Official Match Thread FC Halifax Town v Southend United

[The Big Dady]

The Official Match Thread brought to you by ShrimperZone.com

So here we all are, our third away game in the Vanarama National League of the 2021/22 season. This is Phil Brown’s 6th away game since he was reappointed Manager of the Mighty Shrimpers.

Our 3rd away match is against FC Halifax Town.



It is now time for ALL of us to get behind Phil and the team whether you are at The Shay Stadium, listening on the radio, or listening on Blues TV.

Phil Brown’s Southend United Vanarama National League Away Team against FC Halifax Town.



The Shay Stadium is ready for action at 15.00 hrs Saturday 11th September 2021. It looks like we will have light cloud with a gentle breeze for this afternoon’s game.







The weather forecast for this afternoon at The Shay Stadium.



Current National League away record after 2 away games

Won 1
Drawn 1
Lost 0
Goals scored 1
Goals conceded 0

League Positions Last Season

23rd (2020/21) EFL League Two Southend United (Relegated)
10th (2020/21) Vanarama National League FC Halifax Town

League Positions Current Season

9th (2021/22) Vanarama National League FC Halifax Town
13th (2021/22) Vanarama National League Southend United

Recent League Positions Change

Previous Meetings

Although we have never played FC Halifax Town before, they were only formed in 2008 following the original Halifax Town AFC going into administration, below are the last 5 games that we played the original club.

Halifax Town AFC 1-1 Southend United (D3 29/01/02 Att. 1,251)
Southend United 4-1 Halifax Town AFC (D3 25/08/01 Att. 3,525)
Southend United 0-3 Halifax Town AFC (D3 17/02/01 Att. 3,746)
Halifax Town AFC 0-1 Southend United (D3 16/09/00 Att. 1,447)
Halifax Town AFC 0-0 Southend United (D3 26/02/00 Att. 2,068)

Head to Head record

Southend United Wins: 23
Draws: 11
Halifax Town AFC Wins: 12

Current Form

FC Halifax Town L L W W L
Southend United D W L D D

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

Managers Pre-match Views​

FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town Manager talks to Halifax Courier ahead of the game with Southend United

FC Halifax Town: Shaymen boss Wild “over the moon” as striker Vale joins on loan​

​

FC Halifax Town Manager Pete Wild​

Town manager Pete Wild says he is “over the moon” at the signing of Blackburn and Wales under 21 striker Jack Vale.​

Vale, who is expected to eligible for Saturday’s game against Southend, has joined Town on loan until January, and arrives at The Shay on the back of scoring a hat-trick for Wales under 21s in their 4-0 win away to Bulgaria under 21s in what was Vale’s first start at that level.

“I’ve been following Jack’s progress for two years,” said Wild, “I think he’s an exciting forward, he can hold the ball up, he can drive with the ball and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“He’s a real talent, and he now needs the chance to express himself, much like young Billy (Chadwick) had last year.

“I see him coming here, getting better, expressing himself and really pushing on as a footballer.”

On what type of forward Vale is, Wild said: “He’s an old-fashioned centre-forward who can hold the ball up, when he faces you up and runs with the ball, that’s probably his best strength, and he’s a nuisance to play against.

“He’s a rat to play against, and I think all those qualities in a centre-forward, for me, I’ve watched him for two years and I’m over the moon I’ve finally got a chance to work with him.”

Link to full interview:-
Link

Halifax Courier talks to Phil Brown ahead of the game with Southend United

“I’ve got a lot to thank Halifax Town for” says former Shaymen skipper Brown ahead of his return with Southend

Former Halifax Town captain Phil Brown says he is expecting a good game when he returns to the Shay with Southend United on Saturday​

Ex Halifax Town player and captain Phil Brown now Manager at Southend United​

Brown made 165 appearances over three seasons for Halifax between 1985 and 1988, winning the supporters’ player of the year and earning a place in the PFA Fourth Division team of the year in his final season at the club.

“Once a Shayman, always a Shaymen, that’s what they say,” Brown said.

“We had a great time, I had two or three years there, met some really nice people, settled in the area, got myself a wife and family, had a pub.

Phil Brown during his time at Halifax. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell​

“You couldn’t say I didn’t invest in the area that’s for sure!

“We were under the John Crowther regime, I wouldn’t have said they were overly wealthy men and it was very difficult, fighting in a league that had one or two that were financially well-off and consequently, you struggled against certain teams.

“But we had a great spirit. I loved the management team of Billy Ayre and Mick Jones, I thought they were brilliant.

“They taught me an awful lot about football management, that’s for sure, and I’d say were probably one of the main reasons I went into management.

Phil Brown during his time at Halifax. Photo courtesy of Johnny Meynell​

“They were a pleasure to play for, you always wore the shirt with pride when you played under them.

“We produced players, we had a good team - Alan Knill, Micky Galloway, Rick Holden.

“We tended to play the right type of football, I thought, and it stood me in good stead for my move to Bolton, so I’ve got a lot to thank Halifax Town for.”

When asked if he has been back to The Shay since leaving the club, Brown said: “I was in the hunt for signing Jamie Vardy when I was at Preston North End, me and Brian Horton visited The Shay, the first time I went back.

“We tried to get a deal on the table but the next thing you know, he’s gone to Fleetwood and the rest is history.

“I’ve got fond memories of the place. I haven’t been back too many times.

“I’ve bumped into John Crowther a couple of times, Steve Ward is a lifelong friend, he was left-back when I was right-back for a season and we’ve stayed in touch.”

Brown’s Southend side have won just one of their first four games, but they have included tough matches against big-spending Stockport and Wrexham.

“I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far because I’m piecing together a brand-new jigsaw,” said Brown, who is in his second spell at Roots Hall.

“We’ve got a brand new squad, 10 new signings, a couple of loan players and a couple of existing players that I brought to the club first time around like John White and Jason Demetriou.

“It’s like a completely new club and because of that, I’m not asking for time by any stretch of the imagination, we’ve been on back-to-back relegations.

“There’ve been a lot of managerial changes since I last left and because of that you tend to get a mish-mash of managerial experiences, ways of playing and now we’ve got to stamp our own authority on the club again.

“I’ve been pleased with the way the players have picked up on what we’re trying to do, how I’m trying to play, what I want to do to the opposition, the kind of mentality I want at the football club.

“Results haven’t been brilliant but performances against the likes of Stockport and Wrexham have been nothing short of outstanding, and yet we’ve only picked one point up from those two games.

“It’s going to be tough against Halifax, being an ex-EFL club. The league is split between ex-EFL clubs and National League clubs but you’ve got to have a common winning mentality, regardless of who you play against.”

Halifax go into the game having won two and lost two of their first four matches.

“I’ve watched them a couple of times, they’re a very organised team, they look to play the right kind of football,” said Brown.

“They’re what I would class as open and expansive, the modern day way of playing the game, which is pleasing on the eye.

“They’ve got a coach who doesn’t mind changing formations during the course of games and from one game to another, so trying to second guess the system is part and parcel of the job, but invariably you get it wrong and you have to do something in the first five minutes to make sure Halifax don’t run over us.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, Brown said: “I’m expecting a good football match.

“We’re playing the right way, we know Halifax are trying to play the right way, so I’m expecting a good game of football.

“From what I can remember of the Shay, it’s a big old football pitch and I don’t think too much has changed where that’s concerned.

“The demands of the Halifax public are to play the right way, but you’ll never get away from the ‘Yorkshire grit’ mentality. There’s no such thing as a free game in Yorkshire and I’ll be drumming home that message to my players no doubt.”

Brown is aiming to guide the club straight back into the Football League after their relegation last season.

“We’re looking to get promoted, as a lot of teams are,” he said.

“I don’t think any manager, chairman or group of owners is ever going to admit they’d be happy with mid-table obscurity.

“We need to be in the thick of it at the end of the season and then you take what comes.

“I’ve been absolutely astounded at the level of support I’ve received, both on and off the field.

“The supporters have turned up in the two home games - five and a half thousand and six thousand.

“We took 1,800 to King’s Lynn and we took nearly 1,000 to Wealdstone, so whatever the ticket allocation is at Halifax, I’m sure we’ll sell out.

“I’ve been absolutely delighted with the level of support and if that continues during the course of this season then their expectancy levels will be at the top end of the division, and I share that kind of mentality.”

This is Brown’s first managerial role in non-league, but he is relishing his time in the fifth tier.

“I love it, I really love it, I think it’s brilliant,” he said.

“It’s men’s football as opposed to boys’ football, it’s proper football where you have to be physical and win the battle before you can ever start passing it around the field of play like you think you own the gaffe.

“We’ve sampled two non-league teams in King’s Lynn and Wealdstone and there was no free pass there, and then we sampled Stockport and Wrexham.

“I’m walking on the pitch before the Wealdstone game and the chairman of Wealdstone came over to me and said ‘you see the kid that Wrexham have just bought?’

“I went ‘Ben Tozer, the centre-half?’

“He said ‘Yeah. They’ve just spent our full budget on him’. So that just shows you the disparity in the league.

“But as far as I’m concerned, as soon as any team crosses the white line, forget about budgets, forget about board rooms, forget about money, it’s about you against them. You win that battle you’ve got every chance of winning a game of football, it’s as simple as that in the National League.”

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Southend United

Phil Brown talks to Southend United OS before travelling up to FC Halifax Town

“Win could kickstart our season” – Brown

Southend United’s Manager Phil Brown​

Phil Brown heads back to his former club this weekend.

Brown spent three years as a player with Halifax Town from 1985 to 1988 before getting a move to Bolton Wanderers.

But there will be no room for sentiment when he returns to the Shay Stadium to face the Shaymen.

Brown believes a win could kickstart Blues’ season.

"I’m going back to where it all started,” said Brown. "Everybody thinks Hartlepool is the place it all started; yes it’s where I made my debut and played 200 odd games, but my first move south, as it were, was to Halifax Town so I’ve got really fond memories of the place.

"They say once a Shayman, always a Shayman, and that is true. I’ve got fond memories of the area, fond memories of the people and the football club, but I’ll not be fond of them on Saturday that is for sure.

"The ex-player’s association have invited me to the boardroom after the game so it’s nice to know that I’m still regarded in those circumstances, but bottom line is I’m going there simply with one thing in my mind which is to win the game.

"If we win the game it could kickstart our season. We’ve got to get back to that winning way and that has to start on Saturday at Halifax Town.

"A win would see Blues leapfrog their opponents, who have one more point to their tally after four games.

"I’m not going into the game for one minute thinking that Halifax aren’t up there with favouritism," Brown added. "They’ve got a decent squad, the coach is a very innovative coach, he changes system on a regular basis. He’ll throw a back three, a back five or a back four at you and change during the course of a game so we’ve got to be ready for it and prepared."

Despite taking a two-goal lead against Wrexham last time out Blues were pegged back and were disappointed to only come away with a point against the pre-season favourites.

Brown hopes to translate good performances into wins quickly.

"It’s all well and good playing well, and if you do play well for the majority of the season you’ll get your rewards guaranteed, but I think the National League is just another emphasis of football in this country. You don’t just play well and win games of football because the opposition have also got the ability to do that as well.

"We’ve won one of the four [games played]. Is that a good return? Well, I’ve got to say it, I thought we deserved to win against Stockport and I thought we deserved more against Wrexham.

"Being able to win games of football is probably the key to it all and having the mentality of converting opportunities when they come along is going to be key to any kind of success that we have this season.

"I just want that kind of quality week in and week out, and that kind of effort and energy. If we get that on Saturday, I’ll be delighted. If we get the quality as well as that then we’ve got more chance of winning the game than not."

Brown will have to take a late check on Nathan Ralph for this weekend, who came off having suffered a concussion last time out.

"I’ll be guided by the physios, whether I can play Ralphy. I’ll be guided by the PFA and I’ll also be guided by the player.

"I think the player will always want to cross the white line and play football, but if the doctors say we can’t do that then we can’t do that."

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Phil Brown speaks to Chris Phillips at The Echo ahead of this afternoon’s game against FC Halifax Town

Southend United boss Phil Brown seeking consistency ahead of Halifax Town clash

Going head to head - Southend United manager Phil Brown (left) will be taking on Halifax Town boss Pete Wild this weekend​

Phil Brown wants Southend United to maintain the level of their performance against Wrexham when they head to Halifax Town this weekend.

Blues drew 2-2 with the Welshmen last time out after letting slip a two goal lead.

But Brown viewed the display positively and now wants his players to build on that point at the Shay.

“I want that kind of quality and effort week in week out and if we get that on Saturday then I’ll be delighted,” said Brown.

“I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far from my team but we have to turn these draws into wins and that starts on Saturday.”

However, Halifax have their own aspirations this season and have collected six points from their opening four games.

And Brown feels Town will be tough to beat this weekend.

“They have a decent side and a decent squad,” said Brown.

“The coach (Pete Wild) is very innovative.

“He changes system on a regular basis and does so during the course of games as well.

“We have to be ready for that.”

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Blues!
​

 

[The Big Dady]

The Big Preview

FC Halifax Town vs Southend United
​

Overview

Whilst being robust and tough to beat, Southend United have yet to taste victory since their 1-0 victory away at King's Lynn on opening day.

The Blues looked to be on their way to picking up all three points last time out as they took a two-goal lead against a well-backed Wrexham side, but a quick-fire double put pay to ambitions of a points maximum as they were forced to take a share of the spoils.

Phil Brown’s side have picked up four points from a possible six away from home so far this season, and a win could propel Blues into the top half of the early Vanarama National League standings.

Halifax Town and Southend have not met since the Shaymen’s reformation in 2008.

The Opposition:​

Halifax finished in a very respectable 10th position in the Vanarama National League last season.

However, they have lost key members of their squad this summer, most notably Jake Hyde and Jeff King as they moved on to Wrexham and Chesterfield respectively.

The club was reformed 13 years ago having been unable to pay their crippling debts, thus forcing them down the non-league ladder.

Since then, the Shaymen have yet to return to the Football League, where they resided when Blues boss Brown played and captained the club between 1985 and 1988, winning the supporters' player of year in his final season.

The closest they came to a return to the top four tiers occurred in the 13/14 season, as they finished fifth in the National League.

Form:​

Saturday’s hosts are one point better off than Southend from their first four matches, having picked up six points from a possible 12 so far this campaign.

Unlike the Blues, Halifax have yet to draw a match, emerging victorious twice while also falling to defeat twice.

Pete Wild’s side managed to see off Altrincham by two goals to nil a week after beating Woking 3-2, however they suffered defeats against Maidenhead United and Yeovil Town either side of the triumphs.

In comparison, the visiting Blues have been held to draws twice so far, against Wealdstone and Wrexham, and suffered defeat against Stockport County two weeks ago, after defeating King’s Lynn Town on the opening day.

From The Boss:​

"I’m going back to where it all started,” said Phil Brown.

"Everybody thinks Hartlepool is the place it all started; yes it’s where I made my debut and played 200 odd games, but my first move south, as it were, was to Halifax Town so I’ve got really fond memories of the place.

"They say once a Shayman, always a Shayman, and that is true. I’ve got fond memories of the area, fond memories of the people and the football club, but I’ll not be fond of them on Saturday that is for sure.

"The ex-player’s association have invited me to the boardroom after the game so it’s nice to know that I’m still regarded in those circumstances, but bottom line is I’m going there simply with one thing in my mind which is to win the game.

"If we win the game it could kickstart our season. We’ve got to get back to that winning way and that has to start on Saturday at Halifax Town."

Blues’ Team News:​

Left-back Tom Clifford remains a long-term absentee with his injury sustained in pre-season.

After suffering concussion in last weekend’s outing against Wrexham, Blues boss Brown declared Nathan Ralph as ‘touch and go’ for the trip to West Yorkshire, but will wait upon guidance as to whether the left-back can feature.

Summer signing Abu Ogogo is nearing a return, but Saturday may come slightly too soon after he was forced off the pitch with a hamstring problem against Stockport.

Blues’ most recent recruit, Will Atkinson, featured for the U23’s on Monday evening and is pushing to feature come Saturday.

Ref Watch:​

Andrew Miller will be the man in the middle at the Shay on Saturday.

He has only ever officiated Southend in the capacity of a fourth official, it will be his first time calling the shots against the Blues.

Miller has taken charge of one National League fixture so far this season, refereeing Stockport’s 3-1 defeat on opening day against Dagenham and Redbridge, he issued five yellow cards on the day.

He was last involved in a Southend game during Mark Molesley's second league match in charge of the club, as his side fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Carlisle United last season.

Elsewhere in the National League:​

Aldershot Town v Solihull Moors

Barnet v Eastleigh

Bromley v Boreham Wood

Dover Athletic v Chesterfield

Stockport County v Yeovil Town

Torquay United v Grimsby Town

Wealdstone v Altrincham

Weymouth v Notts County

Wrexham v Woking

King’s Lynn Town v Dagenham and Redbridge

How to Follow:​

The best way will be at the Shay Stadium where tickets are only on sale on the day from the turnstiles - more details here.

Blues fans not making the trip to West Yorkshire on Saturday will still be able to follow all the live action by subscribing to Blues TV where you’ll get live match commentary from the BBC Essex team from all first-team matches this season.

Blues TV costs £4.49 per month or a one-off cost of £45 for the season, with your subscription not only giving you match commentary, but also exclusive access to extended match highlights, full pre-match press conferences, interviews, features and more.

Please note, if technical difficulties are encountered then please email ifollow@efl.com.

Full text can be found here:-
Link

Come On You Blues!​

 

[The Big Dady]

FC Halifax Town Team

 

[Cricko]

What's happened to Arnold. Have i missed something? That's a big loss as he was playing so well.

 

[The Big Dady]

Steve Arnold misses out today with a dislocated finger, Seaden comes in.
Ralph fit to play and comes back in.

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

Dislocated a finger apparently

 

[Tommy2holes]

Dislocated a finger apparently

How long is that going to keep him out for?

Big blow that. He is so solid.

 

[Cricko]

Dislocated a finger apparently

That all! Pussy. ?

 

[Ricey]

Good luck to Seaden, happy with the line up.

 

[The Big Dady]

Collin Andeng Ndi has signed his first professional contract and is on the bench.

Full Story
Link

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Good luck to Seaden, indeed!
Why do I not like this?

 

[Richard Hearn]

Dislocated a finger apparently

Bert Trautmann broke his neck and still played.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Bert Trautmann broke his neck and still played.

Except he didn't know it!

 

[Shrimper]

Need a win, would be 4 without one and need to keep puttin points on the board to keep in the hunt for Promotion

 

[palexander]

Commentary link anywhere today at all??

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

It's a blow as we need some consistent in the team we recently lost Oggo and now Arnold,hopefully this doesn't continue to happen thro the season as chopping and changing doesn't help the team

 

[Stan33]

Commentary link anywhere today at all??

Please !????

 

[Maldon Shrimper]

Commentary link anywhere today at all??

BBC Essex have full commentary

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

Commentary link anywhere today at all??

And here you go!

National League, National League North & National League South LIVE commentary and scores

Listen to BBC radio commentary from Saturday's action in the National League, National League North & National League South.

www.bbc.co.uk