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TLG in 2003: the Annual Review – Blues' Youths (Part One)

Last updated : 29 December 2003 By Robert Craven

January

Michael Kightly arrived as a fresh-faced youngster from Basildon
Under-19s
Saturday 18th – Southend United 1 (Michael Kightly) Colchester United 1
Saturday 25th – Brentford 3 Southend United 3 (Daryl Plummer, Michael Kightly, Anthony Clark)

Under-17s
Saturday 18th – Leyton Orient 4 Southend United 0
Saturday 25th – Southend United 1 (Tom Byrne) Brentford 1


The new year saw a new first-year scholar, Michael Kightly, a Basildon-born 16-year-old who had been on the books of Tottenham Hotspur before the White Hart Lane club released him and Steve Tilson spotted him playing for Basildon United. Little did we know the impact Kightly would have on the club by December, but immediately the Essex lad made a difference to the Under-19s ailing fortunes, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Colchester before getting on the scoresheet again along with Plummer and Anthony Clark in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Brentford. The Under-17s were not faring so well, a 4-0 bashing at Orient preceding a 1-1 draw with the Bees – an occasion marked by outstanding 15-year-old striker Tommy Byrne netting his tenth goal of the season.


February

Then second-year Daryl Plummer netted against QPR
Under-19s
Youth Alliance League – Tuesday 11th – Southend United 2 (Daryl Plummer, Ben Price) Queens Park Rangers 2
Youth Alliance Merit Division – Saturday 22nd – Queens Park Rangers 4 Southend United 0

Under 17s
Saturday 15th – Southend United 2 (Michael Kightly, Tom Byrne) Cambridge United 0
Saturday 22nd – Colchester United 2 Southend United 0
Saturday 29th – Peterborough United 0 Southend United 0

The Youth Alliance League campaign ended with Southend earning a 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers, who also finished in the bottom three of the table, and the Merit Division began with a trip to the same side. However, this time around Blues couldn’t find the net and the hosts slammed home four goals to send United home packing with a 0-4 scoreline. The Under-17s, boosted by the appearance of Kightly, beat Cambridge United 2-0 at Boots & Laces, but drew two blanks at the end of the month to lose 2-0 at north Essex rivals Colchester United and draw 0-0 in Peterborough.


March

2002/3 TLG-sponsored Ben Price was an unlikely goalscorer in March
Under-19s
Saturday 1st – Southend United 5 (Joe Ilett, Brett Darby, David Bryan, Michael Kightly, Anthony Clark) Cirencester 1
Saturday 8th – Southend United 2 (Michael Kightly, Joe Ilett) Swansea City 3
Saturday 15th – Rushden & Diamonds 3 Southend United 0
Saturday 29th – Walsall 1 Southend United 1 (Ben Price)

Under-17s
Saturday 22nd – Luton Town 4 Southend United 4 (Ben Price 2, Nick Skelton, Tom Byrne)

The Under-19s Merit Division campaign started to grow from strength to strength as they swept apart Cirencester (the groups’ whipping boys – a side that seem to only enter the Youth Alliance system by virtue of their academy) 5-1 at Boots & Laces, newcomer Brett Darby scoring one of the goals before he progressed to the reserves and then the first team. A week later, the Shrimpers led 2-1 going into the final three minutes against Swansea, with a chance of going top, but then capitulated to lose 3-2 with Ben Price deputising in goal after the dismissal early on of Nick Morgan. A 3-0 defeat at Rushden followed before the man-of-the-month Price scored the Blues goal in a 1-1 draw at Walsall. The Under-17s finished bottom of the Youth Alliance having drawn 4-4 with Luton, Price again netting twice.


April

Anthony Clark netted the winner against Kidderminster
Under-19s
Saturday 5th – Southend United 1 (Anthony Clark) Kidderminster Harriers 0
Saturday 12th – Southend United 2 (Steven Bourne, Ben Price) Colchester United 1
Saturday 26th – Torquay United 2 Southend United 3 (Michael Kightly, Phil Anderson, Tom Byrne)

The final month of the year saw the Southend Under-19s transformation complete, with the seventeens now having completed their campaign. An Anthony Clark inspired 1-0 win over Kidderminster was followed by a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Colchester at Boots & Laces, before Michael Kightly, Phil Anderson and Tom Byrne (racking up his 13th goal of the campaign) sealed a 3-2 victory at Torquay United. The results meant that Blues’ Youths finished in fourth place in the Merit Division Three (South) – a result that could never have even been contemplated in January, let alone September!


How It All Finished

Tommy Byrne was top scorer in 2002/3
Under-19s
Youth Alliance League
Played 16, Won 2, Drawn 4, Lost 10, Scored 14, Conceded 45, Goal Difference –31, Points 10, Position 9th (out of 9)

Youth Alliance Cup
Played 3, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Scored 2, Conceded 18, Goal Difference –16, Points 0, Position 3rd (out of 3)

Merit Division
Played 8, Won 4, Drawn 1, Lost 3, Scored 14, Conceded 15, Goal Difference -1, Points 13, Position 4th (out of 9)

Under-18s
F.A. Youth Cup
First Round – Lost 3-5 (away; AFC Bournemouth [after extra time])

Under-17s
Youth Alliance League
Played 22, Won 4, Drawn 7, Lost 11, Scored 34, Conceded 58, Goal Difference –24, Points 19, Position 12th (out of 12)


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com