The training home of the Premier League champions followed on from a related visit to Tottenham Hotspur last week for T&B who are sure it can only do good in their continued preperation for the new season.
Speaking to the official site Tilly said: "It was fantastic and certainly a thoroughly worthwhile thing for us both to do. We watched them training at close proximity and then Sir Alex sat down to have lunch with us. For him to do that and to also allow us to watch the training and see the facilities they have is just superb and we're very grateful to him for letting us do it."
Ferguson, who joined Manchester United 23 years ago, has now managed his team to 11 Premier league titles and also won two European Cups with a possibilty of a third next Wednesday when thay take on Barcelona with a side of worls class talent.
He continued: "Seeing the players training was an experience in itself. The facilities there are first class too and they have an aqua pool which they use after training. It was all very interesting and we got to talk to everyone that was there, including the fitness staff which was very useful. It was in areas like that we learnt a lot and, although our facilities aren't anywhere near the same, there are still things we can try and use at Southend which I'm sure will help us next season."
Every Shrimper has November 7 2006 enshrined in his memory as the day Southend beat Fergie's men 1-0 in the Carling Cup fourth round. However, Tilly remembers him as the 'perfect gentleman' and "to let us come and do this at such an important time of the season says an awful lot about him as well." 
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While SurAlec is now the longest serving manager in the country, Tilly has climbed up to 5th in that particular league table.
Oh OK, here's that goal again:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFysv6je59M&feature=related