An undated newspaper article

Below is the victorious F.A. Cup squad, pictured in the Lytham St Annes Express,
(back row), Candlish (trainer), J. Parkinson, Fogg, Talbot, Bretherton, E. Parkinson, Clarkson, Bailey, (front) Townsend, Eastwood, Wade, Almond, Law.

LYTHAM Football Club has left town and gone to neighbouring St Annes for a second time.
And, but for a small, faithful band of followers, the 107-year-old club could well have disappeared for ever. To their credit, Lytham FC is still alive even though the standard has dropped from the North West Counties League to the Blackpool and Fylde Combination. But memories of the glory days will never be forgotten.

One weekend, Lytham railway station was crowded with hundreds of people and the town band played as the train came to a halt. Loud cheers rang out as Lytham FC players disembarked. The occasion? The all-amateur team, which paraded round the streets had beaten Rawtenstall a professional side, 1-0 in the final of the Lancashire Junior Cup at Gigg Lane, Bury.

The date was 1895 when Lytham played in the Lancashire Alliance and their ground was on Pembroke House playing fields, now Clifton Drive.
Another golden year was 1925 when Lytham won a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup. Little Lytham FC, from the West Lancashire League, were drawn away to Oldham, then in the top half of the Football League second division.

Lytham, whose average gate raised only £7, stepped out at Boundary Park in front of more than 10,000 spectators. They were slammed 10-1, but their supporters threw their hats in the air when Leeming beat Oldham keeper Bert Grey, a Welsh international for their only goal.

Lytham's team was: Crozier, H. Parkinson, Harrison, Noblett, Roddway, J. Parkinson, E. Parkinson, Clarkson, Morris, Leeming, Baines.
The following season, Lytham won the West Lancashire League Challenge Cup and the Richardson Cup inside two days and finished runners-up in the first division.

One of Lytham's star players in those days was Dick Clarkson His son, Mr Bob Clarkson of Jubilee Way, St Annes showed me his father's "professional contract" for Lytham which revealed a payment of thirteen shillings and ninepence per week. In addition he was paid five shillings for a win and half -a crown for a draw.

Lytham's squad included former English international Tommy BroweII, who played for Blackpool and Hull City, Sam Wadsworth, former Huddersfield and England full back, Andy Curran, former Blackpool centre half, Skilly Parkinson, who played 16 seasons, his cousin "Codge" Parkinson, ex-Lytham lifeboat cox, his brother Edward who later joined Huddersfield Town and Fred Swift, who kept goal for Blackpool and whose brother Frank played with Manchester City and England.

The club joined the Lancashire Combination second division when it was formed in 1948.
In 1958-59 Lytham won promotion to the first division with a squad comprising D. Woods, Baron, Roper, Giles, Graham, Hughes, D. Woods, Bilsborrow, Jones, Isles, Shaw, Livesey, Milburn, Maher.
Lytham FC has suffered numerous traumas and has been on the brink of liquidation.
Fortunately it has been blessed with saviours, including Mr Prank Hodgson who acquired a new ground in Ballam Road.

The original pitch nearby became the foundations for the Guardian Royal Exchange offices. That was in 1958, when Lytham amalgamated with St Annes Athletic and played at Highbury Road.
Now, 30 years on, the club has again had to leave Ballam Road for St Annes.