Kightly was supposed to be the player who would shatter the stereotype that Southend United did not have a good youth team policy. In the end, he bowed out at the end of the 2004/5 campaign, almost two years to the day since his debut against Exeter City that almost heralded a new dawn. In the reserves he was consistent, if not stand-out, performer, but in the first team, he appeared just once, as a substitute against Swansea City at Roots Hall. After a loan spell at Dean Austin’s Farnborough Town, he left, and Steve Tilson, for one, will be very disappointed.

Unlike Michael Kightly, Stuart Williams didn’t even make it into a matchday squad for 2004/5, which was a different story to 2003/4 when, as a 17-year-old, he appeared on the substitutes’ bench for the first couple of fixtures. 13 matches for the reserve team, and a couple of fine pre-season performances meant that he was more than a regular in the second-string, but was released as yet another unfulfilled talent in April.

Smith was another that failed to make it into any sixteen, but that was all to do with fitness rather than a lack of ability. After making a well-publicised comeback against Gillingham reserves at the Corinthians Sports Ground – a long-awaited 1-0 win – Smith seemed to have come through the game OK. But, just when he seemed to be back, he fell foul of another knock, this time picked up in training on his other leg, and was ruled out until this pre-season, where he is once again undertaking light running exercises.

Goalkeeper Clarke was man-of-the-match in that game at Gillingham, and it was his last for the club. He appeared just once in the first team, like Kightly, against Swansea City when he conceded two and almost allowed Lee Trundle to net an audacious effort from the halfway line that would have led to a tense final few minutes of a 4-2 win. It hit the crossbar, and although Clarke was a more tangible custodian that Craig Holloway, or even Terry Alderton, he returned to Bristol Rovers after his month with United, went to Kidderminster Harriers on loan and finished up playing against Blues for the Pirates.

Youngster Lawson still has an awful lot to give to Southend United. He was a second-year scholar when he made his bow, just days before his 18th birthday against Rushden & Diamonds. He touched the ball three times in a three-minute injury-time spell of a three-nil win, but did enough to travel to Kidderminster two days later and should break into the side this year.

The writing was on the wall for Nick Morgan’s career when he was not named as the first-choice ‘keeper in the tense build-up to the Swansea City fixture, when United did not have a fit, recognised, shotstopper in the squad. Who knows whether Terry Alderton would have been named ahead of Morgan, who eventually made the subs’ bench. He is now number one at Braintree Town.

A regular for the reserves, West Ham United loanee Darren Blewitt appeared just once in the first eleven, away to Cheltenham Town as a late, late substitute. In the second-string he was little more than cumbersome, which for a youngster, does not bode well. At fault for at least three of four Colchester United goals in a final game 4-2 defeat to the U’s in the Pontin’s Combination, he predictably was on his way, although he still pitched up at the Shrimpers Trust Player-of-the-Year night.

Two goals at Macclesfield Town for McCormack will be the legacy that he leaves at Roots Hall. In fact, it is something of a surprise that Steve Tilson hasn’t made more of an attempt to bring McCormack back from Preston North End after he departed following his loan spell with the Shrimpers. The Coca-Cola Championship side may be approached again, although ‘Macca’s’ impressive game at Moss Rose could have persuaded Billy Davies that he is one to keep an eye on.

Former Cambridge United man Guttridge never really fought his way into contention in 2004/5, becoming a perennial substitute as the season drew to a close. But he will be a key figure in the upcoming campaign, where his League One experience can be drawn upon, although whether that is on the left or in the middle, we wait to see.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com