March began with a by-now typically abject Southend away performance at Moss Rose against struggling Macclesfield Town. The rain poured down on the travelling Shrimpers mob on the visitors’ terrace and the irony of singing ‘You Are My Southend…” could surely not have been lost on anyway present in Cheshire as the thunder clapped and the lightning brightened the gloomy skies. Nevermore has the weather reflected the mood around Shrimpers boss Rob Newman, who by this stage seemed to have lost the plot, selecting assistant coach Steve Tilson ahead of England Under-20 starlet Neil Jenkins, a man nearly half his age and, sadly for a United legend, twice his current ability.
Blues had already experienced a huge let off on 42 minutes when Danny Whitaker somehow blasted the ball over Darryl Flahavan’s crossbar from four yards for the Silkmen. The talented midfield playmaker made up for his misdemeanour when he netted the first on 69 minutes from an acute angle. Eleven minutes later much-travelled campaigner Kyle Lightbourne added a second, racing onto a Steve McAuley pass. Jenkins scored a late consolation when he volleyed past Steve Wilson with two minutes remaining; his cradled baby celebration in honour of those who delighted in commenting on the birth of his newborn baby during the previous week.
Tuesday 4th March 2003 – Kidderminster Harriers 1 Southend United 0
The fourth consecutive away defeat arrived three days after the last, and although the performance was slightly improved, the end of the line seemed nigh for Blues boss Newman. Loan signing Stephen Kelly livened up proceedings a quarter-of-an-hour in when he ran sixty yards to strike fiercely at Fraser Digby’s goal; the shot narrowly passing the custodian’s left-hand post. There was little more action in the opening forty-five minutes, but early in the second period Steven Clark was blatantly upended in the penalty area, although referee Eddie Evans waved away appeals. However, it was Kidderminster who found the back of the net for the only time in the match; JJ Melligan outpacing a flat-footed Shrimpers defence before lobbing the ball over Flahavan. Digby made an outstanding save from Daniel Marney immediately afterwards, and Craig Hinton clearly handled a Leon Cort header off of the goalline in the dying seconds but the Seasiders could not conjure up an equaliser and slumped to another defeat.
Saturday 8th March 2003 – Southend United 0 Lincoln City 1
Home defeat number eight, consecutive defeat number three and pathetic performance numberless arrived as a truly dreadful week drew to a close at Roost Hall. The game itself was decided after just ten minutes as the home side amazingly failed to mark the tallest man on the field, and Ben Futcher, whose position as Lincoln’s top-scorer spoke much of the style (albeit successful) in which the Red Imps played, rose highest to predictably head Ben Sedgemore’s flag-kick past an ailing Darryl Flahavan. Marney powered an effort just wide and Tesfaye Bramble misdirected a spectacular bicycle kick, but Southend went down with barely more than a whimper.
The following Monday, Newman decided that enough was enough, and Dominic Foley, brought in on loan for a month, was returned to Watford after just three weeks. Fellow Republic of Ireland-born entertainer Stephen Kelly was handed another month-long period at Roots Hall after a much more impressive spell by the seaside. The next day, continuing the international theme, Danny Gay was called up as standby to the Wales Under-21 squad that would face Azerbaijan and Serbia-Montenegro. Gay joined England Under-20s’ Neil Jenkins in being called upon during the season for their respective international outfits. As Foley had now left, Shrimpers chief Newman was now short on strikers, and Rushden & Diamonds forward Scott Partridge joined on trial to play for the reserve side. Were he to be successful, it was envisaged that his signing would be rushed through before transfer deadline day.
Saturday 15th March 2003 – Hartlepool United 2 Southend United 1 (Daryl Sutch 73)
Southend travelled for the second time to Victoria Park to take on Hartlepool United, and it was as good a time as ever to face the Monkeyhangers, who were still top of the Third Division at the time. The Shrimpers were injury-ravaged, but their opponents grip on the title was slipping to Rushden & Diamonds and United could be buoyed by having defeated them earlier in the season in the historic F.A. Cup tie. Darryl Flahavan made a terrific stop from Marcus Richardson as early as the twelfth minute after tamely stopping Mark Tinkler’s effort before Stuart Thurgood’s shot from a Damon Searle corner was cleared from the line by ‘Pool skipper Micky Barron. On 36 minutes, the home side took the lead, Ritchie Humphreys standing unmarked to slide in from twenty yards across Flahavan’s goal.
Despite dominating the second half, there was little the Seasiders could do having slipped a further goal down four minutes after the interval. Again it was ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Humphreys who converted, this time from a low Darrell Clarke centre. Barron’s deliberate handling of a Neil Jenkins shot was ignored by Mark Cowburn on the hour before Bramble sidefooted straight at Anthony Williams. The home goalkeeper was beaten though with seventeen minutes left when Leon Cort headed against the crossbar from a Thurgood corner and Daryl Sutch followed up, this time Barron heading out only after the ball had crossed the goalline. Big defender Cort also struck the bar for a second time in the dying minutes, but unfortunately it was too late for the visitors.
Tuesday 18th March 2003 – Southend United 0 Swansea City 2
It couldn’t seem to get any worse three days later as a fifth defeat came at the hands of Swansea City, fighting for their lives to avoid a relegation battle which it looked for all the world as though United were heading. Newman’s decisions were dumbfounding just about everyone connected with the club, and it was only with great bravery that the former Norwich City man appeared to defend himself at the Shrimpers Trust Question & Answer session the following night. Only 2,832 people turned up to watch the match, and many booed and jeered at the final whistle. Lee Jenkins ran forty yards without being challenged and was then needlessly hacked down by Damon Searle in the penalty area; James Thomas tapping home the spot-kick. Four minutes later Kevin Nugent snapped at a dropped Roberto Martinez cross and doubled the lead. The former Leyton Orient man tarnished the Welshmen’s performance when he elbowed Searle and was sent off, but it was a truly dire day for Southend followers.
Saturday 22nd March 2003 – Southend United 1 (Mark Salter 5) Leyton Orient 0
Much to the relief of the derby-day crowd Blues finally won in March, and it was at the expense of East London rivals Leyton Orient, who were enduring an even worse season than that of the Seasiders. It was by no means a classic performance, but it almost assured Blues of safety for another year. The winner came after only five minutes – Damon Searle’s free-kick seeking out Tesfaye Bramble, whose shot was saved by visiting custodian Lee Harrison but only pushed into the path of Mark Salter, who scored his first Football League goal. At the other end Matthew Brazier hit a dipping volley just wide of the woodwork before Darryl Flahavan made a fine save from Gary Alexander.
As the first half drew to a close Alexander again went close, heading Carl Hutchings’ cross against the post and into the grateful hands of Flahavan. And Neil Jenkins was denied by Harrison with a terrific diving header. The Shrimpers sat back in the second period for the umpteenth time and Lee Thorpe nodded just wide after an hour. Matt Lockwood’s stunning 25-yarder then smashed against the upright and came out, but that was as much as the Londoners could muster, and Southend clung on. But was it enough?…
It was not enough to convince Ron Martin that Newman was the man to lead Southend into the Second Division in 2003/4, and the former Norwich City man was sacked, the decision apparently being made before the 1-0 win over Orient. At the time Southend had lost 21 matches, as many as Brighton & Hove Albion as the worst in the League and including nine overall at home. David Crown also departed, with Stewart Robson, who had been called in to help Newman in January, taking caretaker charge with Steve Tilson as assistant.
One of the first jobs for Robson was to negotiate transfer deadline day. He swooped for former Coventry City midfielder Gavin Strachan, and followed that up by signing Ronnie Henry, a young defender from Tottenham Hotspur, on loan. However, the 20-year-old’s arrival only offset the departure of fellow Spurs man Stephen Kelly, who moved to Queens Park Rangers on loan.
Saturday 29th March 2003 – York City 2 Southend United 0
And the month ended with a reversion to the status quo, Blues going down 2-0 at Bootham Crescent to a York City side belying its financial crisis by residing in third place. On the wider scale, the day was a huge success for the entire lower Football League as the York City Supporters Trust took control of their club on the pitch at half-time. But for the travelling Shrimpers, there was little more to do than to pack their bags and drown their sorrows whilst watching or listening to England limp past Macedonia.
Despite, perhaps even because of, the occasion, the match itself never really got going. After almost twenty minutes the Minstermen took the lead with their first move of the game; two-time Southend loanee Lee Nogan mishitting past Flahavan, who should have done better. And later on in the first half City sewed it up when Lee Bullock toed Darren Edmondson’s shot off of Leon Coty and into the goal. Dave McSweeney off all people went closest for Southend, but it was nowhere near enough in the first match of the post-Newman era.
But March did end on a high note as one of Southend’s greatest servants, Steve Tilson, was handed a well-deserved testimonial against an England XI including the likes of Dennis Wise, Rob Lee and Dave Beasant. ‘Tilly’, now the director of the Shrimpers’ Centre of Excellence and assistant coach and a lifelong Blues follower, is well-liked throughout south-east Essex and richly gained the plaudits of many, including England XI boss Lawrie McMenemy and Alan Shearer, who sadly could not play due to Newcastle United commitments. The Southend United team ran out easy winners, but Tilson, playing for England did manage to score as the loyal Shrimpers fans frequented the North Bank for the first time in over five years.
Third Division Table (as at March 29th 2003)
1. Hartlepool United Pl40 W22 D10 L8 F59 A41 Pts76 GD18
2. Rushden & Diamonds Pl40 W20 D15 L7 F64 A44 Pts73 GD20
3. York City Pl40 W17 D12 L11 F59 A45 Pts63 GD14
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13. Hull City Pl39 W11 D17 L11 F46 A41 Pts50 GD5
14. Southend United Pl40 W15 D3 L22 F41 A54 Pts48 GD-13
15. Darlington Pl40 W10 D17 L13 F48 A51 Pts47 GD-3
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23. Shrewsbury Town Pl37 W9 D13 L15 F53 A70 Pts40 GD-17
24. Exeter City Pl40 W8 D14 L18 F42 A58 Pts38 GD-16
TLG Player-of-the-Month; March
Winner: Stephen Kelly
It speaks volumes for the standard of play given by the other Southend players that a man on loan could scoop TLG award for the month. Kelly was a class above the rest, and at the back he and Leon Cort could be relied upon to provide a steady base, although unfortunately the likes of Darryl Flahavan and Daryl Sutch, as well as Steve Tilson’s sorry display at Macclesfield let the pairing down. The true shocker occurred when Kelly was just about the only United player trying against Swansea City in the 2-0 defeat.
Runner-Up: Neil Jenkins
It speaks volumes for the standard of play given by the other Southend players that a man who couldn’t even get into the side in the first half of the month could come second in a Player-of-the-Month award. Jenkins did score in his opening appearance (as a sub for Tilson at Moss Rose) and then played well at Hartlepool and York when the rest of the side struggled. A consistent month was as much as he could muster.
Third Place: Stuart Thurgood
It speaks volumes…that Thurgood, who once again barely played at the start of March, could by the end have done enough to come third in TLG Player-of-the-Month award. His 100% effort was a godsend, and he was man-of-the-match in Maher’s absence at Hartlepool. He also did well against Orient and York without being outstanding.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com