1. Footymad
  2. Shrimpers Mad
  3. The West Stand
  4. Back in Time

In the Navy: Southend v Portsmouth 1919/20

Last updated : 11 August 2009 By Dad of Dave the Shrimper
THE OPENING GAME 1919-20

Extract from "The Forgotten Days at the Kursaal" by Peter William Baker


The Kursall, over 100 years ago; even before even the game played below!

Saturday 30th August 1919
Match No.1 Southern League

SOUTHEND UNITED 0-2 PORTSMOUTH
 
Few were argue that Southend were well beaten by a very strong Portsmouth side, but spectators should not have been downhearted by what they had seen, as the Blues put on an excellent performance and few sides in the Division are going to do well against the team from the Naval town.

The game started at a hectic pace and both sides had chances but after twenty three minutes a Portsmouth player found himself with only Leahy the goalkeeper to beat and he side tapped the ball into the net. Five minutes later Portsmouth scored again with an oblique shot that beat the goalkeeper, and at half time Pompey led by these two goals.

Southend started the second half strongly and looked liked they could reduce the arrears but Portsmouth took up the running again and the score remained unchanged. Two other sides also lost their opening home fixture in the Southern League.

Team: Leahy; Reid and Marshall; Emery, Sands and Woodward; Nicholls, Bellamy, Upex, Jones and Bridgeman.


The attendance was distinctly encouraging, 5,400 people being present and the receipts amounted to £270. It was a good start but it must be remembered that there were many visitors amongst the crowd and there would have been many more had the game been advertised by sandwich men amongst the thousands of people who teemed down the high street on Saturday morning.

The absolute necessity of doing something in the nature of through trams to the Kursaal was demonstrated. The scramble for one was far worse than a rugby scrum many hundreds could not get aboard and the public inconvenienced.

Seeing the Light Railways Committee were approached last week it is time they took action. By three o'clock there were over a thousand spectators in the ground and the turnstiles were kept merrily clicking until long after the progress of the game. The need for a grandstand was demonstrated and it is also a pity no provision has been made for a reserved enclosure.

From the Southend Standard 4th September 1919


South Eastern League: The Reserves put on a good performance at Fratton Park against a strong Portsmouth side but lost by 1-2. Southend were playing against the wind in the first half, but even so Dixon opened the score but Portsmouth equalised before the interval, and in the second half were just too strong for the Blues and scored a second which proved to be the winner.

The crowd was very impressive for a reserve fixture who were paying 8d admission and the receipts were £152 17s 9d.