Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset
Director⭐⭐
I have mentioned before that our 1980-82 striking duo Derek Spence and Keith Mercer are coming along to Roots Hall on Sunday.
They should be introduced to the crowd about 10 mins or so before kick-off, and yep I've asked if they can walk right out to the centre circle to wave hello to all.
Derek was a rare breed for a Shrimper, namely a player who was earning international caps whilst playing for us. He played in the same Northern Ireland side as George Best and Pat Jennings, earning 29 caps in all and scoring three times, and just missing out (to his regret) on going to the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain.
I think it would be truly great if, when Derek gets introduced on the pitch, we could all one last time chant ''DEREK SPENCE IS AN IN-TER-NAT-IONAL", which back in the day was regularly sung by us all from the terraces.
A dozen or so repeats of that over a 30 second burst I'm sure would be a wonderful Roots Hall moment to be remembered for a long time, and I know Derek would love it (I'm not telling, if it comes off I want it to be a surprise). I'm sure Keith won't mind Derek getting the limelight for this - he might even join in!
I did recently speak to True Blue about The Blue Voice taking a lead on this on Sunday - he was up for it but our conversation was in a pub at Chesterfield so if anyone knows how to contact him to remind him about this that would be great (Scott doesn't appear to be regularly post on SZ at present - I sent him a message a few days ago but no reply as yet).
Even if the early '80's pre-dates your own support for the club I hope you will join in and help to make this a great moment, and maybe something too that will help crank up the atmosphere for the match to follow (and something that will demonstrate the power of Shrimperzone!).
Comments, messages of support, ideas welcome. Come on, lets do it! ''DEREK SPENCE IS AN IN-TER-NAT-IONAL"
UTB, SS
They should be introduced to the crowd about 10 mins or so before kick-off, and yep I've asked if they can walk right out to the centre circle to wave hello to all.
Derek was a rare breed for a Shrimper, namely a player who was earning international caps whilst playing for us. He played in the same Northern Ireland side as George Best and Pat Jennings, earning 29 caps in all and scoring three times, and just missing out (to his regret) on going to the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain.
I think it would be truly great if, when Derek gets introduced on the pitch, we could all one last time chant ''DEREK SPENCE IS AN IN-TER-NAT-IONAL", which back in the day was regularly sung by us all from the terraces.
A dozen or so repeats of that over a 30 second burst I'm sure would be a wonderful Roots Hall moment to be remembered for a long time, and I know Derek would love it (I'm not telling, if it comes off I want it to be a surprise). I'm sure Keith won't mind Derek getting the limelight for this - he might even join in!
I did recently speak to True Blue about The Blue Voice taking a lead on this on Sunday - he was up for it but our conversation was in a pub at Chesterfield so if anyone knows how to contact him to remind him about this that would be great (Scott doesn't appear to be regularly post on SZ at present - I sent him a message a few days ago but no reply as yet).
Even if the early '80's pre-dates your own support for the club I hope you will join in and help to make this a great moment, and maybe something too that will help crank up the atmosphere for the match to follow (and something that will demonstrate the power of Shrimperzone!).
Comments, messages of support, ideas welcome. Come on, lets do it! ''DEREK SPENCE IS AN IN-TER-NAT-IONAL"
UTB, SS