Although the parade started some six weeks after the Play-Off triumph itself at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, secured with a 2-0 extra time victory over Lincoln City, there were still thousands of people from southeast Essex and beyond who thronged their way down to the seafront to watch their heroes show off the trophy itself.
The journey, which was curtailed having initially been scheduled to begin at Roots Hall, started at Chalkwell Park, from where it continued, past Westcliff Casino and The Plough pub onto the Esplanade. Literally hundreds of supporters led the way, followed by tens more walking alongside the procession.
The open top bus, supplied by Ensign and driven by Steve Newman, was led along the seafront by a solitary police car, although there was never any danger of the scenes turning nasty such was the jubilation etched onto the faces of the Shrimpers’ support. The bus slowed down underneath the new Pier Hill complex, allowing the BlueBelles to display their wares, selling flags and scarves to grateful fans.
On the top the coach many of the key members of the promotion-winning squad, save for the departed Nicky Nicolau, as well as bit-part players such as Drewe Broughton, Michael Kightly and Jimmy Corbett, were joined by new acquisition Mitchell Cole, who remained at the back of the vehicle with ex-Grays Athletic team-mate and top goalscorer Freddy Eastwood.
The player’s wives, girlfriends and young children all sat on the top deck, with the squad periodically parading the trophy, waving flags and signing shirts as the bus wended its way down towards the Kursaal. Here it turned around and headed back up Pier Hill, finally parking at the entrance to the pier.
At the end of the procession, the players left the coach to be welcomed to a special marquee reception hosted by Southend Borough Council. They were joined by St. Bernard’s School Under-14s girls side, who won a national trophy at the end of the season but were pathetically denied to parade their trophy on a second coach by an over-officious headteacher.
Nothing could detract from the nature of the celebrations though, and Steve Tilson and his charges can now concentrate on a successful 2005/6 Coca-Cola League Two campaign, one that may not end with a trophy parade, but certainly could prove to be one not to forget. Join us as we support the Blues all around Britain next season!
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