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General Information:
Ground: Gay Meadow (8,000)
Manager: Kevin Ratcliffe
Last Season: 9th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 21, Shrewsbury 14, Draws 11
Last Season: Home - 0-2 (Match Report), Away - 0-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 17th August, Away - 11th January
Transfers:
In:
Lee Kendall (Cardiff City) Free
Jason van Blerk (Hull City) Free
Out:
Andy Tretton (Hereford United) Free
Preview:
The Shrews will undoubtedly be a major challenge to Blues hopes of gaining a place in the play-offs if nothing else. Experienced wide men Ian Woan and Nigel Jemson will hope to provide hot-shot Luke Rodgers with the opportunities that he requires to fire the Gay Meadow club up a Division. With Kevin Ratcliffe in charge, Town will not be a pushover for any side, and with the potential at the club, a top seven finish will be the only way to appease the locals, who are looking forward to moving into a new 15,000 capacity stadium in the near future.
Swansea City
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General Information:
Ground: The Vetch Field (10,402)
Manager: Nick Cusack
Last Season: 20th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
Southend United vs. Swansea City:
Head-to-Head: Southend 13, Swansea 20, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 4-2 (Match Report), Away 2-3 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 18th March, Away - 19th October
Transfers:
In:
Andrew Marsh (Portadawe) Free
Jonathan Leaveney (Carmarthen) Free
Matt Murphy (Bury) Free
Michael Jackson (Cheltenham Town) Free
James Thomas (Blackburn Rovers) Free
David Smith (Grimsby Town) Free
Paul Reid (Bury) Free
David Ross (Falkirk) Free
David Theobald (Brentford) Free
Jamie Wood (halifax Town) Free
Out: (along with those released on free transfers due to the clubs financial plight)
Steve Brodie (Chester City) Free
Mamady Sidibe (Gillingham) Free
Preview:
Swansea have released virtually their whole first-team squad over the summer in an attempt to cut the wage bill and have replaced them with a mixture of young Welsh non-League exports, League campaigners and ex-Premiership youngsters. A whole new squad, which includes player-manager Nick Cusack, will hope to reverse the worrying slide in the Welsh clubs' fortunes, which has seen relegation and then a bottom-five finish in the last two years. This newly assembled squad will be either a hit or a miss, and depending on which it is, the Swans could see a mid-table position or the dreaded demotion to the Conference.
Torquay United
Ground: The Vetch Field (10,402)
Manager: Nick Cusack
Last Season: 20th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 13, Swansea 20, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 4-2 (Match Report), Away 2-3 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 18th March, Away - 19th October
Transfers:
In:
Andrew Marsh (Portadawe) Free
Jonathan Leaveney (Carmarthen) Free
Matt Murphy (Bury) Free
Michael Jackson (Cheltenham Town) Free
James Thomas (Blackburn Rovers) Free
David Smith (Grimsby Town) Free
Paul Reid (Bury) Free
David Ross (Falkirk) Free
David Theobald (Brentford) Free
Jamie Wood (halifax Town) Free
Out: (along with those released on free transfers due to the clubs financial plight)
Steve Brodie (Chester City) Free
Mamady Sidibe (Gillingham) Free
Preview:
Swansea have released virtually their whole first-team squad over the summer in an attempt to cut the wage bill and have replaced them with a mixture of young Welsh non-League exports, League campaigners and ex-Premiership youngsters. A whole new squad, which includes player-manager Nick Cusack, will hope to reverse the worrying slide in the Welsh clubs' fortunes, which has seen relegation and then a bottom-five finish in the last two years. This newly assembled squad will be either a hit or a miss, and depending on which it is, the Swans could see a mid-table position or the dreaded demotion to the Conference.
Torquay United
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General Information:
Ground: Plainmoor (6,283)
Manager: Leroy Rosenoir
Last Season: 19th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 50/1
Southend United vs. Torquay United:
Head-to-Head: Southend 30, Torquay 23, Draws 24
Last Season: Home 1-1 (Match Report), Away 1-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 19th April, 21st December
Transfers:
In:
Martin Gritton (Plymouth Argyle) Loan
Out:
Chris Brandon (Chesterfield) Free
Preview:
Once again the odds are fairly stacked against the South Coast side as they hope to survive another season in the Third Division. There has been little change to last seasons squad and that spells trouble considering the difficulties that they suffered last year. Chris Brandon's departure won't help, and Leroy Rosenoir's inexperience could prove costly. A real struggle to stay afloat looks ahead for the Gulls.
Ground: Plainmoor (6,283)
Manager: Leroy Rosenoir
Last Season: 19th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 50/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 30, Torquay 23, Draws 24
Last Season: Home 1-1 (Match Report), Away 1-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 19th April, 21st December
Transfers:
In:
Martin Gritton (Plymouth Argyle) Loan
Out:
Chris Brandon (Chesterfield) Free
Preview:
Once again the odds are fairly stacked against the South Coast side as they hope to survive another season in the Third Division. There has been little change to last seasons squad and that spells trouble considering the difficulties that they suffered last year. Chris Brandon's departure won't help, and Leroy Rosenoir's inexperience could prove costly. A real struggle to stay afloat looks ahead for the Gulls.
Wrexham
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General Information:
Ground: The Racecourse Ground
Manager: Denis Smith
Last Season: 23rd (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 10/1
Southend United vs. Wrexham:
Head-to-Head: Southend 10, Wrexham 14, Draws 12
Last Season: no meetings
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 2nd November, Away - 15th February
Transfers:
In:
Andy Dibble (Stockport County) Free
Paul Edwards (Swindon Town) Free
Dean Bennett (Singapore Football Association) Free
Out:
Craig Faulconbridge (Wycombe Wanderers) Free
Preview:
Wrexham certainly have the ability at the club to go straight back from where thay came this season, and in Denis Smith have a manager that is well-equiped to see that it happens quickly. He has invested wisely over the summer, central defender Bennett and goalkeeper Dibble strengthening the backbone of the side. Definitely a decent chance for the play-offs, and automatic promotion may just beckon.
Ground: The Racecourse Ground
Manager: Denis Smith
Last Season: 23rd (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 10/1
Southend United vs. Wrexham:
Head-to-Head: Southend 10, Wrexham 14, Draws 12
Last Season: no meetings
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 2nd November, Away - 15th February
Transfers:
In:
Andy Dibble (Stockport County) Free
Paul Edwards (Swindon Town) Free
Dean Bennett (Singapore Football Association) Free
Out:
Craig Faulconbridge (Wycombe Wanderers) Free
Preview:
Wrexham certainly have the ability at the club to go straight back from where thay came this season, and in Denis Smith have a manager that is well-equiped to see that it happens quickly. He has invested wisely over the summer, central defender Bennett and goalkeeper Dibble strengthening the backbone of the side. Definitely a decent chance for the play-offs, and automatic promotion may just beckon.
York City
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General Information:
Ground: Bootham Cresent (9,534)
Manager: Terry Dolan
Last Season: 14th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 33/1
Southend United vs. York City:
Head-to-Head: Southend 13, York 12, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 0-1 (Match Report), Away 1-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 12th October, Away - 29th March
Transfers:
In:
Craig Wilding (Chesterfield) Free
James Okidi (Motherwell) Free
Out:
Matthew Hocking (Boston United) Free
Preview:
Manager Terry Dolan represents the clubs best chance of climbing the league ladder. He should be able to work his whiles on making sure the club survive on the pitch in the same way as new chairman John Batchelor has done off of the field. There has, perhaps as expected, been little activity in the transfer market, but Dolan should guide his charges clear of trouble, and a similar finish to last season should be viewed on as a success.
Southend United
The Figures:
Last Season: 12th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
Transfers:
In:
Danny Maye (Port Vale) Free
Graeme Jones (St. Johnstone) £10,000
Neil Jenkins (Wimbledon) Free
Ian Selley (Wimbledon) 3-month loan, with a view to a permanent move
Out:
Scott Forbes (Canvey Island) Free
Leon Johnson (Released)
Rio Alderton (Released)
Ben Smith (turned down 3-month contract)
Danny Kerrigan (Released)
Adam Wallace (Released after trial)
Jeff Minton (Released after trial)
Marek Szmid (Released after trial period)
Preview:
And so to Southend United. The summer has seen a bit of a clear-out, and then the re-enforcement of the left-hand side with Danny Maye and Neil Jenkins siged on free transfers. In comes Graeme Jones to add some spice to the front line, whilst Tony Richards and Danny Webb still remain to mean that the Blues currently have six strikers. Ian Selley returns after his successful loan period at the end of last season, and hopefully a deal can be struck to get the former Arsenal midfielder to sign for the Shrimpers on a permanent basis. The squad is still young, but has a season's experience under its belt, and this year should see a marked improvement on last year. The new season will also signify the first full season under the stewardship of Rob Newman, and his backroom staff have been enhanced with the promtion to assistant manager of former Blues midfielder Steve Tilson, who joins another former Shrimper David Crown in that post. All three are still learning, but the side has a lot of promise, and players like leon Cort, Tes Bramble, Steven Clark amd Stephen Broad all have a lot of talent that, if it all comes together and the squad stays clear of injury, could see a lot of people surprised at the end of the campaign. Odds of 25/1 to win the title might just be a little bit long...But we'll see come May 2003. Definitley a good play-off chance (fingers crossed!!!)
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com
Ground: Bootham Cresent (9,534)
Manager: Terry Dolan
Last Season: 14th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 33/1
Southend United vs. York City:
Head-to-Head: Southend 13, York 12, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 0-1 (Match Report), Away 1-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 12th October, Away - 29th March
Transfers:
In:
Craig Wilding (Chesterfield) Free
James Okidi (Motherwell) Free
Out:
Matthew Hocking (Boston United) Free
Preview:
Manager Terry Dolan represents the clubs best chance of climbing the league ladder. He should be able to work his whiles on making sure the club survive on the pitch in the same way as new chairman John Batchelor has done off of the field. There has, perhaps as expected, been little activity in the transfer market, but Dolan should guide his charges clear of trouble, and a similar finish to last season should be viewed on as a success.
Southend United
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The Figures:
Last Season: 12th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 25/1
Transfers:
In:
Danny Maye (Port Vale) Free
Graeme Jones (St. Johnstone) £10,000
Neil Jenkins (Wimbledon) Free
Ian Selley (Wimbledon) 3-month loan, with a view to a permanent move
Out:
Scott Forbes (Canvey Island) Free
Leon Johnson (Released)
Rio Alderton (Released)
Ben Smith (turned down 3-month contract)
Danny Kerrigan (Released)
Adam Wallace (Released after trial)
Jeff Minton (Released after trial)
Marek Szmid (Released after trial period)
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And so to Southend United. The summer has seen a bit of a clear-out, and then the re-enforcement of the left-hand side with Danny Maye and Neil Jenkins siged on free transfers. In comes Graeme Jones to add some spice to the front line, whilst Tony Richards and Danny Webb still remain to mean that the Blues currently have six strikers. Ian Selley returns after his successful loan period at the end of last season, and hopefully a deal can be struck to get the former Arsenal midfielder to sign for the Shrimpers on a permanent basis. The squad is still young, but has a season's experience under its belt, and this year should see a marked improvement on last year. The new season will also signify the first full season under the stewardship of Rob Newman, and his backroom staff have been enhanced with the promtion to assistant manager of former Blues midfielder Steve Tilson, who joins another former Shrimper David Crown in that post. All three are still learning, but the side has a lot of promise, and players like leon Cort, Tes Bramble, Steven Clark amd Stephen Broad all have a lot of talent that, if it all comes together and the squad stays clear of injury, could see a lot of people surprised at the end of the campaign. Odds of 25/1 to win the title might just be a little bit long...But we'll see come May 2003. Definitley a good play-off chance (fingers crossed!!!)
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com