Author: James Cave
Cyber attackers broke into the email of Merseyrail Managing Director Andy Heath last month as part of a ransomware attack on the company. Several newspapers, security blogs and Merseyrail staff received an email from Heath’s email address on 18 April with the subject: “”Lockbit Ransomware Attack and Data Theft.” In this email, the sender pretended to be Andy Heath informing staff that they suffered a ransomware attack where the hackers stole employee and customer data. The email included a link to an image showing an employee’s personal information. LockBit is a known ransomware attack, where hackers block access to a…
The director of a Southport youth football team has pleaded guilty to the theft of tens of thousands of pounds from the team. Michelle Marshall and her husband Simon Marshall were accused of the theft of £99,460.38 raised to build new facilities on Russell Road Recreation Ground for Phoenix FC. Michelle Marshall pleaded guilty to theft, but disputes aspects of the prosecution case. Simon Marshall continues to deny the charges, and will stand trial in January 2022. Phoenix was awarded £75,000 in 2016 from proceeds of a Merseyside Police fund as well as additional money from the FA and event…
Political maneuvring over the past 24 hours has revealed a deep division in the local Liberal Democrats over the status of now independent Dukes ward candidate Tony Dawson. Cllr Dawson has remained an active part of the Sefton Liberal Democrat group in recent times despite departing the Liberal Democrats over an “issue with the national party”. Originally, Southport Liberal Democrats planned for Tony Dawson to stand as an indepent, unopposed by any Liberal Democrat candidate. The local association were unaware that David Newman, who is also the Liberal Democrat candidate for Liverpool City Region Mayor, approached a senior party official…
Southport FC have been fined £4,000 by the National League for breaches of the competition’s coronavirus regulations and failure to fulfil fixtures. Two seperate fines of £2,000 were levied against the Sandgrounders by an independent panel. Southport were also handed a two points deduction, suspended pending any further regulation breaches. A total of 18 clubs were charged by the National League with 17 being found guilty. Dover Athletic were handed the most severe punishment, receiving a £40,000 fine. Around £100,000 of fines have been issued by the competition. The first charge relates to the club’s refusal to play a game…
Local traders are growing increasingly concerned over proposals to introduce traffic calming measures in the town centre. A collection of several companies is forming a working group and has now acquired legal representation in their opposition to the Southport Liveable Neighbourhood. Walking and cycling charity Sustrans is currently consulting with businesses and members of the public over the possibility of introducing a wide scope of initiatives within a large area of the town centre that could include cycle lanes, speed bumps, access times and even full pedestrianisation. The purpose of the scheme is to reduce throughfare in the area, pushing…
Local elections will take place in England on Thursday 6 May 2021, with 22 seats up for election on Sefton Council. These elections were previously scheduled for May 2020 but were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. How can I vote in the local elections? Residents who wish to vote in the May 6 elections will be able to via the usual means of in-person voting, postal voting or voting by proxy, however you must be registered to vote. How can I register to vote, or check I am registered? Registering online is quick and easy. It takes just 5…
A Conservative councillor candidate for Birkdale has welcomed a “u-turn” from the Liberal Democrats over alleged plans for a cycle lane. Despite regular comments from Mr Durkin criticising the Liberal Democrats over their supposed support for a cycle lane, Cllr Simon Shaw says no lane was ever proposed. The spat continues as Cllr Shaw will move a motion at Council on Thursday to confirm that no lanes in Birkdale are planned, and that any such lane running through Birkdale Village would be incredibly damaging. Mr Durkin has issued a press release welcoming the motion, while criticising Cllr Shaw and his…
Southport Conservatives and Liberal Democrats go to war over handling of Southport cycle lane scheme Tories accused Lib Dems of pushing for additional Birkdale lanes, which Lib Dems deny Council says lack of consultation was down to Conservative government timeframes Debate heats up ahead of Councillor elections in May Damien Moore has called on the Government to prevent the temporary cycle lanes installed in Southport last year from becoming permanent. The controversial cycle lanes have been at the centre of a political tug-of-war since their installation. Mr Moore said the loss of revenue from Hoghton’s Street’s pay and display alone…
Southport FC’s season has been put on temporary hold after the National League suspended all fixtures for two weeks due to coronavirus concerns. Both health and financial concerns have been raised by clubs over recent weeks following rising coronavirus cases and the disclosure that further funding for clubs will be loans and not grants. Southport’s majority shareholder Ian Kyle and manager/director Liam Watson have both called for the season to end. The National League said in a short statement: “Following the review of the feedback from Clubs in connection to the recent Clubs meeting, a Board meeting this morning decided…
Southport FC Chairman Ian Kyle and manager Liam Watson have both called upon the National League to end the current season due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Yellows secured an excellent win against Halifax on Tuesday night to progress in the FA Trophy, but interviews from the pair revealed deep concerns on continuing the season. Ian Kyle told supporters that the National League tried to force a game against Fylde to be played despite several Southport players showing symptoms, with Liam Watson saying that the club had essentially been accused of misleading their opponents over the incident. The club are…
Tickets for Southport FC’s Boxing Day clash against Curzon Ashton are selling fast, with two areas of the Pure Stadium already sold out. Tickets can be purchased through the club’s official ticketing portal, with prices starting at just £5. The match will also be streamed live on southportfc.net. The Yellows have won their previous two fixtures in the FA Trophy against Marine and Spennymoor Town and are expecting a bumper crowd for the traditional Boxing Day fixture.
A Southport man has been named the new Chief Executive of the EFL. Trevor Birch, 62, will leave his role as Director of Football Operations at Tottenham Hotspur to take up the new post. Birch will take up his new position on 1st January, after the current chief David Baldwin steps down. Born in Southport, Birch left Ormskirk Grammar School at 16 to pursue a career as a professional footballer, playing for Shrewsbury Town and Chester, having been on the books at Liverpool, the last apprentice signed by Bill Shankly before his retirement. After retiring from the professional game, he…
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust is an independent charity that relies on donations. To learn more, click HERE December 9th and 10th 1886 saw the worst British lifeboat disaster ever recorded occur just off the shores of Southport. Lifeboatmen from Southport and Lytham St Annes lost their lives in heavy storms while trying to rescue a German ship, The Mexico, bound for Ecuador that had run aground. 14 crewmen of the Southport boat, The Eliza Fernley, lost their lives, with 2 survivors. The Southport crew were the first to row out late in the evening, but their lifeboat was struck by…
Businesses on Shakespeare Street have given a scathing response to proposals that would see the street pedestrianised. Mobility charity Sustrans are consulting on the scheme which is designed to encourage residents into making short trips without the use of their car. The Salvation Army, Southport Glass, The British Lawnmower Museum, Eckersley’s Blinds and AMS Plumbers Merchants, all based on Shakespeare Street, have submitted letters in opposition of the scheme. What is the Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme? The Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme is a project essentially designed to decrease traffic in the Town Centre and the surrounding area. If the scheme is passed…
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has been released on police bail after being arrested yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation. The four men arrested with Anderson have also been released on police bail. Police now have 28 days to decide whether to charge anyone arrested, including a 46-year-old man from Ainsdale, however, bail can be renewed as needed for up to 3 months, and senior officers or magistrates can extend this period even further. None of the identities of the men arrested have been confirmed by police, however Mayor Anderson’s name has been widely circulated. Anderson…
Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has been ‘detained’ by police as part of an investigation which saw five people arrested earlier today, including a man in Ainsdale. A police statement said: “Five people have been arrested by detectives today (Friday, 4 December) in connection with offences of bribery and witness intimidation as part of an investigation into building and development contracts in Liverpool. “The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation. – A 62-year-old man, from Old Swan has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation. – A 33-year-old man, from West Derby, has been arrested…
Southport FC will host supporters at the PURE Stadium for the first time since March on Wednesday after it was confirmed Sefton can host sporting events with spectators after the latest set of coronavirus restrictions end. The Yellows will play Farsley Celtic in the Vanarama National League North on Wednesday evening. Capacity is capped at 800 for the fixture, with just 40 seated tickets on sale after members and season ticket holders are taken into account. 1,280 fans will also be allowed into Southport’s game against Alfreton on Saturday. The club’s popular streaming service will continue for those unable to…
Mass coronavirus testing in Liverpool has found 700 positive cases in people who otherwise displayed no symptoms. The city was the first in the UK to offer mass testing to anyone who lived or worked in the region. 2,000 military personnel have been assisting the program over the last ten days. Public Health England director Dr Susan Hopkins said nearly 100,000 people have now been tested. Mass testing will soon be rolled out across Sefton, however, there are only enough tests to cover 10% of the local population. Sefton Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher says Sefton Council will “learn lessons…
Tommy Fleetwood finished 6 under par at Augusta as the highest placed Englishman at The Masters, but will be left wondering what might have been after the Sandgrounder failed to build on a promising performance in the first two rounds. The 29-year-old ended joint 19th in the standings. Fleetwood was as high as T6 midway through the second round and in genuine contention to take home the famous green jacket, but struggled on the greens in the third round. Fleetwood said on Saturday: “I think they had a bit more speed in them, and you know, apart from a silly…
Southport’s recent form took a further dent after the Yellows were comfortably dispatched by Spennymoor Town at the PURE Stadium. Adam Blakeman’s early free-kick from 20 yards after Russell Benjamin’s tackle on Jamie Spencer took a wicked deflection off the Southport wall, past a diving Hanford. Spennymoor kept up the pressure with a long-range effort from Glen Taylor, narrowly sailing past the right hand upright, with multiple corners penning Southport into their own half for the first ten minutes. Port were saved by the offside flag moments later, with Glen Taylor’s short range short parried into the the path of…
Anti-lockdown propaganda has been flown over Southport this afternoon. A banner saying “Lockdowns don’t work #GBDeclaration” was flown over the town for around 30 minutes. While the buyer of the banner is unknown, the company flying over the town appears to be Air Ads, who were responsible for the infamous “White lives matter” banner flown over the Etihad Stadium. The “GBDeclaration” refers to the Great Barrington Declaration, a document signed by medical clinicians advocating the end of lockdowns while shielding society’s most vulnerable. The Great Barrington Declaration was heavily criticised by England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty and the World…
For more information on combatting racism in Southport, please consider visiting and supporting the Southport Against Racism Facebook group Southport residents have received racist leaflets posted to their homes. Leaflets were posted through the letterboxes of homes in the Birkdale and Town Centre areas. One recipient said: “it’s full of nothing but lies and conspiracy theory nonsense.” The flyers promote a misleading white-nationalist conspiracy theory that “White Britons will be a minority in Britain as a whole by the 2060’s”. The identity of the publisher is unknown. The flyer also cites David Coleman, a member of the Galton Institute (formerly…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the whole of England will be placed under additional coronavirus restrictions for at least one month. The restrictions will come into effect from 1 minute past midnight on Thursday and last until December 2nd. In a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson confirmed that all non-essential retail shops will be forced to close, however schools, colleges and universities will remain open. The Prime Minister urged parents to continue to take their children to school. Households will not be allowed to mix inside apart from for childcare reasons. Restaurants, cafes and pubs will close.…
A security contractor accused of leaking state missile secrets carried a knife into two Southport pubs a court has heard. Defence contractor Simon Finch of Swansea, who claimed he was “Southport born and bred”, denies breaching the Official Secrets Act at the Old Bailey. The court has heard that Mr Finch, a former local CAMRA member, sent classified intelligence to charities and law firms, as a response to being “failed by the UK state” between 2013 and 2016. Mr Finch was allegedly subjected to two homophobic attacks weeks apart in Merseyside and the subsequent failure of police to investigate the…
Damien Moore yesterday voted against supporting an 80% furlough pay scheme for Southport workers affected by coronavirus shutdowns, while abstaining from calls to support pupils with free school meals. A motion tabled by Labour to support workers whose places of work have been closed due to coronavirus with 80% furlough pay in Tier 3 areas like Southport was rejected by 261 to 340. At the end of October the furlough scheme will be replaced a new scheme which will pay workers from closed businesses in tier-3 areas up to 67% of their wage. Labour’s rejected motion proposed to sustain the…
Southport FC’s National League North match against Kettering has been postponed after a number of positive tests amongst opposition players. A Southport FC statement said: “Today’s Vanarama National League North match has been postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 within the Kettering Town squad. All players and staff were tested but sadly not all results had been confirmed by 8:30 this morning. We will announce the rearranged date in due course.”
One of the worst-kept secrets in Southport is finally out, following confirmation that Niall Watson has signed for Southport FC. The young attacker, who is the son of manager Liam Watson, has been a triallist for Southport in a number of games this pre-season. Niall has been in lethal form for the Yellows scoring eight goals, with a hat-trick at Marine being amongst the highlights of Southport’s pre-season preparations. Southport FC’s introduction said: “After coming through the youth ranks at Accrington Stanley, the striker has spent time on loan with teams including Runcorn Linnets, Sligo Rovers and most recently Airbus…
Southport FC may not be able to start their National League North season after a Cabinet Minister all but confirmed fans would not be able to enter stadia in October. Michael Gove told BBC Breakfast this morning that the phased return of crowds has now been “paused” because of a spike in Covid-19 cases, having initially been planned for 1st October. The National League, which has a provisional start date of 3rd October for its premier division, has previously said it will not and can not commence fixtures without fans in the stadia. Any decision to delay the start of…