SOUTHPORT FC SQUAD DETAILS 2009/10

Zac Aley

As the club pioneers its ambitious new youth development scheme this season, Zac will be seen as the example for the 60 youngsters embarking on the project to emulate. The 17-year old became the first protégé of the Learning Skills Council scholarship last season, making his senior debut in April, before penning a two-year contract in the summer. Zac, a raw and pacy attacker, scored 12 times in the Conference Youth League (North) and is an extremely talented prospect.

Bradley Barnes

After catching the eye during pre-season with a number of measured displays in the centre of midfield, Bradley signed prior to the start of the current campaign. The maturity shown by the former Bolton Wanderers trainee has belied his 19 years, adding to the competition for places in the middle of the field. Bradley played last season for UniBond Division One North side Trafford, which proceeded a spell at Flixton. He has also spent time on trial with Altrincham and Morecambe.

Paul Barratt

It was to the delight of Southport supporters that Paul, 22, returned to the club during the close season, such was his impact during an initial six month stint as an attack-minded full-back. From starting out with Manchester City, he won the FA Youth Cup with Liverpool in 2006. After making his Non-League bow with Worcester City, Paul first joined Southport in November 2007, before spells at Northwich Victoria and Fleetwood Town, featuring more commonly on the left of midfield.

Robbie Booth

During his two spells with Southport, Robbie has operated on the right of midfield and as a central striker, principally being utilised from the bench. Following his release by Everton as a youngster, the 23-year old briefly tasted League football with Chester City, before initially joining the Sandgrounders in 2005. Opting to leave shortly after the club’s switch to full-time, he won the Northern Premier League with Burscough in 2007, before being re-signed prior to the start of last season.

Steve Daly

Steve, 28, has held the mantle of leading goalscorer in each of his past two seasons at Southport. Having struck 12 times in the Conference Premier in 2005/2006, he marked his return via Burscough last term by tallying 23. During the intervening years, Steve won the Conference North with Droylsden, repeating a feat he achieved with Southport, having originally joined from Runcorn FC Halton. A powerful striker who works industriously outside the box, he spent his formative years at Everton and Wigan Athletic.

Earl Davis

Earl’s time at Haig Avenue - spanning three spells and five seasons - has seen him foster a special rapport with Southport fans. Returning to the club in summer 2008, he was one of the most consistent players last season, cutting a powerful figure in the centre of the defence. He first joined Southport on loan in 2003 after starting out at Burnley, before returning in February 2004 via trials at Swansea City and Bury. Time at Hyde United and Burscough followed. Earl is the subject of a £200 pledge to Trust In Yellow, the Southport supporters Trust by a Southport supporter for every league goal he scores.

Shaun Gray

The highlight of Shaun’s career to date is a Northern Premier League title win with Fleetwood Town in 2007/2008. It was his contribution during this campaign that caught the eye of Liam Watson, who took the 22-year old to Southport following a non-playing summer with Burscough. Nominally a left-back, Shaun has also deputised for the Sandgrounders in a central role. He cut his teeth during two years as a youth at Morecambe, where he also made a clutch of first-team appearances. 

Adam Flynn-Club Captain

That Adam was voted the best player of last season by supporters was testament to his ever-improving performances at the heart of the league’s second-best defence during his first year at Southport. An indomitable presence in the back-line, he seldom shirks a challenge and leads by example. A former Liverpool youth, Adam is currently an academy coach at Anfield. The 24-year old was among the 11 players who joined Southport from Burscough in June 2008, Adam having previously represented Prescot Cables. Appointed as Club Captain for 2009/10

Ciaran Kilheeney

As an instinctive and reliable finisher, Ciaran’s name has featured routinely at the top of Non-League scoring charts in recent years. His debut season at Haig Avenue yielded 16 league goals having earned a formidable reputation at Burscough, where he spearheaded the Northern Premier League title charge in 2007 by netting 20 times, going one better the following campaign. A former Manchester City trainee, the 25-year old has also led the line for Exeter City, Mossley, Radcliffe Borough and Ashton United.

Chris Lever

Chris, 22, is one of Southport’s most understated yet dependable players, earning his stripes at right-back during his first year at the club, before a switch to the left, whilst also displaying the ability to deputise at centre-half. After learning his trade at Oldham Athletic, his home-town club, Chris spent two years on a professional contract at Boundary Park, before tasting Conference North football for the first time on loan at Stalybridge Celtic, where he stayed for two months in 2007.

Kevin Lee

23-year old Kevin spent most of last season as Southport’s principal right-back, having played in the centre of the defence with increased maturity during his previous two years at Haig Avenue. A former Wigan Athletic tyro, he joined the Sandgrounders after loans at Blackpool and Accrington Stanley. Kevin has further showed his versatility with several sorties in midfield when required and added to his repertoire last season with a memorable 45-yard goal against Torquay United in the FA Trophy.

Rob Marsh-Evans

A strong, athletic central defender, Rob, 22, agreed a two-year contract at Haig Avenue in May 2009 after playing a focal part in Vauxhall Motors’ admirable form during the second part of last campaign. Having learnt his trade at Chester City, the Welshman spent loan stints at Droylsden, Vauxhall and Leigh Genesis, for whom he signed permanently in January 2008 and stayed for 10 months. Formerly an attacker, he contributed some important goals as Vauxhall finished a creditable 11th.

Matty McGinn

Having begun life at Haig Avenue in Southport’s Lancashire League reserve team, Matty, 26, was handed his first opportunity in senior football at Runcorn FC Halton. A player equally adept on the left side of defence or midfield, he registered over 100 appearances at the Halton Stadium, attracting interest from Blackpool. A Northern Premier League title-winning stint at Burscough was sandwiched between further spells at Southport, with his playing duties now combined with a youth team coaching role.

Tony McMillan

With 39 Conference North appearances to his name last season, goalkeeper Tony featured more frequently than any other Southport player during his debut campaign. After progressing through the youth and reserve ranks at Preston North End, the 27-year old spent time at Wigan Athletic and first played under Liam Watson between the posts at Runcorn FC Halton, whom he represented on over 200 occasions. Time at Lancaster City was proceeded by a successful stay at Burscough, starting in 2006.

Alan Moogan

Alan’s career is now back on track after overcoming a lengthy setback. Having been released by Liverpool, he advanced through the youth ranks at Everton and was playing regularly in their reserve team on a professional contract when a serious ankle injury resulted in a two-year lay-off. With clever passing and a determined approach, Alan, 25, who doubles up as a youth team coach, can control a game from midfield and is in his second season at Southport after joining from Burscough. 

Michael Powell

Having filled a variety of positions during his first four years in the first-team, Michael has become a regular pick in the centre of midfield following the return of manager Liam Watson last season. After ascending from the club’s youth development scheme, it was Watson who gave the 23-year old his senior debut in 2005 and Powell has since progressed to make over a century of first-team appearances.  A former Preston North End schoolboy, he has also captained the side.

Chris Simm

An excellent return of 20 Conference North goals in 36 matches for a Hyde United side which finished in the relegation zone last season underlines Chris’ goal-getting instincts. The 25-year old established himself as a natural finisher during his two-season stay at Ewan Fields, where he signed after trialing for Wrexham and three years with Leigh Genesis. Chris, from Lancashire, also boasts the impressive feat of having scored a six-minute hat-trick and his services have since been courted by numerous clubs.

Ashley Winn

Ashley initially caught the eye of the Southport crowd whilst playing for Stalybridge Celtic. The 23-year old scored the decisive penalty shoot-out kick in Celtic’s play-off semi-final win against the Sandgrounders in 2008 - and his role in Stalybridge’s success prompted a summer move to newly-promoted Barrow. He made the switch to Haig Avenue in December 2008. A Middlesbrough alumnus, the creative midfielder joined Stalybridge from York City in 2005 after time at Oldham Athletic.

The Boss-Liam Watson

In 2005, Liam earned the distinction of becoming only the third manager to lead Southport to a championship title win. After taking the mantle of the Sandgrounders’ youngest ever boss at 33, a remarkable first 18 months culminated in the Conference North triumph, before he devised a dramatic survival route the following season. A one-time England C striker whose clubs included Preston North End, Marine and Accrington Stanley, Liam first managed Runcorn FC Halton. He masterminded Burscough’s ascent from the Northern Premier League at the first time of asking, before returning to Haig Avenue after a two-year absence.

Assistant Manager-Chris Price

Youth & Reserve Team Manager-Allan Smart