Roots Hall is rather a mish mash of buildings in different styles. This is the East Stand from the outside. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

The early years of football in Southend involved a plethora of amateur teams, and it wasn't until 1906, out of a whole series of political battles between various factions, that a professional club - Southend United - was formed. The new club applied for and was admitted into the Southern League.

In 1920 Southend became a founder member of Division Three, which was expanded and split into North/South the following season, United finishing bottom and requiring the first of only three re-elections in their history. Neither however were they troubling the other end of the table. For year after year Southend were almost unremittingly mid-table. When regionalisation ended in 1958 the Shrimpers were one of only six clubs ever present since the formation of Divison 3 South, and had a good enough record to get a place in Division 3 rather than the newly created Division 4. There they remained, once again mostly mid-table, until 1966 which saw the club's first ever relegation.

Slightly more interesting view of the East Stand from the pitch side. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

As if to counter their previous rather humdrum existence Southend became something of a yo-yo club in the Seventies and Eighties, regularly switching between the two lower divisons. On one of these occasions, 1980-81, they won their only Championship in the Football League to date.

The mid-Eighties was a dark period for the club when local businessman Anton Johnson took control. His reign ended with financial chaos, 'missing' funds, arrest, and sanctions for breaking League regulations. From this unpromising position Southend rebuilt, and under the second of three spells with David Webb in the driving seat moved up to become a Division 2 club for the first time in their history. The renumbering of the Divisions to accommodate the creation of the Premiership meant Southend then became a Division 1 club, a status they held on to for five seasons.

The West Stand, which is opposite the East Stand would you believe. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

The mid-Nineties saw it all fall apart again as the Shrimpers suffered two successive relegations, and looked for a while as if they were going straight through Division 3 into Non-league the year after that. They eventually bottomed out in 18th. Managers have regularly come and gone since, including Mr David Webb for that third spell, taken from Yeovil Town, and for six seasons Southend United were back in territory familiar from their past - consistently mid-table.

In 2004-05 new manager Steve Tilson began putting things together and Southend had their best season for years. It was nip and tuck at the top throughout the campaign and the penultimate game of the season with Yeovil Town was virtually an automatic promotion decider. Yeovil emerged victorious at Roots Hall, but such was the generosity of spirit to that defeat there can't have been many Glovers who weren't rooting for the Shrimpers as they marched through the play-offs. A year later and more glory for Tilson and Co as they leapt straight into the Championship - something that left the bookies very flat-footed indeed.

The Championship was a bit of a nasty jolt to the system - perhaps the rise of the Shrimpers had been too much too soon. Their stay was merely one season, although they nearly managed survival which would have been an incredible achievement. To their credit, the club did not seek to blame the manager for this apparent 'failure' - in fact they responded by extending Tilson's contract. Football League Chairmen (and supporters) take note. Sometimes there is an option other than sacking the manager. Southend accepted relegation with grace (and doubtless after 46 games worth of a great experience rubbing shoulders with the big boys). Their approach to their relegation position in 2006-07 saw far less mud-slinging and finger-pointing than is common at most clubs, and probably because of that, there remained a lot of very familiar (and now experienced) players in Southend's line-up. And of course they still had Tilson at the helm. The end result was that the Shrimpers had a second go to grab a Championship spot in 2007-08, through the play-offs. However a 0-0 at home to Doncaster was followed by 'one of those evenings'. The Shrimpers were caned 5-1 in the second leg.

The Frank Walton Stand, which is the home end. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

In 2008-09 Southend finished a healthy 8th, though chairman Ron Martin felt obliged to issue a vote of confidence in Tilson along the way. However this term it has all gone pear shaped, on and off the pitch. Martin appeared in denial for much of the season, abusing the local press and any one else asserting that the finances were in a desperate state. Eventually the truth emerged, as winding up orders and the PFA stepping in to meet players wages could no longer be hidden. A fire sale of their leading striker, the only Southend player to score more than three goals so far this season, Lee Barnard, to Southampton in the January transfer window has not helped their cause on the pitch. In fact since his departure they have failed to win a single game, slumping from reasonably healthy mid-table into the relegation zone. Tilson has so far survived, with assistant Paul Brush made the sacrificial victim. David Webb was brought back in, for a vaguely defined 'over-seeing' role.

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FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name

LGE

FAC

FAT

LGC

CC

Total

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Lowest League Attendance: Not Applicable
Average League Attendance: Not Applicable

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	0		Games Without Defeat:	0
Games Without A Home Defeat:	0		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	0
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	0		Home Results Sequence:
Away Results Sequence:			Overall Results Sequence:

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The North Stand, which is the away end. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

The nearest station to the ground is Prittlewell (the Liverpool Street line out of London, terminus Southend Victoria). However N.B., there are long term engineering works on this line between Liverpool Street and Romford. Although there are ways round it they are complicated and require numbers of changes, so in terms of practicality and time, unless you have very strong reasons for using Prittlewell, we'd recommend you use the Southend Central service on this occasion.

From Prittlewell leave the station by the set of steps at the very end of the platform. Turn right over the bridge and continue past The Railway Tavern. At the traffic lights, which mark the junction between East Street and Victoria Avenue, turn right and continue down the hill, passing the main entrance to Roots Hall. At the next set of traffic lights, turn left into Fairfax Drive and continue for 400 yards or so to the away entrance on your right. Total walking time no more than five minutes.

If you fancy seeing Southend's er Golden Mile (ahem) or the pier, then take the line from Fenchurch Street (usually platforms 1 or 3) which trundles through Leigh-on-Sea, Chalkwell, Westcliff-on-Sea to Southend Central (terminus is at Shoeburyness) on C2C trains. Journey time is between 52 and 59 minutes depending on the number of stops, with up to four trains an hour through the day. Returns to London run at two an hour in the evening up to the last at 23.14.

To reach the ground, head up the pedestrianised High Street (away from the seafront) to a new Odeon complex. Walk past the Odeon to the right, cross the dual-carriageway and head down Victoria Avenue. Roots Hall is about fifteen minutes along on the left. There is probably a bus, if you can work it out.

IMPORTANT (possibly) : A RAIL STRIKE IS THREATENED FOR THE EASTER WEEKEND. THANKS BOB CROW. SO KEEP YOUR EYE ON TRAVEL NEWS CONCERNING THIS.

(UPDATE 25/03/2010: RAIL STRIKE SET FOR 6th TO 9th APRIL. GOOD NEWS FOR FANS AS BOB CROW CAREFULLY MISSES ALL YEOVIL FIXTURES.)

By Bus

There are buses in Southend - from Arriva, First Buses and Stephensons. We tried the council site's feature on bus services in its Public Transport section, and found it incomprehensible to anyone not born and bred in Southend - and possibly to them as well. According to the Southend United Official Site, Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 29 run past Roots Hall, though which of the companies, and from where and to what destinations, it doesn't clarify.

Taxis

A selection of Southend taxi companies can be found here.

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Note that the stadium has electronic ticket readers installed so try to keep your ticket relatively uncreased.

Club Bar :

The New Shrimpers opened in 1999 and is found under the East Stand. Large and spacious, but got a poor write-up from home fans in previous years. However it was taken over by the Shrimpers Trust towards the end of the 2003-04 season. Away fans were admitted at £1.00 for adults, however we are led to believe this has now ceased and it's home fans only. There is no provision for the sale of alcohol to away fans inside the stadium either.

The Far Post Bar at Roots Hall. Photo © 2004 Ciderspace

Local Pubs :

Bell Hotel: On the A127 about half a mile north of the stadium. It's a pub, it's a hotel and it's called the Bell. No further details, apart from being in the Toby Carvery stable - which we would not consider any sort of recommendation. Bell Hotel, Prince Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6RL. Tel: 01702 436168. Map: Click Here.

Borough Arms (was The Liberty Belle): After being called The Liberty Belle for forty years this pub has reverted to its former name. Many of the pubs and bars along the sea-front are best treated with a bit of caution at night but we've had three cracking evenings in this one. Not sure why it's different. Looks a bit seedy and scruffy from the outside, better inside but not markedly so - though it had a major refurbishment recently. Biker friendly (the landlord is one - presuming he's still there). But for whatever reason the clientele have been a great bunch, and the same Southend United supporters we met up with the first year came back in the next on the off-chance we'd be using it again. We were. It has upgraded its real ale to eight hand pumps, does a proper cider, and a wide range of the usual beers and lagers. You can sit out the front or in a courtyard at the back if the weather is good. As one would expect in a seaside resort few prices on the front are cheap, but those here have been on the more reasonable side. The fish and chip shop almost next door is also good. Opening is 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Sunday to Thursday, 10.00 a.m. - 2.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Borough Arms (was The Liberty Belle), 12-14, Marine Parade, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS1 2EJ. Tel: 01702 466936. Map: Click Here.

Cornucopia: Small (tiny might be a better description) pub a few strides down the Golden Mile from the Borough Arms (above). Has Mighty Oak Maldon Gold as its house beer, plus usually another ale from that brewery and a regularly changing guest. Sky TV. Seats and tables out the front for smokers and others who like to sit outside and look at the sea. Sky Sports. Opening is 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. We found this pub very friendly and enjoyable towards the end of a long day drinking on the last trip to Southend, but have seen a review that claims it has changed hands recently, and not for the better. Cornucopia, 39, Marine Parade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 2EN. Tel: 01702 460770. Website: Click Here. Map: Click Here.

The Golden Lion © Martin Baker Golden Lion: Was the closest pub to the stadium, however.......... according to various sources, this pub closed in 2008, then had one of those fires that closed businesses are sometimes prone to, and remained closed. It may therefore not entirely resemble the photo here. However a Hartlepool fan reports it was open again when they played Southend in December 2009. The comments were not promising: "The doors may have re-opened but the pub is still derelict!..... There was only lager on tap (x2) and staff were more interested in eating chips and chatting than serving the small number of punters. There was loud dance music playing at midday when there were only 2 of us in there and although they have a big screen there is no Sky TV." Golden Lion, 289, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6NE. Tel: 01702 347737. Map: Click Here.

Last Post - a Wetherspoon right outside Southend Central © Hugh Gleave Last Post: Absolutely vast Wetherspoon with two bars in the middle of Southend close by Southend Central railway station (exit on the sea side) and the pier. The usual Directors, Spitfire and Theakston Best plus plenty of guests and two ciders - we've consistently found a much larger and better range of beers than the average outlet in this chain on our annual visits. Allows children up until 5.00 p.m. Opening is 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. A good mile walk to the ground. On one of our previous visits someone had driven a landrover straight through the wall the previous evening in an attempt to kill his daughter's cheating boyfriend. It's not dull in Southend. Thankfully they've done the repairs now. Mostly gets an absolute slating in the reviews on Beer In The Evening, but we've always found it OK. One just needs to remember this is a Wetherspoon in a traditional British seaside resort. What a surprise it's exactly like what one would expect, and not a thatched rustic wayside inn frequented by the gentry sipping their mulled wine while discussing share prices and fox hunting. Last Post, Weston Road, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS1 1AS. Tel: 01702 431682. Map: Click Here.

Nelson Hotel: Frequented by visiting fans as well as locals as it is located in the back streeets south of the stadium well under ten minutes walk away, close to a convenient route to the North Stand (away area) which is accessed via Shakespeare Drive. Huge and fairly basic public house with two bars, one with Sky Sports, a pool table, a beer garden and a covered heated smoking area. Children allowed in the saloon bar during the day. Opens at noon, with an extension to 1.00 a.m. on Bank Holiday weekends. Nelson Hotel, North Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS0 7AB. Tel: 01702 436329. Map: Click Here.

Spread Eagle © Martin Baker Spread Eagle: On the A127 just a few yards further from Roots Hall than the Golden Lion (above). Number 1 pub for home fans. Away fans were usually admitted, but there are indications this may no longer be the case. A large bar dominates the centre of the pub with public and saloon sides, which obviously get very busy on match days. Plastic 'glasses', unless you get there early and keep hold of an er, glass glass. There is an extensive paved beer terrace which can act as an overspill in good weather but also doubles as a car park, and a beer garden at the rear. Beers are Fullers London Pride, Greene King IPA, Highgate Mild, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and Wells Bombardier. Bar food served at lunchtimes - but again get there early on a matchday. Has a big screen in the public bar and a pool table. No under 16s. We've seen indications that after a change of landlord last year this pub has seen a significant decline. Spread Eagle, 267, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6NE. Tel: 01702 213674. Map: Click Here.

Strawberry Field Travel Inn & Brewers Fayre: Opposite Tescos on the roundabout at Prince Avenue, a mile and a half from the stadium. You'll pass it if driving into Southend along the A127. Brewers Fayre (270 outlets) are part of the Whitbread Group's three-pronged attack, along with Beefeater (230 outlets) and Brewsters (147 outlets), in reducing eating and drinking to the experience of suspension in a sensory deprivation tank whilst ingesting cotton wool and distilled water. Whitbread Group have absolutely nothing to do with beer any more, an abstinence amply confirmed in the dismal pubs they run. To be fair, on their commercial pages they go out of their way to convince shareholders that they have nothing to do with those awful things 'pubs', puffing up their stable of veneered "McDonalds" as restaurants. 'Celebrity chef' Brian Turner helped create their menus they'll have you know - ooh, super. If desiring to stay in Southend you might want to use their adjacent Travel Inn though - basic and cheap, and thankfully bereft of any food or drink touched by Whitbread. You have to go next door for that.......or, far preferable, keep on walking past. Strawberry Field Travel Inn & Brewers Fayre, Thanet Grange, Prince Avenue, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6GB. Tel: 01702 338787. Map: Click Here.

The Blue Boar © Hugh Gleave The Blue Boar: The very pub where the meeting that formed Southend United was held. Closed for years it was renovated and reopened at the end of 2002. Single bar with Tetley Imperial and Greene King I.P.A. when we called in - which is why we haven't bothered to darken its doors again on subsequent visits to Southend. No indication there has been any improvement on this depressing choice since. Does Thai style food. Increasingly popular with home fans. No children allowed on matchdays by police order - yep, so let's encourage a family atmosphere shall we Mr. Plod - was a sign up last time we passed. In fact this has been expanded to no under-21's we hear, with doormen installed to turn away such undesirables. The Blue Boar, 177, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6EL. Tel: 01702 430923. Map: Click Here.

The Railway Tavern: Opposite Prittlewell Station and five to ten minutes walk from the ground. Much improved, and a considerably better reputation than it had at one time. Good bar food, a big screen showing sports, a pool table and table football. Unfortunately the only real ale we are aware of being stocked is Greene King IPA. Oh dear. The Railway Tavern, East Street, Prittlewell, Southend On Sea, Essex, SS2 6LH. Tel: 01702 616214. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Everyone is called Kev, Trev, Barry or Sharon, and they're all geezas. The local dialect is Estuarine Mockney : Ya frum Yovul Tahn, is ya mate?

Top-Tip :

Keep the kids away from the fun fair Adventure Island - it'll cost you a fortune. I know. It has me. Every time.

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