January
Barrington Belgrave scored twice in January - the first being the consolation against Tranmere in the Cup
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Barrington Belgrave scored twice in January - the first being the consolation against Tranmere in the Cup |
Results:
First Team
Tues 8th – Southend United 1 (Belgrave 76) Tranmere Rovers 3 – F.A. Cup Third Round
Sat 12th – Southend United 1 (Bramble 23) Mansfield Town 0 – Third Division
Sat 19th – Darlington 2 Southend United 2 (Maher 78, Belgrave 89) – Third Division
Tues 22nd – Southend United 2 (Rawle 36, Hutchings 71 (pen) Hull City 0 – Third Division
Sat 26th – Southend United 1 (Whelan 49) Torquay United 1 – Third Division
Tues 29th – Halifax Town 1 Southend United 1 (Woodward (og) 82) – Third Division
Reserves
Wed 9th – Cheltenham Town 1 Southend United 0
Monday 14th – Peterborough United 2 Southend United 3 (Szmid 10, Richards 62, Chibogu 89)
Wed 23rd – Bristol Rovers 0 Southend United 2 (Szmid 26, Risbridger 90)
Tues 29th – Southend United 1 (Richards 5) Colchester United 1
The year began in frosty conditions in the south-east region. New Years Day was expected to see the Shrimpers travel forty miles west to East London for the derby game with Leyton Orient, but at 11:00 on January 1st it was postponed until a later date. Four days later, Blues big Third Round F.A. Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers also fell victim to the weather, but by the following Tuesday, 8164 fans filed into Roots Hall to witness the Second Division side prevail. With the skill of Jason Koumas on show, the visitors rushed into a two-goal lead, but Barrington Belgrave poked home with fifteen minutes left to give Southend hope. Alas, it was not to be, and following a foul on Belgrave, a bizarre drop-ball decision led to Sean Flynn restoring a two-goal advantage.
The month of January also saw United’s League campaign revived and then falter badly. A Tes Bramble goal in the first half gave the Seasiders the lead against third-placed Mansfield, and with the aid of a desperate rearguard action for fully half-an-hour during the second period, Blues clung to the points. A week later a 2-2 draw with Darlington consolidated their mid-table position, and then Mark Rawle and a Carl Hutchings penalty gave the Shrimpers a well-deserved 2-0 win over Hull. By then United were just two wins from the Play Offs with only one defeat in seven encounters. The fixture list saw them up against four of the bottom five in the next three weeks.
Unfortunately it all began badly. In a dull match at Roots Hall Phil Whelan gave Southend the lead over Torquay, but Eifion Williams restored parity with ten minutes to go. 1-1 was not good enough, and it was soon followed by an equally poor performance at rock-bottom Halifax in front of the second lowest attendance in the Football League that season. Ex-Shrimper Gary Jones gave the Shaymen the lead, but a deflected Leon Johnson strike with just eight minutes to go ensured the Seasiders didn’t lose.
Off the field, January was eventful. Great Wakering Rovers midfielder Dan Trenkel linked up with the second-string, for whom Ben Smith also returned to training. The boost meant that after a 1-0 reversal at Cheltenham, Blues Twos went unbeaten in the next three games, beating Peterborough and Bristol Rovers before drawing with rivals Colchester in a game that was played at the third time of asking. Steven Clark finally made his move from West Ham United permanent for a fee of £12,000, although that would increase to £50,000 with appearance bonuses.
February
Results
First Team
Sat 9th – Southend United 0 York City 1 – Third Division
Fri 15th – Swansea City 3 Southend United 2 (Cort 6, Whelan 86) – Third Division
Tues 19th – Cheltenham Town 1 Southend United 1 (Newman 83) – Third Division
Sat 23rd – Hartlepool United 5 Southend United 1 (Belgrave 90) – Third Division
Tues 26th – Southend United 2 (Bramble 45 (pen), 57) Bristol Rovers 1 – Third Division
Reserves
Mon 4th – Southend United 4 (Coburn 45, 63, 87 (pen), Forbes 47) Norwich City 0
Wed 20th – Southend United 0 Cambridge United 1
Wed 27th – Southend United 3 (Richards 8, Smith 63, 72) Essex Police 0 [Friendly]
February was the month that finally proved that Southend were not going to be promoted and ended with many players having been released or seeing their future with United being cut short. On the field, the four-week period started disastrously. With the Friday night fixture at Whaddon Road postponed, it was re-arranged for the 19th. A week later, lowly York were the visitors to Roots Hall, and they stole a 1-0 win through Steve Parkin’s 85th minute goal. The following Friday, in a dreadful defensive display, Blues went down 3-2 to Swansea at the Vetch Field, Chris Todd capitalising on two Darryl Flahavan errors either side of Leon Cort’s equaliser. Mamady Sidebe effectively wrapped things up with fifteen minutes to go before Phil Whelan scored a consolation at the death.
The Cheltenham match was played amongst wet conditions in the West Country, and Rob Newman prodded home a late equaliser to level out a tough encounter. Four days later came the worst 90 minutes of the season for all Blues followers – a dramatic 5-1 defeat at Hartlepool. Two goals from Richie Humphrys and others from Paul Smith and fringe players James Coppinger and Jermaine Easter had the match won easily inside 70 minutes. Substitute Belgrave scored a consolation goal in injury time. The last League game of the month was a welcome victory – the first for 35 days – when Tes Bramble netted a brace to hand United a 2-1 comeback victory over Bristol Rovers.
The Reserves thrashed Norwich in the Avon Insurance Combination thanks to Chris Phillips’ favourite player – Sean Coburn – scoring a hat-trick, before a narrow defeat to Cambridge. A trio of home games was completed at Boots and Laces in a Friendly against Essex Police, where Ben Smith returned to action and added to goals to an assist for Tony Richards.
Meanwhile, in the manager’s office, strange things were happening. Goalkeeper Flahavan was worrying most Shrimpers supporters by refusing to sign a contract, and he was joined by high profile names such as Leon Cort and Kevin Maher. Rob Newman issued them with an ultimatum – if they hadn’t signed within a month, then they would be dropped. Gareth Risbridger did leave, joining non-League Salisbury Town, and Carl Hutchings it seemed would pre-empt Kevin Maher by signing for Leyton Orient. Dan Trenkel failed to be offered a dream contract after a second trial, and scholar Gerald England was not retained. However, on the plus side, Preston’s left-sided midfielder Brian Barry-Murphy joined up for a month, and ex-Arsenal and one-time Shrimpers loanee Ina Selley returned until the end of the season. Colchester United winger Matt Hearn briefly performed for the Reserves, but was let go after one game.
Leon Cort was top scorer for Blues in March
March
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Leon Cort was top scorer for Blues in March |
Results
First Team
Sat 2nd – Southend United 2 (Bramble 29 (pen), Cort 43) Oxford United 2 – Third Division
Tues 5th – Carlisle United 0 Southend United 0 – Third Division
Sat 9th – Southend United 0 Rochdale 0 – Third Division
Tues 12th – Leyton Orient 2 Southend United 1 (Barry-Murphy 63) – Third Division
Sat 16th – Lincoln City 0 Southend United 1 (Steven Clark 7) – Third Division
Sat 23rd – Southend United 2 (Cort 16, Newman 25) Scunthorpe United 0 – Third Division
Sat 30th – Kidderminster Harriers 2 Southend United 0 – Third Division
Reserves
Wed 6th – Northampton Town 0 Southend United 0
Wed 13th – Barnet 1 Southend United 2 (Anthony Clark 57, 87)
Wed 20th – Southend United 2 (Whelan 19, Wallace 63) Luton Town 2
Wed 27th – Southend United 1 (Whelan 76) Millwall 1
By March, the Shrimpers were simply playing to finish in the top ten. The “contract rebels” as they were labelled across the local media, were dominating the headlines. Darryl Flahavan was dropped to the Reserves as Danny Gay impressed between the sticks, keeping clean sheets against Lincoln and Scunthorpe. Kevin Maher played against Orient at Brisbane Road as Paul Brush declared that he “would love” to have a player of Maher’s quality of his books. None of the players signed up, and replacements were already being considered at Combination level.
Adam Wallace of Southampton and Rio Alderton of Millwall came in on a regular basis, the former netting his first goal against Luton at Roots Hall. That was in the middle of a run of three draws in four games for Blues Twos, including a dull match at Sixfields and more exciting fayre at home to the Hatters and Millwall. An Anthony Clark double at Barnet handed United their only victory of an unbeaten month. Hugh McAuley of Cheltenham was also given a trial until the end of the season, having been injured at the original date for agreement between the two clubs.
The first team were without Phil Whelan and Darryl Flahavan for spells as Newman carried out his ultimatum – well, for some players at least. Despite all the threats, Damon Searle, Leon Cort and Maher all remained in the side. Wallace and Alderton were both signed until the end of the season, making them eligible for first team action. Elsewhere though, Barry-Murphy left to return to Preston and Matty Hearn was finally told that he was surplus to requirements.
On the pitch, matters began with the team throwing away a two-goal lead at home to Oxford after Tes Bramble and Cort gave the Shrimpers a decent cushion. Bramble’s penalty was the last goal scored by a Southend striker in the season. Stuart Thurgood deflected home the U’s first and Scotty Forbes conceded a penalty in what would be his last game for the club. Two bore draws with Carlisle and Rochdale ensued before a dreadful performance at Orient that questioned nearly every player’s commitment to the club. Steve Clark netted his first United goal at Lincoln and the defence (and Danny Gay) did the rest, before Leon Cort and Rob Newman helped the Seasiders to a 2-0 win over Scunthorpe at the Hall. Aggborough was not so pleasant, but Blues remained 12th after a 2-0 reversal.
April
Results
First Team
Mon 1st – Southend United 3 (Maher 39, Whelan 41, Broad 75) Exeter City 1 – Third Division
Sat 6th – Plymouth Argyle 0 Southend United 0 – Third Division
Sat 13th – Southend United 0 Shrewsbury Town 2 – Third Division
Sat 20th – Macclesfield Town 0 Southend United 0 – Third Division
Reserves
Wed 3rd – Southend United 3 (Steven Clark 59, Wallace 76, Anthony Clark 81) Swindon Town 2
Wed 10th – Leyton Orient 0 Southend United 2 (Wallace 43, Forbes 62)
Mon 15th – Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Southend United 1 (Bramble 78)
Wed 17th – Southend United 3 (Anthony Clark 45, 51, Rawle 53) Gillingham 3
The season ended early with the ensuing World Cup to start at the end of May, and Southend’s scoring ended on the very first day of that month. Graeme Tomlinson had given Exeter a 1-0 lead at Roots Hall, but goals from Kevin Maher and Phil Whelan in the space of two minutes just before the break and then Stephen Broad with fifteen minutes left handed United a 3-1 win on Easter Monday. Five days later the Shrimpers went to Home Park and earned a well-deserved 0-0 draw against the Champions Elect, despite the referee Ray Olivier doing his best to try and award a penalty after Mickey Evans’ handled in the Shrimpers penalty area.
The home season ended the next Saturday with a 2-0 defeat to Shrewsbury
which handed the visitors a Play Off place. Rio Alderton made his debut, a week after Adam Wallace and two weeks after Danny Lunan. Tes Bramble and Mark Rawle returned against Macclesfield, but could not make an impression as the highlight of 0-0 draw was a twenty man ruck at the end of the first half. Blues finished 12th, just inside the top half, in a position that they had held for most of the season. Amazingly, Darryl Flahavan won both the Club and Supporters Player Of The Year Awards after a poor end to the campaign.
The Reserves ended their campaign in a little more style. Both the Clarks (Steven playing in his last match before serving out a suspension for his dismissal against Scunthorpe) and Wallace scored, and the latter made it three in four games when he netted the first against Orient in a 2-0 win. A slight blip at Brighton followed, but Roots Hall saw it’s final action of the season when Gillingham came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3. Anthony Clark added two more goals, making him top scorer in the Combination for Southend as his side finished tenth – an excellent effort from Steve Tilson’s men.
The Roots Hall reception also became a departure lounge throughout the month. Firstly Under-19’s boss Ricky Duncan announced that he was off to join up with the Cambridge Youth Academy, whilst a few days later Marek Szmid, a former youth talent with Manchester United, and Canewdon-born Scott Forbes were released by Rob Newman. Striker Adam Wallace, despite making a huge impact on Blues Twos, was surplus to Newman’s requirements, although Rio Alderton was invited back for pre-season. The revolving door would continue throughout the summer.
Plymouth topped 100 points as they were promoted above Luton, and Mansfield completed the trio of automatically promoted clubs. Halifax Town ended up nine points adrift at the bottom, with severe financial difficulties meaning that a quick return was unlikely. The Shrimpers mid-table finish meant that they finished up six places (and six points) above East London rivals Leyton Orient, but unfortunately Colchester United managed to complete their season thirteen points clear of safety. The Seasiders real derby would be delayed for another season at least.
Brett Angell appeared for Rushden in the Third Division Play Off Final at the Millenium Stadium
May
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Brett Angell appeared for Rushden in the Third Division Play Off Final at the Millenium Stadium |
Traditionally the month where everything is tied up, the Nationwide League’s regular season had long since shut down by May, with the World Cup at the forefront of most people’s minds. However, on the first Saturday of the month, Cheltenham Town defeated newly-promoted Rushden & Diamonds 3-1 at the Millenium Stadium and were promoted via the Play Offs to the Second Division. Rob Newman kept Ron Martin’s chequebook closed throughout the month, and there was precious little activity at Roots Hall.
June
There was high drama in the Nationwide Conference as it was revealed that promoted side Boston United and their manager Steve Evans had been involved in decidedly dodgy transfer dealings and that there were three options left to the Football Association – a hefty fine, an expulsion from the League or a points deduction. Dagenham & Redbridge, who had finished level with the Lincolnshire club, but with an inferior goal difference, and Halifax Town were pushing for the expulsion, although it was the Yorkshire club who were most likely to benefit. It would not be until the second half of the year that the verdict would be given.
In the World Cup, England drew with Sweden, heroically slayed their demons with a 1-0 victory over Argentina (inspired, ironically, by David Beckham, who slotted home the penalty winner) and then clawed through against Nigeria. Having progressed from a tough group, a sensational first half performance gave them a 3-0 win over Denmark, but it all came to an end in the Quarter Finals against eventual winners Brazil with that free-kick from Ronaldhino. Predictably, Germany also reached the final, where Ronaldo poked two goals past Oliver Kahn to guarantee South American success in Japan and South Korea.
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Closer to home, the fixtures for the forthcoming season, and then the pre-season tour were announced. Premiership Charlton Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United were all to bring sides to Roots Hall in July and August. One man not facing them would be Ben Smith, released and ultimately joining Hereford United. Port Vale winger Danny Maye signed for the Shrimpers on a three-month contract from Port Vale, and Thailand International goalkeeper Jamie Waite was expected to link up with the youth teams. Danny Webb appeared to be on his way out of the Hall having rejected a new one-year deal but as for the rest of the side that would have to wait until next month. The biggest news was that Darryl Flahavan was yet to sign, but all would not be revealed until pre-season.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com