Southport FC is  an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside.  The club was founded in 1881. At the start of the 1905/06 season, Southport moved to its present home, Haig Avenue which was then known as Ash Lane. In 1911, Southport became founder members of the Central League. In 1918, the club was renamed as Southport Vulcan - having been bought by the Vulcan Motor Company - becoming the first club to take a sponsor's name.  In 1921 Southport  club joined The Football League as founder members of the Third Division North. Ten years later , the now renamed Southport became the first club from the Third Division North to reach the sixth round (quarter-finals) of the FA Cup, where they lost 9-1 to Everton.  Southport were relegated to the Fourth Division in 1958.  They were voted out of the League in 1978 following three consecutive 23rd (out of 24) place finishes, being replaced by Wigan Athletic.  The club dropped into the Northern Premier League, where they remained, until finishing as Champions in the 1992/3 season, and were promoted to the Football Conference. In 1998 the club had its first (and only) trip to Wembley, when they lost 1-0 to Cheltenham Town in the final of the FA Trophy. The club was relegated back to the Northern Premier League at the end of the 2002/3 season. They became founder members of the new Conference North in 2004/5, and were the league's first Champions, earning promotion back to the newly renamed Conference National. Since that date Southport has either played in tier five or six of the National League.