DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
Trying to pass the time till the season starts here's yet another short story for all those that enjoy them (thanks both of you). All the facts are true, the description of Norwich's ground, the reserve match against Spurs, the winger hitting a Lady supporter and the match report against Derby. Only the names are fictional.
A BIT OF UNPLEASANTNESS
Late January 1926 was an exciting time to support Southend United. In the League they were comfortably placed eighth in the League but already nine points (or five wins) behind leaders Plymouth and any chance of promotion was remote if not impossible. In was in the Cup that they were experiencing some success, having beaten Dulwich Hamlet 5-1, Gillingham 1-0 and Southport 5-2 they were now facing a fourth home tie against second Division Derby County.
23rd January 1926
The big match was still a week away and the Blues faced a difficult away match at the Nest Norwich The ground might be likened to a cage. All along one side and a large part of the other stretches wire netting which rises to some great height. A grandstand occupies a large portion of the third side while on a fourth side a steep cliff rises sheer direct behind the goalposts. A great number of terrace steps reminding one of a Roman Amphitheatre at this end affords spectators with an almost bird’s eye view of the game. The cliff is so steep that at one corner a towering wall of concrete encroaches at a right angle about three or four feet from the corner flag. This makes taking a corner kick very dangerous. About twenty feet above is a concrete balcony where supporters gather ghoul like. Added to this the journey was not an easy one from Southend, and difficult one for the London workers to reach, however the reserves had an attractive match at the Kursaal against Tottenham Hotspur in the London Combination match.
It was this match that our group of friends decided to attend and they took up their place over by the corner flag, half way up the terrace at the Woodgrange Drive end (the North Bank). The visit of Tottenham should be an event to be enjoyed, but this fixture was ruined by a poor referee who failed to keep control.
Albert Crickson, Frank McNasty, Samuel Peters and Lee Smithers travelled down from London in their usual manner. Krystal Fogg, Tinkabel Smyth and Anabel Moyet were there as always as was Percy Marshall, Michael, Macbeth Rices and the usual crowd were all there.
From the early exchanges Southend seemed to have the better of Tottenham but before long there were some reprehensible incidents by both sides which led to retaliations and kicking incidents which largely seemed to go unnoticed by the referee. Several times players squared up to fight. Several of the Spurs players lost there heads and on three separate occasions blows were exchanged on one occasion it was at one end of the ground while the ball was at the other. All this seemed to go largely unseen or overlooked by the referee. However it was certainly seen by the Kursaal crowd and they inevitably moved down towards the touchline. The language was foul from some of the players which could be heard in the Grandstand and prompted Samuel Peters, who was now at the front of the terrace just behind the fence, to shout out “go and wash your mouth out”. Spurs were winning the match 2-1 but this mattered little to the incensed crowd.
The climax came ten minutes from time when the Spurs left winger retaliated on a Southend player and hit two massive blows to the head of the Blues player, the noise of which could be heard right across the ground, the referee seemed to be looking in that direction but waved play on. The Crowd were incensed and when the Surs winger went to take a corner he took a lot of abuse from the Woodgrange Drive crowd, the Winger aimed a mighty blow at Samuel Peters who ducked and he ended up hitting a Krystabel Fogg who was standing behind him. The crowd were furious but the game continued and Southend thought they got the equaliser only to have it denied by the referee, the final whistle went moments later.
As the players leisurely sauntered of the field a few people were seen making their way to the entrance to the players dressing rooms, next fans started to go over the fences from all sides of the ground and it took a police cordon to get the players and officials to safety in the besieged dressing rooms. A large and volatile crowd surrounded the pavilion and were clearly in no mood to leave. After a while it was announced that the first team had won at Norwich, which helped to lighten the mood, and half the mob started to make their way home. Eventually as dusk approached the remainder of the crowd went home, and the Tottenham team and officials were smuggled away.
The London papers made a meal of it claiming an angry mob of 2,000 had stayed behind and done a lot of damage to the pavilion and dressing rooms, the Southend Standard played it down and said the crowd was between 200 to 400 and although hostile no damage was done. The London papers rarely gave Southend a fair press, and this was inevitably to lead to an enquiry. This was not a good preparation for the big cup tie at the Kursaal the next week.
Saturday 30th January 1926
For the last couple of weeks there had been little talk of anything but this game, and a record crowd was expected. Derby were top of the second division The crowd that turned up was easily a record 14,225 paying admission on the day, plus those who bought tickets for the stand in advance making a total of 15,800. The crowd included about a 1,000 derby fans who came down by three trains, two on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway station and the other to the London and North Eastern. The first arrived about 11.30 and on the engine it had success to the Rams, the other two trains arrived to their respective stations by 12,30.”The excursionists were bedecked in Black & White colours, with rattles and walking sticks with favours on them, most of which were left behind for the journey home.
As Southend entered the field a huge cheer went up as they took to the field, and a lesser one though still cordial when the visitors trotted out. Derby won the toss and elected to kick towards the Woodgrange Drive end of the ground, which was the end that Southend would usually choose. The game started to huge excitement and a huge shout went up when a Derby player handled in the area, but the referee waved play on. Derby went down the other end and hit the bar, and then had their best spell of the game with three goods shot on goal.
Then after twenty six minutes the unbelievable happened, when Jack Andrews scored his only goal of the season, in all honesty he didn’t believe he had scored until the roar of the crowd confirmed it. Less than ten minutes later it was 2-0 and that was the score at the interval. Derby were having trouble in containing Southend in a lively start to the second half and resorted to playing the offside trap, but it did little to hold up the Shrimpers onslaught. After 65 minutes Billy Hick found himself through on a one to one with the goalkeeper and made no mistake in slotting the ball home. The crowd went mad knowing that the match was now out of Derby’s reach. Six minutes later Hick scored again in almost an identical move. The score was Southend 4-0 Derby, and it was no fluke, apart from a small period of the game, Southend had outplayed, outwitted, and outfought Derby. With fourteen minutes still to go Derby finally scored their consolation.
As the Derby fans left the ground they freely admitted that they had been beaten by a better side, the likes of which they hadn’t seen in the second Division all season. It was an off day for them and Southend were playing well above themselves but that took nothing away from the victory
A BIT OF UNPLEASANTNESS
Late January 1926 was an exciting time to support Southend United. In the League they were comfortably placed eighth in the League but already nine points (or five wins) behind leaders Plymouth and any chance of promotion was remote if not impossible. In was in the Cup that they were experiencing some success, having beaten Dulwich Hamlet 5-1, Gillingham 1-0 and Southport 5-2 they were now facing a fourth home tie against second Division Derby County.
23rd January 1926
The big match was still a week away and the Blues faced a difficult away match at the Nest Norwich The ground might be likened to a cage. All along one side and a large part of the other stretches wire netting which rises to some great height. A grandstand occupies a large portion of the third side while on a fourth side a steep cliff rises sheer direct behind the goalposts. A great number of terrace steps reminding one of a Roman Amphitheatre at this end affords spectators with an almost bird’s eye view of the game. The cliff is so steep that at one corner a towering wall of concrete encroaches at a right angle about three or four feet from the corner flag. This makes taking a corner kick very dangerous. About twenty feet above is a concrete balcony where supporters gather ghoul like. Added to this the journey was not an easy one from Southend, and difficult one for the London workers to reach, however the reserves had an attractive match at the Kursaal against Tottenham Hotspur in the London Combination match.
It was this match that our group of friends decided to attend and they took up their place over by the corner flag, half way up the terrace at the Woodgrange Drive end (the North Bank). The visit of Tottenham should be an event to be enjoyed, but this fixture was ruined by a poor referee who failed to keep control.
Albert Crickson, Frank McNasty, Samuel Peters and Lee Smithers travelled down from London in their usual manner. Krystal Fogg, Tinkabel Smyth and Anabel Moyet were there as always as was Percy Marshall, Michael, Macbeth Rices and the usual crowd were all there.
From the early exchanges Southend seemed to have the better of Tottenham but before long there were some reprehensible incidents by both sides which led to retaliations and kicking incidents which largely seemed to go unnoticed by the referee. Several times players squared up to fight. Several of the Spurs players lost there heads and on three separate occasions blows were exchanged on one occasion it was at one end of the ground while the ball was at the other. All this seemed to go largely unseen or overlooked by the referee. However it was certainly seen by the Kursaal crowd and they inevitably moved down towards the touchline. The language was foul from some of the players which could be heard in the Grandstand and prompted Samuel Peters, who was now at the front of the terrace just behind the fence, to shout out “go and wash your mouth out”. Spurs were winning the match 2-1 but this mattered little to the incensed crowd.
The climax came ten minutes from time when the Spurs left winger retaliated on a Southend player and hit two massive blows to the head of the Blues player, the noise of which could be heard right across the ground, the referee seemed to be looking in that direction but waved play on. The Crowd were incensed and when the Surs winger went to take a corner he took a lot of abuse from the Woodgrange Drive crowd, the Winger aimed a mighty blow at Samuel Peters who ducked and he ended up hitting a Krystabel Fogg who was standing behind him. The crowd were furious but the game continued and Southend thought they got the equaliser only to have it denied by the referee, the final whistle went moments later.
As the players leisurely sauntered of the field a few people were seen making their way to the entrance to the players dressing rooms, next fans started to go over the fences from all sides of the ground and it took a police cordon to get the players and officials to safety in the besieged dressing rooms. A large and volatile crowd surrounded the pavilion and were clearly in no mood to leave. After a while it was announced that the first team had won at Norwich, which helped to lighten the mood, and half the mob started to make their way home. Eventually as dusk approached the remainder of the crowd went home, and the Tottenham team and officials were smuggled away.
The London papers made a meal of it claiming an angry mob of 2,000 had stayed behind and done a lot of damage to the pavilion and dressing rooms, the Southend Standard played it down and said the crowd was between 200 to 400 and although hostile no damage was done. The London papers rarely gave Southend a fair press, and this was inevitably to lead to an enquiry. This was not a good preparation for the big cup tie at the Kursaal the next week.
Saturday 30th January 1926
For the last couple of weeks there had been little talk of anything but this game, and a record crowd was expected. Derby were top of the second division The crowd that turned up was easily a record 14,225 paying admission on the day, plus those who bought tickets for the stand in advance making a total of 15,800. The crowd included about a 1,000 derby fans who came down by three trains, two on the London, Midland and Scottish Railway station and the other to the London and North Eastern. The first arrived about 11.30 and on the engine it had success to the Rams, the other two trains arrived to their respective stations by 12,30.”The excursionists were bedecked in Black & White colours, with rattles and walking sticks with favours on them, most of which were left behind for the journey home.
As Southend entered the field a huge cheer went up as they took to the field, and a lesser one though still cordial when the visitors trotted out. Derby won the toss and elected to kick towards the Woodgrange Drive end of the ground, which was the end that Southend would usually choose. The game started to huge excitement and a huge shout went up when a Derby player handled in the area, but the referee waved play on. Derby went down the other end and hit the bar, and then had their best spell of the game with three goods shot on goal.
Then after twenty six minutes the unbelievable happened, when Jack Andrews scored his only goal of the season, in all honesty he didn’t believe he had scored until the roar of the crowd confirmed it. Less than ten minutes later it was 2-0 and that was the score at the interval. Derby were having trouble in containing Southend in a lively start to the second half and resorted to playing the offside trap, but it did little to hold up the Shrimpers onslaught. After 65 minutes Billy Hick found himself through on a one to one with the goalkeeper and made no mistake in slotting the ball home. The crowd went mad knowing that the match was now out of Derby’s reach. Six minutes later Hick scored again in almost an identical move. The score was Southend 4-0 Derby, and it was no fluke, apart from a small period of the game, Southend had outplayed, outwitted, and outfought Derby. With fourteen minutes still to go Derby finally scored their consolation.
As the Derby fans left the ground they freely admitted that they had been beaten by a better side, the likes of which they hadn’t seen in the second Division all season. It was an off day for them and Southend were playing well above themselves but that took nothing away from the victory
