The LDV Final - The Mark Wallis Preview

Last updated : 19 March 2004 By Mark Wallis

Bobby Harvey and myself celebrate after the Area Final victory over Colchester United - Lewis Hunt provided us with the flag!
For that is a special monent my life - and indeed that of every Southend United supporters = which I will never forget for as long as I live. Not only had we just seen off the auld enemy over two magical legs, including a fantastic 3-2 victory at Layer Road, but it gave Southend fans something they had always dreamed of.

Not in their long 98-year history have the Shrimpers ever previously reached a major Cup Final, but in that one moment every dream had suddenly come true, and no sooner were the Colchester players consoling themselves on the pitch was Turner's voice belting out around Roots Hall.

Then, out of the blue, each and everyone of Southend heroes - Flahavan, Jupp, Stuart, Cort, Warren, Hunt, Maher, Gower, Constantine, Bramble, Pettefer and most of all the man who did it for us, Drewe Broughton - were dancing around the pitch with flags emblazoned 'We're Going to Cardiff'. Oh, what a wonderful moment!

Unfortunately yours truly was close to breaking down in tears when that final whistle blew - tears of joy of course - but I managed to keep them in - just - and a couple of little wipes to my face was enough, but I'm sure I wasn't alone. After all that Blues supporters have gone through - particularly in the last eight or so years - getting to this Final was simply beyond belief and the joy purely unrivalled.

Thats was some 30-odd days ago now, and it seems like an age, with some many vital League games in the meantime, but Southend have only lost once since - and that came courtesy of two own goals at Leyton Orient, and have in fact been defeated just that once in two months, a run stretching an impressive twelve matches.

However, win or lose, every Southend supporters, and it seems there will be around 16,000 of them on Sunday, will be rejoicing in their sides first national cup final. A victory over Second Division strugglers Blackpool will just be the icing on the cake, and complete an unbelievable dream.

Blackpool have in fact visited the Millennium Stadium twice before; they defeated Leyton Orient 4-2 there in the 2000-01 Division Three play-off final and also blasted four past Cambridge United in a 4-1 LDV Vans Trophy rout in 2001-02. Perhaps the novelty has worn off somewhat for the Lancashire Seasiders, but of course theore performance won't buckle and every one of the 22 players on that pitch will have just one thing on their minds - victory.

Whether the Southend side will feature the name of Mark Gower has yet to be determined. The inspirational midfielder - who is a key part in most things Southend do going forward - has been sufferinmg from a season long niggling knee injury and will be opearated on in the summer, and he has missed the Shrimpers last two Division Three encounters. Gower has rated himself at 75 per cent fit to play, but something inside me tells me that he will start no matter how fit he is.

Of course Southend will be without the cup-tied duo of Mark Bently and Lawrie Dudfield who have both played and scored in this season's competition for Dagenham & Redbridge and Northampton Town respectively. I would expect Broughton and Tesfaye Bramble to start up front whilst 18-goal leading scorer Leon Constantine will probably continue on the right flank. Should Gower's fitness prove itself, it would be great to see him slot into the centre of midfield alongside skipper Kevin Maher, who will of course be the fist man to get his hands on the Trophy should Shouthend finidh the game victorious.

Southend travelled to South Wales today (Friday) ahead of the final, and I believe they are staying at Newport's plush Celtic Manor Hotel on the M4, but I'm not totally sure of thar. Nevertheless one thing I know for certainly is that the Shrimpers impressive, and one-off, silver shirts will be packed away safely. For those of you that don't have one, the exclusively designed Nike shirts are still available from the Club Shop at £39.99, the shop should be open tomorrow (Saturday) until around midday. Also on sale is the official match programme at £5, and of course if your going to the game by coach be sure to look out for Lewis Crowe, Phil Lamb and Rob Craven in the Roots Hall car park selling the Trust's Limited Edition magazine 'There's Only One Team In Essex!'.

Enjoy your trip, enjoy your day, enjoy the match, and hopefully I'll see you all on Sunday at some stage!

Up the Blues!

Mark Wallis
www.thelittlegazette.com