Tuesday 7th October 1969 Division 4
Getting to away games was getting harder and harder, travelling by train was so expensive that you had to be selective of which games you could afford to go to. Generally mid week away game were not an option but when someone I didn't know personally offered us a lift I jumped at the chance.
He was quite a bit older than us but was an acquaintance of one of my friends, he was also a friend of Keith Lindsey, Southend's full back. Keith came from Scunthorpe, his brother was also a professional footballer, We stopped off at Keith Lindsey's mother's house where she made us very welcome, gave us tea and cake. Prior to that we had stopped in Lincoln and had a wander round the Cathedral.
It's a shame the Scunthorpe team couldn't have been as obliging as Mrs Lindsey, they beat us 2-0, and it was early morning by the time we got home.
SCUNTHORPE UNITED 3-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
Saturday 22nd September 1970 Division 4
On the Friday night we were drinking in the "Spread Eagle", a car load of mates were going to Scunthorpe, but not me. As the night went on I started to regret it, but as I walked home with a mate, we decided to hitch hike to Scunthorpe. When? well straight way actually. We went home changed, got some money, and started hitch hiking from Eastern Avenue at about Midnight. We got a lift to the North Circular, where we were trying for a lift when a police car pulled up, after questioning us on what we are up to, they parked right next to us. Who's going to give us a lift with a police car right next to us? After a while they pulled off. A few more lifts and we arrived in Scunthorpe late morning.
We met up with our mates who were amazed to see us as we had no intention of going when we left the pub last night, one bit of luck we find a couple of blokes with a mini bus who can give us a lift back. Appalling game lost 0-3, still where's our lift? They had gone without us. One of my other mates had a bright idea have a "skinfull" in their club then you won't care, easy for him to say when he could sleep in the car home, but we did go into their club. One memory I have was the players coming in, one player, Peter Hunt, was drinking "Brown Ale Shandy".
We made our way to the road, got a lift quite quickly to a roundabout outside Doncaster, then a second lift, in the back of a van with load of tools, not the most luxurious or comfortable ride but they got us back in London in time for a pint in a pub and watch "Match of the Day" on their telly.
P.S. I wouldn't suggest anyone trying hitch hiking these days!
Saturday 22nd December 1927
The players got changed in readiness for the match, but just before 2.30 the time allotted for the kick off the referee called the match off. The Swindon players returned on the 3.24 train, and the spectators who had paid were given vouchers that could be used for another match. The Southend match was the only first class game called off in the country.
So they charged admission knowing the game would almost certainly be called off! Mind you aginst Scunny everyone had bought tickets so what's changed!