While Mark Wallis made his own way like many others who drove to the biggest day in Southend United's 98-year history, the aeroplane journey was a disaster for all concerned, people travelled on Shrimpers Trust-organised trains and on overnight coaches for the weekend, I was placed in control of one of the Trust-run coaches. It was a massive achievement for Chris Berry and Paul Yeomanson to get them all out of the Prospects Car Park outside Roots Hall by seven o'clock, and then everyone into the ground by kick-off time.
Most of the 21 coaches from the club car park were packed off full, and mine had the company of BBC Look East reporter Gareth George, who was filming me for the programme's news item at 6:30 this evening. Our coach had been involved with diesel difficulties earlier on in the day, and therefore the drivers wanted a long stop - an hour at Leigh Delamere was quite ridiculous, and we did not arrive at the parking area in Lloyd George Avenue until 12:10. After another short interview, it was off to the ground - where I finally arrived at 12:45!!! Talk about worried about missing the big day.
PRE-MATCH
Not much time to soak up the pre-match atmosphere really given the circumstances - the queues for food were very long as they always are in big stadiums, but the stewarding and turnstile operators were good, and not nearly as bad as we had been told to expect. Drink was available inside the ground, which was an opportunity taken by many in the Shrimpers Trust block of seats.
Prices were high, again as to be expected, and programmes went for £5. I had already bought my copy to keep it in pristine condition, and having flicked through it before the match was relatively satisfied that it was a better effort than last season's. However, the Shrimpers Trust LDV Final Souvenir Magazine is still much better quality, and better value for money at just £3.
THE MILLENNIUM STADIUM
What a magnificent setting for Southend United's first national final in a 98-year history? The Millennium Stadium is truly outstanding as a complex and in its location - just outside Cardiff Central Station, not far from the city centre and a plethora of fast food outfits and pubs. Inside it is everything that you could ever expect and the new Wembley, and indeed any stadium that the Shrimpers may hope to move into in the near future.
The ground is three-tiered all the way around save for the end opposite the Southend contingent - the North End. Southend supporters were mainly in the South and West sides of the stadium, and the big screens were fantastic to look back and review recent incidents. However, I am reliably informed that behind row 15 in the upper tier, fans could not see the big screens, which doubled up as scoreboards, and that is a disappointment.
The only trouble with the complex is parking - supporters are located a good ten or fifteen minute walk from the ground, and although those driving get a park and ride lift closer to the complex, on the buses it is a different story. The driver of the team coach talked of the VIP car park being tawdry and bemoaned the conditions down there - those on the Trust Girly Coach would like to have found out after being denied the opportunity to go in there, despite having a pass. At a ground such as the Millennium Stadium, that should not happen.
THE MATCH
What can you say? Blackpool, were handed a disgraceful opening goal when scorer John Murphy and two other men were in offside positions as the big centre-forward slammed the ball into the net 75 seconds in. At that stage of the game it denied Blues the chance to get into the encounter early on, and they were always on the back foot. A strangely muted first period ensued.
In the second half the Shrimpers were much brighter, and it was a surprise when Martin Bullock supplied Daniel Coid with a cross that the versatile midfielder fired into the bottom right-hand corner. The Third Division side continued to fight hard, and had a fine chance when Leon Constantine latched on to Mark Gower's free-kick, but thought he was offside and failed to finish.
The 16,000 Southend United fans did themselves proud. They sang for long periods considering that they were spread out around the ground, and "Stand Up If You Love Southend" spread brilliantly during the first half. It was tear-jerking and spine-tingling when we gave a rendition of "Southend 'Til I Die" as the players came around to applaud us for our travelling and take our clapping on board.
THE VERDICT
Some in the ground were inconsolable - Phil Lamb especially was in a strangely tearful and subdued mood. Others were more phlegmatic, citing that we will never experience this sort of thing again - we are the lucky ones that have seen Southend United's first ever national cup final. And some just stayed quiet throughout. But no-one will forget the day.
(Article first appeared March 22 2004)