[3] In September 1908, Southall was appointed inaugural captain of the United Service club in the North Taranaki Cricket Association.
[5] A left-arm spinner, six feet four and a half inches tall,[6] "with a peculiar twist in his delivery",[7] Southall usually opened the bowling.
[11] In 1909 government retrenchments forced Southall out of the civil service and he began work as a sharebroker in New Plymouth.
Harry Trott, the South Melbourne captain, noting that there had been some questioning of the fairness of Southall's bowling action, wrote: "He certainly pushes the ball as it leaves his hand, but it is not a throw, and, in my opinion, perfectly fair.
"[14] Aged 35, Southall made his first-class debut on New Year's Day 1913 for Wellington against Auckland.
Again he took five wickets in the first innings, dismissing Victor Trumper and Warwick Armstrong for ducks in successive balls and finishing with 5 for 34.
[citation needed] Southall sued his first wife for divorce in 1920[27] and married Lily Anne O'Dowd in Masterton in July 1921.
[29] In August 1923 he pleaded guilty to charges of forgery and theft arising from his period as a Repatriation Officer.