It all began on the 6th December, when all Southend fans finally had the glimmer of hope that they had been waiting for since the Roots Hall land was sold off. Blues director Ron Martin, coupled with Delancey, controlling shareholders of the Seasiders, held talks with Lansbury, who own the land, and agreed that the latter’s plans for a B&Q warehouse could go ahead without hindrance to the construction of a 16,000-all-seater stadium on the plot. All that stood in the way now was Southend Borough Council and John Prescott. More later in the review…
Saturday 7th December 2002 – Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 53) AFC Bournemouth 1
The first match of the month took place at Roots Hall, with United continuing their F.A. Cup run with a second round draw with AFC Bournemouth. Midway through the first half, Kevin Maher created the opening opportunity for either side, but Graeme Jones’ header was superbly nodded off of the goal-line by Stephen Purches. Flahavan then made a lucky double save after parrying Steve Fletcher’s shot out to James Hayter. Fortunately the forward tapped the ball back into the custodian’s hands. Five minutes before half time, Blues were behind. Garreth O’Connor delivered the cross and Karl Broadhurst headed his second professional goal just a week after the first top put the Cherries in front.
Straight after the interval, Flahavan made a superb save from Carl Fletcher, but from then on Southend dominated. Jones’ shot was saved by Neil Moss, and Mark Rawle followed up by lashing the rebound over the crossbar. However, he soon made amends by volleying Leon Cort’s downward header into the roof of the net. Steve Fletcher hit the side netting at the other end before Jones was denied his second penalty of the afternoon. In the closing stages the visitors drove forward, O’Connor finally beating Flahavan from six yards but finding Dave McSweeney covering on the line. There would be more dramatic action at Dean Court ten days later.
In midweek, it was more off-the-field news that dominated. The Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue was the venue for more good news on Blues’ proposed move to Fossetts Farm. The B&Q development, supported by a loyal group of Shrimpers supporters, was passed by Southend Borough Council by twelve votes to two, the case of the NIMBY KARERS group being thrown out. However, the plans would yet be sent to Government minister John Prescott. The battle was (and is) by no means over…
Saturday 14th December 2002 – Southend United 4 (Leon Cort 7, 23, 88, Mark Rawle 39) Boston United 2
Three days on, the Seasiders celebrated in style with a nerve-wracking, if not sensational victory over newcomers Boston United. Just seven minutes into the fixture Cort opened his account, heading home Kevin Maher’s free-kick. Sixteen minutes later the former Millwall man was at it again as he powered home a Damon Searle set-piece. Six minutes before the break, Mark Rawle fired home a third and half-time was taken very easily in the Shrimpers dressing room.
However, the second period was far from easy. First of all Richard Logan smashed the ball past Darryl Flahavan before winger Mark Angel cut in from the left-hand side to beat the Southampton-born custodian. With over twenty minutes left to play, the Roots Hall crowd became frayed, but two minutes from the end, the four points were sealed as Cort nodded home Maher’s ball into the box. He was Blues first hat-trick hero for seven years, and became the first defender to do so.
Tuesday 17th December 2002 – AFC Bournemouth 3 Southend United 2 (Tesfaye Bramble 42, Mark Rawle 45)
In another tense F.A. Cup replay, Southend came off second-best – but only just. The first half was an open affair, and United were the better side in the opening 45 minutes. In just the first minute, Tesfaye Bramble charged down Gareth Stewart, and the ball squirmed across the goal, Graeme Jones just unable to capitalise. Tony Scully’s cross was then directed across the face of goal by Bramble. With Stewart carried off after a challenge from Rawle, substitute ‘keeper Chris Tardif entered the field, and he was immediately tested by a Kevin Maher volley. 
With seven minutes remaining before the break, the Cherries took the lead, and it was arguably against the run of play. Garreth O’Connor delivered a second successive corner, and, unchallenged, Steve Fletcher rose highest to beat Flahavan from fifteen yards. The spirit with which the Seasiders replied was incredible. Scully and Mark Beard linked on the right, and the latter rounded Tardif before laying the ball off to Bramble, who smashed home. Three minutes later Blues were ahead. Beard’s shot was pushed away by Tardif, but Rawle anticipated quickest and headed home the rebound. Bramble then rashly fired wide when one-on-one with Tardif on the stroke of half-time.
In the second period, the Shrimpers made the mistake of sitting back on their advantage, and after a series of perplexing substitutions – including the employment of Steven Clark as a striker, were finally punished. Darryl Flahavan saved from both Marcus Browning and James Hayter straight after the break, but after constant pressure, and with just ten minutes left, Bournemouth equalised. Derek Holmes was all alone in the box as the Southend defence fell asleep, and he coolly pushed his shot past Flahavan. With less than sixty seconds remaining, the Cherries stole a place in the third round. O’Connor delivered another corner, it was not cleared by the Blues back four and Browning stabbed home from close range.
Manager Rob Newman looked for more options in wide positions, and he brought in Daniel Marney on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. The 21-year-old right winger and part-time striker had been First Division Young Player of the Month for the Seagulls in September. That same day, 19th December, York City were given just four months to come up with the cash to get them out of administration. However, it was also a sad day for Southend fans as former manager Arthur Rowley passed away at the age of 76. Rowley was boss between 1970 and 1976, presiding over a reasonably successful spell at the south-east Essex club.
Saturday 21st December 2002 – Torquay United 3 Southend United 1 (Tesfaye Bramble 60)
Southend slumped to yet another defeat as Torquay United simply outclassed them throughout a dull ninety minutes. The Gulls took the lead with twenty minutes gone, Dave McSweeney misjudging a long ball forward and Jo Kuffour capitalised, smashing a half-volley past Flahavan from fifteen yards. Tes Bramble had a shot blocked at the near post just before the break, but that was as much excitement as the first half had to offer.
The second period brought little more cheer. Mark Rawle opened it up by slashing a shot narrowly wide when unmarked in the Plainmoor penalty area. Southend were enjoying a better period, and were rewarded on the hour mark when Bramble took advantage of some pressurising forward play from Graeme Jones and found the net from eight yards out. Five minutes later, the lead was revealed as short-lived. A Kevin Maher backpass left Flahavan exposed, and in wet conditions, the shotstopper slid out of the penalty area, ball in hand. As the goalie was booked, Leroy Rosenior, the Torquay gaffer was sent off for his protestations, but the home side were soon in front, loanee Darren Dunning slotting home the free-kick. Kevin Hill was denied twice by Flahavan, but, despite close chances for Rawle and Leon Cort, Tony Bedeau wrapped up proceedings with twelve minutes left.
Thursday 26th December 2002 – Cambridge United 1 Southend United 1 (Mark Rawle 14)
A Boxing Day derby clash with Cambridge United followed a double training day for the Shrimpers squad after their lacklustre performance in the south-west, and they started much the brighter, Mark Rawle racing onto a Jay Smith through ball before tucking past Shaun Marshall. The match was not a particularly eventful affair, and much of the passion came from the home fans, who were incensed that Dave McSweeney was not sent off after various attempts to avoid being beaten by big forward Dave Kitson. Bramble nodded just wide eleven minutes into the second half, but seven minutes on, the U’s were level. A corner for Blues resulted in a counter-attack, and Terry Fleming converted Omer Riza’s excellent play. Kevin Maher hit a post four minutes on, but a draw was a fair result.
Sunday 29th December 2002 – Southend United 1 (Leon Cort 39) Scunthorpe United 2
Things went from bad to worse for Rob Newman as Southend slipped to a seventh home defeat and an eighth in the last eleven matches. Martin Carruthers and Kevin Maher, old team-mates, traded chances early on before referee Steve Tomlin awarded the Iron a strange penalty as Ian Kilford smashed the ball into the arm of Tes Bramble. Andy Dawson wildly lashed the spot-kick wide. After a diving header from Maher went narrowly wide, Blues finally took the lead. Kevin Maher chipped a corner to the near post, and Leon Cort obliged with the header.
The second period saw the Shrimpers sit back on a lead again, and Leon Cort had to block from Steve Torpey and Dawson, with Darryl Flahavan flagging with an injury to his right leg. Matthew Sparrow narrowly escaped a sending-off when he punched Bramble’s face, but official Tomlin failed to endear himself to the home faithful even more when he disallowed Phil Whelan’s poked effort – it certainly was not for offside as there were a number of Scunny players on the goal-line. Damon Searle hit the angle with a long-range shot, before, with sixteen minutes left, the match came to life.
Clifford Byrne blatantly handled in the penalty area, and Tomlin finally gave the Shrimpers a spot-kick. Bramble wanted to take it, but Kevin Maher stole the ball from him, and promptly tapped the ball into Tom Evans’ hands. The shotstopper launched the ball up field, and ex-Southend striker Carruthers chipped Flahavan with an exquisite lob to equalise. Byrne then handed the Iron the lead as he connected with Carruthers’ flick-on of a Dawson corner, but Mark Beard and Maher wasted any chance of a revival.
Third Division Table (as at Sunday 29th December 2003):
1. Hartlepool United Pl24 W14 D5 L5 F39 A27 Pts47 GD12
2. Rushden & Diamonds Pl24 W12 D8 L4 F34 A22 Pts44 GD12
3. Oxford United Pl23 W11 D6 L6 F29 A18 Pts39 GD11
16. Darlington Pl24 W6 D11 L7 F30 A30 Pts29 GD0
17. Southend United Pl24 W9 D2 L13 F26 A32 Pts29 GD-6
18. Shrewsbury Town Pl23 W7 D7 L9 F35 A42 Pts28 GD-7
23. Carlisle United Pl24 W5 D5 L14 F26 A43 Pts20 GD-17
24. Swansea City Pl24 W4 D6 L14 F20 A36 Pts18 GD-16
TLG Player-of-the-Month; December
Winner: Leon Cort
Cort had a fantastic month, scoring an unforgettable hat-trick against Boston United, all with the head, to become the first central defender to net three goals in one game for Southend United. He also found the goal against Scunthorpe United for what should have been a winner, but the lead was sadly thrown away, and was a rock in the original cup tie with AFC Bournemouth.
Runner-Up: Mark Rawle
Rawle was another consistent performer throughout the month, and netted a few important goals. His first came in the Second Round F.A. Cup tie with the Cherries, when his strike meant that the game required a replay. He then scored a vital third against Boston to ensure that the Pilgrims did not fight their way back into the match, before scoring in the replay against Bournemouth at Dean Court to put Blues in front. The lead was short-lived, as it was at Cambridge, when he hot his fourth goal in six matches.
Third Place: Jay Smith
Smith only started three games in the month, but was an important presence in all the fixtures he took part in. He was consistent in both ties against the Cherries, and was one of the better players in the 3-1 defeat against Torquay, having come on as an early substitute. He then supplied Rawle with his goal at the Abbey Stadium against Cambridge, and was the engine in the centre of the field as Blues narrowly missed out at home to Scunny.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com