benefited but also enjoyed them because of the variety involved.

We have been running in the pinewoods, doing numerous circuits, had a boxing instructor take us and lots of 5-a-ides. That fitness should pay big dividends when the season commences. Barry's sessions have been real quality and I've really enjoyed them.

Tomorrow, most of the squad will get a 45 minute run-out and I will adopt the same policy on Tuesday evening against Wigan.

I'm expecting Paul Jewell to bring his first team squad.

The six sub rule is ridiculous and won't come into play. I want to win every match I manage but we are at the preparation stage for a big season ahead and everything I do is geared to get us functioning effectively for that first Nationwide North fixture against Vauxhall on August 14.

We have got five new faces in the squad and I've emphasised each player is as important as the next. This season will all be out for the team, not individuals.

Togetherness on and off the pitch is what I want from my squad. We have been bonding over the summer in training and meeting supporters at the Ainsdale cricket match.

Out of the 19 players now at the club we only have three I inherited. That indicates what a massive rebuilding job had to be done. I honestly didn't think the job was as big as that when I took over. But it had to be done and that's why we had a good run in. Now we have to start the same way and sustain it for a season.

I identified the players I needed and have had 100 per cent backing from the chairman. We have a really good working relationship and we both have great shared ambitions for the club.

In my view it was important to get our identified players signed quickly, I had alternative lists but was delighted that all my number one choices signed for Southport.

I have seen the Nationwide Conference budget and inherited players, mainly underachieving ones on Conference wages.

Let's get one thing straight, the budget at Southport should have kept the club at least comfortably mid table or pushing to the play-offs.

So if we do not succeed this season I will not be pointing a finger towards the chairman, the backing is there, it will be because we as a squad and management team are underachieving and I will not let that happen.

Supporters have been great from the start, especially the backing we got at Radcliffe Borough on Grand National Day. That really was impressive and rallied us.

At home, I'm looking to be obviously tight at the back but I want to get at sides and get the message across Nationwide North that going to Haig Avenue is a torrid experience.

Our fans can help us on that score by getting behind the players throughout the 90 minutes and it is up to me and the players to provide the football that people want to see.

Bigger gates, more money in the coffers, quicker success. That's the theory.

I said when I arrived that this is the pinnacle job for me. I believe that even more now. The club is geared to go a long way.

I intend through my management style on the pitch and behind the scenes to bring people closer together.

Everywhere around the club corridors, terraces, bars, young and old there is a real passion for the club.

Together we can all raise the profile of the club as we progress together.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

The game's governing body had declared that no more than six substitutes could be used by a team during any friendly match, but after two days of talks they have now relaxed their ruling following complaints from English clubs over health concerns for their players.

It now means that Watson will be able to give as many of his squad a run-out as he likes when the ‘Port kick off their pre-season campaign at home to Everton this Saturday.

An FA Spokesman said: ‘The Football Association are delighted to announce that FIFA has agreed to the FA's proposal that restrictions on substitutes from friendly matches should apply to international friendly matches only.’

‘This follows a series of discussions between the FA and FIFA in which the concerns of English football were brought to FIFA's attention.

‘The FA believed it was in the interests of all parties that clubs be able to use as many substitutes as necessary in pre-season preparation matches.

‘As a result, from this point forward, clubs will once again be permitted to make an unlimited number of substitutions in friendlies.’

FA chief executive Mark Palios said: ‘I am delighted that FIFA have listened to our concerns and clarified the situation.

‘Unrestricted substitutions in pre-season friendlies are in the interests of clubs and players alike and allow proper preparation for the coming season.’

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Tonight (Wednesday) is the last chance for Southport supporters to snap up season tickets at the discounted offer. Secretary Ken Hilton will be available between 6 and 8 pm for last-minute buys.

Nationwide North and the impact of the new management team during the second half of last season has certainly rejuvenated the club's supporters with season ticket sales the best reported for a number of years.

Pre-season preparation has gone very well so far with fitness coach Barry Simms providing a varied range of routines to get the Port players primed for the season's start.

New faces on show on Saturday include striker Terry Fearns, midfielder Dominic Morley, returning to Haig Avenue, Kevin Lynch who, like Fearns, has joined from Vauxhall Motors, centre back Farrell Kilbane and left-sided Jerome Fitzgerald.

All the build up is geared towards the Nationwide North kick off on August 14 when Vauxhall make the short Mersey-side trip to Haig Avenue.

Younger supporters are invited to play an active role with ball boys and girls required for the new season. Any volunteers aged between 10 and 16 should report to Alice Sumner at Haig Avenue at 1.30pm on Saturday. All previous ball boys and girls are also asked to attend.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

Their first home match is against West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday 17th August, a week after their opening fixture, away to Blackburn.

However, the big attractions will not take lace until the back end of the campaign. Everton will face Liverpool in the mini-derby on Tuesday 22nd February, before closing their Haig Avenue campaign against Manchester United on Tuesday 5th March.

Everton finished seventh in the reserve league last season and will be hoping to scoop the reserve league championship, which they last won in 2001. Coach Andy Holden is expected to include a number of the club’s youngsters in the second string’s starting line-up from the start of the season

Admission to games is expected to remain the same as last year with access for adults to all parts of the ground £4 and concessions £2.

As followers of the reserves will be aware, the released are subject to change.

All games will kick-off at 7pm.

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Teams which finish in places 2 to 5 in the new-look structure, will be entered into a play-off system, with the possibility of 4 matches to determine promotion to the Conference National.

The first leg of the Conference North semi-finals will take place on Monday, May 2nd and will see the side who finished 5th play host to 2nd place and 4th v 3rd. The teams which finished 2nd and 3rd will crucially have home advantage in their respective second leg to be staged on Thursday 5th May.

The winner of each Northern semi-final will then meet in the on the weekend commencing Saturday 14th May.

The winner of the Northern final will then play the winner of the Nationwide Conference South play-off final, who will follow the same procedure, in the promotion final to determine who will claim the prized final promotion place to the Conference National. The final is due to be held on the weekend commencing Friday 20th May 2005, however, this could raise a problem if one side reaches the FA Trophy final, which is scheduled for the Sunday of the same weekend.

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Southport have been drawn away to Gates-head in the FA Trophy which will be played on November 6.

Southport's FA Cup begins in the second qualifying round on October 2. Season tickets at the discounted prices are on sale on Monday and finally next Wednesday July 14 between 6-8pm.

Port's Conference Youth League under-18 side will play Altrincham in the FA Youth Cup.

Tony Rodwell and Jon Gautrey are hoping with the quality in the squad the young stars can progress into the later rounds this time around.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

The Sandgrounders kick off their Nationwide North season at home to Vauxhall Motors on Saturday August 14. Then it's off to Barrow on Tuesday, August 17.

Southport have an incredible opening day unbeaten run, having last failed to pick up points back in August, 1992, when Emley defeated Brian Kettle's side 1-0.

That day turned out to be an unreliable guide as Kettle's squad lifted the Northern Premier HFS Loans title and Southport embarked on a decade of Conference football.

That is the aim of this ambitious manage-ment team - a return to the Nationwide Conference and to construct a squad that can compete for further promotion.

And Watson's rebuilding revolution can be seen with only longest-serving player Steve Dickinson and Steve Pickford remaining from two seasons ago and just two more players - Jimmy Williams and Lee Mulvaney - surviving from 12 months ago.

Said Watson: "It's great to be at home on the first day of the season, we've got to play everyone so there's no real significance in who we play first. It will be a quick reunion for Terry Fearns and Kevin Lynch, football plays tricks like that.

"If we play to our ability we have the players to start the season well and when you look at it there aren't that many new players to gel."

Supporters can meet the players and management on Sunday at the Arcade Sportssponsored cricket match against Ainsdale which starts at 2pm at Liverpool Road.

West Indies Test match leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo will be in the Ainsdale side and the bar is open all afternoon.

This story has been reproduced from the day's media

Southport will enter the competition one round earlier than last season. The last time they started off in the 1st round was the 1997-1998 season, when their Trophy run ended in the final at Wembley.

North-East side Gateshead will provide tough opposition after gaining ‘promotion’ to the UniBond Premier after a 6th place finish in Division One last term. That was despite having 4 points deducted.

It is a chance for the ‘Port to renew acquaintances with a side they have had many battles with which date back to their Third Division (North) days. Matches include a 5-0 Southport win in August 1994.

The Tynesiders, however, have not enjoyed the best of times since they reformed in 1977. After relegation from the Conference in 1998, they drastically slipped into the lower reaches of UniBond Division One, before a creditable season last term.

The match will be played at the 11,750 all seated International Stadium, also home of Gateshead RFC, where the football team only averaged 184 last season.

The tie will be played on Saturday 6th November, with the possibility of a replay on or before Thursday 11 November 2004.

The player qualification date is 12 noon on Friday 5 November 2004, this includes replays and postponements.

There will be 4 all Conference North ties as Stalybridge play Harrogate, Vauxhall host Ashton, its Alfreton v Runcorn, while Stafford travel to Hinckley.

Nuneaton Borough will travel to Dr. Martin’s East Division minnows Rothwell Town, while UniBond champions Hucknall host Ryman Division One South side Bracknell. Moor Green have a tough test against Steve Claridge’s Conference South Weymouth side.

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