a long cool drink, and take it all in. The sunny afternoon, just,
the packed Roots Hall, literally, the tearful Goat, er, tearfully.
You had to be there and 11 odd thousand were. June the 22nd may be
in the middle of some little soccer tournament but it's the day
Shrimpers will see when we play Sunderland, Leeds, (maybe) ,
Birmingham, Wolves, Stoke, bloody hell, how much is the M6 toll?
Only 4 league teams out of 92 can call themselves Champions and we
are one of them. (Mr. Phil "if we hadn't played Chelsea we would
have been Champions" Parkinson you can have your 'maybe' league one
championship and we will have the real one. Maybe if we hadn't
beaten Colchester twice, oh hang on we did, (6-1 on aggregate, 6-1 on
aggregate........) Maybe if we hadn't had a dodgy spell around
Christmas we would have won it by Easter. The list goes on, Sir, you
are a twat!)
Personally, I hope Brentford win the play offs. Yes, I have just
moved to W12 so a West London double with QPR would be very nice,
however, Fullers is better than Tetleys and Cardiff are enough Taffs
for my liking, and Essex police. Still, no Millwall or Brighton,
shame.
You've read enough reports by now so enjoy your memories and the
photos that will be appearing on the site. Your cynical
correspondant would not have been alone in shedding a tear had Shaun
Goater scored from an early headed attempt on goal, however, that
moment duly arrived when, with 10 minutes left, he got the standing
ovation he deserved from all parts of the ground. He did not want to
go, every player left on the pitch shook his hand, every supporter
applauded their appreciation. Well done Bristol and, though I doubt
your sanity, Manchester City fans.
After that brief attacking excitment Bristol City slowly but surely
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worked there way into the game and dominated for short spells at a
time, the short money will be on them and Forest next year, (the
smart, watch Carlisle again), League One Player of the Year Flahaven
making a couple of smart saves. Finally, with the script already
written, the Goat's replacment, Wayne Gray, (the new Pele, I'm told),
turned, shot, hit City's Louis Carey, and saw the ball nestle in the
goal. God was wearing a blue shirt and that was that, the Farmers
had not nicked the title and 15 years of pain was over. We were not
to be denied by another team starting with BR and wearing red and
with the moon over Aquarias, enough......we are the Champions, my
friends.
On to the Spread and much singing, drinking and strange dancing to
Madness. 15 years ago many of us were in the Railway, partying till
dawn, dancing on tables with the legendary Pat Scully. Now, a touch
older, I sunk away into the night and back to the smoke, ending the
evening outside Notting Hill tube proudly wearing my Blues LDV Final
shirt which had remained , on along the central line, luckily for the
ladies, while my Southend Championship flag flew limply, oh grow up,
in the warm evening air. (The poor wife thought she had got a bunch
of flowers!)
No worries, Sunday was another day and we were at Pier Hill by 12 to
catch the open bus top celebrations and at the Crooked Billett a
couple of hours later. The Adnams and cockles were consumed heartily
as what was meant to be a celebration of my Scottish wedding three
weeks earlier with my Southend based family had thoughts slowly
turning to the Stadium of Light, yes Light, Molineux, the Hawthorns,
(where is Rikki Otto now?), and maybe, yes, why not?, thoughts of
topping the table on a cold January afternoon. But, Tilly, Brushy,
and the boys, let's make it for a few more hours this time.
Marks out of 10: All Eight, well who would you mark down?
MOM - Lewis Hunt, worked his socks off with some class as the defence
kept a clean sheet at last. Had everything to prove and let nobody
down.
Turning point of the season; Hartlepool away, 2-1 up after a dodgy
spell, Flahaven saves a penalty in injury time. We never looked
back, well except for Gillingham and Doncaster at home!
Goal of the Season; Freddie Eastwood, 2nd at Swansea, out of nothing,
sheer class, got us promotion.
Player of the Season; Freddie Eastwood. In an average division,
where would we have finished without his contribution?
Thoughts for the future; Well, we'll be favourites to go down so a
fiver each way at 40-1 anyone? With Tilly and Brush at the helm we
should have no fear.
Chris Daniels
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All of us here would like to thank Shaun Goater for what he has done firstly in football, and secondly for what he has done at Southend. We wish him a happy retirement and a happy life back home. Thankyou
FEED THE GOAT AND HE WILL SCORE, FEED THE GOAT AND HE WILL SCORE
TLG team