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Chelmsford are currently under the leadership of the fearsome-looking Craig Edwards, a man who guided Blues’ Score side to Butcher Cup success in May 2000 as well as bringing through his son, also Craig, who made a single first class appearance for United against Mansfield Town a year later and is currently an inaugral part of the Clarets midfield.
Edwards, junior and senior, both joined the Club from Redbridge following the dismissal of Steve Moseley last season. Many of the East London sides players followed suit as a relegation scrap suddenly turned into a cheeky promotion play-off push. Ultimately City slided into a final spot of eighth in the Ryman League Premier Division.
However things are most certainly on the up for the exiles. Boss-Edwards has been shrewd in the transfer market, often returning to Redbridge for new faces as well as bringing in one-time Millwall and Sunderland frontman Jamie Moralee. However, City have unfortunately lost the services of combative midfielder Richard Thomas through work commitments as well as reliable goalkeeper cum penalty taker Paul Nicholls who stunned supporters by wishing to step up the ladder before signing for League rivals Heybridge Swifts.
Chelmsford may also be better prepared for this clash as unlike United match practice has already been had, the Clarets thumping Ridgeons Leaguers Long Melford 7-0 in Suffolk on Wednesday night.
Southend though, ahead of Sunday’s promotion parade along the seafront, will be pulling on the dark blue shirts for the first time since that memorable play-off final victory over Lincoln City in the slightly surreal surroundings of the Millennium Stadium some seven weeks ago. Seven weeks - surely the shortest close season of all time! City on the other hand finished their campaign a leisurely eleven Saturday’s ago, with an unfortunate defeat at Leyton at the back end of April.
Of that promotion winning squad, Nicky Nicolau has chosen to move onto pastures new with fellow League One side Swindon Town, Tesfaye Bramble has joined basement division Stockport County following his release whilst Lawrie Dudfield’s future is still in doubt, having returned from his trial at Peterborough United unsuccessfully, with manager Steve Tilson insisting he would like the frontman to stay at Roots Hall. There is a chance Dudfield may feature at New Lodge.
Tilson’s single summer signing thus far, Grays Athletic’s highly rated winger Mitchell Cole will undoubtedly appear for the Shrimpers for the first time along with his former Grays teammate and Millennium Stadium hero Freddy Eastwood, who will be partnered on the frontline by Wayne Gray simply as there currently is no-one else!
United fans will also be granted a first viewing of trialists Nikola Jozic, Tottenham Hotspur’s Mark Wright and Maldon Town youngster Paul Goodacre, whilst a number of youth teamers will make up the squad as Tilson will probably look to field differing sides in each half.
The game kicks-off at 3pm at Billericay Town’s New Lodge ground.
SOUTHEND UNITED (from):- Darryl Flahavan, Bart Griemink, Che Wilson, Duncan Jupp, Lewis Hunt, Spencer Prior, Adam Barrett, Andy Edwards, Mark Bentley, Kevin Maher, Jay Smith, Luke Guttridge, Mark Gower, Carl Pettefer, Mitchell Cole, Freddy Eastwood, Wayne Gray, Lawrie Dudfield, James Lawson, Joe North, Max Porter, Nikola Jozic, Paul Goodacre, Mark Wright.