It seemed strange to write at the time but Paul Sturrock was the new Southend United manager
So it's the first year anniversary for Paul Sturrock as the Blues boss.
Just a day after after the news broke that Steve Tilson was to be sent on gardening leave, not chairman Ron Martin's finest hour but then again there's so many to choose from, and with unholy speed, Luggy was in, with the long forgotten Tommy Widdrington, not much heard about the former Sailsbury boss since he left in December last year, joining the former Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, (see below!), manager.
We've already written on these pages that since the dark days of last summer and the smallest squad in league history, (four seniors and some kids?), left behind after the debacle of 2009/10 and relegation back into the basement division, we appreciate what a fine job Sturrock has done in such difficult circumstances.
13th in League Two is of course nothing to go overboard about, and he did make mistakes towards the end of the last campaign, but this is no time to be churlish, you've got to pat him on the back, say happy anniversary, and we're wait until this time next year to see how good a Shrimpers boss he's really been.
Optimisim is back with the Shrimpers faithful, though a few are quite rightly wary of what we've been through and what might lay ahead, a couple of stories today about OAP's losing their free season cards and Uncle Ron's continued Alice Through the Looking Glass approach to Fossetts Farm will still give the most confident Shrimper a few shivers down the spine.
We remain very financially challenged!
However, that's a story for another day, for now, congrats on a job well done Luggs, can't wait to see what next season brings under your management.
So what were you doing this time last year?
From Shrimpers 24 Monday, July 5th, 2010
The Shrimpers have announced that Paul (Whitehead!) Sturrock will become their new first team manager where he has agreed to a three-year deal Monday morning.
Paul's assistant was named as Tommy Widdrington, who is also looking to sign a three-year contract.
Former Scottish international Sturrock, 53, has been in charge of clubs in all four divisions of the football league and in Scotland, where he started as boss of St. Johnstone in 1993, and after gaining them promotion, taking over at Dundee United.
It was after leaving Scotland the Aberdeenshire born Sturrock joined the then struggling Plymouth Argyle in 2000 that his stock started to rise.
After a boardroom shake-up, sadly not happening here at the moment so hope you know what your getting yourself involved in Paul, the Pilgrims romped home to the third tier title with a club record 102 points.
He soon had them topping the second tier as well where they eventually gained promotion to the old First Division but he had joined Southampton in the Premiership with 12 games left.
The Scottish accent didn't go down to well in leafy Hampshire, and he was off after only six months to Sheffield Wednesday where he gained them promotion via the League One play-off final and a 4-2 win over Hartlepool United.
Sturrock then went to Swindon Town in League Two, and this is what Ron was really looking at, gained them promotion at the first time of asking, though he could probably sign some decent players then!
Anyway, he upset a few Robins fans by going back to Plymouth for the 2007/08 season and they finished 10th, their highest league position in 20 years.
However, they just escaped the drop the year after, and with them deep in trouble last season was relieved of his post at Home Park, being pushed into a Business Support Role before leaving the club in April 2010.
Laurent joins Tilly as an Imp: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
The Sturrock Files
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Whitehead Sturrock | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Southend United | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bankfoot Athletic | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1974–1989 | Dundee United | 385 | (109) |
| National team | |||
| 1977–1982 | Scotland under-21 | 9 | (0) |
| 1981–1987 | Scotland | 20 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1993–1998 | St. Johnstone | ||
| 1998–2000 | Dundee United | ||
| 2000–2004 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
| 2004 | Southampton | ||
| 2004–2006 | Sheffield Wednesday | ||
| 2006–2007 | Swindon Town | ||
| 2007–2009 | Plymouth Argyle | ||
| 2010– | Southend United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
(Manager info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Sturrock)