In these difficult times we are all aware that with a small squad, injury problems and suspensions of the difficulty in getting a team together and even harder to have a full substitutes bench but these problems are not altogether new.
In 1935 Southend were also struggling to get a team together, mind you it was the third team they were struggling with, all three teams playing at about the same time on a Saturday afternoon!
Division Three (South) Southend United 2-0 Queens Park Rangers
Rangers where in a mid table position thanks to a good home record but away from home they had only gained four points out of a possible twenty six and had scored only eight goals in those thirteen games. While the win was very welcome the way in which was obtained was not, the game was very scrappy with a hit and hope attitude that somehow paid off.
Carr playing his first match as captain and won the toss and chose to play with wind behind the Blues, the Londoners started the stronger but the Blues scored through Johnson, but the enthusiasm was soon halted when the referee disallowed the goal for some reason not understood by the near 6,000 crowd (5,200 paid for admission). After thirty five minutes Clark seized a loose ball cut in and fired a shot into the corner of the net for the only goal of the first half.
The second period saw the United add a second when after good work by Barrow and Stevens the ball was fired in towards the post hit Lane in the face and rebounded into the goal. Tom Wilson played extremely well at centre half although he made a shaky start he was a tower of strength in the second half.
The win was important for two reasons firstly it was the Blues win of 1935 (only their fifth league win of the season) and secondly it was the first time the United had managed to keep a clean sheet after 30 unsuccessful previous attempts.
Southend stayed in bottom place in the league.
Team: Moore; Smith and Robinson: Mackay, T. Wilson and Carr; Barrow, Lane, Stevens, Johnson and Clark.
London Combination: Crystal Palace 1-2 Southend United
The Junior Blues seemed to have gained a new lease of life since Christmas gaining seven points from five games, and the unexpected win at Selhurst meant they were now only three points behind Southampton and the Blues had two games in hand and there was now a possibility of getting away from bottom spot.
Deacon opened the score in the first half but Palace equalised just after the break. Rogers netted the winner for the United, thanks to a goalkeeping error, just before the end.
Team: Watson; Robertson & Kelly; Williams Jackson & Gulliver; Bushby, E. Jones, Cheesmur, Deacon & Rogers
Benefit Match: Lathol Athletic 2-2 Southend United
This was a benefit match for G. Smith a player who had assisted the Southend Reserves, and for this match Dickie Donoven was given the role of a manager for the first time and one he won't forget about in a hurry.
Firstly two amateurs who were to be given a trial didn't turn up, then the barrier at station was closed just before they left and the team missed the train, hurried telephone calls managed to arrange transport which got them to Stanford at 3.20.
The team was due to be completed by a local player but he didn't turn up either and the team had to be made up by a mate of Benny Jones and a local Stanford lad.
The game had more drama when Bertram Jones received a nasty cut and had to be driven to the local doctors. However the occasion went well and the Stanford officials were pleased by the outcome, the Southend goals were scored by a Fryar and French a young Southend boy.
1934-35 was a bad season with both first and reserve teams finishing bottom but one in their leagues, nevertheless David Jack decided to keep a lot of the players.
RETAINED PLAYERS
Although the list is not yet available for publication, I understand Mr. Jack contemplates offering terms to about sixteen players that is just under half of those on the United's books. It will probably be found that there will be a good sprinkling of the young players on the list.
From the Southend Standard 21st February 1935
At the end of the season the club applied for admission to the London Midweek League so that the third team could have regular fixtures rather than just friendlies.
Extracts from a future book on the Southend Stadium currently being researched by Peter William Baker.