Career
Beginning his career with Shornhill Recreation, Southam joined West Bromwich Albion, for whom he featured during the war years. He made guest appearances for Arsenal, Aberaman, Newport County, Colchester United and Ipswich Town before he joined Newport ahead of the 1946-1947 season. The same year, he joined Birmingham City, but made just one league appearance before signing for Northampton Town in 1949.
He spent six years with the club, before returning to the Midlands to join the coaching staff at Walsall.
Born in Willenhall, Southam began his playing career with Shornhill Recreation before joining up with Football League side West Bromwich Albion in 1939. During the war years, Southam was a private in the 15th Infantry Training Corps and made 34 wartime appearances for Albion between 1942 and 1946.
He made guest appearances for numerous clubs, including Arsenal, Aberaman, and Newport County. Southam joined Southern League side Colchester United as a guest player ahead of the 1945-1946 season.
Having become a regular in Colchester"s first-team, Southam grew tired of being played in a number of positions, having worn six different shirt numbers, and decided to join Ipswich Town after Christmas 1946.
Southam did continue to guest for Colchester, making his final appearance against Chelmsford on 11 April 1946. Having played three times for Newport County during the war years, Southam moved to the club from West Brom for a £300 fee ahead of the 1946-1947 season. He made eight Second Division appearances for Newport before joining Birmingham City the same year.
In his first season, he helped the club to the runners-up spot in the Third Division South, going on to make 145 league appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
Following his retirement from playing in 1955, Southam joined Walsall as a trainer, remaining on the coaching staff until the 1960s.
