Memory Lane Old Photos of Southend United.

[ozzie]

Hi Nobbler..im sure i have read that when A Rowley,a gentleman like Ernie, he was one of the best paid managers in the lower leagues..was it 7,000 a year?
The next year,we were poor,but kept him? the (WBA kit time)..but then !!! what days 71-72...

 

[ozzie]

Again ,old age...but was his home debut v Aldershot??? that game where the South bank was not opened coz of snow I was in the West side and he punched (in front of West stand )a Shot player?

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Again ,old age...but was his home debut v Aldershot??? that game where the South bank was not opened coz of snow I was in the West side and he punched (in front of West stand )a Shot player?

@ozzie Nothing wrong with your memory if I'm correct.

Bill Garner played in two away defeats 1-0 York City, 2-0 Chester prior to his home debut in the 1969 / 70 Season against Aldershot:

League Division Four
1969 / 70 Season
Saturday 29th November 1969

Southend United 2-2 Aldershot (HT Southend United 1-0 Aldershot)

Southend United scorers Best, Clayton

Southend United Team: Roberts, Lindsey, Simpson, Jacques, Barnett, Kurila, Chambers D., Best, Garner, Hunt, McKinven (Sub not available).

Attendance: 2,887

If Garner did 'lump' a 'Shots player in front of the West Stand, it maybe that you were the only one eagled eyed one to witness it. Certainly the officials didn't take any action as Garner started the next 5 matches.

 

[LCBB72]

@ozzie Nothing wrong with your memory if I'm correct.

Bill Garner played in two away defeats 1-0 York City, 2-0 Chester prior to his home debut in the 1969 / 70 Season against Aldershot:

League Division Four
1969 / 70 Season
Saturday 29th November 1969

Southend United 2-2 Aldershot (HT Southend United 1-0 Aldershot)

Southend United scorers Best, Clayton

Southend United Team: Roberts, Lindsey, Simpson, Jacques, Barnett, Kurila, Chambers D., Best, Garner, Hunt, McKinven (Sub not available).

Attendance: 2,887

If Garner did 'lump' a 'Shots player in front of the West Stand, it maybe that you were the only one eagled eyed one to witness it. Certainly the officials didn't take any action as Garner started the next 5 matches.

If I remember rightly the home game v Aldershot was played in the snow , there was two people on the South Bank and one of those was Derek Brittain .

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

Hi Nobbler..im sure i have read that when A Rowley,a gentleman like Ernie, he was one of the best paid managers in the lower leagues..was it 7,000 a year?
The next year,we were poor,but kept him? the (WBA kit time)..but then !!! what days 71-72...

Hi Ozzie, yes according to some reports back then Arthur Rowley's salary was reported to be around £7,000 a year?

 

[LCBB72]

Hi Ozzie, yes according to some reports back then Arthur Rowley's salary was reported to be around £7,000 a year?

When you think that you could buy a house in Leigh for about £4000 and that house is now worth about £600 ,000 , Arthur was on a great wage then .

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

@ozzie Nothing wrong with your memory if I'm correct.

Bill Garner played in two away defeats 1-0 York City, 2-0 Chester prior to his home debut in the 1969 / 70 Season against Aldershot:

League Division Four
1969 / 70 Season
Saturday 29th November 1969

Southend United 2-2 Aldershot (HT Southend United 1-0 Aldershot)

Southend United scorers Best, Clayton

Southend United Team: Roberts, Lindsey, Simpson, Jacques, Barnett, Kurila, Chambers D., Best, Garner, Hunt, McKinven (Sub not available).

Attendance: 2,887

If Garner did 'lump' a 'Shots player in front of the West Stand, it maybe that you were the only one eagled eyed one to witness it. Certainly the officials didn't take any action as Garner started the next 5 matches.

Seem to remember that both I (and GMS) took younger brother Rob Noxious to see Eddie Clayton's debut against Workington earlier that season,standing on the old South Bank terrace,

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Seem to remember that both I (and GMS) took younger brother Rob Noxious to see Eddie Clayton's debut against Workington earlier that season,standing on the old South Bank terrace,

Yes, i was at that one. We won 7-0!.

 

[ozzie]

True T,great game,was that the same season we beat Exeter.C 6-1.King Billy hattrick?

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

True T,great game,was that the same season we beat Exeter.C 6-1.King Billy hattrick?

And i think that was 4 days after we'd beat Lincoln 3-0, & a certain Graham Taylor broke Johnny Mac's leg?.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

True T,great game,was that the same season we beat Exeter.C 6-1.King Billy hattrick?

No Ozzie, Workington 7-0 was March 1968 and the 6-1 win against Exeter City was on a Friday in October 1968 and as Tony mentioned 4 days after we smashed those Imps 3-0 when the late Johnny Mac had his leg broken by future England manager the late Graham Taylor.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

@ozzie Nothing wrong with your memory if I'm correct.

Bill Garner played in two away defeats 1-0 York City, 2-0 Chester prior to his home debut in the 1969 / 70 Season against Aldershot:

League Division Four
1969 / 70 Season
Saturday 29th November 1969

Southend United 2-2 Aldershot (HT Southend United 1-0 Aldershot)

Southend United scorers Best, Clayton

Southend United Team: Roberts, Lindsey, Simpson, Jacques, Barnett, Kurila, Chambers D., Best, Garner, Hunt, McKinven (Sub not available).

Attendance: 2,887

If Garner did 'lump' a 'Shots player in front of the West Stand, it maybe that you were the only one eagled eyed one to witness it. Certainly the officials didn't take any action as Garner started the next 5 matches.

The Southend United substitute that day was Peter Hunt who replaced Bill Garner. Yes the match was played in the snow as was mentioned and the South Bank was closed that afternoon due to the very low attendance The legendary Jack Howarth scored both the Aldershot goals.

 

[LCBB72]

True T,great game,was that the same season we beat Exeter.C 6-1.King Billy hattrick?

Remember that game , when the band came out at half time and marched round the ground all my mates and I spotted Steve Kidd a boy in our class playing the trumpet .

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Here's the Exeter view of that thrashing, in their program for the game at Exeter 2 months later. I also like the fact we were the big spenders of the 4th Division.

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

Here's the Exeter view of that thrashing, in their program for the game at Exeter 2 months later. I also like the fact we were the big spenders of the 4th Division.

A special match played in a very special season for me personally. 1968-69 was the first season when I was able to attend all our 52 matches both at home and away aged just 18 years young accompanied by my very good friend Mick with his expertise on getting me to so many places should not be underestimated that's for sure.
We travelled by coach, train, car and also hitch-hiked quite a few times We also had at least 4 matches that were postponed that ended up being played mid-week just to P*** us off a bit more but trust me I wouldn't have missed it for the world. We scored well over 100 goals (how often has that ever happened?) and we had 4 players scoring double figues Billy Best 31, Gary Moore 21, Chico Hamilton 12 and Eddie Clayton 11.
As I mentioned above this match has always meant something more to me and the reasons why are here. Exeter City were beaten at Roots Hall 6-1, their manager Frank Broome sore loser or what, who managed at Roots Hall for a short period in 1960 complained after the match that his players were unable to pick our players out due to the, referee, floodlights but more so as we were wearing the famous very dark blue Scotland shirts (Yeh right). Anyway at the end of that season we were forced to ditch that fabulous kit sadly. This was the return match played at St.James' Park some 9 weeks later so I travelled down on the coach from Roots Hall leaving at 11pm. Friday night 11 days before Christmas and with no heating the windows were iced both inside and out. We again played in the dark blue Scotland shirts and won the match by 2-1 with a very late goal scored almost on the final whistle.
The amazing thing about this match was the attendance of just under 12,500 their highest attendance for many a year which was due to the fact Exeter City had been drawn at home in the F.A.Cup to Manchester United and at our game they were giving out match ticket vouchers.. My favourite ever season, and with 100% attendance of matches a fantastic time to follow the team but the season when my favourite shirt bar none was consigned to our history which was all down to a sad manager with poor eyesight.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

The Southend United substitute that day was Peter Hunt who replaced Bill Garner. Yes the match was played in the snow as was mentioned and the South Bank was closed that afternoon due to the very low attendance The legendary Jack Howarth scored both the Aldershot goals.

@B.B.The Legend Lives On. In the records I use Hunt is mentioned twice. He is down in the starting XI as the No. 10 but is also shown as the substitute who, as you rightly stated, replaced Garner. So one of those entries is wrong!

 

[LCBB72]

The Southend United substitute that day was Peter Hunt who replaced Bill Garner. Yes the match was played in the snow as was mentioned and the South Bank was closed that afternoon due to the very low attendance The legendary Jack Howarth scored both the Aldershot goals.

If I remember rightly on a Southend attack towards The North Bank , either King Billy or Phil Chisnall had a shot at the Aldershot goal . It seemed that from nowhere Peter Hunt appeared with the ball instead of going in the goal it hit him on his leg and was cleared . For the rest of the game Hunt had a big red mark on his leg because it was so cold .

 

[ozzie]

Great post Nobbler...that was a great season and shirt...you picked that season to watch every game H&A
Being a lucky schoolboy (till Feb72)..i saw every H&A game that season..that was lucky
That home game v Cambridge April 21..1972...was my birthday and i thought what a present that would be promotion !!
But we lost 1-2 as most fans remember from those days.....then after that game i thought..OH NO,not season 67-68 again...but we only needed to wait a few days till the Scuni away game PROMOTION happy days..
That team in the Exeter prog that 70s put/mailed on here...what a team..so,so lucky to have seen those teams from 67 till 80s

 

[* ORM *]

Here's the Exeter view of that thrashing, in their program for the game at Exeter 2 months later. I also like the fact we were the big spenders of the 4th Division.

Thankfully Wikipedia saved me from commenting on a non-typo in Beesley’s birthplace!

One of the best threads on the Zone btw.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

A special match played in a very special season for me personally. 1968-69 was the first season when I was able to attend all our 52 matches both at home and away aged just 18 years young accompanied by my very good friend Mick with his expertise on getting me to so many places should not be underestimated that's for sure.
We travelled by coach, train, car and also hitch-hiked quite a few times We also had at least 4 matches that were postponed that ended up being played mid-week just to P*** us off a bit more but trust me I wouldn't have missed it for the world. We scored well over 100 goals (how often has that ever happened?) and we had 4 players scoring double figues Billy Best 31, Gary Moore 21, Chico Hamilton 12 and Eddie Clayton 11.
As I mentioned above this match has always meant something more to me and the reasons why are here. Exeter City were beaten at Roots Hall 6-1, their manager Frank Broome sore loser or what, who managed at Roots Hall for a short period in 1960 complained after the match that his players were unable to pick our players out due to the, referee, floodlights but more so as we were wearing the famous very dark blue Scotland shirts (Yeh right). Anyway at the end of that season we were forced to ditch that fabulous kit sadly. This was the return match played at St.James' Park some 9 weeks later so I travelled down on the coach from Roots Hall leaving at 11pm. Friday night 11 days before Christmas and with no heating the windows were iced both inside and out. We again played in the dark blue Scotland shirts and won the match by 2-1 with a very late goal scored almost on the final whistle.
The amazing thing about this match was the attendance of just under 12,500 their highest attendance for many a year which was due to the fact Exeter City had been drawn at home in the F.A.Cup to Manchester United and at our game they were giving out match ticket vouchers.. My favourite ever season, and with 100% attendance of matches a fantastic time to follow the team but the season when my favourite shirt bar none was consigned to our history which was all down to a sad manager with poor eyesight.

I think your question was rhetorical, but it piqued my interest! So, looking back from the club's formation in 1906 and including recognised first-team fixtures only (so League (including play-offs), League Cups, The FA Cup, Football League Associate Members Cup, Football League Trophy, The FA Trophy and Anglo Italian Cup), I found out that 1968/69 is the only season in the club's history where we have exceeded 100 goals. That season we scored 78 league goals, 22 in The FA Cup and 6 in the League Cup for a total of 106 from 52 games.

The closest challenger is 1957/58, when we scored 90 goals in Division Three South and eight in five matches in The FA Cup for a total of 98 from 51 games. 1990/91 is third in the list with 67 Division Three goals, 2 in The FA Cup, 5 in the League Cup and 23 in the Associate Members Cup for a total of 97 in 56 matches.

In terms of League goals only, the 1950/51 Division Three South campaign ranks highest, with 92 in 46 matches ahead of the aforementioned 1957/58 with 90 and 1955/56 - our first season at the current Roots Hall - with 88 in 46 games.

In terms of goals per game, the top three campaigns are all from our previous spell in non-league football, with 2.70 in Southern League Division Two in 1911/12 and then - inspired by Harold Halse - 2.65 in 1907/08 and 2.64 in 1906/07. Each of those seasons featured fewer than 30 league games. 1968/69 is the only other season where we have netted more than two goals per game.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, it will come as little surprise that the 2020/21 League Two relegation campaign featured our fewest goals in a completed league season (29 in 46 games) and the lowest goals per game overall (0.67). We've only scored fewer than a goal per game in four seasons (1921/22 in Division Three South, 1996/97 in the second tier and 1948/49 in Division Three South in addition to 2020/21).

As for where our National League campaigns rank on goals per game, from 110 seasons (including those curtailed by war/pandemic), 2023/24 is 40th (1.5), 2024/25 is 48th (1.43), 2022/23 is 71st (1.24) and 2021/22 is 95th (1.08). The last two seasons have been above our overage average goals per game across our history of 1.41.