Top England players that nearly signed for Southend United

That's Roy to the right, Johnny Haynes to the left, and some bloke with a big chin in the middle

ROY BENTLEY

While the Ipswich game was in progress Manager Harry Warren and Chairman Mr. Nevil Newitt were watching the Bury v Newcastle Reserve game.

The "spotting squad" thought that, although a fine player, Bentley would not fit into the United side. Business was not discussed and it looks as if the proposed deal is off for the present.

From the Southend Standard 11^th December 1947

Note: Roy Bentley was part of one of Newcastle's most impressive forward lines alongside Len Shackleton and Jackie Milburn.

In January 1948 he signed for Chelsea for £12,500 and went on to make 367 appearances scoring 150 goals for the pensioners and was leading goalscorer for the Londoners in each of his eight seasons with them.

He made 12 appearances for England scoring 9 goals.



WILF MANNION

Old Man Rumour has been busy this week flitting among the United fans in the town, and if his messages were correct Harry Warren would already be strutting around the town in a top hat with mounted cane, as a manager of a star studded side which would relieve the England selectors of all headaches.

Such players as George Dick, Wilf Mannion and several others were definitely joining the United said rumour. Houses had been purchased for these stars in Thorpe Bay and Dick was reported to have expressed a preference for the cockling industry over the corned beef racket in the Argentine. Now back to reality with a bump.

From the Southend Standard 30^th September 1948

NEW PLAYER SIGNED AT LAST

At seven o'clock on Wednesday evening in a Liverpool hotel, Southend United gained an Irish International player when Mr. Harry Warren signed forms for Jimmy McAlinden, inside forward from Stoke City. The fee paid for this player, who will be playing for Ireland on Saturday is in the region of £6,500.

So ended a hectic week when national newspaper headlines were proclaiming many fantastic developments and the football world was set alight by the demand of £15,000 for the services of Stan Montgomery.

Montgomery has signified his intention to play Division One football and the sounding of wedding bells in the background may have something to do with this urge to shake the dust of Southend from his feet. Directors do not propose to stand in this players way and are prepared to accept offers.

A deal now regarded as "off" is that of Dudley for Mannion of Middlesbrough, it is pretty certain that Mannion will not move far from Oldham.

From the Southend Standard 7^th October 1948

Note: Wilf Mannion is arguably the best ever player to appear for Middlesbrough, and had made his debut in 1937, by 1948 he was still young and ambitious and wanted to move on.

However, he moved his family to Oldham where he hoped to set up business and play for the local team. Middlesbrough were not happy to sell and put a £25,000 price on his head.

Extracts from 'Southend United - The Boom Years: 1946 to 1955' by Peter William Baker

And DODTS will be pleased to know that the two players linked with the Shrimpers are still with us, but sadly not our signing from Stoke who went on to play over two hundred games for the club!

The Bentley Files

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Bentley)

The Mannion Files

Personal information
Full name	Wilfred James Mannion
Date of birth	16 May 1918(1918-05-16)
Place of birth	South Bank, Middlesbrough, England
Date of death	14 April 2000(2000-04-14) (aged 81)
Place of death	Teesside, England
Playing position	Inside-forward
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1936-1954 1954-1956 1956-1958	Middlesbrough Hull City Cambridge United	341 (99) 016 0(1)
National team
1946-1951	England	026 0(11)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilf_Mannion)

The McAlinden Files

Personal information
Full name	James McAlinden
Date of birth	27 December 1917
Place of birth	Belfast, Ireland
Date of death	15 November 1993
Playing position	Inside - Right / Forward
Youth career
1934	Glentoran
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1934-1938	Belfast Celtic	?	(?)
1938-1939	Portsmouth	53	(9)
1939-1945	Belfast Celtic	?	(?)
1945-1946	Shamrock Rovers	?	(?)
1946-1947	Portsmouth	0	(0)
1947-1948	Stoke City	33	(2)
1948-1954	Southend United	217	(12)
1954-1955	Glenavon	?	(?)
Total		303+	(23+)
National team
1937-1948	Ireland (IFA)	5	(0)
1946	Ireland (FAI)	2	(0)
Teams managed
1954-1967	Glenavon
1969-1975	Distillery
1976-1979	Drogheda United
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_McAlinden)

(Thanks to www.whoateallthepies.tv for the Roy Bentley photo and www.belfastceltic.org for that fine picture of our Jimmy.)