Lytham Football Club (1878-1985) - Photos and articles.

This post contains photographs and articles relating to Lytham Football Club for the period 1878 to 1985 when they left the North West Counties League. Firstly, I do not consider myself in any way to be an expert on Lytham Football Club.  The photographs and articles were collected over a period of six years whilst carrying out research for my Blackpool & the Fylde Coast Amateur Football Archives Facebook Group and this post has allowed me to publish all of of my Lytham FC related photographs and articles in one place.

The vast majority of the photographs and articles were extracted from copies of the Lytham St Annes Express held at the Lytham Archives as well as copies of the Green courtesy of John Cross.  Others have also supplied me with photographs over the years including John Williams for which I am very grateful.  I have first team photos from the 1928/29 season through to the 1982/83 season aside from 1953/54, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1973/74, 1983/84 and 1984/85 and would be very grateful to receive copies of these in order to help complete the project by E-Mail at dwnr3@aol.com   If I've made any errors then I'd be grateful if you could please let me know via the same E-Mail address.

If interested, almost all of the actual match reports are available via old copies of the Lytham St Annes Express held within the Lytham Archives (Bannister Street) that is open to the public each Wednesday afternoon.

The photographs and articles run in chronological order.  I hope that you enjoy reading through them as much as I did in collecting them.  This lengthy article is best viewed on a PC, laptop or tablet.

Mick Downer - April 2024
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I'm not overly sure when Lytham FC was formed but the consensus is around 1880.  I've found a couple of articles in the online Blackpool Gazette and Herald that mention Lytham FC as far back as 1878.                   
1878/79 Season


Match report from Lytham FC versus Christ Church, Blackpool dated 15/11/1878 including team line-ups.
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1879/80 Season



Match report and team line-ups from the Lytham (Pembroke House) FC versus South Shore, Blackpool fixture.  Some say that Lytham FC evolved from Pembroke House FC.
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1880/81 season


Match report and team line-ups from the Lytham (Rangers) FC versus South Shore, Blackpool fixture dated 29/11/1880.  Back then, each team had their own umpire (Referee). Crossbars only became mandatory in 1882.
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1881/82 Season


Match report and team line-ups from the Blackpool Rovers FC versus Lytham fixture dated 27/01/1882
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1882/83 Season



The earliest known team photo of Lytham FC but no names
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1886/87 Season


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1888/89 season





Published in the Lytham St Annes Express of 1928

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1891/92 Season

Early league tables from December 1891
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1894/95 Season





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1899/00 Season


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Early 1900s - exact season not known


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1920/21 Season






Lytham Wednesday FC - The Wednesday league was for players that were 
unable to play Saturdays due to work commitments 
(Retail, hospitality, emergency services etc)
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1920s (Exact season not known)


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1924/25 Season



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1928/29 Season



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1929/30 Season

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1930/31 Season










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1931/32 Season



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1932/33 Season




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1933/34 Season











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1934/35 Season


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1935/36 Season








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1936/37 Season




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1937/38 Season



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1938/39 season



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1939/40 Season



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The outbreak of World War II understandably resulted in a suspension of organised football leagues until the 1946/47 season.
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1946/47 Season






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1947/48 Season












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1948/49 Season






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1949/50 Season

















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1950/51 Season




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1951/52 Season











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1952/53 Season




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1953/54 Season (No team photo as yet)







Above and below, Lytham FC (white) in action against Fleetwood at Highbury Avenue in the Lancashire Combination on 29th March 1954 - Fleetwood won 3-1.


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1954/55





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1955/56 season









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1956/57 Season













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1957/58 Season










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1958/59 Season















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1959/60 season










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1960/61 Season

At the beginning of the 1960/61 season the team changed their name to Lytham St Annes FC but were still playing at Ballam Road.
















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1961/62 Season

















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1962/63 Season








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1963/64 Season














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1964/65 season





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1965/66 Season





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1966/67 Season












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1967/68 Season







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1968/69 Season

Lytham FC's old ground at Ballam Road was earmarked for development by the owners who planned to build offices on the site (Guardian Royal Exchange),  As a result, the club moved their home ground to St Annes Cricket Club.

The location of Lytham FC's old ground at Ballam Road.





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1969/70 Season



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1970/71 Season







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1971/72 Season (No team photo)

At the end of the 1970/71 season, Lytham FC were relegated from the Lancashire Combination and would not return for four seasons during which they played in the West Lancs League.





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1972/73 Season (No team photo)



A diagram of the proposed new ground for Lytham FC at Ballam Road.  The car park and clubhouse would end up at the other end of the ground.

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1973/74 Season (A low point)



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1974/75 Season










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1975/76 Season

I'm a little confused here and would appreciate some clarification.  My information suggests that Lytham FC returned to the Lancashire Combination for the 1975/76 season despite only finishing top of the West Lancs Second Division.  Was this because they were a previous member with new facilities that met the ground standard?  Perhaps I've made an error?
























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1976/77 Season






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1977/78 Season









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1978/79 Season





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1979/80 Season














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1980/81 Season














Note: The Dave Mulligan and Mark Lane photos were incorrectly named (reversed)







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1981/82 Season

































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1982/83 Season




















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1983/84 Season (No team photo)


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1984/85 Season (No team photo)





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Lytham FC left the North West Counties League in 1985.  Lytham Town FC are currently competing in Division 1 of the West Lancs League and have their home ground at Bank Lane, Warton.  It is hoped that one day they may return to the North West Counties League.

Click here for the Wikipedia entry regarding Lytham Football Club

Click here for the Football Database entry regarding Lytham Football Club

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Mick Downer - April 2024

E-Mail - dwnr3@aol.com

I have no issue with anybody taking photos/articles from this article but please give credit if published elsewhere.  Thanks. 
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