Zone Update A Bench for Barks.

[Supershrimper]

That wall for the by the West Stand ticket office could be the perfect backdrop for a Southend City Jam graffiti artist to add a lasting tribute too

 

[OldBlueLady]

That wall for the by the West Stand ticket office could be the perfect backdrop for a Southend City Jam graffiti artist to add a lasting tribute too

This kind of thing around the ground is under discussion.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Bench for Barks Update: we can now confirm that two benches will be unveiled at Roots Hall on Saturday 26 April (before our last home match v Wealdstone). Micky Hazard (ex-Spurs), who is a patron of the 'Legend on the Bench' charity, will be present to conduct the ceremonies. The benches will be sited at the East Stand car park entrance and at the West Stand entrance on Shakespeare Drive. The bench on the East Stand side will be unveiled at circa 1.1.5 pm with the West Stand bench unveiling to follow.
Thanks to your wonderful generosity, we have sufficient funds for possibly two more benches, and we are currently speaking to Southend Council re possible sites for these.
The video here will also be accessed via a QR code on the benches.
We will provide an update nearer the time re others who will be at the unveiling ceremonies. We hope to see you there.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Tremendous effort by everyone involved

 

[Cricko]

 

[ms brush]

Well done all, what a tremendous effort to raise the money to do this, and what a fitting permanent memorial for Barks. I really hope that this positive legacy will help the people who might need it.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Just a reminder that two benches following our 'Bench for Barks' campaign will be unveiled on Saturday before kick-off v Wealdstone at Roots Hall.
The unveiling will start near the club shop on the East side at 3.30 pm followed by the West side at the Shakespeare Drive entrance for the second bench.
The unveiling ceremony will be conducted by ex-Spurs man Micky Hazard who is patron of the charity that supplies the benches, and one of Chris Barker's former teammates, Sean Clohessy, will be there in attendance.
We do hope that you can join us.

PS there will be two other benches - potentially in a park in Southend. News re those will follow at a later date

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Just a reminder that two benches following our 'Bench for Barks' campaign will be unveiled on Saturday before kick-off v Wealdstone at Roots Hall.
The unveiling will start near the club shop on the East side at 3.30 pm followed by the West side at the Shakespeare Drive entrance for the second bench.
The unveiling ceremony will be conducted by ex-Spurs man Micky Hazard who is patron of the charity that supplies the benches, and one of Chris Barker's former teammates, Sean Clohessy, will be there in attendance.
We do hope that you can join us.

PS there will be two other benches - potentially in a park in Southend. News re those will follow at a later date

@Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset There has been no preparation of the site at all, and certainly no bench can be seen at the Shakespeare Drive entrance. I hope it's all on schedule for the unveiling?

 

[Cricko]

@Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset There has been no preparation of the site at all, and certainly no bench can be seen at the Shakespeare Drive entrance. I hope it's all on schedule for the unveiling?

They are being installed tomorrow.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

They are being installed tomorrow.

@Cricko

Great news.

 

[Tinks]

Fantastic idea

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Club website article contains a pic of one of the finished benches - looks quality and lovely touch re the small pic and badge as well as the carved words. As Cricko says they will be installed tomorrow in time for Sat unveiling

Bench For Barks Unveiling On Saturday

The official website of Southend United FC

www.southendunited.co.uk

 

[Cricko]

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

They are being installed tomorrow.

@Cricko @Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset
The one by the Shakespeare Drive entrance to the West Stand looks really good!

As someone suggested on here, it would be good to get the wall behind it painted / decorated?

Congratulations to all those who organised this.

 

[Smiffy]

How long before some scrotes vandalise these

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

How long before some scrotes vandalise these

That is a concern, not least because when I was overseeing the installation today a Shakespeare Drive resident appeared and declared it wouldn't last long ... which was a bit demoralising.
However, we can only but try, doing nothing in fear doesn't sit well.
Hopefully folk will see that they have a special purpose and treat with respect.
The benches by the way have a discreet solar powered light.
When speaking to the resident he did come up with a couple of interesting stories, including one re when there was a programme hut on the Shakespeare Drive entrance it apparently got occupied by four blokes who lived in it for a bit. Nice. I suspect washìng and sanitation facilities in the hut were limited. Anyone recall that?
Anyway, onwards and upwards - the party to officially unveil the benches ( a cover i think will be put on and then removed by Micky Hazard) will start on the East side at 3.30 pm and move to the West, I suspect getting to the West circa 4.00 pm.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

That is a concern, not least because when I was overseeing the installation today a Shakespeare Drive resident appeared and declared it wouldn't last long ... which was a bit demoralising.
However, we can only but try, doing nothing in fear doesn't sit well.
Hopefully folk will see that they have a special purpose and treat with respect.
The benches by the way have a discreet solar powered light.
When speaking to the resident he did come up with a couple of interesting stories, including one re when there was a programme hut on the Shakespeare Drive entrance it apparently got occupied by four blokes who lived in it for a bit. Nice. I suspect washìng and sanitation facilities in the hut were limited. Anyone recall that?
Anyway, onwards and upwards - the party to officially unveil the benches ( a cover i think will be put on and then removed by Micky Hazard) will start on the East side at 3.30 pm and move to the West, I suspect getting to the West circa 4.00 pm.

@Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset

I'm pretty sure I know which resident you spoke with! I absolutely do remember the B&Q Garden Shed that was next to the gravel behind the West Stand ticket office. They sold Matchday Programmes from it. It was actually 4 young people (20's) I went and spoke with them. I actually unscrewed the door to the shed and 'posted' it through the gates to the West Stand, in an attempt to make it a less desirable abode. It didn't work!

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Thank you to everyone who got involved in our Bench for Barks project, the culmination of which went really well yesterday when two benches were unveiled at Roots Hall. We are the first football club to have these on our site - many more will follow with I think that little place at Spurs next on the list following the lead of the mighty Shrimpers.
We are not quite done yet as the project raised sufficient funds for two more benches which we hope will be installed over the summer at a park in Southend.
Anyway, cheers, especially to all Zoners who really backed this one

 

[annie1954]

Hopefully the local lowlife will leave the bench by the club shop alone I think it have been safer inside the gates

 

[OldBlueLady]

Good to see Sean Clohessy yesterday, he looked absolutely no different!

Hopefully the local lowlife will leave the bench by the club shop alone I think it have been safer inside the gates

I know, however, that would defeat the object of it - someone is only listening when the gates are open?

Just hope that people are decent enough to leave these alone.