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Memory Lane Final Episode; Review of Southend's Season and the National Scene 1946-47

Wilf Copping was my godfather. When he became the trainer at Blues, he used to take the players for a run down Victoria Avenue towards the High Street. At that time, my mum worked in the Garons butcher's shop near Victoria Circus, and the players used to like calling in there for a chat with her, as she was quite a head-turner in those days. Wilf used to come into the shop and chase them all out to get them back on their run. Over time, my mum became good friends with Wilf and his wife Joan. He actually went on to become coach at Coventry City in the 1950's. When they came back to Southend after he retired from coaching, they lived in St Benet's Road, near Prittlewell station.

His actual nickname in his heyday (1930's) was the "Iron Man of Football". I remember him telling me that at Arsenal, one of the techniques he used to tone up his abdominal muscles was to have a medicine ball dropped onto his stomach as he was lying on the floor!

He was one of the seven Arsenal players which played in the England side which defeated World Cup holders Italy 3-2 in the famous "Battle of Highbury" in November 1934. It was a really violent game, and Wilf used to recount how the Italians were punching and spitting at every opportunity. At one point, one of the Italians spat down the referee's back in protest at one of his decisions. Wilf reacted by decking the Italian player with a right hook - the referee didn't bat an eyelid!

An astonishing fact is that during his 10-year professional career (firstly with Leeds, then with Arsenal) he was never booked or sent off. When he told me how he used to go crunching into tackles, I don't think he'd have got off so lightly now!

I remember as a kid that when we visited them, Joan was very much the one in charge. She had been a schoolteacher. Wilf might have been the Iron Man of Football, but at home he still had to do the washing up!
 
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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
  1. ….Mansfield Town……………….2 …. 2….0….0….5….2….4
  2. ….Reading……………………… …2 …. 1….1….0….12….4….3
  3. ….Torquay United……………….2 …. 1….1….0….3….1….3
  4. ….Bristol Rovers….…………… .2 …. 1….1….0….4….2….3
  5. ….Southend United…………….2 …. 1….1….0….4….2….3
  6. ….Brighton & Hove Albion...2 …. 1….1….0….2….1….3
  7. ….Exeter City……………………...2 …. 1….1….0….3….2….3
  8. ….Queens Park Rangers……..2 …. 1….1….0….3….2….3
  9. ….Notts. County….…………… 1 …. 1….0….0….1….0….2
  10. ….Northampton Town….….…2 …. 1….0….1….5….3….2
  11. ….Aldershot………………………..2 …. 1….0….1….5….5….2
  12. ….Bristol City………………………2 …. 1….0….1….5….5….2
  13. ….Norwich City……………………2 …. 1….0….1….3….3….2
  14. ….Clapton Orient…...….………..2 …. 0….2….0….3….3….2
  15. ….Swindon Town…..….…………2 …. 1….0….1….4….6….2
  16. ….Port Vale…....……..…………… 1 …. 0….1….0….0….0….1
  17. ….Ipswich Town..…...………….. 2 …. 0….1….1….2….4….1
  18. ….Bournemouth & Bos...….…2 …. 0….1….1….1….2….1
  19. ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..2 …. 0….0….2….3….5….0
  20. ….Watford………..…………………2 …. 0….0….2….2….4….0
  21. ….Crystal Palace………………..2 …. 0….0….2….3….13….0
  22. ….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.
 
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Episode 5; Off the Rails at Reading, and Ipswich at home.

Reading 7-2 Southend United.
No.3 Div 3 (South) Saturday 7th September 1946
The defeat of Southend United by the massive score of 2-7 was a greater surprise to the players than it was to the supporters. It was not a question of how Reading had managed to score seven goals but more of how had they managed to win at all. The mood of the match was perhaps set in the second minute of the game when Dudley put the ball in the back of the net, but the referee who hadn’t kept up with play waved play on, even though the ball had clearly crossed eighteen inches over the line before it was hooked away by a defender. Yet this incident didn’t upset the Blues who played beautiful football of a type which bewildered the Reading defence but the ball ran unkindly and shot after shot passed inches wide of the woodwork. Reading encountered the opposite with the luck certainly going their way and their only goal of the first half was somewhat of a gift scored after 30 minutes.

Jackson was injured after only five minutes with his nose oozing blood for most of the match and indeed when the players arrived back at Southend that evening it was still bleeding. The Blues started the second half well but gave away a needless free kick after 51 minutes which resulted in the second goal and six minutes later another free kick resulted in another goal. Added to Jackson’s injury Walton pulled a muscle and was put out as a passenger on the wing, and this seemed to take the fire out of the Blues and they conceded three more goals. Nine minutes from the end Southend sprung back to life and Dudley scored with a pile driver, Reading replied with their seventh but Dudley scored again in the last minute. It is no exaggeration to say the Dudley’s two goals and should have been three, were worth all of the seven of Reading put to together. Seven

Reading had scored ten in their previous match and the delight of the home supporters can well be imagined. The crowd of 15,000 (Receipts £1,243) were chating one to ten in unison before the kick-off, whether Reading are as good as these two scores suggest remains to be seen. For whole hearted play Dudley deserves the highest praise the cheque wavers will soon invade the Stadium, but the decision is that he stays here.

Team: Hankey; Jackson and Bell; Harris, Sheard and F. Walton; Smirk, Hamilton, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.

Southend United 3-3 Ipswich Town.
Football Combination: Saturday 7th September 1946
Two surprise goals sprung by Ipswich Town Reserves in the closing stages of the match at the Southend Stadium brought the final result to a 3-3 draw. The Blues seemed to have the game well in hand but such a turn of events was unexpected and a disappointment to the crowd of just under 4,000. Sibley far up field centred to Bennett who stood unmarked in the penalty area and he had no difficulty in scoring. Ten minutes before the interval Sibley recorded Southend’s second from just outside the area but three minutes later Ipswich pulled a goal back. In the second half a wing to wing pass between Sibley and Tippett resulted in the latter scoring, but then came the disappointing final rally.
Davis; Humphries and O’Brien; H. Walton, Woodward and Savage; Sibley, Gibson, Gardiner, Bennett and Tippett.

Incidentally Southend supporters are fortunate compared to Reading, who do not encourage season ticket holders and issue only a dozen seasons, they charge 5s 6d (27½p) for centre stand seats, covered accommodation costs 3s 6d (17½p) and the majority are in the elements for 1s 3d (6p)

Epsom 3-2 Ekco.
London League Saturday 7th September 1946

Ekco Football Clubs first game in the Premier Division of the London League proved without a doubt that their promotion from the Eastern division was well warranted. Before the largest crowd at Epsom even for pre-war days both teams gave a fine display of football in spite of a heavy downpour. The home side established a three goal lead, but then Ekco missed a penalty before retrieving two of the three goal deficit ,through the outside left Bailey and Ron Horsley and late in the game they missed a penalty by inches.

LOCAL NEWS
VISIT OF ARMY COLUMN
An Army mechanised column consisting of nearly 150 vehicles trucks and guns, in fact everything on wheels used in a modern Army. visited Southend , and gave demonstrations on the seafront adjacent to the Kursaal

WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA MOTOR EXCURSIONS
On Fridays 6th and 20th September 1946 excursions to Stratford-on-Avon were available at 17/- (85p) return from the Pier Hill Coach station. This is very dear compared to 1/- (5p) admission to see Southend United play, or perhaps football was sensibly priced to draw in the crowds.

23 NEW CARS FOR ESSEX POLICE
Essex Standing Joint Committee at a meeting in Chelmsford approved the purchase of 23new cars for Police purposes at a cost of over £13.000. Against that figure it was stated could be offset a sum of £4,690 which is estimated would be received from the sale of used vehicles.

Southend United 1-1 Ipswich Town
No.4 Div 3 (South) Thursday 12th September 1946

The Blues made five changes from the side that lost so heavily at Reading and managed to draw with Ipswich at the Stadium, after having had enough chances to have won the game comfortably. The usual wing men of Smirk and Lane were utilised with inside forwards of Sibley and Tippett but it was not a great success Dudley at centre forward barely received a pass which was any use. The only goal of the first half came when Sibley ran right across the field after a seemingly hopeless chance and gave the ball to Dudley The centre forward drew the defence then provided Smirk with an accurate pass, which he banged in from a narrow angle. Ipswich’s goal came a few minutes after the start of the second half when an error by Humphries left Hankey with little chance of preventing the ball entering the net. It was a poor game.
Team: Hankey; Humphries and Linton; Harris, Jackson and Bennett; Sibley, Smirk, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.

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Division Three (South) Table at the 12th September 1946
  1. ….Queens Park Rangers……..4 …. 3….1….0….9….4….7
  2. ….Exeter City…………………...…4 …. 3….1….0….3….2….7
  3. ….Reading…………………………4 …. 2….2….0….21….8….6
  4. ….Swindon Town…..….………4 …. 3….0….1….16….7….6
  5. ….Mansfield Town…………….4 …. 2….2….0….7….4….6
  6. ….Bristol City……………………4 …. 2….1….1….8….5….5
  7. ….Torquay United…………….4 …. 1….3….0….7….5….5
  8. ….Ipswich Town..…...………….4 …. 1….2….1….2….4….4
  9. ….Cardiff City……..…..………..4 …. 2….0….2….7….6….4
  10. ….Watford………..………………4 …. 2….0….2….9….8….4
  11. ….Brighton & Hove Alb....….4 …. 1….2….1….2….2….4
  12. ….Southend United…………..4 …. 1….2….1….7….10….4
  13. ….Crystal Palace………………..4 …. 2….0….2….6….14….4
  14. ….Northampton Town….…...4 …. 1….1….2….7….6….3
  15. ….Bristol Rovers….…………….4 …. 1….1….2….8….8….3
  16. ….Bournemouth & Bos......…4 …. 1….1….2….3….5….3
  17. ….Port Vale…....……..…………...3 …. 0….2….1….2….3….2
  18. ….Clapton Orient…...….……….4 …. 0….2….2….4….8….2
  19. ….Notts. County….…………..…3 …. 1….0….2….2….5….2
  20. ….Aldershot………………………..4 …. 1….0….3….6….16….2
  21. ….Norwich City……………………4 …. 1….0….3….4….13….2
  22. ….Walsall….………………………....4 …. 0….1….3….1….7….1
Next Thursday Episode 6; Clean Sheets against Palace and Orient at home.
 
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Almost 4,000 for the home reserve game against Ipswich is pretty good. I went to some reserve games at Roots Hall in the late 1960s and seem to remember around 1,000 attending (but could be wrong).
 
Episode 6; Clean Sheets against Palace and Orient at home.

Southend United 2-0 Crystal Palace.
No.5 Div 3 (South) Saturday 14th September 1946

Despite the handicap of having about half a dozen players on the injured list, Southend United managed to field quite a useful combination to beat Crystal Palace by two clear goals in front of a crowd of about 10,000. Palace were beaten far more easily than the score suggests, many shots failed by inches and with a little more luck the United could have piled on the score. It was the type of football that spectators love, despite the drizzle and the heavy rain at times which made the ball greasy Southend placed the ball accurately and often had the Palace defence bewildered. The first goal came within three minutes of the start Gibson tricking two defenders before he passed forward allowing Dudley to run in and beat the goalkeeper. The second goal came after twenty three minutes and was similar to the first, this time Linton put the ball over for Dudley to head the ball right off the goalkeepers fingers. The second half found Southend playing with quite a swift breeze behind them and frequently allowed the ball to overrun them, but apart from one brief spell Southend were the only team in it. Palace had spent quite a large amount on players including £5,000 on their centre forward but he was totally overshadowed by the performance of Dudley.
Team: Hankey; Humphries and Bell; Harris, Jackson and Linton; Smirk, Lane, Dudley, Gibson and Tippett.

Charlton Athletic 3-1 Southend United
Football Combination
Saturday 14th September 1946

Southend United Reserves suffered a serious blow at Charlton where Savage was found to have sustained concussion, when fifteen minutes from the end of the contest, he collapsed unaccountably. Charlton fielded an experienced team with six men who had first team experience and they proved too strong for the Junior Blues. The first half was goalless although the Blues let some chances going begging. In the second half Charlton took the lead followed by a second. Thompson reduced the arrears and had a great chance to pull level when they were awarded a penalty but Hamilton failed with the kick and Charlton added a third before the end.
Team: Davis; Savage and O’Brien; Gardiner, Woodward and Bennett; Sibley, Hamilton, Thompson, Bailey and Peters.

Ekco 2-1 Epsom Town
London Challenge Cup Saturday 14th September 1946

Ekco’s match against Epsom Town in the second round of the London Challenge Cup gave the home team a 2-1 victory for their first home match of the season. Horsley and former Southend centre forward Ted Singleton scored for Ekco.

NEW SIGNING
Southend United secured the transfer on Wednesday of Montgomery the half back who played as a guest last season. The fee involved runs into four figures and is the highest ever paid by the United. Half the amount required has been generously provided by the Supporters Club. The signature of “Monty” is the best news supporters could have had. When he was a guest here he was one of the most popular men on the field. He never settled down in the Yorkshire port and his own persistence to return to Southend was one of the deciding factors. The fact that Southend are buying rather than selling players should satisfy supporters that the directors are out to provide the best football possible.

1536822735537.png

LOCAL NEWS

HOUSING
The housing problem is what is called “the biggest universal world domestic problem that has ever been seen” was referred to by the Chairman of Southend Town Council. Requisitioning was the first line of defence. It was two years since they first started and in that time they had requisitioned something like 1,050 houses at Southend of which 850 were occupied, housing 1,050 families was an achievement of which they could be proud, as he knew of no other town which had requisitioned so many houses under the conditions applying at Southend. They had received 9,000 applications of which some 2,000 cases had probably found accommodation elsewhere leaving 7,000 cases. Roughly 1,000 were housed in requisitioned premises which meant only a temporary solution so it could be said at the moment there was a live register of 7,000 applicants many of whom were ex-Servicemen.

U.S. NAVAL FORCES VISIT
Units of an American Naval task force have agreed to pay Southend a visit. The Mayor said the vessels would be open to inspection by the public. Two destroyers with 80 officers and 1,300 men would dock at the end of the pier which would of course assist the coffers of the pier but the Mayor was sure that everything would be done to make their stay a happy one

Southend United 0-0 Leyton Orient.
No.6 Div 3 (South) Thursday 19th September 1946

Mid-week matches for some reason always lack the punch of those played at weekends but last Thursday’s game at the Stadium reached a really low level, almost too poor to believe. In a goal less draw the Orient were no better than the United and about 9,000 spectators were bitterly disappointed. Dudley had a goal disallowed for offside, an unexpected decision and the excitement that caused was the one bright spot of the match. The match is significant as Stan Montgomery made his first appearance for the club team since his transfer from Hull City. Team: Hankey; Humphries and Linton; Harris, Jackson and Montgomery; Smirk, Hamilton, Dudley, Gibson and Lane.


Third Division (South) Table as at 19th September 1946
  1. ….Queens Park Rangers……..5 …. 4….1….0….9….2….9
  2. ….Exeter City…………………...…6 …. 4….1….1….11….7….9
  3. ….Swindon Town…..….………5 …. 4….0….1….20….8….8
  4. ….Bristol City………………………6 …. 3….2….1….13….8….8
  5. ….Mansfield Town……….…….6 …. 2….3….1….8….8….7
  6. ….Southend United………..…..6 …. 2….3….1….9….10….7
  7. ….Ipswich Town..…...…………..5 …. 2….2….1….10….5….6
  8. ….Reading…………………………6 …. 2….2….2….22….12….6
  9. ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..6 …. 3….0….3….9….8….6
  10. ….Watford………..…………………6 …. 3….0….3….10….10….6
  11. ….Brighton & Hove Alb......….6 …. 2….2….2….6….7….6
  12. ….Crystal Palace…………………..6 …. 3….0….3….8….17….6
  13. ….Bristol Rovers….……………....6 …. 2….1….3….11….9….5
  14. ….Torquay United……………….5 …. 1….3….1….7….8….5
  15. ….Bournemouth & Bos...….…6 …. 2….1….3….6….7….5
  16. ….Clapton Orient…...….………..6 …. 1….3….2….5….8….5
  17. ….Port Vale…....……..………….…4 …. 1….2….1….5….3….4
  18. ….Notts. County….………………4 …. 2….0….2….5….5….4
  19. ….Aldershot………………………..6 …. 2….0….4….9….20….4
  20. ….Northampton Town….…...6 …. 1….1….4….7….9….3
  21. ….Norwich City…………………6 …. 1….1….4….6….18….3
  22. ….Walsall….………………………..6 …. 0….2….4….2….9….2
Southend United goalscorers after six matches
Frank Dudley 6, Harry Lane 2 and Alf Smirk 1

Next Thursday Episode 7; First away win of the season at Torquay
 
NEW SIGNING
Southend United secured the transfer on Wednesday of Montgomery the half back who played as a guest last season. The fee involved runs into four figures and is the highest ever paid by the United. Half the amount required has been generously provided by the Supporters Club. The signature of “Monty” is the best news supporters could have had. When he was a guest here he was one of the most popular men on the field. He never settled down in the Yorkshire port and his own persistence to return to Southend was one of the deciding factors. The fact that Southend are buying rather than selling players should satisfy supporters that the directors are out to provide the best football possible.

So presumably Monty cost about £1,000 the Supporters contributing about £500, In 1948 he was transferred to Cardiff City for £6,000,so were the Supporters club refunded their £500, given half a healthy £3,000 or did they get bugger all!
:Thumbs down:
 
Episode 7; First away win of the season at Torquay


Torquay United 0-1 Southend United.

No.7 Div 3 (South) Saturday 21st September 1946
The United travelled through a gale on a train and arrived at Paignton on Friday night to find the entrance to their hotel blocked by a fallen tree. They were however, most comfortably accommodated and the brilliant morning on Saturday coupled with the excellent food they had no doubt contributed to their sparkling performance. Incidentally a part of the grandstand roof had been blown off but the pitch was in good condition. Southend gained a “brilliant” victory, and those who were disappointed by the performance the previous Thursday would hardly have recognised it as the same team. The home supporters expressed astonishment at the high class of football played by the Blues and it was only the skill of the Torquay goalkeeper that only one goal was scored it could easily have been four of five. When he was beaten it was no reflection on the custodian and was in fact one of the best goals scored by Southend this season. Thompson under pressure from Torquay defenders unleashed a pile driver which the goalkeeper could not hold and the ball fell to Lane who placed the leather into the net. Among the 6,500 spectators who saw the game were directors of Brentford and Crystal Palace.
Team: Hankey; Linton and Bell; Harris, Jackson and Montgomery; Sibley, Smirk, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.

Third Division (South) Table at the 21st September 1946
  1. ….Queens Park Rangers….…..6 …. 4….2….0….9….2….10
  2. ….Swindon Town…..….…………6 …. 5….0….1….22….8….10
  3. ….Bristol City………………………7 …. 4….2….1….16….8….10
  4. ….Exeter City………………...……7 …. 4….1….2….11….9….9
  5. ….Mansfield Town………… ….7 …. 3….3….1….11….9….9
  6. ….Southend United…………...7 …. 3….3….1….10….10….9
  7. ….Reading…………………………7 …. 3….2….2….24….12….8
  8. ….Cardiff City……..…..………….7 …. 4….0….3….11….9….8
  9. ….Watford………..………………7 …. 3….1….3….12….12….7
  10. ….Crystal Palace………………..7 …. 3….1….3….8….17….7
  11. ….Bournemouth & Bos.....…7 …. 3….1….3….7….7….7
  12. ….Ipswich Town..…...…………..6 …. 2….2….2….12….9….6
  13. ….Brighton & Hove Alb....….7 …. 2….2….3….6….8….6
  14. ….Bristol Rovers….…………….7 …. 2….1….4….12….12….5
  15. ….Torquay United…………….6 …. 1….3….2….7….9….5
  16. ….Clapton Orient…...….……..7 …. 1….3….3….5….10….5
  17. ….Notts. County….……………5 …. 2….1….2….7….7….5
  18. ….Northampton Town….…..7 …. 2….1….4….10….11….5
  19. ….Port Vale…....……..…………5 …. 1….2….2….5….6….4
  20. ….Aldershot……………………..7 …. 2….0….5….10….22….4
  21. ….Walsall….………………………..7 …. 1….2….4….6….11….4
  22. ….Norwich City……………………7 …. 1….1….5….8….21….3
Southend United goalscorers after seven matches
Frank Dudley 6, Harry Lane 3 and Alf Smirk 1

Southend United 1-3 Cardiff City
Saturday 21st September 1946 Football Combination:

Southend were let down by two opportunities lost at a time when both sides were trying to gain the ascendancy and this proved to be the downfall of the United. They started badly and Cardiff took the lead after only ten minutes, and two efforts from the home side to equalise bought cheers from the crowd of 5,000 but little else. Then came a fatal miss, Shallcross with an unobstructed view of the goal faltered and was relieved of the ball. Ten minutes later Cardiff added their second, which preceded by a few minutes Southend’s lone goal with Jones sweeping the ball into the net via the corner off the bar. Southend pressed but it was Cardiff which added their third goal. With thirty seconds of the half remaining Southend were awarded a penalty but Jones sent the ball a yard the wrong side of the upright.
Team: Davis; Humphries and O’Brien; Brockway, Woodward and Bennett; Peters, Gardiner, Jones, Shallcross and Tippett.

EKCO 2-0 Eton Manor
F.A. Cup Preliminary Round Saturday 21st September 1946

The match was played at the EKCO ground in front of a large crowd, a quick break through within a minute or two allowed Ron Horsley to score the early goal. Later in the first half a break through on the left was quickly turned to account by inside-left H. Lewis. The second half saw both sides breaking through but smart work by both goalkeepers repulsed all efforts.

Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Southend United
Wednesday 25th September 1946 Football Combination:

Southend United Reserves made the long journey to Plymouth and were victorious by two goals and were by far the superior side. Sheard recovering from injury was played at centre half with a view to include him in the first team on Saturday, and this enabled Jackson to revert to right full back. The Blues excellent defensive display had its reward one minute after the interval when Jones nipped through to give the Blues the lead. Another ten minutes later Gardiner got the second which left the goalkeeper helpless. During the first half a thick fog enveloped the ground and Plymouth’s display gave the home supporters little to enthuse over, as Southend were the more constructive side and were well worth their victory. This win put the Blues up to eleventh in the combination table.
Team: Davis; Jackson and F. Walton; Gardiner, Sheard and Bennett; Bailey, Hamilton, Jones, Middleton and Tippett.

Football Combination “A” Table at the 25th September 1946

  1. ….Arsenal…………………………….8 …. 6….0….2….23….7….12
  2. ….Tottenham………………………7 …. 6….0….1….17….7….12
  3. ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..7 …. 6….0….1….31….17….10
  4. ….Ipswich Town..…...…………..7 …. 4….1….2….24….18….9
  5. ….Charlton Athletic……………..5 …. 3….2….0….15….7….8
  6. ….Crystal Palace…………………..7 …. 4….0….3….12….15….8
  7. ….Reading…………………………….7 …. 3….1….3….10….12….7
  8. ….Norwich City……………………7 …. 2….3….2….15….23….7
  9. ….Millwall……………………………8 …. 3….0….5….14….13….6
  10. ….Luton Town………………………6 …. 2….1….3….20….18….5
  11. ….Southend United……………..7 …. 2….1….3….11….13….5
  12. ….Northampton Town….….…..7 …. 1….3….3….11….17….5
  13. ….Birmingham City……………….3 …. 1….1….1….3….3….3
  14. ….Plymouth Argyle………………8 …. 1….1….6….8….19….3
  15. ….Swindon Town…………………7 …. 1….1….5….7….20….3
  16. ….Clapton Orient…...….………..8 …. 1….1….6….7….20….3
LOCAL NEWS

L.M.S Railway
Suggestions that the L.M.S Railway should be transported to Southend East not Southend Central did not go down well with local residents. It was sad to have these objections we should not resent these poor folk from East London enjoying the blessings of our town.

SUNDAY CINEMAS
The spiritual welfare of our boys and girls is causing concern with the opening of Cinemas on Sundays. Surely cinemas should remain closed till after Sunday School sessions say 7.00 pm.

SUNDAY SPORT
There is no reason why Cricket, Football and Bowls may not be played while tennis court and the 9 holes of Belfairs golf club are being used to capacity. One can cite only too many cases of children forced regularly to attend church two, thee or even four times on a Sunday and who in consequence when in a position to please themselves never go near a house of God.

Mansfield Town who are visitors to the Stadium next Sunday, as is their custom, will probably arrive at Southend on Thursday and make the most of the benefits our Borough can offer

Next Thursday Episode 8: Blues throw away point at the Stadium
 
Almost 4,000 for the home reserve game against Ipswich is pretty good. I went to some reserve games at Roots Hall in the late 1960s and seem to remember around 1,000 attending (but could be wrong).


I'm with you on that. I think my 2nd Southend match was a reserve team game v Charlton and there was around 1100 there. The entire ground was open as well!
 
Episode 8; Blues throw away point at the Stadium

Southend United 1-1 Mansfield Town

No.8 Div 3 (South) Saturday28th September 1946.
Southend United threw away a point at the Stadium when they enjoyed 90 per cent of the game against Mansfield but they allowed their opponents to get a late goal to draw 1-1. Before a crowd of 11,016 the United started off as they would over-run the opposition but faded away in the second half and then found they could not retrieve their fortunes against a dour defence. Once again fate was unkind to the Blues. Many referees would have awarded them two penalties and more than one shot missed by only inches, while an injury to Thompson took all the sting out of the forward line. At times however Southend revealed flashes of the brilliance which carried them to victory at Torquay. Dudley has had some buffetings this season but scarcely a journey like he had on Saturday. Law 9 says charging is permissible but that it must not be violent or dangerous. Both sides indulged in some good honest charging but whereas Southend were penalized Mansfield were not. Montgomery once caught a man off balance and sent him over only to be promptly penalised despite the fact that it was a fair charge. When the same thing happened to Dudley nothing happened. Smirk was an enigma, played a wonderful game in the first half but faded right on in the second. It was he who scored Southend’s goal midway through the first half, Dudley fed Smirk who scored a beauty over the goalkeepers head. Mansfield’s equaliser came fifteen minutes from the end when Sheard lost a heading duel from a corner and the ball ending up in the net.
Team: Hankey; Jackson and Linton; Harris Sheard and Montgomery; Sibley, Smirk, Dudley, Thompson and Tippett.

DIVISION THREE (SOUTH) TABLE

….Queens Park Rangers……..8 …. 5….3….0….12….2….13
….Bristol City………………………8 …. 5….2….1….19….8….12
….Cardiff City……..…..…………..9 …. 6….0….3….20….9….12
….Swindon Town…..….…………8 …. 5….1….2….23….14….11
….Exeter City……………………8 …. 5….1….2….15….10….11
….Crystal Palace…………………..9 …. 5….1….3….12….19….10
….Mansfield Town……………….8 …. 3….4….1….12….10….10
….Southend United……………..8 …. 3….4….1….11….11….10
….Reading…………………………8 …. 3….2….3….24….14….8
….Ipswich Town..…...…………..7 …. 3….2….2….14….9….8
….Port Vale…....……..……………7 …. 2….3….2….10….8….7
….Watford………..…………………8 …. 3….1….4….12….14….7
….Northampton Town….….…..8 …. 3….1….4….12….12….7
….Bournemouth & Boscombe…9 …. 3….1….5….8….14….7
….Aldershot………………………..8 …. 3….0….5….13….23….6
….Walsall….………………………..8 …. 2….2….4….8….11….6
….Brighton & Hove Albion..….8 …. 2….2….4….6….12….6
….Torquay United……………….7 …. 1….4….2….7….9….6
….Bristol Rovers….…………….8 …. 2….1….5….12….15….5
….Notts. County….………………7 …. 2….1….4….9….13….5
….Clapton Orient…...….………..8 …. 1….3….4….5….11….5
….Norwich City……………………9 …. 1….1….7….11….27….3


Southend United goalscorers after six matches
Frank Dudley 6, Harry Lane 3 and Alf Smirk 2

Southend United 2-1 Charlton Athletic
London Combination: Thursday 3rd October 1946

Southend United Reserves completed a fine victory defeating a strong Charlton side, the first defeat they have sustained this season. Gardiner scored Southend’s first goal converting a pass from Tippett and he made the second dribbling through the whole Charlton defence before passing to Hamilton who had only to tap the ball in the net.
Team: Davis; Bell and F. Walton; H. Walton, Woodward and Bennett; Tippett, Hamilton, Jones, Gardiner and Moreton.

LOCAL NEWS

A Welcome visitor who called in the “Southend Standard House “was Jerry Thompson who supporters of Southend will recall was the original full-back from1906 to 1912. He is now living in Edinburgh and scarcely looked a day older and he attended the match on Saturday.

Tommy Tippett appeared in both the first and reserve matches, was an outside left or right who joined from H.M.S. Westcliff* and comes from a footballing family, his father assisted West Ham and other clubs. Born in Gateshead 5 ft 9 inches tall and weighs 11 stone.

* H.M.S Westcliff was an area of the seafront from the Pier westwards taken over by the navy during the war and sealed from public access and was given the nickname H.M.S. Westcliff by the locals.

NAVAL BASE MEMORIAL
It has been decided to have erected a memorial plaque at St. Johns Church in honour of shipmates who lost there lives while attached to the Southend Naval Base. This has now been erected and unveiled on Sunday 30th October 1946 by Commodore Champion.

VISIT TO BRISTOL ROVERS
It is hoped that Lane will be recovered in time to be included in the team to meet Bristol Rovers at Eastville. If so he will take the place of Tippett.

Negotiations are proceeding for an amateur inside forward. Moreton it will be remembered was signed on from Luton but is still in the services.

Next Thursday Episode 9; Injury hit Blues Stun Rovers
 
Episode 9; Injury hit Blues Stun Rovers

Bristol Rovers 1-3 Southend United.
No.9 Div 3 (South) Saturday 5th October 1946

Southend United achieved what will count as one of the most remarkable victories in their career when they won 3-1 at Eastville, after a chapter of accidents which left half the team injured and a fullback playing in goal. The United left Southend at 9 a.m. in good time to catch the 11.15 from Paddington on which seats had been reserved and lunch ordered, a few minutes before the train was due to leave it was announced that no restaurant car would be available and hurriedly a few sandwiches were obtained but the prospects of the team playing on a near empty stomachs did not bode well. After passing through Reading a large crash of class was heard and then Hankey was seen with blood pouring from wounds to his hands. Wilf Copping managed to stop the bleeding but despite Hanky’s claims that he could still play on arrival at Bristol he was sent off to the hospital to get the wounds stitched. At the Ground no one asked if there was any team changes, so Southend said nothing and allowed Rovers to assume that it was Hankey in goal when in fact it was Jackson. To fill the gap Montgomery played although he had been passed unfit by the doctor. For the first half Southend steered clear of further trouble, but then Jackson started to limp, Sheard had to go to the right wing position, Smirk sustained a deep cut over his right eye which needed three stitches and Harris pulled a muscle. Frank Walton had to start the match with his fingers in splints after an accident in which the end of his finger was severed. Jackson looked the part in the goal but was beaten after 21 minutes, however within five minutes the Blues were in the lead thanks to goals from Smirk and Thompson. Another six minutes had passed when Thompson scored after being sent through by Smirk. The second half was one long struggle but the United and Jackson in particular held out. For their courage and strategy the 9,500 spectators cheered the team as they left the field and one went so far as to send a large box of cigarettes to their dressing room.
Team: Jackson; Montgomery and Linton; Harris, Sheard and Walton; Sibley, Smirk, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.

So to summarize:

Hankey in hospital Jackson the Centre Half playing in goal.
Montgomery playing despite being passed unfit by the doctor
Jackson playing in goal starts to limp.
Smirk deep cut over the eye needs three stitches
Harris pulls a muscle
Walton with his fingers in splints after the ends of his fingers being severed.


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Division Three (South) Table as at 5th October 1946
  1. ….Queens Park Rangers……..9 …. 6….3….0….15….2….15
  2. ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..10 …. 7….0….3….25….9….14
  3. ….Bristol City………………………9 …. 5….3….1….20….9….13
  4. ….Swindon Town…..….…………9 …. 5….2….2….23….14….12
  5. .Southend United………..9 …. 4….4….1….14….12….12
  6. ….Crystal Palace…………………..10 …. 5….2….3….13….20….12
  7. ….Exeter City……………………9 …. 5….1….3….15….15….11
  8. ….Mansfield Town……………….8 …. 3….4….2….12….13….10
  9. ….Ipswich Town..…...…………..8 …. 3….3….2….15….10….9
  10. ….Watford………..…………………9 …. 4….1….4….15….16….9
  11. ….Bournemouth & Boscombe…10 …. 4….1….5….11….14….9
  12. ….Notts. County….………………9 …. 4….1….4….14….15….9
  13. ….Reading…………………………9 …. 3….2….4….26….17….8
  14. ….Walsall….………………………..9 …. 3….2….4….10….11….8
  15. ….Brighton & Hove Albion..….9 …. 3….2….4….9….14….8
  16. ….Torquay United……………….8 …. 2….4….2….10….11….8
  17. ….Port Vale…....……..……………9 …. 2….3….4….12….14….7
  18. ….Northampton Town….….…..9 …. 3….1….5….12….14….7
  19. ….Aldershot………………………..9 …. 3….0….6….13….25….6
  20. ….Bristol Rovers….…………….9 …. 2….1….6….13….18….5
  21. ….Clapton Orient…...….………..9 …. 1….3….5….7….14….5
  22. ….Norwich City……………………10 …. 1….1….8….11….27….3
Southend United goalscorers after six matches
Frank Dudley 6, Harry Lane 3, Alf Smirk 3 and Cyril Thompson 2

Southend United 0-5 Tottenham.
Saturday 5th October 1946 London Combination:

Spurs fielded a forward line comprising mostly of first team players two of whom, Gilberg and Whitchurch had appeared as guests for the Blues last season. Spurs outplayed the United and inflicted the highest score so far that the Blues have had marked up against them. The first goal was due to bad luck, the second was scored by Whitchurch and third was despite a strenuous effort from Davis in the Southend goal who saved and brought the ball down but it had crossed the line. Two more were added before the end.
Team: Davis; Bell and O’Brien; H. Walton, Woodward and Bennett; Tippett, Hamilton, Jones, Shallcross and Peters

EKCO 0-3 Romford
Saturday 5th October 1946 F.A. Cup

Before a crowd of over 7,000 Ekco lost their F.A. Cup chances to Romford F.C. in a battling game of throw-ins and free kicks. Romford led 0-2 at the interval and eventually won 0-3.

Southend United have accepted an invitation from the F.A. to visit Germany to play against the B.A.O.R. (British Army of the Rhine). It is expected their visit will take place in the near future. The match will be played on a Wednesday and the club will travel by air.

The United players are leaving next Thursday for a short holiday at Bournemouth.

Barnsley are visiting Southend for a week after their match at Tottenham on Saturday. They will stay at the Grand Pier Hotel and facilities for training have been offered them by the United.

Sheard has received his call up notice and has to report next Wednesday at Warrington.

The next match is at home to Swindon with a 3.30 kick-off. Sheard will be absent because he is injured, but it is hoped that Hankey will be back in goal, the stiches have been removed, the cuts have healed well but obviously he will be at a disadvantage as his hands will be tender. Smirk will also play the stiches over his right eye have being removed.

Episode 10; Home win over Swindon pushes Blues up the table
 
what a great thread
Echo !! v Romford,was my 2nd team coz i was born there....7,000!!
Barnsley staying at the grand pier hotel!!
Us flying to Germany(BOAR)
Love reading this stuff
 
Episode 10; Home win over Swindon pushes Blues up the table
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Southend United 2-0 Swindon Town No.10
Div 3 (South) Sat. 12th October 1946.

Southend played football of a championship side to beat Swindon in front of a crowd of 10,000 and have moved within two points of the new leaders Cardiff. It was especially pleasing as Swindon proved by far the best team to visit the Stadium since the war. The match was equal to any first division match and the play swept from end to end in breathless fashion, not by kick and rush but by clever football manoeuvres. Southend’s first goal came after thirty five minutes and was the result of Dudley’s persistence who fought hard to retrieve the ball and passed to Thompson who banged home a smasher. The second was two minutes after the interval when Smirk centred to Dudley who beat the goalkeeper. All told it was a brilliant match and the United’s performance was similar to what they have been producing on visitors grounds but not their own.
Team: Hankey; Linton and Walton; Harris, Jackson and Montgomery; Sibley, Smirk, Dudley, Thompson and Lane.

Southend United played on in new blue shirts made and presented by Messrs. J.H. Jacks Ltd. of North Avenue, Southend. The shirts were handed over by Miss N. Beatrice Chapman.

Division Three (South) Table as at 12th October 1946

  1. ….Cardiff City……..…..…………..11 …. 8….0….3….29….9….16
  2. ….Queens Park Rangers……..10 …. 6….3….1….15….4….15
  3. ….Bristol City………………………10 …. 6….3….1….21….9….15
  4. .Southend United………..10 …. 5….4….1….16….12….14
  5. ….Exeter City……………………10 …. 6….1….3….18….15….13
  6. ….Swindon Town…..….…………10 …. 5….2….3….24….17….12
  7. ….Crystal Palace…………………..11 …. 5….2….4….13….21….12
  8. ….Mansfield Town……………….11 …. 4….4….3….15….16….12
  9. ….Watford………..…………………11 …. 5….1….5….16….18….11
  10. ….Ipswich Town..…...…………..9 …. 3….4….2….16….11….10
  11. ….Brighton & Hove Albion..….10 …. 4….2….4….12….16….10
  12. ….Reading…………………………10 …. 3….3….4….28….19….9
  13. ….Bournemouth & Boscombe…11 …. 4….1….6….11….15….9
  14. ….Walsall….………………………..10 …. 3….3….4….12….13….9
  15. ….Torquay United……………….9 …. 2….5….2….11….12….9
  16. ….Notts. County….………………10 …. 4….1….5….16….18….9
  17. ….Northampton Town….….…..10 …. 3….2….5….13….15….8
  18. ….Port Vale…....……..……………10 …. 2….3….5….12….18….7
  19. ….Aldershot………………………..10 …. 3….1….6….14….26….7
  20. ….Bristol Rovers….…………….10 …. 3….1….6….15….18….7
  21. ….Clapton Orient…...….………..10 …. 2….3….5….10….15….7
  22. ….Norwich City……………………11 …. 1….1….9….13….33….3
Southend United goal scorers after ten matches
Frank Dudley 7, Harry Lane 3, Alf Smirk 3 and Cyril Thompson 3

So after 10 matches Southend had only lost once and that was by the huge margin of 7-2 to Reading, so in the other nine matches they had only conceded five goals. A strange result, Reading were the second highest scorers in the Division but were only in 12th place with just three wins to their credit.

Swindon Town 3-1 Southend United.
Football Combination: Sat 12th October 1946

Very little can be said about the match between the Swindon and United Reserves at Swindon. If Swindon’s display was poor that of the Junior Blues was even more disappointing. The home team lead by three clear goals at half time and although United rallied in the second half they only managed one goal scored by O’Brien

Downshall 3-6 EKCO
F.A. Amateur Cup Saturday 12th October 1946

EKCO passed the first Qualifying Round of the Amateur Cup at Seven Kings. Ekco were 4-0 up at half time, the first coming after only 80 seconds. Downshall came into the second half with several changes made to the forward line and reduced the arrears by three goals, but EKCO steadied after this and turned the tables and scored a couple more before the final whistle.

Luton Town 1-0 Southend United
Football Combination:. Wednesday 16th October 1946

Southend United Reserves deserved a point from their trip to Luton but have only themselves to blame for not taking it. They had plenty of opportunities but their finishing was poor. Peters being the chief culprit who should have scored twice in the first fifteen minutes. The only goal was registered after thirty minutes.

OTHER NEWS

THE POSTAL SERVICE

Future improvements to the Postal Service will take place on Monday it was announced by the Postmaster of Southend. While receiving the news with thanks we regret that it is not yet commensurate with that that existed forty years ago. Then there was a late delivery in the evening and at least four deliveries a day. Then it was possible for a letter to be posted in the Midlands and to be delivered in Southend the same evening.

Visit to Bournemouth
Several United players have been under treatment this week, and instead of leaving on Thursday for a short holiday before the match at Bournemouth, it was thought advisable to continue the treatment at home, and the team won’t leave till Friday afternoon. No team has won at Dean court since last December,it is obvious it will not be an easy task for Southend. Millwall reserves are due at the Stadium with a 3.30pmkick-off.

Next Thursday Episode 11;
Unbeaten in seven can Blues continue their run







 
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