Sir - Can you inform me what justification exists for the directors of Southend United Football Club to raise the admission prices to the stands for next Saturdays Cup Tie as reported in last Saturdays Standard especially in view of the poor performance of the team and their opponents up to date? If there was an all round increase in the price I could understand it but to penalise one section of supporters who already pay 150 per cent extra for the privilege of sitting on a narrow plank for nearly two hours by asking them for another 20 per cent is beyond the limit. So far as my action is concerned if it is fine I shall pay 1s and if it is wet I shall stay at home, in any event the club s coffers will suffer.
From the Southend Standard 7th December 1933
Saturday 9th December 1933
F.A. Cup Round 2
Chester had only been elected the Third Division North two years previously and had finished third and fourth in those two years. Although they had had a subdued start to the current season and had dropped to 20th in the League they had hit some spectacular form. In the two previous weeks to this cup tie they had won 7-1 against Rochdale and 7-0 against Accrington and the week after the cup tie they then beat Darlington 8-0, but these victories had all been at home, Southend were playing Chester at the Kursaal.
A crowd of 6,524 were in attendance including about 200 from Chester and the gross receipts of £415 gross and about £347 shared between the two clubs meant that in the two cup ties the club had made a loss. The good news was that the Blues managed to score, and score in spectacular fashion. Firstly, a spectacular pass by Dixon found Stevens who scored his first goal for the club again in spectacular fashion. Chester equalised mid way through the second half and the game seemed to be heading for a draw when a snap goal by Barnett settled the result in the Blues favour.
In honesty, Chester were disappointing and didn't live up to their reputation. In the new year Chester deteriorated losing 0-9 and 1-6 and dropped back to 20th, but they finished with a flourish winning eight of their last eight games and finished 10th. Chester really were an unpredictable side and as Southend were bottom of the Third Division South at the time winning this tie was a excellent result. Team: Whitelaw; Robertson and Bateman; Dixon, Wilson and Morfitt; Barnett, Jones, Stevens, Lane and Clenshaw.
The draw for the Third Round meant a long trip to Tranmere and local coach operators ran coaches to the game.
Saturday 13th January 1934
F.A. Cup Round 3.
Tranmere were not a side to be underestimated. It was a very successful season for them, they were never lower than fourth in the Division 3 (North), and were top of the Division for 25 consecutive weeks and missed promotion when they dropped off in the last few weeks to finish 3rd, they had only lost two home game all season.
When Southend played them they were at their peak. It was a heavy muddy pitch which didn't suit the Southend style of play, but nevertheless they started well. However the game changed in the ninth minute when Tranmere were awarded and converted a penalty, and from this moment on the Blues heads went down and they never looked capable of retrieving the situation. It was little surprise when a second goal was added before half time.
In the second half Rovers were just as aggressive trying to add to the score and the game ended 0-3 with Tranmere the faster, quicker side. The attendance was 13,533 with receipts of £737 18s which while pleasing was still the second lowest attendance of the round.
Team: Whitelaw; Robertson and Bateman; Dixon, Wilson and Morfitt; Mustard, Jones, Stevens, Proudfoot and Lane.
As usual when the United play a Cup-tie away from home, the proprietors of the Southend Standard ran a special edition of the Southend Pictorial telegraph containing a full report of the game and final score and copies of this paper where on sale in the streets of Southend in less than three minutes after the sounding of the final whistle at Prenton Park.
From the Southend Standard 18th January 1934
Extracts from the FORGOTTEN YEARS OF THE KURSAAL
By Peter William Baker