DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
Forget all the current gloom and doom for a minute or two and go back in time for a couple of minutes with Episode 3 that appeared in the Southend v Leyton Orient programme:
No. 3 A GOOD START NOW TWO HOME GAMES
Southend had started the season with three straight wins, all by two goal margins and two of these had been impressive away successes. Now they had two home games to cement their lead at the top of the table.
Monday 7th September 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 1-1 THAMES
Match No.4 Third Division 3 (South)
Having finished just above the re-election zone the previous season, Thames had started the current season with two uninspiring home draws against Exeter and Brentford, and then a 0-2 defeat at Coventry which left them with just two points out of a possible six and in twentieth position. Southend made one change Whitelaw playing in goal in place of Moore who had been called home as his daughter was seriously ill, but they could only manage a point against Thames at the Kursaal although it was a game which they really should have won, and there were three reasons why this didn’t happen. Firstly the Thames goalkeeper gave an inspired display to keep out the Blues forwards, secondly was the ineffectiveness of the Southend forwards and the third reason was under the prosaic heading of “hard luck”. Southend were awarded penalty after Baron was brought down and he needed two or three minutes attention before he could resume. The penalty was well taken but well saved the rebound was redirected goal wards but again the goalkeeper brought off a brilliant save. Shortly afterwards Thames took a shock lead but the Blues were level five minutes later when after a series of headers between Baron and Crompton the latter put the ball just out of the goalkeepers reach and into the net. While disappointing not to win the Blues were still unbeaten and top of the league Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Baron, Pike and Crompton.
Other Division Three (South) results on Monday 7th August 1931
Clapton Orient 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Coventry City 2-1 Cardiff City
Fulham 10-2 Torquay United
Mansfield Town 3-2 Watford
Northampton 2-1 Exeter City
Division Three (South) results on Wednesday 9th August 1931
Bournemouth 1-0 Norwich City
Brighton 0-3 Crystal Palace
Gillingham 1-3 Luton Town
Reading 1-2 Brentford
Division Three (South) results on Thursday 10th September 1931
Q.P.R. 1-2 Swindon Town
SOUTHEND UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB
It is proposed to run an excursion for the return match with Thames on Tuesday and seats can be reserved if application is made to any member of the committee on the ground on Saturday. Ladies figure in the Swindon supporters Club to the tune of 700. It is up to the large number of Southend Ladies who regularly patronise the matches to enrol and make the local club the largest and most influential in the country. The farthing club raised quite a nice little sum last season the boxes at each entrance can be utilised for dropping in any spare farthings..
From the Southend Standard 10th September 1931
THE NEW RAILWAY STATION AT LEIGH
Increased activity in connection with the work of constructing the new Leigh Station is proceeding in several directions. This week one train load of ballast is coming from Hornchurch daily bringing 300 tons per journey. for deposit on the site and next week there are to be two such trains each day. It is anticipated that in some all some two thousand wagonloads of soil will be transported to Leigh. From this and other sites it is conjectured that the actual construction of the new station may begin early in the New Year. With regard to the much discussed question of a roadway for the western end it may be revealed that the L.M.S. engineers are at work on plans for such a facility but whether this is to be constructed at the cost of the Company or the corporation has not yet to be ascertained.
From the Southend Standard 10th September 1931
Saturday 12th September 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
Match No.5 Division 3 (South)
Cardiff had finished bottom of the Second Division the previous season and had been relegated to Division Three, They had started the season with one win, one draw and two defeats but the win had been by 5-1 against Reading. A crowd of over 7,000 turned up, (6,800 paying on the day), most of whom were situated in the stands and nearly everyone stayed till the last kick. Moore and Shankly returned to the side so the Blues were playing their strongest team, but Cardiff dominated the first half of the match although it was Southend that opened the scoring a couple of minutes before half time when Pike guided the ball past the on rushing goalkeeper. The second half was completely a different story with Southend in the ascendancy yet it was during this half, twenty minutes after the restart that Cardiff equalised in a somewhat unlucky fashion French putting the ball past his own goalkeeper. After this Southend pressed hard for the winner but for the second week running had a penalty saved when Crompton shot straight at the goalkeeper. Those that went to Luton and Coventry stated that the home form being shown wasn’t a patch on the away performances. Southend were still unbeaten and top of the league . Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
London Combination: The Reserves won at Cardiff in brilliant style to the tune of 3-1 in a vigorous game in which Cardiff used a kick and rush style but Southend’s, if not always accurate, passing game found the gaps in the Cardiff defence. However there was a price to pay in injuries with Baron and Whitelaw injured, Baron scored the first and was injured shortly afterwards and then Clenshaw and Thomson scored the others
Division 3 (south).....P...W...D...L....F..A......P
1...SOUTHEND UTD....5...3...2...0....9...3.....8
2...Fulham..............5...4...0...1...22...9.....8
3...Bournemouth.......5...3...2...0...12...5.....8
4...Crystal Palace......5...3...1...1...15...8.....7
5...Brentford...........5...3...1...1....9....8.....7
6...Watford............5...3...0...2...16...13.....6
7...Brighton & Hove...5...2...2...1....6....7.....6
8...Clapton Orient.....5...2...1...2....8....6.....5
9...Thames.............5...1...3...1....5....4.....5
Other Results
Bournemouth...5-2.. Exeter City
Brentford.......4-2...Coventry City
Brighton........1-1...Clapton Orient
Crystal Palace..1-1...Q.P.R.
Fulham..........3-2...Luton Town
Mansfield Town.2-4...Torquay United
Norwich City....4-2...Swindon Town
Reading.........3-2...Northampton
Thames.........3-0...Gillingham
Watford.........5-2...Bristol Rovers
Monday 14th September 1931
London Combination: The Junior Blues put up a good performance against a strong Fulham side at Craven Cottage in a 2-2 draw. Both goals for the United came from Thomson but the Standard criticised him as follows “he would have greater success had he not worn out his back-heeling trick and tried not to be too clever”.
SOUTHEND UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB
The first function of the winter season will be held on Wednesday September 30th at the parish hall Southchurch. Last season this drive was one of the most successful. Orders for Tea in the stands can be left at the refreshment buffets before the match starts support for this innovation is required a few boys over the age of 14 are needed for help on the ground. Trips to Clapton Orient and Fulham are being arranged.
From the Southend Standard 17th September 1931
Forthcoming Matches
Thursday17th September 1931....THAMES v SOUTHEND UTD.............Division 3 (South)
Saturday 19th September 1931....NORTHAMPTON v SOUTHEND UTD.....Division 3 (South)
Saturday 19th September 1931....Southend United v Swansea Town.....London Comb.
DoDtS
Extracts from "the Forgotten History of the Kursaal"
No. 3 A GOOD START NOW TWO HOME GAMES
Southend had started the season with three straight wins, all by two goal margins and two of these had been impressive away successes. Now they had two home games to cement their lead at the top of the table.
Monday 7th September 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 1-1 THAMES
Match No.4 Third Division 3 (South)
Having finished just above the re-election zone the previous season, Thames had started the current season with two uninspiring home draws against Exeter and Brentford, and then a 0-2 defeat at Coventry which left them with just two points out of a possible six and in twentieth position. Southend made one change Whitelaw playing in goal in place of Moore who had been called home as his daughter was seriously ill, but they could only manage a point against Thames at the Kursaal although it was a game which they really should have won, and there were three reasons why this didn’t happen. Firstly the Thames goalkeeper gave an inspired display to keep out the Blues forwards, secondly was the ineffectiveness of the Southend forwards and the third reason was under the prosaic heading of “hard luck”. Southend were awarded penalty after Baron was brought down and he needed two or three minutes attention before he could resume. The penalty was well taken but well saved the rebound was redirected goal wards but again the goalkeeper brought off a brilliant save. Shortly afterwards Thames took a shock lead but the Blues were level five minutes later when after a series of headers between Baron and Crompton the latter put the ball just out of the goalkeepers reach and into the net. While disappointing not to win the Blues were still unbeaten and top of the league Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Baron, Pike and Crompton.
Other Division Three (South) results on Monday 7th August 1931
Clapton Orient 1-0 Bristol Rovers
Coventry City 2-1 Cardiff City
Fulham 10-2 Torquay United
Mansfield Town 3-2 Watford
Northampton 2-1 Exeter City
Division Three (South) results on Wednesday 9th August 1931
Bournemouth 1-0 Norwich City
Brighton 0-3 Crystal Palace
Gillingham 1-3 Luton Town
Reading 1-2 Brentford
Division Three (South) results on Thursday 10th September 1931
Q.P.R. 1-2 Swindon Town
SOUTHEND UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB
It is proposed to run an excursion for the return match with Thames on Tuesday and seats can be reserved if application is made to any member of the committee on the ground on Saturday. Ladies figure in the Swindon supporters Club to the tune of 700. It is up to the large number of Southend Ladies who regularly patronise the matches to enrol and make the local club the largest and most influential in the country. The farthing club raised quite a nice little sum last season the boxes at each entrance can be utilised for dropping in any spare farthings..
From the Southend Standard 10th September 1931
THE NEW RAILWAY STATION AT LEIGH
Increased activity in connection with the work of constructing the new Leigh Station is proceeding in several directions. This week one train load of ballast is coming from Hornchurch daily bringing 300 tons per journey. for deposit on the site and next week there are to be two such trains each day. It is anticipated that in some all some two thousand wagonloads of soil will be transported to Leigh. From this and other sites it is conjectured that the actual construction of the new station may begin early in the New Year. With regard to the much discussed question of a roadway for the western end it may be revealed that the L.M.S. engineers are at work on plans for such a facility but whether this is to be constructed at the cost of the Company or the corporation has not yet to be ascertained.
From the Southend Standard 10th September 1931
Saturday 12th September 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 1-1 CARDIFF CITY
Match No.5 Division 3 (South)
Cardiff had finished bottom of the Second Division the previous season and had been relegated to Division Three, They had started the season with one win, one draw and two defeats but the win had been by 5-1 against Reading. A crowd of over 7,000 turned up, (6,800 paying on the day), most of whom were situated in the stands and nearly everyone stayed till the last kick. Moore and Shankly returned to the side so the Blues were playing their strongest team, but Cardiff dominated the first half of the match although it was Southend that opened the scoring a couple of minutes before half time when Pike guided the ball past the on rushing goalkeeper. The second half was completely a different story with Southend in the ascendancy yet it was during this half, twenty minutes after the restart that Cardiff equalised in a somewhat unlucky fashion French putting the ball past his own goalkeeper. After this Southend pressed hard for the winner but for the second week running had a penalty saved when Crompton shot straight at the goalkeeper. Those that went to Luton and Coventry stated that the home form being shown wasn’t a patch on the away performances. Southend were still unbeaten and top of the league . Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
London Combination: The Reserves won at Cardiff in brilliant style to the tune of 3-1 in a vigorous game in which Cardiff used a kick and rush style but Southend’s, if not always accurate, passing game found the gaps in the Cardiff defence. However there was a price to pay in injuries with Baron and Whitelaw injured, Baron scored the first and was injured shortly afterwards and then Clenshaw and Thomson scored the others
Division 3 (south).....P...W...D...L....F..A......P
1...SOUTHEND UTD....5...3...2...0....9...3.....8
2...Fulham..............5...4...0...1...22...9.....8
3...Bournemouth.......5...3...2...0...12...5.....8
4...Crystal Palace......5...3...1...1...15...8.....7
5...Brentford...........5...3...1...1....9....8.....7
6...Watford............5...3...0...2...16...13.....6
7...Brighton & Hove...5...2...2...1....6....7.....6
8...Clapton Orient.....5...2...1...2....8....6.....5
9...Thames.............5...1...3...1....5....4.....5
Other Results
Bournemouth...5-2.. Exeter City
Brentford.......4-2...Coventry City
Brighton........1-1...Clapton Orient
Crystal Palace..1-1...Q.P.R.
Fulham..........3-2...Luton Town
Mansfield Town.2-4...Torquay United
Norwich City....4-2...Swindon Town
Reading.........3-2...Northampton
Thames.........3-0...Gillingham
Watford.........5-2...Bristol Rovers
Monday 14th September 1931
London Combination: The Junior Blues put up a good performance against a strong Fulham side at Craven Cottage in a 2-2 draw. Both goals for the United came from Thomson but the Standard criticised him as follows “he would have greater success had he not worn out his back-heeling trick and tried not to be too clever”.
SOUTHEND UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB
The first function of the winter season will be held on Wednesday September 30th at the parish hall Southchurch. Last season this drive was one of the most successful. Orders for Tea in the stands can be left at the refreshment buffets before the match starts support for this innovation is required a few boys over the age of 14 are needed for help on the ground. Trips to Clapton Orient and Fulham are being arranged.
From the Southend Standard 17th September 1931
Forthcoming Matches
Thursday17th September 1931....THAMES v SOUTHEND UTD.............Division 3 (South)
Saturday 19th September 1931....NORTHAMPTON v SOUTHEND UTD.....Division 3 (South)
Saturday 19th September 1931....Southend United v Swansea Town.....London Comb.
DoDtS
Extracts from "the Forgotten History of the Kursaal"
Last edited:
