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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Benjamin Roberts-Haslam

8 things you will have been through if you grew up in Southport

If you grew up in Southport you will have had some stick over your accent or the fact you're a black sheep.

The town is a hub for travel and tourism and sees thousands flock to the seaside town every year.

People who grew up there will be used to the nightlife that spans across two streets, not quite fitting in with kids from Liverpool or kids from Lancashire and having to find new things to keep them busy each week.

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When someone you grew up with tries to say they're from Liverpool

There was always that one person who no matter how many times you corrected them would try and say they were from Liverpool, especially the ones who would put on a Scouse accent despite growing up 20 miles away from Liverpool.

It's like Lee Mack coming onto TV one day and speaking Scouse, it wouldn't be right at all.

Except when you're on holiday

The only time it's acceptable to mention Liverpool when you're describing where you're from is when on holiday somewhere.

The likelihood is no one knows where Southport is if you're in Spain so this is when you can crowbar Liverpool, or even Preston, into the conversation. This is the real exception and you just get used to people having no idea where your hometown is while abroad.

Spring sunset at Southport Pier (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The dreaded nickname

Another con of being from Merseyside but not Liverpool is being labelled a "wool" every time you step into the city centre.

There is nothing you can do about it and not a lot you can say in response.

Walking down Lord Street as the sun comes up

With Liverpool and Preston both being that touch too far for a regular night out Southport has managed to build up a number of late-night bars and clubs.

Although this does mean you can take it a bit too far on a Saturday night (or Sunday morning should I say?) leading you to think you can stay out that extra hour. Before you know it you're walking through the town centre at 6am wondering how you possibly got to that point.

The first time you were allowed to go to Liverpool by yourself

This one is a big step in when growing up.

Making amazing plans on a Friday before you finish school for the weekend and then being allowed to get the 45-minute Merseyrail train down to the city centre is remarkable.

Visiting shops you didn't even know existed with your pocket money that's enough to get a sandwich and a drink and nothing else.

A Merseyrail Southport to Liverpool train (Andrew Brown Media)

The far far away land that is Ormskirk

Ormskirk is almost like some sort of mythical town when growing up in Southport.

How can somewhere be so close yet so difficult to get to? Since the closure of the Burscough Curves, if you want to get the train to a town that is just nine miles away you have to head to Sandhills then back up on another line to Ormskirk.

You can get the bus but it does seem like a pain at the time.

"Should we go for a swim in the sea? Oh"

When the sun shines down during a summer heatwave it can be amazing. Sometimes you can feel like you're abroad but when you want to go for a dip in the sea to cool down more often than not the sea will be a mile out.

Being a tourist for a day

There comes a time when you have nothing else to do other than embrace the attractions that attract thousands.

A day at Funland, Southport Pleasureland and eating doughnuts while strolling along the pier. As long as the weather is in your favour this can be a cracking way of spending time with your mates.

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