DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
Episode 20
No. 33 Division Three (South) - Saturday 25th March 1922
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
There were still ten games to go be the Blues were dropping deeper and deeper into trouble. They were bottom but one, just one point ahead of Exeter, a point behind Norwich, two behind Gillingham, and four points behind the rest of the field. Clearly they needed at least a point, unfortunately it did not work out that way. In front of 12,000 fans they lost 0-1.
Team: Capper; W. Evans and J. Evans; Howard, Halstead and Martin, F. Harris, Dobson, Nuttall, Buddery and Flowers
A WORD OF INEFFICIENT CONTROL
So we endured an alleged hour and a half of first class football. There was practically nothing to excite, thrill or please from a football point of view. Since the war the standard of refereeing has been lamentably low and though at the beginning of the season one was buoyed up with hopes of improvement, many of the examples we have seen of late have proved that these anticipations have gone unfilled. While a professionally player can earn £9 a week, and the man on whom the success or otherwise of the game can only draw £3 3s. so long will bad referring exist. A fee that will attract the right class of man with a committee of inspection, who without the official knowing, see each referee at least twice a year would do much to eliminate the abundance of bad referees and replace them with the A1 class. It is no use also delaying appointments to the League list until a man is approaching veteran stage. Give the younger man a chance, after all football is a game for the young.
From the Southend Standard 30th March 1922.
The Junior Blues had another friendly beating the Borough Combination 7-1 at the Kursaal
LATER KICK OFFS
As was forecasted in these columns a fortnight ago the Football League has now acceded for a later kick off than 3.15. On Monday the League decided that in the case of Southend United and the South Wales clubs which had been prejudicially affected by the early kick offs that in future they can start play not later then 3.30 by arrangement with the visiting club. This concession will appreciated at Southend where so many people have to get down from the City and like to have a meal before seeing the game. It should add materially to the attendance and the gate receipts.
From the Southend Standard 30th March 1922
No. 34 Division Three (South) - Saturday 1st April 1922
SOUTHEND UNITED 0-1 NORWICH CITY
Southend were mow in bottom spot, level on points with Exeter, but now three points behind Norwich, who still had a game in hand. This game now took on enormous importance, win and the gap would be closed to a point, lose and the gap would be five.
Team: Capper; Lawson and W. Evans; Howard, Lawrence and Martin, Allen, Dobson, Nuttall, Buddery and Flowers.
ZERO
There are some things in life we cannot forget, other pleasant reminiscences that we do not wish to forget but cannot. The four thousand enthusiastic and loyal spectators who braved the wintry blast of a chill April afternoon to see the United make an effort to escape the bottom pair against Norwich City on Saturday would probably like to forget the encounter. They cannot. Certainly it’s memories will remain with me for many a long day, though reflections upon the subject will not be pleasant. On their play on Saturday it’s hard to conceive how the Canaries could beat any football team. They should be a side that would provide any eleven with pretensions to the Third Division with a surfeit of goals. They were a poor sixth rate team and yet they beat the United by a goal to nil. The club now seemed foredoomed to finish in the bottom pair and on recent displays they are where they richly deserve to be. Before the New Year their exhibitions were uneven and disappointing enough, but since then thy have gone from bad to worse. Saturday was rock bottom and it is consoling to know that even if they tried to do so they could not play worse.
From the Southend Standard 6th April 1922
RESERVES
Southern League ; The reserves won at Norwich 4-2.
ANOTHER CAP FOR JIMMY EVANS
Jimmy Evans was absent again as he got his third Welsh cap when playing for Wales v Ireland in a 1-1 draw at Windsor Park Belfast. He had gained caps against England, Ireland and Scotland in his first international season. In the 1920s which was before World Cups or European Championships, the home International Tournament was the big National tournament and for Jimmy Evans to have played in all three when playing for a side at the bottom of the Third Division was quite an achievement.
Next Monday Episode 21
Deeper and Deeper into Trouble
No. 33 Division Three (South) - Saturday 25th March 1922
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
There were still ten games to go be the Blues were dropping deeper and deeper into trouble. They were bottom but one, just one point ahead of Exeter, a point behind Norwich, two behind Gillingham, and four points behind the rest of the field. Clearly they needed at least a point, unfortunately it did not work out that way. In front of 12,000 fans they lost 0-1.
Team: Capper; W. Evans and J. Evans; Howard, Halstead and Martin, F. Harris, Dobson, Nuttall, Buddery and Flowers
A WORD OF INEFFICIENT CONTROL
So we endured an alleged hour and a half of first class football. There was practically nothing to excite, thrill or please from a football point of view. Since the war the standard of refereeing has been lamentably low and though at the beginning of the season one was buoyed up with hopes of improvement, many of the examples we have seen of late have proved that these anticipations have gone unfilled. While a professionally player can earn £9 a week, and the man on whom the success or otherwise of the game can only draw £3 3s. so long will bad referring exist. A fee that will attract the right class of man with a committee of inspection, who without the official knowing, see each referee at least twice a year would do much to eliminate the abundance of bad referees and replace them with the A1 class. It is no use also delaying appointments to the League list until a man is approaching veteran stage. Give the younger man a chance, after all football is a game for the young.
From the Southend Standard 30th March 1922.
RESERVESThe Junior Blues had another friendly beating the Borough Combination 7-1 at the Kursaal
LATER KICK OFFS
As was forecasted in these columns a fortnight ago the Football League has now acceded for a later kick off than 3.15. On Monday the League decided that in the case of Southend United and the South Wales clubs which had been prejudicially affected by the early kick offs that in future they can start play not later then 3.30 by arrangement with the visiting club. This concession will appreciated at Southend where so many people have to get down from the City and like to have a meal before seeing the game. It should add materially to the attendance and the gate receipts.
From the Southend Standard 30th March 1922
No. 34 Division Three (South) - Saturday 1st April 1922
SOUTHEND UNITED 0-1 NORWICH CITY
Southend were mow in bottom spot, level on points with Exeter, but now three points behind Norwich, who still had a game in hand. This game now took on enormous importance, win and the gap would be closed to a point, lose and the gap would be five.
Team: Capper; Lawson and W. Evans; Howard, Lawrence and Martin, Allen, Dobson, Nuttall, Buddery and Flowers.
ZERO
There are some things in life we cannot forget, other pleasant reminiscences that we do not wish to forget but cannot. The four thousand enthusiastic and loyal spectators who braved the wintry blast of a chill April afternoon to see the United make an effort to escape the bottom pair against Norwich City on Saturday would probably like to forget the encounter. They cannot. Certainly it’s memories will remain with me for many a long day, though reflections upon the subject will not be pleasant. On their play on Saturday it’s hard to conceive how the Canaries could beat any football team. They should be a side that would provide any eleven with pretensions to the Third Division with a surfeit of goals. They were a poor sixth rate team and yet they beat the United by a goal to nil. The club now seemed foredoomed to finish in the bottom pair and on recent displays they are where they richly deserve to be. Before the New Year their exhibitions were uneven and disappointing enough, but since then thy have gone from bad to worse. Saturday was rock bottom and it is consoling to know that even if they tried to do so they could not play worse.
From the Southend Standard 6th April 1922
RESERVES
Southern League ; The reserves won at Norwich 4-2.
ANOTHER CAP FOR JIMMY EVANS
Jimmy Evans was absent again as he got his third Welsh cap when playing for Wales v Ireland in a 1-1 draw at Windsor Park Belfast. He had gained caps against England, Ireland and Scotland in his first international season. In the 1920s which was before World Cups or European Championships, the home International Tournament was the big National tournament and for Jimmy Evans to have played in all three when playing for a side at the bottom of the Third Division was quite an achievement.
Next Monday Episode 21
A Gloomy Easter approaches for the Blues
