Match Preview - Southport FC
The Blues 5-game unbeaten streak unfortunately came to an end last time out away at Guiseley where a last-minute goal was the decider in the 1-0 defeat. Leek struggled to find their flow for large portions of the match as Guiseley’s dominance became even more evident in the second half where Longbottom missed two clear chances before finding the back of the net in the 90th minute.
Following the goal, Leek began to push forwards in stoppage with Dino Visser joining the attack on set pieces to add extra threat to goal however it was never to be as The Blues fell to 14th in the league.
In the FA Trophy Leek last beat Scarborough Athletic in a dramatic cupset, where a goal from Potts was enough to secure a place in the next round of the competition versus Southport FC, who also play in the division above.
Southport currently sit 19th in the National League North and have most recently drawn 2-2 with AFC Telford United.
In the previous round of the FA Trophy they beat Buxton 3-2 away from home, who currently sit above Southport in the National League North.
The True-Blue Army Will Assemble At?
Any travelling Blues to Southport should head out of Leek and make their way onto the M6, then follow it until Junction 26, where you join the M58 towards Southport. Leave the M58 at Junction 3 and take the A570 through Ormskirk all the way into Southport. When you reach the roundabout by Tesco and McDonald’s, take the third exit onto Scarisbrick New Road, then turn right onto Haig Avenue, which leads directly to the stadium.
Leek will be wearing Their all-blue home kit.
How much to get in?
- Adult £11
- Concession £7
- Under 18 £4
- Under 12 £1
The Opposition
- Southport FC– The Sandgrounders (also The Port / The Yellows)
- Formed – 1888 (as Southport Central)
- Ground – Haig Avenue (capacity 6,000)
- Gaffer – Neil Danns
Their website?
How are they doing?
The Sandgrounders currently sit 19th in their league this season. Out of their 20 games, they have won 5, drawn 6, and lost 9, accumulating 21 points (one point away from the relegation zone). Their defence so far this season seems to be below average as is their attack having scored only 24 times whilst conceding 31 leaving Southport with a -7 goal difference.
Since coming down to The National League North in 2017 the club have only scraped a top half finish once in the 2021/22 season where they placed 11th and since then the club has hovered around 18th place every season.
Their Main Man?
The Striker, Jordan Slew, has been the standout player for The Yellows this season as he’s leading the goalscoring charts on 6 goals. His career began in the Sheffield United youth academy, making his first-team debut in 2010 and impressed The Blades with three goals in eleven appearances, which earned him attention from higher-tier clubs.
In 2011, Slew moved to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of around £1.1 million. However, in his time at Ewood Park he struggled to secure regular first-team football, leading to a series of loan spells at clubs such as Stevenage, Oldham Athletic, Rotherham United, Ross County, and even local side Port Vale. After leaving Blackburn in 2015, he signed for Cambridge United, beginning a period of different stints at Chesterfield, Plymouth Argyle, Rochdale, and several non-league clubs such as Boston United, Radcliffe Borough, and Ashton United. He then returned to league football with Morecambe and FC Halifax Town before signing for Southport FC in 2025.
Throughout his career, Slew has made over 330 appearances, scoring around 43 goals and providing 11 assists. Early in his career, he represented England U19, making two appearances at the international youth level. While he never fully established himself in the top tiers, he has built a reputation across the English pyramid at both professional and semi-professional level.
Their Gaffer?
Neil Danns took over as first‑team manager of Southport FC in May 2025. After a long playing career, which spanned over two decades. As a player, Danns had quite the CV. He started out at Blackburn Rovers, and went on to feature for clubs including Crystal Palace, Leicester City, and Bolton Wanderers as well as several loan and lower‑league stints. He also very notably played internationally for the Guyana national football team.
His transition into coaching has been swift and promising so far. Before Southport, he served as assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers. After, he took on a player‑manager role at Macclesfield FC, where he guided them to promotion. When Southport appointed him, the club and Danns both highlighted the importance of rebuilding, emphasizing energy, confidence, and a fresh vision to bring out the club’s potential.
Southport FC – have we met before?
The Blues have played against The Yellows 12 times with the first of those meetings being in 1990 which resulted in a 1-0 loss for Leek. Out of the 12 matches Leek have only won 3, drawn 4, and lost 5, however in total both teams have scored 12 goals. So, there’s an exact average of 2 goals per match in this fixture.
Interestingly, the last time these two sides met was in the FA Trophy 3rd round in 2003. Until this current season, that had been the deepest Leek had progressed in the competition since the 1989/90 season, when The Blues reached the final at Wembley. Leek unfortunately went out in the previous meeting, the match resulted in a 2-1 loss with Leek’s goal coming from Ant Danylyk, who made over 400 appearances for the club and later returned as manager in the 2016/17 season.
