Back In Time: Read about the Shrimpers supporter who cycled 250 miles in awful weather to see his heroes, and how Colchester were still not allowed into the football league!
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In December and January 1939 the weather was terrible games being called off and abandoned at Christmas the third round tie at Chestefield abandoned and every game seemed in doubt. Finally, on the Monday night Southend beat Chesterfield after extra time and had a fourth round tie against Blackburn in only four days time on the following Saturday. Did all this deter the intrep Southend supporters? Of course it didn't, especially Mr. P. Atkinson of Prittlewell who was ready with his bike. Sir, if you are still around I, and I'm sure all at Shrimpers 24, salute you. Sat. 21st January 1939 F.A. Cup Round 4
BLACKBURN ROVERS 4-2 SOUTHEND UNITED
Under inclement weather conditions at Blackburn Southend United put up a great fight but lost at Ewood Park by 2-4. However the club's reputation for playing clean, wholesome and good football was greatly enhanced by their performance, the Sunday Chronicle stated, 'the conditions were about as bad as possible, and the light was never good enough'.
The crowd of 21,200, while good by Blackburn's standards was the poorest of the day, and the Blues overall receipts from the six Cup ties will amount to only about £1,400 which barely covered for the lost revenue over Christmas let alone the Compensation due to other clubs for the postponed fixtures.
Blackburn took the lead after only four minutes but Bushby levelled the scores on 27 minutes. Rovers scored again in the thirty fourth minute and two minutes later it was three due to a goalkeeping error from MacKenzie failing to hold a high ball. Bolan paved the way for Bell to reduce the arrears but the equaliser wouldn't come and in the sixty fifth minute Blackburn scored again to settle the tie.
About 40 Southend supporters arrived in Blackburn at 6.00 a.m. having caught the 12.20 p.m. from Euston, and had to tramp the streets until they could find a hotel open to have breakfast.
About the same number arrived about 1.00 p.m., plus one supporter from Prittlewell Mr. P Atkinson of Mayfield Avenue who had cycled the 250 miles leaving on Thursday afternoon and also Larry Gains the boxer was in attendance.
Southend United: MacKenzie; Milne & Robinson; Harris, Hague & Downey; Smirk, Bolan, Bushby, Bell & Martin.
And with Colchester on Monday what they were up to in 1939?
Well, they actually had the cheek to apply for election to the Football League and even managed to get some poor club to vote for them, nowhere near enough of course they had another eleven years before they were allowed in.
THIRD DIVISION (SOUTHERN) RE-ELECTION The voting went as follows: 45 Votes Bristol Rovers Re-elected to the League 36 Votes Walsall Re-elected to the League
15 Votes Gillingham Not- elected to the League 1 Vote Chelmsford City Not- elected to the League 1 Vote Colchester United Not- elected to the League |
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