The S24 Preview: Tranmere Rovers v Southend United

November 23 2009

PREVIOUSLY

During 1994-95 the Club replaced three sides of Prenton Park with new stands. Only the Main Stand on one side of the pitch was left intact. This stand is fair sized all seated, covered stand, that was opened in 1968. It is two tiered and contains a couple of supporting pillars.

The ground though is dominated by the Kop Stand at one end of the stadium. This stand that has a capacity of around 5,500, dwarfs the rest of the ground and replaced a former open terrace. After a long campaign by Tranmere fans, the large Kop End is now purely for home fans.

The John King Stand (formerly the Borough Road Stand), is a small covered stand that runs the entire length of the pitch.

Away fans are housed in the opposite end, the affectionately named Cowshed. However, you will be relieved that the only connection with a real cowshed is the name, as the fairly new covered, all seated stand, has good facilities and unhindered views of the playing action. It can hold up to 2,500 fans.

(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.co.uk for the above)

WEATHER

Not surprisingly, heavy rain is forecast during the day, so there could be more route one stuff than usual from both sides.

FIXTURES

Tuesday, November 24th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Charlton v Bristol Rovers, Colchester v Stockport, Exeter v Millwall, Gillingham v Yeovil, Hartlepool v Southampton, Leeds United v Leyton Orient, MK Dons v Carlisle, Norwich v Brighton, Swindon v Huddersfield, Tranmere v Southend, Walsall v Oldham, Wycombe v Brentford.

REF

The man in the middle is, er, David Webb, but this one is from County Durham.

He gives an interview here: www.refworld.com/referee/186/1/david-webb

BET

To Win:

Tranmere - 17/10, Draw - 12/5, Southend - 13/8.

For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-one

TRANSPORT

By Coach go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDW3&id=450306

By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDW7&id=450456

By Train go here: http://www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDW5&id=450302

PUB AND PIES

As it's a midweek game and most will be going by the coaches, head for the Mersey Clipper next to the ground, for full info go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=EDW8&id=473756

HISTORY

The club was founded by a merger of two local cricket clubs in 1884, before changing its name from Belmont to Tranmere Rovers a year later. The club played its first match in the Liverpool & District Challenge Cup in 1886. In 1921-22 the club joined the newly formed Third Division North of the Football League. They were also winners of the 1934-35 Welsh Cup.

Though they played in blue shirts and white shorts for much of their existence, the club's traditional home kit is now regarded as white shirt, shorts and socks, with blue trim.

The name Tranmere refers to a district in the south of Birkenhead, on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula. Tranmere alone has a population of 11,668 (2001 Census). The area is made up of industrial buildings and Victorian terraced houses. Its name was given by Norwegian Vikings who settled and colonised Wirral in the 10th century. Tranmere in Old Norse is Trani-melr, "cranebird sandbank" or "sandbank with the cranebirds".

The club has faced years of strong competition for supporters from the two much larger local clubs, Liverpool and Everton, which is why they have played many of their home fixtures on a Friday night at the club's request.

John Aldridge, the former Liverpool striker who scored nearly 500 goals in his professional career, was appointed player-manager of Tranmere in March 1996 and remained at the helm for five years, although he hung up his boots in 1998. His predecessor was John King, who took Rovers from the brink of losing their league status to the brink of reaching the Premiership.

Between 1991 and 2001 they were in the second tier of English football, reaching the play-offs three times and the League Cup final once before being relegated.

Former England player Tommy Lawton represented Tranmere during war-time.

As of the 1st May 2009 Tranmere were in 7th place, 2 points behind Scunthorpe United in 6th place with both teams only having one league game remaining. This game was between the two sides at Glanford Park. A win would secure Tranmere a play-off place and anything less would mean Scunthorpe would qualify for the play-off's. Tranmere scored in the first half through Craig Curran, but unfortunately for them Scunthorpe equalised from a header with only minutes remaining. The match finished 1-1 ending Tranmere's dream of getting the play-off's for the 2008-2009 season.

Ronnie Moore was sacked by Tranmere on the 5th June 2009. In an official statement, the club said: "Attendances have dropped by more than 19 per cent during the last three years and the club felt that now is the right time to move forward in a new direction."

Moore's final act was to sign ex-Oldham midfielder Mark Allott.

John Barnes was officially named as manager of Tranmere Rovers on 15 June 2009, with Jason McAter assisting him, after Barnes himself had confirmed the appointment a day earlier.

Tranmere suffered a miserable start to the season, and Barnes' reign was under pressure almost immediately. A run of six successive losses was halted by a draw with Colchester United and then a win over Wycombe Wanderers. Any hopes of a revival were immediately dashed by a comprehensive 5-0 loss to Milwall, Tranmere's worst defeat in six years, giving the team the worst goal difference of any side in the English leagues and fuelling talk of relegation even at this early stage in the season.

Both Barnes and McAteer were sacked by the board on 9 October 2009. Chairman Peter Johnson told the club website: "Unfortunately results have not gone our way this season and we are at the wrong end of the table. We must now focus on finding the best possible candidate." Physiotherapist Les Parry was placed in temporary charge, assisted by reserve boss Shaun Garnett. Following a 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient Tranmere hit the bottom of League One on 21 November 2009.

For a more comprehensive history of the Rovers, go here; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranmere_Rovers_F.C.)