April 2, 1946
Anfield to-morrow will be the venue for another mid-week semi-final tie, this time the Liverpool Senior Cup affair between Liverpool and Southport.
The bright hopes we one time had that this might at long last be Liverpool’s FA Cup year were doused fairly early. Last week their chances of lifting the Lancashire Cup likewise went west so that this remains as the sole avenue for Cup honours to come to Anfield.
It should be an entertaining game, for Southport, after their less spell, have come back strongly to be a power among the Third Divisioners. You can rely on it that they will fight tooth and nail for the honour of getting to the final.
Liverpool will fight equally hard, though maybe for somewhat different reasons, chief of which will be the desire to maintain the rehabilitation towards which the Middlesbrough victory hopefully pointed. A defeat by a Third Division side would send their stock down to zero again, even though the side might not be their strongest.
Another fact that should add to the players’ zest is the possibility that both sides in the final may for the first time since before the war, get gold medal souvenirs. It isn’t definite yet, but the County FA are taking inquiries about the chances.
Liverpool will not decide their side until after to-night’s board meeting.
With a view to their League North Cup-tie at Hartlepools on Saturday, Southport will rest a couple of first team regulars. Walker Grimsditch is not thoroughly fit, and Birkett, borrowed from Everton, deputises in goal. Goodwin (Preston North End) is at outside right, Reuben Scott, now demobolised, makes his first senior team appearance since the war, and a welcome one, and Billy Sinclair, nephew of Tommy “Topping” Sinclair, the old-time Sandgrounder, also returns to the fold. Centre forward position is left open till later.
Team: Wilf Birkett, Stan Carr, Jack Grainger, Reuben Scott, Jimmy Gemmell, Kenny Banks, Les Goodwin, Rawcliffe, A.N. Other, Jimmy Clough, Billy Sinclair.
(Liverpool Echo: April 2, 1946)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 