Southport Rugby Football Club has unveiled its new heritage club crest to celebrate its 150th anniversary year.
Southport RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the world and was founded in 1872.
Home matches are played at Waterloo Road, with the club hosting hundreds of players in its various men’s, ladies and junior teams.
The heritage crest was designed by Reece Gaskell in honour of Southport’s sesquicentennial anniversary.
A number of 150th anniversary celebrations are taking place this year. On Saturday (15th January), three Southport RFC senior men teams travelled to Bolton RUFC to celebrate the formation of both clubs in 1872.
When Southport RFC was founded in November 1872, as Southport Football Club, Samuel Swire was the President and R.W. Smith was the Captain.
Since then, a lot has changed, with 19 Presidents, 103 Club Captains and four grounds – Manchester Road (1872-1880s), Scarisbrick New Road (1880s-1906), Victoria Park (1906-1926) and Waterloo Road (1926 – Present).
A Southport RFC spokesperson said: “As we approach the momentous occasion in our club’s history and ignite celebrations ahead of 2022 we are delighted to unveil our heritage crest.
“It will mark a milestone in the club’s history with a sole aim of recognising our illustrious past whilst aiming to grow the bond between the club and the town and celebrate 150 years of Southport Rugby Football Club together.
“Our heritage crest is not replacing the current that adorns the shirts of today, as that distinctive design has been in use since 1923, when the County Borough of Southport granted us permission for the use of the town’s coat of arms.”
The arms were based on a previous design, which had a lifeboat instead of the old ship, and differed in a few other ways. It has a likeness to the foundations of the heritage design that is established from the oldest recorded club crest in 1879. The components of the heritage crest resemble Southport RFC’s beginning as a club and sport within our town, whilst maintaining the key concepts of today.
Design Significance:
- Iconic shield shape, synonymous with our town.
- Crosslet entwined by a serpent bears a resemblance to the emblem known as Aaron’s Rod, or the Rod of Aesculapius and represents healing.
- First year rugby was played in Southport (1872) to our 150th Year (2022).
- Gold delivers prestige whilst paying homage to our illustrious history.
- Lifeboat instead of the lymphad.
A Southport RFC spokesperson said: “Throughout 2022 and the 2022-23 season, we are all looking forward to recognising our heritage, and celebrating our 150th anniversary season.
“The heritage crest is not replacing the current crest and will be used on memorial merchandise and other ways throughout our celebrations.”
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
