Kirky Signs On Loan For Southport

Dan Kirkup

Kirky has moved down to Haig Avenue on loan, presumably to take the place of 27-year old ex-Everton trainee Chris Lane who has reportedly had a fall-out with Southport manager Paul Cook recently. Lane being left out of the starting line-up in the Sandgrounders' last two games, a 2-1 defeat at home to Northwich on Tuesday night and a 2-2 draw at promotion-chasing York City last weekend.

Southport are struggling again last season despite making the transition from being part-time to full-time in the summer, although it must be difficult to make ends meet at that level on average crowds of just 1,067, that in itself down almost 200 from last season's average of 1,244. The Sandgrounders currently sit in 20th, one spot above the relegation zone, in the Nationwide Conference and they will be hoping that the arrival of Kirkup will shore up a defence that has shipped 17 goals in 11 games.

Hexham-born Dan has only ever seen first-team action once for the Blues, that coming in United's time at non-league level. Kirkup playing the whole 120 minutes, and missing a penalty in Carlisle's 3-1 shootout defeat, after a 0-0 draw in extra-time, at Morecambe in the GLS Cup Northern Section Fourth Round in February 2005. That game coming shortly after Dan had been an unused substitute for the games at Runcorn in the Third Round and the 4-1 win over Barnet, again played at Morecambe due to the floods, in the FA Trophy.

Kirkup has been in excellent form for the reserves this season after signing a one-year professional contract in the summer at the end of his three-year TYS deal. 'Port will be hoping he can take that form with him and into tough games at Oxford, Weymouth and Altrincham and home to Exeter, St Albans and Stevenage during his month at Haig Avenue. The game against Weymouth on Saturday October 14th seeing him no doubt marking another United-loanee in Terras striker Raphael Nade.