101 Interesting Facts on Southend United

Peter Miles

Description

Is Southend United your local football club? Are you a lifelong fan of the Blues or new to the touchline? Do you know all about the team's long and fascinating past, which began in the Blue Boar pub in 1906? Would you like to find out more? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are certain to enjoy 101 Interesting Facts on Southend United, all about the boys from Roots Hall. Perfect for challenging your friends on match days or teaching your children about the history of your local football team. This tribute to the Southend United will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Blues, including all the memorable faces that have played a part in the team's wins and losses through the years. This is a must-have book for Southend supporters of all ages, so why not relive all those unforgettable moments from days gone by and gen up on your favourite football club.

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 12 juin 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780993241765
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
101 INTERESTING FACTS ON SOUTHEND UNITED
Learn About The Boys From Roots Hall
By
Peter Miles
UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHORISED



Publisher Information
First published in 2015 by Apex Publishing Ltd
12A St. John’s Road, Clacton on Sea,
Essex, CO15 4BP, United Kingdom
www.apexpublishing.co .uk
Please email any queries to Chris Cowlin:
[e-mail]
Digital edition converted and distributed by
Andrews UK Limited 2015
www.andrewsuk.com
Copyright © 2015 Peter Miles
The author has asserted his moral rights
Cover design: Chris Cowlin
All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition, that no part of this book is to be reproduced, in any shape or form. Or by way of trade, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser, without prior permission of the copyright holder.



The Author
Peter Miles has written many football related books and is a fan of Southend United Football Club, a club he has supported home and away for almost forty years.



The Facts
1. During a Southend United match at Croydon Common on December 18 th 1907, the Blues lost 7-1 and astonishingly managed to score three own goals in the process! Ernie Emery twice and George Molyneux scored past their own keeper.
2. Southend United’s biggest margin of victory in any first team game came in their first ever season when on December 15 th 1906 the Shrimpers defeated a hapless Chesham Generals by 13-0 in a South Eastern League match at the old Roots Hall. Jimmy Axcell 5, Albert Frost 4, Samuel “Prince” Blott 2, Arthur Holden and Alf Watkins were the marksmen that day.
In the same season the Royal Engineers (Aldershot) were beaten 12-0 in a Southern League encounter at Roots Hall. Harold Halse 5, Harry Mitchell 2, Bombardier Newlands 3, Ben Freeman and Jimmy Axcell scored the goals for Southend.
Since becoming a Football League club in 1920 Southend have achieved the scoreline of 10-1 on no less than three occasions:
First time: November 24 th 1934 - FA Cup 1 st Round, Southend United 10 Golders Green 1, Scorers: Harry Johnson 5, Fred Cheesmur 2, Jimmy Deacon, Billy Carr and Harry Lane.
Second time: December 7 th 1968 - FA Cup 2 nd Round, Southend United 10 Brentwood 1, Scorers: Billy Best 5, Gary Moore 4 and Sammy McMillan.
Third time: November 6 th 1990 - Leyland DAF Cup, 1 st Round, Southend United 10 Aldershot 1, Scorers: Brett Angell 4, Steve Tilson 3, Spencer Prior, Ian Benjamin and Andy Ansah.
3. In season 1912/13 Southend United found themselves in the Southern League Second Division which was effectively a Welsh League! Of the thirteen teams in membership the only two other English clubs were Luton Town and Croydon Common. The Southern League had to grant the English sides £100 towards travelling expenses.
Southend were promoted as runners-up.
Welsh teams were Cardiff City, Swansea Town, Llanelly, Pontypridd, Mid Rhondda, Aberdare, Newport County, Mardy, Treharris and Ton Pentre.
4. In their inaugural season of 1906/07 Southend United won the Second Division of the Southern League by two points from West Ham United reserves but were controversially denied promotion by the Southern League. This was because a new club, Bradford Park Avenue, backed by wealthy mill owners, effectively bribed their way into the First Division at Southend’s expense. New Brompton (now Gillingham) were reprieved from relegation as the League’s committee didn’t want any unfavourable repercussions from the unsavoury incident and the new boys of Southend were consigned to another season in the second tier. It mattered little to Bob Jack’s Shrimpers who promptly won the championship again. As if to rub salt in the wounds however, Bradford Park Avenue lured one of Jack’s best players, Samuel “Prince” Blott to West Yorkshire on a highly lucrative contract.
5. Irish forward Sammy McCrory knew how to make an impact with a new team. Not only did he score on his debut for the Blues in the first game at the new Roots Hall in August 1955 he also managed a debut goal for Linfield, Swansea Town, Plymouth Argyle as well as Northern Ireland “B” and the full Northern Ireland team.
6. Southend United have only ever had three players sent off in one game on two occasions. Remarkably on both occasions it happened at the Vetch Field against Swansea City. In the first game on September 26 th 1998, Julian Hails, Mick Gooding and Kevin Maher were all red carded by referee Andy Hall. Unsurprisingly Southend lost the game 3-1. Unbelievably on December 13 th 2003 it happened again! This time the referee was George Cain and David McSweeney, Jay Smith and Mark Gower were all sent off. Incredibly, a last minute goal by makeshift striker Mark Warren saw the Blues win the game by three goals to two!
7. Southend’s top ten highest ever attendances at home are:
31,033 v Liverpool (FA Cup) at Roots Hall, 10/01/1979
29,500 v Manchester City (FA Cup) at Roots Hall, 28/01/1956
28,964 v Birmingham City (FA Cup) at Roots Hall, 26/01/1957
24,160 v Chelsea (League Cup) at Roots Hall, 06/09/1972
23,634 v Tottenham Hotspur (FA Cup) at The Stadium, 15/01/1936
22,429 v Bristol Rovers (FA Cup) at The Stadium, 02/02/1952
22,429 v West Ham United (League Cup) at Roots Hall, 01/10/1979
21,847 v Sheffield United (FA Cup) at The Stadium, 23/02/1952
21,020 v Leyton Orient (Div 3 South) at Roots Hall, 03/09/1955
21,000 v Colchester United (Div 3 South) at The Stadium, 14/10/1950
8. Southend’s top ten highest attendances ever away from home are:
53,043 v Everton (FA Cup) at Goodison Park, 05/01/1955
50,124 v Everton (FA Cup) at Goodison Park, 11/01/1947
48,839 v Tottenham Hotspur (FA Cup) at White Hart Lane, 11/01/1936
43,842 v Crewe Alexandra (JPT Final) at Wembley Stadium, 07/04/2013
43,454 v Liverpool (FA Cup) at Anfield, 04/01/1958
41,090 v Chelsea (FA Cup) at Stamford Bridge, 03/01/2008
37,797 v Liverpool (FA Cup) at Anfield, 17/01/1979
36,216 v Wrexham (LDV Final) at Millenium Stadium, 10/04/2005
35,811 v Tottenham Hotspur (League Cup) at White Hart Lane 20/12/2006