The long journey through Essex to see Southend win at home

Last updated : 15 September 2008 By Shrimpers24
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What ever happened to local derbies at Barling FC?

I usually get a day off from writing Day Trippers last thing on a Sunday evening after a home game, (thanks to DoDtS for last week's excellent read on his trip to Carlisle), but as engineering works dominated both lines at the weekend I was taken on a trip to places that, in some cases, I haven't seen for more than a decade.

As I looked up at the board at Liverpool Street it dawned on me that I'd forgotten all trains to Southend were stopping at Hockley for a bus transfer. As it was only a couple of stops and I couldn't be arsed to walk to Fenchurch Street I decided to board.

Usually a very easy 50 minute journey to Prittlewell an extra stop at Romford saw half the train get off, lots to do there then on a Saturday afternoon.

The train finally terminated at Hockley with one family who had wondered off the set of Shameless deciding they didn't have to get off, probably still there for all I know.

The promised bus was nowhere to be seen and it was a good 15 minutes before a Supreme double decker turned up which was filled to capacity very quickly, the driver not interested in checking tickets so free travel to Southend for anyone who wanted it.

I grabbed a seat upstairs at the front which was probably an error as the UK was having it'd traditional September start to the summer and that section was turning into a sauna! Also, in the seat opposite, was a young man who opened up a very large bottle of Smirnoff Ice and proceeded to polish it off before we'd even reached Rochford, brave man.

Captivated by the story of "my mum was chatted up by this real moron in the pub last night, I told him to fuck off," being told to the whole bus by a 12 year old girl, I nearly missed a great view of a quiet Southend Airport, before catching the sight of an old haunt from my youth. The Anne Boleyn pub in Southend Road just before the bus enters Rochford station, and again when you leave.

Built in 1901 the pub is rumoured to be haunted as Anne Boleyn was she was from this area, the original Essex girl indeed, not that followers of 'The Tudors' would be aware, though "Oi Henry I'm off to my pub for a pint", wouldn't sound out of place on that less than historically accurate series.

For a few months in the 'sensational' seventies a few of us would wonder up to this particular pub, for a reason that now escapes my mind, one of our number must have lived nearby, for fun and frolics on a Friday night. A shudder did come over me when I saw a roundabout that brought back a scary memory.

One mate, who had driven up, but had drunk as much as the rest of us, gave me a lift home and the two of us were singing Rod Stewart's 'Hot Legs' at the top of out voices, (no, that's not the scary moment, this was 1977), when by chance I looked up and the roundabout was right in front of us. I screamed something, my driver did a sharp left that Lewis Hamilton would have been proud off, luckily there was no other traffic on the road, and we both survived. There was no more singing for the rest of the journey.










The Anne Boleyn, it's haunted you know, but not by drunken drivers

On to Sutton Road and we were officially in Southend where the sign proudly tells us we are twinned with the Polish seaside resort of Sopot, what happened to that French place, maybe that's Hadleigh!

We passed the cemetery where both my parents are buried, must visit soon, no excuse as it's only 15 minutes walk from Prittlewell station, then the park where I played many games on a Saturday afternoon, days when you didn't miss many games thanks to Friday night soccer at the Hall.

Remembered running to the ground for a rare Saturday match in March 1980 and catching Nelson equalising against Sheffield Wednesday with 20 odd minutes left on the clock, still in my gear I think, no, must have taken the boots off!

The bus stopped for piss heads directly outside the Railway pub and I got off.
Sadly, I was having one of my not legendary 'no drinking' months, so having mastered the art of making one pint of Orange and Lemonade last a whole live Sky game, settled down to watch Liverpool v Man. United. Good stuff it was especially with the scousers coming back to win, always a pleasure watching ManU lose.

Off to the game that we just had to win, and did, (read about it here, www.thelittlegazette.com/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&id=407064).

A strange match, after 15 minutes we could have been three up if Walker had got his shooting boots on, but after Big Steve's injury we were all whistling for the end with loads of injury time still left. Crap shot or not that save right at the end might be priceless if this is the start of a good run.

Was this Mildenhall's career changing match for him at the Hall, we will see, but that might be longer than we hoped as Crewe doesn't look on and maybe a couple of others? Let's hope not.

Mildenhall - 8; The game that might win over the majority of the Blues faithful. Didn't really have that much to do but the bravery that first blocked the effort that led to the injury, and then the save in injury time that guaranteed the points, could well make this match a huge turning point for the Blues No. 1.

Francis - 6; Not good again, back to the days when he was dropped for Hunt. Looked as if in a different game at times and maybe was when well beaten by various Hereford forwards in the air and the ground. Gets an extra point for the odd good cross that created danger.

Clarke - 6; Again, bordered on a 5 with some odd clearances but a clean sheet is just that.

Barrett - 7; Did what he had to do in a game where he was not seriously pushed by the average Hereford forward line, leads by example.

Harding - 7; After commenting on how we must try and keep the Ipswich loanee for, at least, the whole season, he made a poor start with some uncharacteristic loose passing but soon got in the game to look what he is, a class act.

Walker - 5; What was up in the first quarter, hard to believe he's the six figure forward at times? Never quite got into the game though he has been out of the first team. However, has made it clear the wing is not his favourite position and at times on Saturday you could see why.

Sawyer - 6; So young Tom wants to stay, good on him, he's certainly got talent. Still prone to go on crazy runs, one across the area was priceless, but adds a bite that we need, hope Tilly works something out.

Christophe - 7; Man of the first half, his tall figure seemed out of place for a guy who displayed such finesse when he had the ball. Sadly this seemed to get lost in the second period when those feet took on a mind of their own, some of his shooting was wild in the extreme.

Betsy - 7; In my first report I gave Betsy an 8 and MOM for a storming first half when he went past Hereford defenders with ease. At last I thought, the power and strength we knew was there added to some finished product. Then, like his French colleague, it went walkabout at times in the second 45 but lets hope this is the start of what Bristol City fans saw as an exciting player at this level.

Freedman - 7; Definitely tired after half time on his home debut after another hard working performance, always looking for an opportunity to make an opening for himself or his team mates. Quite a surprise when he missed a one on one with the Hereford keeper early on but I'd still fancy him to finish on 20 goals.

Barnard - 7; Dougie has brought an extra dimension to the good Lords play, though still not as sharp in the box as he was last season, took his goal well however missed a similar opportunity after that. Like the look of them together, real quality, a partnership that could get us into the play-offs yet.

Subs; Robson-Kanu (81 for Walker) - 8; Unlucky to be dropped to the bench, looked OK. Grant (88 for Sawyer) - 8; Not so unlucky, daft booking for kicking ball away. Scannell (90 for Barnard) - n/a.

I'll give a 6 to the ref, fussy but they all are, but 3 to the linesman who gave offside to Harding at the corner flag with two Hereford men on the posts, twat!

Ha, I'll have those train companies on the way back, I'll go on the Fenchurch St. line from Westcliff. Well, no buses, but still some engineering work and a trip to London via the Tilbury line, thanks!

When you've got nothing to read and you've forgotten your radio, damn it, I was even sober, this is a very long journey. Bar some drunken lads trying to get to Basildon via Barking but in good humour there wasn't much else to help pass the time. Sorry to anyone from that area, by the railway line takes you past some grim sites, Old Leigh it isn't!


An aerial view of Grays, the place did give us Freddie.

The short walk from the station to Bank underground again allowed thoughts of how the financial situation will affect Fossetts Farm whatever Uncle Ron tells us, while bringing memories of my City days many years before. For many Shrimpers of course the place that pays the mortgage, if they'll lucky enough to have one, in the present day.

After all that I was home only 35 minutes later than usual but not a trip I want to do again, talk to each other boys, one line should be work free and, really guys, Strictly Come Dancing will be into its stride by the next Saturday home game in a month's time. (Stop ogling Rachel, the smart money's on Phil Daniels, 20-1. I've seen him dance in a London musical, honest, but that's a whole new article!)