Back In Time: Here's a couple of reports on matches played between Shrimpers and Grecians, the first 87 years to the day; the second one, glad to see Southend fans travelling away even in those days.
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Saturday 16th December 1922
SOUTHEND UNITED 5-0 EXETER CITY
After such a bad sequence I suppose it was surprising that Southend were still nineteenth in the League, but just one point above Gillingham who were bottom but one, and three above Aberdare who were at the foot. Exeter had fared little better, one place and three points above, having lost there last three away games 0-3, 0-6 and 1-5.
The game was only ten minutes old when Jackie Slater gave the Blues the lead, and ten minutes before half time George Davies made it two. The home spectators were quite content with this score line at half time, but on the brink of the whistle Jimmy Evans rushed in like a whirlwind to slot home the third. Eight minutes into the second half George Davies scored his second and Arthur Woodland (pictured right) completed the scoring (the only goal he ever scored for Southend in the Third Division).
A disappointing crowd turned up but it was only a week before Christmas, however they were treated to a best of the season 5-0 win. Southend stayed at nineteenth place in the league. Team: Hall; Bissett and J. Evans; Woodland, Halley and Booth; Firth, Dobson, Goodwin, Slater and Davies
There was a sudden rise to Southend football stock, and the hope is being freely expressed that the boom may continue. For the United to score five goals without reply against third Division opponents is "rare and refreshing fruit" indeed for the supporters and it is hoped that their appreciation of their splendid form, will be appreciably shown in the Christmas gates. There were scarcely 4,000 on the ground to see those five goals scored. From the Southend Standard 21st December 1922
Saturday24th September 1921 EXETER CITY 4-1 SOUTHEND UNITED
Exeter had won once and lost six so far and were bottom of the League, they had scored only three goals and conceded seventeen, for Southend this match should have been about as easy as it gets.
SCIENCE AT A DISCOUNT
The visit to Exeter is always a trying one for Southend for it means travelling from before nine o'clock in the morning until within less than an hour of the game, while by the time the party has returned home at night they have accomplished a journey of 450 miles for the homeward route is the longer way via Bristol. The tediousness of the day is not relieved by such a result of that of Saturday.
The Exeter ground is all against good open football for it is the most cramped enclosure in the Third Division and the touch lines and corner flags converge very close on to the fences making it dangerous for wing men and wing halves.
One compliment must be paid to the Exeter crowd and that is that they are a thorough sporting lot, and generally cheered smart things done by their opponents. One wished that were more football crowds like them. That the Blues had some support present was evidenced by voices here and there urging the visitors on.
The match was productive of little that is pleasing in spectacular football, Science was at a discount, of aimless kicking, slicing and booting into touch there was a super abundance. The United after the opening five minutes, never looked like winning the match and from this period onwards they were overplayed and their defence kept hard at it.
From Southend Standard 29th September 1921
I'm actually quite impressed that some Blues fans had made the long trip to Devon, clearly the Blues were not a good side, they had only won one of seven games and although they were close to the bottom of the table but Exeter were rock bottom. Perhaps our fans thought we might get something out of the game, if they did think that they were sadly mistaken. Southend dropped to nineteenth place in the table.
Team: Capper; Lawson and J. Evans; Wileman, Lawrence and Martin; F. Harris, Allen, Nuttall, Howard and Elliott.
Extracts from the "Forgotten Years of the Kursaal" by Peter William Baker
Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Years-Kursaal-Southend-United/dp/0955597641/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260915122&sr=1-1 |
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