Saturday 28th December 1929
Southend's game at Somerton Park Newport was postponed due to the condition of the ground. The pitch was a quagmire and a couple of steps onto the pitch was enough to realize that play was impossible. With Billy Moore injured a telephone call had reserve goalkeeper McKenna travel up to make his first team debut but his was also a wasted journey.
"On arrival at Newport they found on emerging from that town's busy station that the frost and clear air of Bristol had given way to gloom, mud and rain. They had not proceeded far in their dash for a tram when they were met by some of the County reserves with upturned collars. "Hope you can all swim" was the laconic observation of one "You'll need to the pitch is ten feet underwater".
From the Southend Standard 2nd January 1930
The game was re-arranged for the end of January the same day the reserves were also in Wales on the same day'
Saturday 25th January 1930
NEWPORT COUNTY 0-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
Merthyr were isolated at the bottom of the table six points adrift of their nearest rival, above them five teams were separated by just two points. Newport were at the top of this bunch seventeenth in the table but very nervously looking over their shoulders. However their home record was good, winning six, drawing four and losing only one. Although this was another goalless draw it was a sparkling encounter, with both sides in exciting form, and the Southend defence played with a confidence that had been missing of late. The weather was a mixed bunch with sunshine and showers changing constantly and the conditions were deceptively treacherous but that added to the drama from the spectators point of view. A well known scout from Lancashire was present keeping an eye on one of the Southend players but it wasn't known which one. Southend remained sixth in the League. Team: McKenna; French and Robinson; Dixon, Ward and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Bailey and Borland.
London Combination: The Junior Blues were just a little further on at Cardiff and in an excellent first half the amateur Ferry put the Blues in the lead, but Cardiff equalised before half time, and 1-1 was how the scores remained at the final whistle. Another young amateur also impressed for Southend Charlie James.
It was a strange circumstances that for the first time ever both the first and second teams travelled together for their games in Wales (although Newport technically wasn't in Wales at the time). Both teams left Paddington on a train just after nine, and a dining car was reserved, and other players were about as the Army were playing the Police at Newport, while the Corinthians were also at Paddington. The party consisted of twenty five, headed by Mr. Bernie and Trainer Cartwright and Bill Goodwin making up the party. The original game at Newport had been postponed but with both Southend's and Newport's scheduled opponents still engaged in the Cup it was ideal to play the rearranged game. On arrival at Newport time was tight for the first team as the station was about a mile and half from the station so taxis were chartered to take them to the ground, the tram would have taken too long.
Extracts from
'The Forgotten Years of the Kursaal'
The Home of Southend United 1919 to 1934
by Peter William Baker
LIVE SCORES