Episode 4: Walsall at Home, Clapton Orient away.
Before we start it is worth noting the importance of Reserve football in 1946. Radio by this time was common place although the content and amount of broadcasting was limited, Television although available was not very common (my parents didn’t get their first TV till 1955). Therefore many people would want to watch a match every Saturday, be it first team or Reserve, the reserve football sometimes giving the opportunity to see top clubs and top players.
The team for Saturday will contain few surprises for the average supporter with three of the new players, Sheard, Hamilton and Lane included. Southend Reserves are strongly represented at Reading and if they do not win should force a draw.
Southend United 3-1 Walsall.
No.1 Div 3 (South) Saturday 31st August 1946
To have started the season with a convincing win by 3-1 against a team which reached the final of the inter-section cup last term was a happy augury for the United and the delight on nearly 11,000 spectators. Walsall played practically the same team which took seven out of eight points off the Blues last season, there was only one team in the contest and that was Southend. One of the most surprising features of the game was the form of Harry Lane who had first played for the Blues in 1932 at the old Kursaal ground and it was fitting that he scored two of the goals. The first came after twenty minutes, it was scored direct from a corner and actually cannoned into the net off a Walsall defender but all agreed that Lane deserved the credit for the goal. The excitement at the time was tense but ten minutes later an equalising goal by the midlanders, scored rather fortunately with the Southend defenders claiming offside proved to be an anti-climax. Ten minutes after the restart playing against a strong wind Lane put the United back in front after a Dudley shot had been parried by the goalkeeper but Lane was on hand to drive the ball into the net. The last goal came from Dudley who broke through on his own and shot past the goalkeeper. It was a fine win but without getting too carried away the forward line looked as good as any for the division but the defence had its frailties.
Team: Hankey; Jackson and Bell; Harris, Sheard and Walton; Smirk, Hamilton, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.
Football Combination: Reading 3-2 Southend United.
After holding a two goal lead Southend reserves lost 2-3 at Reading, Gardiner scored twice early on converting passes from the right wing where Sibley and Gibson were outstanding. The winning goal for Reading was somewhat a surprise as Barney was allowed to head through from a corner. The Junior Blues gave a splendid display but were lacking in defence
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT
Bandstand on the Cliffs
Leslie Douglas (Britain’s Vocal Radio Ace) & his Orchestra (Late of Bomber Command) Daily at 3.00 and 7.30 pm
Pier Pavilion
Super Cast of “Bubbles” London Artists Admission 3/6d (17.5p) 2/6d (12.5p) and 1/8d (9d) Show finishes at 9.45pm giving Patrons plenty of time for public transport.
Pier Head Enclosure
Charles Fox and his Ballroom Orchestra – Southend’s Popular Dancing Rendezvous - admission 1/- (5p) Open Air and under Cover
Steamers from Pier Head
Daily (Fridays excepted) To
Margate 5 hours cruise 2 and a half hours ashore 6/6d (32.5p) 7/6d (37.5p) and 10/- (50p)
Cruise to the Nore Forts out 3.00pmback at 4.45pm3/- (15p)
Clapton Orient 1-1 Southend United.
No.2 Div 3 (South) Wednesday 4th September 1946
Southend continued their good start to the season by gaining their third point from two games with a draw against Clapton Orient only capitulating in the last few minutes by which time the light was so bad that Hankey can be somewhat excused for allowing the Orient to score direct from a corner kick. Rain had been falling at the start of the match but this had stopped by half time resulting in the pitch being in a sticky condition. The United were in confident mood and this was confirmed after twenty five minutes when Dudley netted from twenty yards with a fierce shot after a melee. Sheard was a tower of strength with Jackson and Bell working hard, while of the forwards Dudley and Hamilton played brilliant football. The Orient equaliser came five minutes from time with a shot which seemed hardly possible from the stands. The attendance was 6,300 and the Orient club are waiting for approval for their change of name to Leyton Orient. Unfortunately, in the excitement of the closing stages play became somewhat vigorous and a small section of the crowd demonstrated against Southend after Hamilton had been spoken to by the referee and the Police removed about half a dozen people who had encroached onto the pitch.
Team; Hankey; Jackson and Bell; Harris, Sheard and Walton; Smirk, Hamilton, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.
Division Three (South) as at 4th September 1946
- ….Mansfield Town……………….2 …. 2….0….0….5….2….4
- ….Reading……………………… …2 …. 1….1….0….12….4….3
- ….Torquay United……………….2 …. 1….1….0….3….1….3
- ….Bristol Rovers….…………… .2 …. 1….1….0….4….2….3
- ….Southend United…………….2 …. 1….1….0….4….2….3
- ….Brighton & Hove Albion...2 …. 1….1….0….2….1….3
- ….Exeter City……………………...2 …. 1….1….0….3….2….3
- ….Queens Park Rangers……..2 …. 1….1….0….3….2….3
- ….Notts. County….…………… 1 …. 1….0….0….1….0….2
- ….Northampton Town….….…2 …. 1….0….1….5….3….2
- ….Aldershot………………………..2 …. 1….0….1….5….5….2
- ….Bristol City………………………2 …. 1….0….1….5….5….2
- ….Norwich City……………………2 …. 1….0….1….3….3….2
- ….Clapton Orient…...….………..2 …. 0….2….0….3….3….2
- ….Swindon Town…..….…………2 …. 1….0….1….4….6….2
- ….Port Vale…....……..…………… 1 …. 0….1….0….0….0….1
- ….Ipswich Town..…...………….. 2 …. 0….1….1….2….4….1
- ….Bournemouth & Bos...….…2 …. 0….1….1….1….2….1
- ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..2 …. 0….0….2….3….5….0
- ….Watford………..…………………2 …. 0….0….2….2….4….0
- ….Crystal Palace………………..2 …. 0….0….2….3….13….0
- ….Walsall….………………………..2 …. 0….0….2….1….5….0
Southend United 2-1 Arsenal.
Thursday 5th September 1946 Football Combination:
The Junior Blues defeated the Arsenal Reserves 2-1 with Gibson and Gardiner scoring for the Blues before Arsenal replied. The visiting forwards played excellent football, but the Blues half back line of H. Walton, Woodward and Bennett kept them in check.
The prices of admission for Reserve matches have been wrongly stated on some posters. They are, the ground and East Stand 1s (5p) juniors 9d (4p) West Stand 2s 6d (12½p) juniors 1s 6d (7½p).
DEATH OF “JOCKEY” WRIGHT
Old Southend United followers and many sportsmen in Southend and other parts of the country will be sad to hear of the death of Mr John Wright familiarly known as “Jockey” Wright who passed away in Southend Municipal Hospital, Rochford aged 73 years after a short illness. Wright was one of the finest inside lefts who have been associated with Southend United have previously had service with Hamilton Academicals, Glasgow Clyde, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday. A charming personality he had lived in the Borough for upwards of 35 years at 15 Roots Hall Avenue, his son Douglas who is an English International half back also assisted the United before the war and was transferred to Newcastle United. Another son played for Bolton Wanderers and Reading.
LOCAL NEWS
1,500 TROOPS ARRIVE
Dark skinned soldiers wearing unusual headgear with their khaki uniforms have been seen exploring Southend. They are the Colonial, Dominion and Allied troops who were brought here by the “Royal Eagle” to give them a day’s outing after taking part in the London Victory Parade. The first contingent of 750 arrived on Tuesday, a further 750 mean arrived on Wednesday and a further 750 will disembark Thursday..
LARGER PIER CROWDS
With the continuance of fine weather the holiday season appears to have got into full swing as Southend’s quota of weekend visitors shows a huge influx by train. There was heavy road traffic to add to this total but familiar signs in Southend over the weekend were “no cigarettes” and “bar closed”.
Next Thursday Episode 5;
Off the Rails at Reading, and Ipswich at home.