Except it wasn't, in Europe war which had been looming for the last year was about to explode and the whole country was apprehensive but all you can do is carry on as normal as long as you can and that is just what Southend United did!

TWENTY EIGHT REPORT FOR TRAINING TODAY

Twenty eight professional footballers are reporting for training and receive their first orders at the Stadium today and after their kit has been handed out by Trainer W. Cartwright and his assistant Harry Footman, they will be taken on a five miles long stretch round the boulevards and the sea front.

From the Southend Standard 27^th July 1939

During the past week the players have been continuing their road work in the mornings and on Tuesday they had the ball out on the ground for shooting practice. On Saturday supporters will have the opportunity of seeing some of the clubs new players with the first public trial match at the Stadium kick off 3.30 p.m.

From the Southend Standard 10^th August 1939

Wednesday 11^th August 1939
Hospital Charities Match: Southend United 2-2 Colchester United

If every League match could provide as much entertainment as this match then the crowds would soon come flocking back and the attendance for the Wednesday evening kick off was 1,733 and produced receipts of £101 7s 6d which will be split between Southend General Hospital and Colchester Hospital.

Martin scored for the Blues in the twenty fifth minute but two goals in three minutes gave Colchester the lead in the first ten minutes of the second half. Southend staged a commendable fight back and Martin equalised in the sixtieth minute.

Team: Hillman; Milne & Trainer; Harris, Hague & Black; Sibley, Bolan, Martin, Bell & Ormandy.

Saturday 12^th August 1939
Public Trial Match Blues 4-2 Reds

The match was held on one of the finest days of a poor summer and considering the counter attractions of county cricket at Southchurch, the Carnival Queen matinee at the Gaumont Cinema and the women's Bowls tournament a crowd of 2,000 of whom about 1,540 paid for admission was quite pleasing.

Bolan gave the Reds the lead after fourteen minutes, Ormandy equalised six minutes later, and five minutes after the break Scaife added a second followed by another from Ormandy and Walton added the fourth. Martin scored for the Reds with virtually the last kick of the match.

Blues: Hillam; (Roper); Milne & Robinson; Harris, Hague & Jackson (Downey); Smirk, Scaife Johnston, Shallcross (Walton) & Ormandy. Reds: Hankey; Tucker & Trainer; Leighton, Jones & Black; Sibley, Bolan, Martin, Bell & Coyde

Sir - In answer to a previous letter asking if it would be possible to build another tea bar for the 1s 6d centre stand, it would not be possible, but I am doing my best to persuade the Football Club directors to have gates cut in the barriers and issue passes to the 1s 6d patrons and so enable them to go to either one of the two tea bars already in the stand. I would also like to mention to patrons would come up just before half time for their tea they would save themselves delay in being served and they can drink their tea in comfort. Catering Manager

From the Southend Standard 17^th August 1939

Saturday 19^th August 1939
Jubilee Benevolent Fund Southend United 1-1 Clapton Orient Kick off 3.30

It was difficult to judge the prospects for the season with the players rushing around in a heat wave, but certainly playing a team from the same division was a sterner test than the usual trial matches.

As this match was the return fixture from the previous season it should have been played in Leyton but due to the many other attractions on in London it was decided to play the match at Southend and a crowd of 3,340 were present but this was considerably down on last years figure.

The United opened promisingly and it was against the run of play that Orient scored after twenty five minutes but within two minutes the Blues were level when Johnston rounded off one of the best moves of the match with a picture goal. In the second half Clapton dominated the play and had the opportunities to win the match.

Team: Hillam; Tucker & Trainer; Harris, Hague & Black; Sibley, Bolan, Johnston, Bell & Ormandy.

Saturday 19^th August 1939
Jubilee Ben. Fund Clapton Orient Reserves 4-0 Southend United Reserves

Manager David Jack took the opportunity of giving a number of promising players on the books a run out in this Jubilee Benevolent game and although losing 0-4 this result was not a fair reflection of the play.

For the greater part of the game they had an equal share of the play but the home forwards showed better finishing which proved to be the deciding factor, with Orient scoring two goals in each half.

Team: Rope;: Fairchild & Robinson; Leighton, Jones & Jackson; Coyde, Scaife, McGrane, Shallcross & Walton.

The season started and the first three matches were played until war was declared on the 3rd September 1939 and football was briefly halted to be later resumed with friendly and complex war competitions.

Extracts from
Southend United Under the Shadow of War
By Peter William Baker