HAVING previously co-written a book on the Football League history of Southport Football Club, I am currently researching the seasons before Southport joined the League in 1921, and have progressed backwards as far as 1913.

During the 1913-14 season the son of a former Southport player was given a one-game trial on the left-wing in a Central League fixture against Bury Reserves. His name was Charles Hallows.

I wondered if it might be possible that he was the renowned Lancashire (and England) opening batsman of the 1920s and 1930s, who famously once scored 1,000 runs in May.

Our winger was 18 in January, 1914, as Hallows, the cricketer, would have been.

I know our winger had played in the Bolton and District League and, of course, the cricketer came from Little Lever.

Finally, his position as left-wing might accord with Hallows being a left-handed batsman.

I have searched the internet, but cannot find any reference to the cricketer having played a bit of football in his early days.

I wondered if any readers — possibly even a relative of the great man — might be able to throw some light on this possibility?

We’ve had a handful of Southport footballers whom we know have played first-class cricket, including Jim Cumbes and Ian Cockbain.

To date, however, we have not uncovered a Test player among them.

I am confident that this mention in your columns will provide further information to clear up all possible doubt — even if we are going back some 94 years!

With many thanks and in hopeful anticipation.

Geoffrey S Wilde, 15 Grosvenor Avenue, Great Crosby, Lancashire, L23 OSB, 0151 928 3252