The Solo Shrimper in Oilskins, 83 years ago!

Crystal Palace were fifth in the league with just one defeat in seven home games, while Southend were ninth.

The United started with the strong wind behind them and soon found themselves two goals up and by half time their lead was 3-1 however it was different story in the second half, when Palace made full use of the wind and scored four times to take both points. Southend stayed in ninth place in the League.

Team: Moore; French and Bell; Jewhurst, Alb. Purdy and Beaumont; Morris, Harvey, Hick, Donoven and Smith.

Behind the Southend goal there was some trouble during the second half when the spectators refused to give up the ball and a policeman had to grace that part of the field with his presence and he remained near the net for the rest of the game.

There were not many spectators but during the second half the drenching rain became a drizzle and the people on the terrace collected behind Moore's end. They probably stood together to keep one another company as there were so few of them.

Five minutes before the end there was one solidity spectator in oilskins on one side of the enclosure, while on the other there were a couple snuggled under an umbrella. There was no shelter for the players, however and they were a pretty sight by the end. Moore was bespattered with mud from head to toe.

From the Southend Standard 18^th November 1926.

London Combination: The pitch at the Kursaal has never been in such a sorry state as it proved to be for Southend Reserves v Crystal Palace. Literally it was a quagmire from the Beresford Road goal was a wide pool of water which extended almost to the half way line and from the edge of the pool to the opposite touchline was a series of pools several inches deep. Added to this was incessant rain, making conditions almost impossible. Quite simply the biggest mudlarks won and that was Palace by the score of 2-4.