DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
In these days of doom and gloom perhaps it's better to look back than forward so here's the next episode in season 1931-32:
Extracts from the "Forgotten Years of the Kursaal"
by Peter William Baker
Researched from the Southend Standard
No. 4 TWO MORE AWAY WINS, FOUR OUT OF FOUR
Southend, despite poor showings at the Kursaal had been very impressive on their travels and were top of the Third Division (South) table, now they had two more difficult away fixtures at Thames and at Northampton.
Division Three (South) results on Monday 14th September 1931
Cardiff City 6-1 Coventry City
Luton Town 2-0 Gillingham
Norwich City 1-2 Bournemouth
Division Three (South) results on Wednesday 16th September 1931
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Clapton Orient
Crystal Palace 2-0 Brighton
Exeter City 0-0 Northampton
Swindon Town 1-2 Q.P.R.
Torquay 2-3 Fulham
Watford 4-1 Mansfield Town
Match No.6 Div 3(South)
Thursday 17th September 1931
THAMES 1-3 SOUTHEND UNITED
Thames had finished one place above the re-election positions in their first season in the Third Division, although they had a six point buffer between them. They had started their second season in better form, in twelfth position, having won one, lost one and drawn three of their five games, their last game had been a 3-0 home win over Gillingham. Several hundred Southend supporters made the trip to the West Ham Stadium by coach and rail and they witnessed a truly amazing match. The Southend team was unchanged and the first goal came after twenty three minutes when Crompton was pulled down in the box and the referee gave a penalty. French took it and missed but the referee ordered it to be retaken as the goalkeeper had crossed the line before the kick, French retook the kick and this time scored. Five minutes into the second half Thames equalised, but nine minutes later Shankly put the Blues back in the lead when he met the ball about two feet off the ground with his instep. The light deteriorated badly as the game progressed and visibility was reduced to twenty two pairs of white knickers (shorts) appearing in the gloom. The final goal came from Crompton who scored a goal which no-one saw because of the gloom. Southend had played brilliantly at times, fully deserved their win and were clearly a different proposition away from home than at the Kursaal. In Southend it was pitch black by 7.25 and supporters at home didn’t dream that the match could possibly have reached a conclusion. Southend were six games unbeaten and top of the league Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
Thames Association had been founded in 1928 as a commercial venture with the huge West Ham Stadium used for Speedway and Greyhound racing it was decided to also have Football League at the Stadium. However there spell in the Football League was a short and unhappy one, such was the struggle to attract spectators, despite the stadium's capacity of 125,000 (making it the largest ground in England to regularly host League football), the club holds the record for the lowest attendance for a Football League match, just 469 fans paid to watch Thames play Luton on a Saturday in 1930. Because of the other activities at the Stadium mid week games had to be played on a Thursday. Thames Association shortened their name to Thames on taking up their place in the League.
A similar Club had been the Argonauts who were also based in London., despite never playing a match or having a published squad they became notable in the late 1920s for attempting to join the Football League three times. The team was formed in 1928 as an equivalent to the Scottish Queen's Park club to play in the Football League. They claimed to have secured the services of the top amateur players of the day for this new national amateur club and the 100,000 capacity White City Stadium to play in. After objections from local Third Division South clubs Queens Park Rangers and Brentford, they then proceeded to hire Wembley Stadium as a venue. The club applied for Football League status that year, failing in third place but earning a creditable 16 votes. The club went inactive for a year, but reapplied the next year, and again came third one place off acceptance but this time with only 6 votes. Yet again, a third attempt was made in 1930; this time no votes were gained, and the club was never heard of again
Match No.7 Div 3(South)
Saturday 19th September 1931
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1-2 SOUTHEND UNITED
Northampton had played six games two at home four away and were in tenth place, they had won both their two home games, 1-0 against Cardiff and 2-1 against Exeter. However this start was disappointing considering they were promotion hopefuls the previous season, second for much of it and finishing a disappointing sixth place one behind the Blues. The team had to pick themselves up quickly from the game at the West Ham Stadium for within forty eight hours they were at Northampton, and the previous game had been a strenuous contest and some hard knocks had been taken, but the team again stayed unchanged. The first half remained goalless but then a defensive error allowed Shankly to coolly put his shot out of the goalkeepers reach to put the Blues a goal up. Almost immediately however the Bootmen where back on level times and the game was back in the balance. Many thought that Southend would be unable to recover from this blow and the toll from Thursday would prevail but the Blues were made of sterner stuff. The United were awarded a penalty which French literally lifted the roof off of the net and Southend were again in the lead. That’s how the score remained with Southend recording yet another excellent away victory. Southend were seven games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues followed up their success against Fulham and Cardiff by recording another victory against Swansea at the Kursaal by a goal to nil. A crowd of 4,200 turned up in weather more suited for cricket than football for the 3.15 kick off , and saw, after a dour first half, Southend dominate the second half and the spectators left wondering how they had only won by a single goal
Div 3 (South)
12th September 1931..P...W...D...L....F....A....P
1...SOUTHEND UTD....7....5...2...0...14... 5....12
2...Bournemouth.......7....5...2...0...18....7....12
3...Fulham...............7....6...0...1...28...11...12
4...Crystal Palace.....7....4...1...2...18...12....9
5...Brentford............6....4...1...1...11....8....9
6...Watford.............7....4...1...2...24...18....9
7...Luton Town........7....4...0...3...12....9.....8
8...Bristol Rovers......7....2...3...2...14...12....7
9...Reading..............6....3...1...2...10...11....7
Other Results
Bournemouth...4-1...Crystal Palace
Bristol Rovers...1-1...Mansfield Town
Cardiff City....0-3....Fulham
Coventry City...4-0...Exeter City
Gillingham ....0-2....Brentford
Clapton Orient....1-3....Norwich City
Luton Town....2-0....Thames
Q.P.R.....4-4.....Watford
Swindon Town....0-2....Reading
Torquay United....1-1....Brighton
Southend Goalscorers: Arthur Crompton 4; Jimmy Shankly 3; Fred Baron and Jack French 2 each; Fred Barnett, Tot Pike and Joe Wilson 1 each (14 in all).
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED
Having seen all Southend United’s matches this season home and away with the exception of the one at Coventry and as a Supporter of the Club since its inception at Roots Hall may we be allowed to write a note concerning the present team? As Charlie Buchan (ex Arsenal) stated in his report on Friday last concerning the match with Thames at West Ham Stadium it is without doubt teamwork that is responsible for the present successful position of the Blues. This was even more discernible at Northampton on Saturday. It is doubtful if Southend have ever placed in the field a more wholehearted team than that which represent the club at the present time. To win at Northampton was no mean feat and each player pulled his weight to achieve the victory. The players so far this season have done, and we feel sure will continue to do their best to keep the club in its present proud position at the top of the League ladder. We all desire to see the Blues win and supporters can help by encouraging the players and not by unkind remarks in the form of barracking at home matches.
By Three Old Supporters
From the Southend Standard 24th September 1931
Forthcoming Matches:
Saturday 26th September 1931.......SOUTHEND UTD. v READING.......Division 3 (South)
Saturday 26th September 1931.......Reading v Southend United........London Combination
Saturday 3rd October 1931....CLAPTON ORIENT v SOUTHEND UTD.....Division 3 (South)
Saturday 3rd October 1931......Southend United v Clapton Orient......London Combination
DoDtS
Extracts from the "Forgotten Years of the Kursaal"
by Peter William Baker
Researched from the Southend Standard
No. 4 TWO MORE AWAY WINS, FOUR OUT OF FOUR
Southend, despite poor showings at the Kursaal had been very impressive on their travels and were top of the Third Division (South) table, now they had two more difficult away fixtures at Thames and at Northampton.
Division Three (South) results on Monday 14th September 1931
Cardiff City 6-1 Coventry City
Luton Town 2-0 Gillingham
Norwich City 1-2 Bournemouth
Division Three (South) results on Wednesday 16th September 1931
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Clapton Orient
Crystal Palace 2-0 Brighton
Exeter City 0-0 Northampton
Swindon Town 1-2 Q.P.R.
Torquay 2-3 Fulham
Watford 4-1 Mansfield Town
Match No.6 Div 3(South)
Thursday 17th September 1931
THAMES 1-3 SOUTHEND UNITED
Thames had finished one place above the re-election positions in their first season in the Third Division, although they had a six point buffer between them. They had started their second season in better form, in twelfth position, having won one, lost one and drawn three of their five games, their last game had been a 3-0 home win over Gillingham. Several hundred Southend supporters made the trip to the West Ham Stadium by coach and rail and they witnessed a truly amazing match. The Southend team was unchanged and the first goal came after twenty three minutes when Crompton was pulled down in the box and the referee gave a penalty. French took it and missed but the referee ordered it to be retaken as the goalkeeper had crossed the line before the kick, French retook the kick and this time scored. Five minutes into the second half Thames equalised, but nine minutes later Shankly put the Blues back in the lead when he met the ball about two feet off the ground with his instep. The light deteriorated badly as the game progressed and visibility was reduced to twenty two pairs of white knickers (shorts) appearing in the gloom. The final goal came from Crompton who scored a goal which no-one saw because of the gloom. Southend had played brilliantly at times, fully deserved their win and were clearly a different proposition away from home than at the Kursaal. In Southend it was pitch black by 7.25 and supporters at home didn’t dream that the match could possibly have reached a conclusion. Southend were six games unbeaten and top of the league Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
Thames Association had been founded in 1928 as a commercial venture with the huge West Ham Stadium used for Speedway and Greyhound racing it was decided to also have Football League at the Stadium. However there spell in the Football League was a short and unhappy one, such was the struggle to attract spectators, despite the stadium's capacity of 125,000 (making it the largest ground in England to regularly host League football), the club holds the record for the lowest attendance for a Football League match, just 469 fans paid to watch Thames play Luton on a Saturday in 1930. Because of the other activities at the Stadium mid week games had to be played on a Thursday. Thames Association shortened their name to Thames on taking up their place in the League.
A similar Club had been the Argonauts who were also based in London., despite never playing a match or having a published squad they became notable in the late 1920s for attempting to join the Football League three times. The team was formed in 1928 as an equivalent to the Scottish Queen's Park club to play in the Football League. They claimed to have secured the services of the top amateur players of the day for this new national amateur club and the 100,000 capacity White City Stadium to play in. After objections from local Third Division South clubs Queens Park Rangers and Brentford, they then proceeded to hire Wembley Stadium as a venue. The club applied for Football League status that year, failing in third place but earning a creditable 16 votes. The club went inactive for a year, but reapplied the next year, and again came third one place off acceptance but this time with only 6 votes. Yet again, a third attempt was made in 1930; this time no votes were gained, and the club was never heard of again
Match No.7 Div 3(South)
Saturday 19th September 1931
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1-2 SOUTHEND UNITED
Northampton had played six games two at home four away and were in tenth place, they had won both their two home games, 1-0 against Cardiff and 2-1 against Exeter. However this start was disappointing considering they were promotion hopefuls the previous season, second for much of it and finishing a disappointing sixth place one behind the Blues. The team had to pick themselves up quickly from the game at the West Ham Stadium for within forty eight hours they were at Northampton, and the previous game had been a strenuous contest and some hard knocks had been taken, but the team again stayed unchanged. The first half remained goalless but then a defensive error allowed Shankly to coolly put his shot out of the goalkeepers reach to put the Blues a goal up. Almost immediately however the Bootmen where back on level times and the game was back in the balance. Many thought that Southend would be unable to recover from this blow and the toll from Thursday would prevail but the Blues were made of sterner stuff. The United were awarded a penalty which French literally lifted the roof off of the net and Southend were again in the lead. That’s how the score remained with Southend recording yet another excellent away victory. Southend were seven games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Pike and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues followed up their success against Fulham and Cardiff by recording another victory against Swansea at the Kursaal by a goal to nil. A crowd of 4,200 turned up in weather more suited for cricket than football for the 3.15 kick off , and saw, after a dour first half, Southend dominate the second half and the spectators left wondering how they had only won by a single goal
Div 3 (South)
12th September 1931..P...W...D...L....F....A....P
1...SOUTHEND UTD....7....5...2...0...14... 5....12
2...Bournemouth.......7....5...2...0...18....7....12
3...Fulham...............7....6...0...1...28...11...12
4...Crystal Palace.....7....4...1...2...18...12....9
5...Brentford............6....4...1...1...11....8....9
6...Watford.............7....4...1...2...24...18....9
7...Luton Town........7....4...0...3...12....9.....8
8...Bristol Rovers......7....2...3...2...14...12....7
9...Reading..............6....3...1...2...10...11....7
Other Results
Bournemouth...4-1...Crystal Palace
Bristol Rovers...1-1...Mansfield Town
Cardiff City....0-3....Fulham
Coventry City...4-0...Exeter City
Gillingham ....0-2....Brentford
Clapton Orient....1-3....Norwich City
Luton Town....2-0....Thames
Q.P.R.....4-4.....Watford
Swindon Town....0-2....Reading
Torquay United....1-1....Brighton
Southend Goalscorers: Arthur Crompton 4; Jimmy Shankly 3; Fred Baron and Jack French 2 each; Fred Barnett, Tot Pike and Joe Wilson 1 each (14 in all).
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED
Having seen all Southend United’s matches this season home and away with the exception of the one at Coventry and as a Supporter of the Club since its inception at Roots Hall may we be allowed to write a note concerning the present team? As Charlie Buchan (ex Arsenal) stated in his report on Friday last concerning the match with Thames at West Ham Stadium it is without doubt teamwork that is responsible for the present successful position of the Blues. This was even more discernible at Northampton on Saturday. It is doubtful if Southend have ever placed in the field a more wholehearted team than that which represent the club at the present time. To win at Northampton was no mean feat and each player pulled his weight to achieve the victory. The players so far this season have done, and we feel sure will continue to do their best to keep the club in its present proud position at the top of the League ladder. We all desire to see the Blues win and supporters can help by encouraging the players and not by unkind remarks in the form of barracking at home matches.
By Three Old Supporters
From the Southend Standard 24th September 1931
Forthcoming Matches:
Saturday 26th September 1931.......SOUTHEND UTD. v READING.......Division 3 (South)
Saturday 26th September 1931.......Reading v Southend United........London Combination
Saturday 3rd October 1931....CLAPTON ORIENT v SOUTHEND UTD.....Division 3 (South)
Saturday 3rd October 1931......Southend United v Clapton Orient......London Combination
DoDtS
Last edited:
