Southport FC 2022-23 Team Photo
Confirmed Squad Numbers 1 Bradley Wade 2 Charlie Oliver, 3 Jack Doyle, 4 Chris Doyle 5 Adam Anson, 6 Declan Evans, 8 Charlie Munro, 9 Jordan Archer, 10 Josh Miles 11 Tyler Walton, 12, Connor Heath, 13 Tony McMillan, 14 Keenan Quansah, 15 Josh Hmami, 16 Dylan Vassallo, 17 Niall Watson, 18 Jack Bainbridge, 19 Michael Carberry, 20 Joe Adams
Nyal Bell had squad number 10 but is likely to be out injured for the season.
Manager Liam Watson 
Liam, who is also a member of the Board Of Directors is by far the club’s longest serving manager having racked up 601 games in charge by the end of the 2021-22 season. He is the most successful manager during the club’s non-league era.
Liam returned for his third spell as manager at the start of the 2018-19 season having managed the club to the National League North title in both 2004/5 and 2009/10 together with achieving a 7th place finish in the National League in an incredible 2011/12 season, breaking the club’s consecutive away wins record in the process. Liam has won the National League North as manager three times in total having also successfully managed AFC Telford United to the title in 2013/14. Following his spell on the Board of Directors during the 2016/17 season he then carried out a scouting role for Scunthorpe United.
His first season back at the club was up and down but after a poor start Liam oversaw a transformation that saw the club embark on a great run in the cups making round two in the FA Cup and doing the Lancashire Junior Cup/Liverpool Senior Cup double.
Assistant Manager: Terry McPhillips 
After his playing career ended Terry started as an became Academy Director at Crewe Alexandra, in 1992 and spent 14 years as a youth coach at the club before joining the Academy Staff of Blackburn Rovers. He set up the Merseyside-based TMS (Technique/Movement/Skill) football school in 1996.
He later managed the Blackburn Rovers Youth team that reached the 2012 FA Youth Cup Final and was appointed caretaker assistant manager to Gary Bowyer. He was re-appointed assistant manager from June 2013 to 2015.
In 2016, he followed Gary Bowyer to Blackpool as a chief scout and assistant manager. He was appointed caretaker manager of Blackpool in August 2018 and after Gary Bowyer left the club in September 2018, he was made permanent manager. Terry resigned as Blackpool manager in July 2019, having informed the club’s board that he had no long-term desire to be a manager.
The squad numbers in brackets are the Southport player number (Non League)
2-Charlie Oliver (831) 
Charlie who spent ten years in the Manchester City Academy, signed for the Port in Mid November 2019.
Naturally a central defender, Charlie progressed through the ranks at City, turning professional at the age of 18. He became a regular for their Elite Development Squad, representing the club in PL2 and the EFL Trophy.
The Manchester-born player also helped City to the 2016 FA Youth Cup final, spending the second half of the 2017/18 season on loan at Fleetwood Town and the start of the following season with Brentford.
Opinions vary as to Charlie’s best position but his versatility gives the club a great option in defence and midfield.
3-Jack Doyle (825) 
Signed from Blackburn Rovers just ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Jack made his debut for Rovers in 2017-18 before joining Maidstone United on loan but unfortunately his loan spell was cut short by injury.
At the start of the 2022-23 season Jack had made 89 starts in all competitions and has been a model of consistency in defence.
A player who is regarded very highly by everyone at the club and could easily play at a higher level.
4-Chris Doyle (843) 
Our third signing of the 2021-22 summer brought Chris Doyle back to Southport.
Chris was in our pre-season line up at the start of 2016/17 under manager Andy Bishop but never made a first team start due to picking up a serious injury in one of the build up games.
Chris is a central defender and signed from FC United Of Manchester.
In his early football years Chris spent time in the Everton Academy from the age of 10 to 14 before joining the youth setup at Morecambe. He signed a pro-contract at the age of 17 at the start of the 2012-13 season and made his 1st team debut. Chris had a successful loan period at Chorley FC until the end of the 2014-15 season scoring 5 times in 26 appearances. He then signed an extended 12-month contract with Morecambe at the start of the 2015–16 season. He was subsequently released by Morecambe in May 2016 and joined Southport.
The injury kept Chris out of football for some time but he was tempted back and joined his home-town team of Marine in July 2018 and made 37 appearances, scoring 6 goals.
For FC United, Chris had 49 starts and bagged 2 goals between 2019/20 and 2020/21.
Made 24 league starts for the club in 2021-22 hampered by a few injuries but his determined and enthusiastic style quickly made Chris a firm fans favourite.
5-Adam Anson (834) 
Adam signed for Southport from Witton Albion.
A tall central defender who joined Witton in August 2019 from Chorley where he had previously spent two seasons. He made 27 starts for the Magpies helping them to promotion from the Vanarama National League North in 2018/19.
Having started his senior football career with Wigan Athletic, Adam has also spent some time on loan at Lancaster City. He was also on the books of both Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool as a youngster. Adam only missed one game in all competitions in the 2021-22 season, a total of 53 games for the club. With the injury to Russ Benjamin, Adam took over the club captaincy, a role he relishes and looks forward to continuing in for 2022-23.
6-Declan Evans (849) 
A product of the youth academy at Rochdale, Declan joined Mossley from Chorley in 2017 and was a regular at Mossley making over 100 appearances. In the 21-22 season he has also scored ten times and has attracted the attention of several clubs and manager Liam Watson was pleased to get Declan signed up in 21-22 but by allowing him to go back to Mossley he will be guaranteed game time given the outstanding form of the Southport backline last season. Made his debut in the 0-0 draw with Curzon Ashton before returning to Mossley and is a player we are all looking forward to seeing the best of here at Southport
8-Charlie Munro (845) 
Our first signing of the summer of 2021 with Charlie Munro joined the club from Warrington Town.
Charlie is 24, a central midfielder, born in Billinge, who started his footballing life with Ashton Town before moving on to Ashton Athletic.
Southport supporters may remember him featuring for Ashton Athletic where he first caught the eye of Liam Watson in our Lancashire Cup Semi Final at Leyland. Charlie then signed for Warrington Town but the Pandemic cut short his time at the club and he made 6 appearances before the season was curtailed. After a slow start to the 2021-22 season Charlie adapted well to the step up and is another player who we all rate very highly. Joint top of the assists chart for 21-22 with 7.
9-Jordan Archer (819) 
Jordan, who was previously on loan at the club in 2019 re-joined the club on a deal originally until May 2022 but now extended until May 2024.
During his first stint at Southport, Jordan scored on his debut and has since gone on to be the latest member of the Southport Football Club 20 goal club with a total of 30 in all competitions, 24 in the league.
A strong striker with an eye for goal, he joined Southport from Boston United having made the switch to join the Pilgrims in the summer.
Starting his career with Chasetown, Jordan progressed up the football pyramid to play in the EFL for Bury and Port Vale. He has also spent time with Maidenhead United, Chester and Stockport County. Leading scorer in 2021-22 with 22 goals in all competitions.
10-Nyal Bell 
Another player new to the club for 2022-23.
Nyal is 25 and a tall imposing striker who after spending his youth career at Rochdale played for a number of clubs around the North West before enjoying a productive spell at Stockport County between 2018 and 2021.
The 2021-22 season saw Nyal on duty with Kidderminster before going out on loan to Curzon Ashton. He was released by Kidderminster at the end of the season.
Unfortunately Nyal picked up a serious injury in a pre-season game that is likely to see him sidelined for most of the 2022-23 season.
11-Tyler Walton (847)
Joined mid January 2022 initially on loan from Farsley Celtic but such was his impressive form the loan was quickly made into a permanent move)
Tyler joined Farsley in a switch from Frickley Athletic in summer 2019. His former clubs include Leeds United and Manchester City at youth level and York City for whom he debuted at 17 years of age. he scored on his full Farsley debut on the opening day of the 2019/20 season.
The roaming midfielder has proven to be a solid member of the Farsley squad and we look forward to seeing the best of him in a Southport shirt.
12-Connor Heath 
Connor is 21 (22 in December) and a big powerful forward who had been with Nantwich since the summer of 2020 after being released from Crewe Alexandra, where he impressed during his 2-year scholarship period with a number of goals; he signed a professional contract in the summer of 2019.
Connor impressed at Nantwich during the 2020 pre-season period with a few goals and has kicked on ever since, becoming a regular goalscorer for the Dabbers and terrorising defences with his physicality and power. Joined Southport October 2022.
13-Tony McMillan (582) 
A former youth and reserve team player at Preston North End, he joined the Linnets from Lancaster City in June 2006 after becoming a familiar name in the Conference North. Having moved from Preston to Wigan Athletic, he played under Liam Watson at Runcorn FC Halton, where he kept goal in over 200 matches after joining in 2001. Upon signing for the Sandgrounders he was handed the gloves ahead of Steven Drench and went on to play 240 games over a 5 year spell which included lifting the Conference North title.
Since leaving Haig Avenue in 2013 he had a short spell with Altrincham before joining Barrow with whom he spent a further 3.5 years.
You can never keep a good ‘keeper down. Tony returned to Haig Avenue at the start of the 2019-20 season after leaving in 2013 with 205 league appearances under his belt for The Sandgrounders. Back up for Cam and played in our Cup matches in 2021-22. A stellar career and at 40 can still be relied upon when called into the team, still as fit as ever .Now has 254 starts to his name in all competitions.
14-Keenan Quansah (853) 
A new signing for 22-23.
Keenan who is 25 joins from Stalybridge Celtic and can play as a centre-back, right-back or central midfielder, he came through Accrington Stanley’s youth academy and has had spells at Glossop North End, Burscough, Warrington, Mossley, Hyde and Widnes.
Keenan was the Stalybridge Celtic fans player for the season for 2021-22 where he had a full season making 48 appearances and scoring twice.
15-Josh Hmami (844) 
Josh was with Marine in the 2020-21 season and made a great impression in their historic FA Cup run which culminated in a home tie with Tottenham Hotspur and was the target of a number of club’s before Liam moved in to secure his signature.
He is 22, an attacking midfielder and born in Oldham.
His youth career was spent at Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Accrington were he made one senior appearance.
Josh has also had time at The New Saints, a loan spell at FC United of Manchester and Ramsbottom United where he scored 11 time in 25 starts.
In the shortened 2020-21 season he made 20 appearances for Marine finding the back of the net 8 times.
An exciting prospect and one our supporters enjoy watching, he likes to get the ball forward and adds another creative spark to our midfield. Had the scouts flocking to Haig Avenue in 2021-22 with his all action style and is a player we all think we move up the pyramid sooner rather than later.
16-Dylan Vassallo (839) 
Dylan was outstanding in all the 2020-21 pre-season games and rejoined the club having been part of our youth set up in the 2015/16 season. The attacking midfielder has since developed his career with Warrington Town and another player who can deliver a great set piece. Made 38 starts in 2021-22 scoring twice and also contributed 7 assists.
17-Niall Watson (838) 
Probably the worst kept Southport FC secret ever as “Trialist 1” kept on banging in the goals during the 20-21 pre-season build up before being announced as Niall Watson who formally put pen to paper at the start of the 20-21 season. Niall is no stranger to Southport Football having been coming to the ground as a 4 year old as a Southport supporter following his Dad’s team. Watching him playing on the pitch as a young boy you could always tell he was going to be a footballer. Niall showed great promise during the truncated 20-21 season and pushed on in 21-22 with his great pace which he used to great effect and helped him contribute 7 assists in the season.
18-Jack Bainbridge (837) 
Jack, 24, is a Southport lad and spent his early years at the Everton Academy before playing a season at Swansea.
He has since had two campaigns in the Sunderland Under 23 set-up making his first team debut against Morecambe in the EFL Trophy last November.
Another player who had a very impressive 21-22 pre-season and looks fitter than ever. Great pedigree and a fully fit and firing Jack gave added depth to the squad with Jack able to play in defence or midfield.
Signed an extension to his contract through to May 2024 in January 2022.
19-Michael Carberry (852) 
Michael came in on dual registration forms from Bootle at the end of the 2021-22 campaign and created a great impression with everyone at the club and Liam was quick to get his name on the dotted line and signed up for 2022-23. An attacking left back with a great delivery.
George Goudie 
George is assisting with the goalkeeping coaching and registered in case of any ‘keeping emergency which he faced in a Lancs Cup game coming on after an injury to sub ‘keeper Tony McMillan. He made a great impression, saving a penalty shortly after coming on.
10-Josh Miles (856) 
An exciting young prospect plucked from The Steven Gerrard Academy. Just 17 years old and has already made a good impression in his short time at the club. A big future in prospect for Josh.
20-Joe Adams (857) 
Joe who is 22 and an attacking midfielder, is a former Welsh Youth International and a product of the Bury Academy and was voted Bury’s young player of the year in 2018-19. He had been at Bury since the age of 7. Joe has also been at Brentford making 65 appearances for the Brentford B Team scoring 18 times.
Joe has been capped by Wales at Under 18, 19 , 20 and 21 levels and scored his first international goal in a 2–1 UEFA European Under 19 Championship qualifying victory over Sweden in 2018.
Joe has spent the last year with Dundalk making 34 appearances and scoring once.
1-Bradley Wade-Photo to follow
Goalkeeper. signed on a non contract basis March 17th until the end of the 2022-23 season. Previously with Hereford.
The Gloucester-born goalkeeper had been at Rochdale since the age of 15, playing in three FA Youth Cup campaigns and being a key member of the youth team as they lifted the EFL Youth Alliance League North-West title in 2017/18.
The former Rochdale Academy keeper has had loan spells at Guiseley and Barrow.