Echo News Blues hero Benjamin hoping club can enjoy another iconic afternoon

[Evening Echo]

SOUTHEND United hero Ian Benjamin wants the Shrimpers supporters to enjoy another never to be forgotten moment this weekend.

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[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

High hopes - for Southend United hero Ian Benjamin (Image: FOCUS IMAGES)

By Chris Phillips. Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United hero Ian Benjamin wants the Shrimpers supporters to enjoy another never to be forgotten moment this weekend.

Benjamin worked his way into Roots Hall folklore by scoring the goal – at Bury in 1991 – which sent Blues into the second tier of English football for the very first time.

And the former striker now wants Southend’s fans to be celebrating again.

“I’m sure will be many of our supporters who came to the Bury game who are not with us today,” said Benjamin,

“They will have passed on to their children about that game and those children will be going to Wembley to carry on what their parents passed on to them - to support Southend United.

“I hope and pray that these supporters and the rest of the supporters going will get to experience what we did together back then on Sunday and I hope their children will support the club in the future too.”

Benjamin is unable to attend the final due to commitments elsewhere.

But he is fully aware how both sets of playing will be feeling.

“I have been involved in some big games throughout my career and this game will be about who handles the pressure the best,” said Benjamin,

“It will be who has the calmest heads and who remembers to follow the game plan.

“Who can come up with a goal out of nothing or who can make a last ditch tackle or save when it is needed.

“We’ve seen the togetherness in the last few games.

“They will need that again but it will come down to who can come up with the goods when it matters.

“I pray that it is a Southend player that will do that in this game.”