Uproar From The 'Bob' Supporters At Price Increase

In 1935 Southend United supporters were outraged when just over a year after moving to a new ground at the Stadium, prices were increased.

From 1919 the standard admission to watch Southend (and most other clubs including first division sides) had been one shilling (also known as a bob) which is now 5p.

In 1928 at the Kursaal a covered stand was provided for the "Bob" supporters, but on moving to the Stadium the East stand was the "Bob" stand, but the middle portion was set aside for those willing to pay admission at 1s 6d (7.5p), but when in 1935 this area was extended comdemning many of the "Bob's" to stand in the open these enthusiasts were none too happy:

GRANDSTAND CHARGES

Sir - May I offer a few words of congratulations to the directors of Southend United F.C. on their latest and most successful attempt to alienate completely the sympathies of their largest and most long-suffering band of supporters?

I refer to their exploit in extending the 6d stand to right and left for several yards, thereby cramping still further the already small space allotted to the shilling spectator. Owing to the formation of the ground it is essential for ample accommodation for the shilling spectator to be provided opposite the playing arena but for the sake of a few sixpences these "bob" supporters whose loyalty to the club through a chequered period has been an object of admiration and who are therefore deserving of every consideration are to be frozen out or jammed together like sardines in the few square yards of available space.

Lovelace Gardens Supporter -

From the Southend Standard 14th November 1935

GRANDSTAND CHARGES - FURTHER PROTESTS

Letters of protest continue to be received in the Standard Office regarding the extension of the 1s 6d areas of the east stand at the expense of the shilling patrons. Having had the benefits of the two wing sections of the stand since the commencement of the season, those who pay their shillings for each first team game are now finding themselves confined to a much smaller space and last Saturday many late comers had to stand out in the open terraces in the rain:

Quite a number of the residents employed in London hurry home on Saturdays to support their own local professional team (Southend United Football Club), sportsmen indeed when it is so easy to see the cream of professional football at Stamford Bridge, Highbury, Tottenham etc. and practically all offer covered accommodation for a shilling.

Now that this accommodation at the Stadium has been considerably curtailed and restricted to a very small area at either end of the stand unless an extra sixpence is paid. I cannot see how the action of the directors of the club will ensue a continuation of the generous supporters as given in the past.

Sir; I enclose a copy of the petition sent to Southend United on November 15th to which was attached forty signatures regarding new arrangements for grandstand accomodation. Loco Dept L.N.E. Railways.

No spectator likes to view his game through barbed wire for that is what they have to do now when we are standing round the banks for they not properly terraced.

'An old Supporter since 1914' writes similarly and says he and others have decided to stay away until matters are righted.

The real supporters who attend every week in all weathers many of whom undoubtedly cannot afford more than the shilling entrance fee are thoroughly discouraged by the alteration of the enclosure. One can never see the alteration increasing the revenue for the old 1s 6d area was never properly filled and now there is such discontent that very many of these supporters are staying away and may do so now until the end of the season.

Shoebury Supporter -

From the Southend Standard 28^th November 1935

Sir; I send the following as a protest:

The Southend team are off the bottom,

So the "bon" supporter is forgotten,

The Thrifty directors erect two fences,

And give more room to the eighteen pences,

The "bob2 supporter is in the rain,

Will that supporter come again,

He thinks of when the club was down,

Then thinks again with a drown,

And thinks to himself, If I stay away,

And others too then will come the day,

When they will only be too glad to let us,

Pay a schilling and thereby get us,

So 'bob' supporters think again,

Is it worth it in the rain,

Think of what other supporters are getting,

While we are having a darn good wetting,

Those fences will come down as sure as fate,

When the Directors see a falling gate.

Hildaville Drive supporter

From the Southend Standard 28^th November 1935

Extracts from "Southend United under the Shadow of War" by Peter William Baker