Memory Lane Origin of the PAK

[DoDTS]

Originally Posted by BarnaBlue; Here's another name from the past for you,Alf Smirk(RIP).I went to the Wolves,Swindon and Mansfield Cup games in 68/9 with him as a fellow passenger(I was in the 6th form at the time)in a car driven by my Aunt Dawn, who was Smirk's sister-in-law.
Alf Smirk, for younger zoners, used to be the football reporter for the Southend Standard in the 60's and indeed used to play for the club before that(he was apparently quite a nippy winger in his time).
Alf was certainly an interesting fella.A bit gruff,some might say a typical dour Yorkshireman.I remember his first words to me "How's thee Philip?" which is not something I was used to hearing every day.He certainly knew his football though and made an interesting companion on those long trips.
Suprisingly, he had a very low opinion of two Blues players of that era,Bobby Kellard and Ray Smith, who he rated no higher than Borough Com. players.
We did agree though on who cost us that League Cup defeat at Wolves.John McKinven.Johny Mac was through on goal a couple of times in a 1-1 with the Wolves keeper but lost his nerve both times with the goal at his mercy.
Sounded like we were more than a bit unlucky last night too.Plus Ça change.

alf died of asbestosis. my missus cared for him in his dying days at a nursing home.

A.H. Smirk was signed from from Sunderland & District Omnibus Company in 1938, his first appearance was in a pre-season public trial match:

Saturday 13th August 1938
First Public Trial Match Southend “A” (Blues) 1-6 Southend “B” (Reds)
The outstanding player on the field was Alfred Smirk, the former Sunderland bus driver, who barely put a foot wrong all afternoon. Despite the scoreline it was the Blues that opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Smirk with a run down the wing beat Stokes and sent over a perfect cross for Martin to head home. However after this early set back it was the Reds that took control 3-1 up at half time and three more goals in the second half. The scorers being Bell (3), Broadhurst, Bushby and Bolan, so all Southend “B” goals were scored by players whose names begin with “B”. The attendance was 2,286 with receipts of £60 6s 3d (£60.31) which will be devoted to charity and this was only 200 less than for the similar fixture last year when 2,476 attended and considering the counter attractions of the Westcliff Cricket week and the carnival this was considered not too bad.

DoDtS

 

[canveyshrimper]

Remember Colchester 4-0.
November-68. Arrived late and we were already 1-0 down. A lumping left-back Owen Simpson hit a 40-yarder that left Trev Roberts rooted, and we later signed Simpson, who never did it again.
We changed ends at half-time, and there were hundreds of Blues allowed to go to the open end from that bike shed they had at Layer Road.
Great support - **** night.

Owen actually did score a 40 yarder for us at the Hall against Northampton. I worked with Owen about 12 years again, and he would stil ltalk about that goal, he was also asked to talk about it a fanzine, the article was called great goals scored by tubby no necked full backs.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Feel sorry for the young uns ,to never know just what a great atmostphere the old n/bank gave. Just the memory of arriving at the bigger games and seeing the queue stretching the entire length of the north bank ,and the sound of the pak trying to knock the cr*p out of the tin sheeting at the back of the stand to increase the volume .
Mind you remember the alleyways around the stands ,and the walk between ends ,think both the chelsea games finished both of those.also remember Portsmouth trying to demolish the gates put up. Those were the days!!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Another great memory was Podge Morgan(RIP) at Peterborough promotion game 1990, he went in the pub near the car park at the ground with no money gave the manager a load of tosh that his girlfriend was following him up from Southend (lie)and could he have his booze on the slate till she met him. Silly move by the manager because Podge could drink, all was going well till he rang his girlfriend and told her where he was, later his girlfriend rang the pub back to ask manager to not let him get to drunk, a shocked manager then said "but your on your way to Peterborough aint you" only to be told "no I'm in Southend". Cue one really mad, skint publican throwing Podge out on his arse.

I knew Podge when he lived with Daddy Grant and the Crow Man (Les Rout) and Liquid Ray. We would be playing cards, and he would watch us and just drink and drink and add to the banter. He used to go selling souvenirs with us at Wembley and pop concerts. He was a crazy cat, and once he had a skinful, you could dare him to do anything.
I liked him a lot.

 

[Cricko]

I knew Podge when he lived with Daddy Grant and the Crow Man (Les Rout) and Liquid Ray. We would be playing cards, and he would watch us and just drink and drink and add to the banter. He used to go selling souvenirs with us at Wembley and pop concerts. He was a crazy cat, and once he had a skinful, you could dare him to do anything.
I liked him a lot.

Was that when Robbie Winkworth was doing it and the late Tony Damary..R.I.P....?

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Was that when Robbie Winkworth was doing it and the late Tony Damary..R.I.P....?

Yes that's correct Cricko. Robbie still does it, but not so much. I look after his dad, when he is away. I was round Robbie's house today, as we are best mates. On a scorching day in July 1996, Robbie was Best Man at my wedding. Robbie is another amazing character, as you probably already know.

 

[Cricko]

Yes that's correct Cricko. Robbie still does it, but not so much. I look after his dad, when he is away. I was round Robbie's house today, as we are best mates. On a scorching day in July 1996, Robbie was Best Man at my wedding. Robbie is another amazing character, as you probably already know.

Ah right .. can you go through his garage for me then please..he promised me a load of the old merchandise stuff he has over from when he used to get it in for the club to put in Zone raffles..:smiles:

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

However I met Ozzie at a Slade concert, Hammersmith, in 74 . Spent a lot of the bus journey from Manor Park about Slade and Southend, Seemed a top bloke.
I heard he passed away some while ago

He was murdered by his bi-sexual partner in Rochford about 1981. The guy got 8 years for manslaughter.

 

[Cricko]

It is very sad at the amount of names mentioned in this thread that are no longer with us...Blimey I did not realise how many.:(

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

It is very sad at the amount of names mentioned in this thread that are no longer with us...Blimey I did not realise how many.:(

Several more not mentioned as yet, Gus, John Welham, Bob Jennings (Chunky), Trevor Oliver (Ollie the train driver and ex park keeper at Chalkwell park), and Peter Knight.

 

[Cricko]

I forgot all about Peter Knight, he was a nice bloke, but he was a dangerous man on his day.....Found dead and alone in a room in Westcliff I think.I had a drink with him about a week before he passed.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Several more not mentioned as yet, Gus, John Welham, Bob Jennings (Chunky), Trevor Oliver (Ollie the train driver and ex park keeper at Chalkwell park), and Peter Knight.

I'll add John Wheatley & Graham Houghton. John was on the organising committee of LeighComm coaches, I used to work with Graham and his older brother Barry was a great bloke (his son is a SZ member), and one of the drivers at the infamous Bournemoth garage incident.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I'll add John Wheatley & Graham Houghton. John was on the organising committee of LeighComm coaches, I used to work with Graham and his older brother Barry was a great bloke (his son is a SZ member), and one of the drivers at the infamous Bournemoth garage incident.

Forgot about John, did'nt know the other guy. Remember Trevor Simms (Simmo)?. Well, he is still with us living in Stoke, but he underwent a triple by pass a few months back.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Forgot about John, did'nt know the other guy. Remember Trevor Simms (Simmo)?. Well, he is still with us living in Stoke, but he underwent a triple by pass a few months back.

Remember you telling me about Simmo. Mcnasty asked earlier in this thread, what happened to Paul Pacey? Was it you who told me he was a bus driver in Brighton or Bournemouth (somewhere on the South Coast)?

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Remember you telling me about Simmo. Mcnasty asked earlier in this thread, what happened to Paul Pacey? Was it you who told me he was a bus driver in Brighton or Bournemouth (somewhere on the South Coast)?

Yes it was!. He moved to Brighton in 1978, and with his missus (Big Liz) they had twin daughters. Totally went out of circulation after we saw him at the game down there in 1992. Ollie (RIP) saw him driving a bus down there several years ago and spoke to him. I went to Brighton a couple of years back and phoned the bus company to get a contact number for him. They would only confirm thay had a person of that name working for them and would'nt divulge any other info. Have tried to find him on friends reunited and facebook without success. If anyone knows more then please let me know.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Thanks Tony, you never know he may be reading this thread as we speak.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Thanks Tony, you never know he may be reading this thread as we speak.

Hopefully!. I'd love to see the old bugger again. He was pencilled in to be my best man when i got married in 78, but as he moved on to that poor resort on the south coast (Liz's mum lived down there) i had several months to find another mug!.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Several more not mentioned as yet, Gus, John Welham, Bob Jennings (Chunky), Trevor Oliver (Ollie the train driver and ex park keeper at Chalkwell park), and Peter Knight.

Rob Jennings, I mentioned in the 'Chalkwell Fair' thread in the pub, and another thread. He was brave as a lion, and a top bloke.

I first met Ollie at Chalkwell Park, when I was about 13. He was a portly figure and looked really hard because of cropped hair, braces, jeans and DMs, but it turned out he was a big softy and a really nice bloke. I wound him up the first time I met him and he chased me on a drive-on Lawnmower. I got to know him after that, and he would always stop and talk to our gang. Sorry to hear that he has passed away. I used to love our little chats.

Peter Knight had a reputation. He was a Jekyl and Hyde character. I saw him erupt violently over nothing in the Bella Pais Greek restaurant that used to be in York Road. Mind you, the place was well known for that sort of thing. When at Colchester in the Seventies, he would steam into them on his own. He made me laugh there once, as he was going down a Skip and passing make-do weapons to the Southend mob.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Knighty put in a big performance at Colchester one monday night in 1971, it was chucking it down with rain and he was loving every minute of it. Liked Peter a lot met him when I was 11 and stayed mates, great to have a drink with and he had a really dry sense of humour. All these names that have been mentioned all big characters and all stood on the north bank no wonder the rest of the country were a bit wary of us.

 

[Cricko]

Something I posted about 3-4 years ago when we had just had news of the new stadium go ahead....this thread reminded me of it.

My Roots Hall.

Roots Hall.

This is probably a lot harder for me than most on here.Yes I know Canvey and a few others were there or therebouts in those old days when it all began for me.

I Guess I was about 9 when I used to visit Priory Park and wondered who these people were kicking footballs about, It took a kickabout friend to point out to me "that is Southend United"...I was at boarding school at that time so it was mostly at half terms that I had the chance to visit the Park....This was the normal training ground in those day's.. It became the normal at every school break for me, we became the local ball-boy's of the day and we became part of the family when we were invited to Roots Hall on Matchday as a thanks.

I do not remember the first game I went to or in what order the players appeared ...I remember Chisnel,Woodley,Bentley, Mcgiven and one of my all time favourites at the Hall...Trevor Roberts, who kind of took a shine to us youngsters and was a top top man. ( sadly he died many years ago). I think it was Arthur Rowley in charge in those days followed by Ernie Shepherd, but forgive me if I am not accurate.We became a fixture at the Hall after that.

We used to bunk in mostly over the old South Bank by the Hospital Toc H wooden hut. In our day's off at half term we were at the ground most day's as volunteers..There are so many things we used to do to help but one that stands out in my mind is when they extended the East stand and put in proper seats instead of bench's..I spent I think about a week ( well it felt like it at the time) sticking gold transfer numbers on to each seat.

There is a picture of one of my relatives in the recent book "A Century United" as a player , maybe it was in the blood but my love for SUFC has never wained from those day's.I have so many stories to tell over the 40 odd years I have loved the Shrimpers and not the time to tell them all here, but it does bring a lump to my throat as we are about to kiss the old place goodbye. Roots Hall will always be a special place to me but I felt many years ago that if we had a chance to move we should take it, but it never materialized.

I have seen 100's and 100's of players come and go and a fair few manager's. I miss some of my old friends from those day's that are sadly not here anymore, but I have made so many more over the year's and I have had a few gap's along the way due to family commitments.

Today I have mixed feelings of course, my youth and all of my life up until now supporting SUFC has been at the Hall, but I know it is time to move on and bring a new future to SUFC...I look forward to Fossetts with a smile and a new future for the club and us all, but with a tear for those long gone day's that have made my life and love of my club complete.

Long may SUFC remain in all your hearts.

John.