DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
Here's Episode No. 6 of Season 1931-32 and was printed in the Southend v Southampton programme.
Extracts from "The Forgotten Years of the Kursaal" by Peter William Baker
No. 6 THE ONLY UNBEATEN SIDE IN THE COUNTRY
That was Southend United’s proud claim after nine League games and word was getting around after five consecutive away victories, we were very attractive opposition, as the record crowd of nearly 18,000 at Clapton Orient testified.
Thursday 8th October 1931
London Combination: Due to injuries the Blues team to play Brentford was very inexperienced and they were outclassed at Griffin Park and lost by 0-4. Brentford were superior in all departments led by two goals at the interval and had double it by the close.
Division 3(South) Match No. 10
Saturday 10th October 1931
FULHAM 1-1 SOUTHEND UNITED
Fulham were fourth three points below Southend, having won three and lost one of their four home games with some remarkable scoring. Coventry had been beaten 5-3, Torquay 10-2 and Luton 3-2 but lost to Northampton 1-3. A crowd of over 28,757 were at Craven Cottage for the visit of the Blues, and this in itself is a testament to the reputation that Southend had built up already. The spectators were not disappointed for they saw as finer game as you could hope to see, and one which would not have looked out of place in the First Division. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and for the first time on their travels Southend had failed to beat their opponents. “Everyone, however, seemed satisfied with a division of the points, for they had witnessed an exhibition which was a great credit to both elevens, and they all played so well that neither side .deserved to lose Though fought with great keenness and vigour, it was a clean game with few stoppages and remarkably little offside”. The first half ended goalless, but in the second half it was Fulham who broke the deadlock through their International half back, but within six minutes Southend were level through Thomson, both goals coming as results of corners. As the game reached it’s conclusion both sides were exhausted having given their all, but Southend were now definitely the superior side and with a little steadiness in front of goal, they could have secured both points. The United were still unbeaten and still top, but Brentford who had won six out of their last seven games were in close attention. Southend were ten games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Thomson and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues lost at the Kursaal in front of a large crowd, to the Arsenal Reserves by 0-3 all three goals coming in the first half. This result can be summed up as follows: “They were simply not good enough to hold up a combination which delighted the crowd with the ease by which the most intricate manoeuvres were consummated.”
Other Division Three (South) results on Saturday 10th October 1931
Brentford 2-0 Northampton
Brighton 4-1 Bournemouth
Coventry City 3-2 Luton Town
Clapton Orient 1-3 Torquay
Exeter City 3-1 Cardiff City
Mansfield 1-1 Crystal Palace
Norwich City 2-1 Q.P.R.
Swindon Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Thames 0-0 Reading
Watford 2-0 Gillingham
The Press and away supporters have been overwhelming in their praise of the manner our boys in blue have achieved that fine record of being the only undefeated League club in the country. This success has been greatly due to the work and support given by its affiliated club “The Southend United Supporters Club” and by their untiring efforts the club was spared from a financial disaster. This fact has been fully appreciated by the Directors of the Football club and it has been publicly stated by them that the Supporters Club has been the greatest asset the United has ever had. But the United are not out of the wood and to maintain a first class team much more support must be forthcoming. Therefore I appeal to the sporting public of the Borough to give greater aid to the United, and I feel confident that, with additional help, the club cannot fail to have a brilliant season. There is one way of rendering this vis. by joining the Supporters Club where by paying one shilling (5p) you can make that first step towards this end and I trust that the enthusiasts next Saturday will not be unmindful of this appeal.
C. Neville Hewitt Chairman of the Supporters Club From the Southend Standard 15th October 1931
LACK OF APPRECIATION
I am in full agreement with your comments to the size of the crowd at the Reading match. Undefeated the only one in the English League, top of the table, and bringing forth nothing but praise from all sections of the press and then the comparatively small crowd. What do the Southend people want. If ever there was a time to show their appreciation of a clever team and prove to the satisfaction of the Directors and Manager that first class football is wanted. And what is more can be made a paying concern it is now.
By an Ardent Supporter From the Southend Standard 15th October 1931
Division 3(South) Match No. 11
Saturday 17th October 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 3-0 SWINDON TOWN
Swindon were bottom but one in the table with just three wins from their ten games. Away they had won one and lost three, their only success being a 2-1 win at QPR. For the second occasion of the current season Southend recorded a home win in front of a crowd of near 11,000, which was still thought of as disappointing due to the blues lofty position. It was a game which Southend dominated accept for a brief spell in the second half and the final score could well have been more emphatic. The Blues started by kicking down the slope and had Swindon penned in their own half for long periods, the only goal of the half came from Jones who converted a Crompton corner. However Swindon could not have complained had the lead been 3-0. The second half started with the United in a somewhat subdued mood and during this spell Swindon came back in the game and were unlucky when they twice hit the post. Southend soon regained their supremacy and the Swindon goal had some lucky scrapes before Barnett scored the second. A couple of minutes before the end when Shankly provided Thomson with an easy opportunity to make it three. After the game it was said that the Southend half back held the key and that in fact they were playing with eight forwards, while Swindon had to pull their inside forwards back to help the defence and were in effect playing with only three. Southend were eleven games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly Thomson and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues were in a bad patch and sustained their heaviest defeat of the season losing 0-5 at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea, however the news was that both Baron and Hall would be fit again for the following Saturday.
Div 3 (South)
17th October 1931....P...W...D...L....F....A...P
1...SOUTHEND UTD...11...7...4...0...23....9...18
2...Brentford..........11...8...1...2...23...13...17
3...Fulham.............11...7...1...2...37...20...15
4...Watford............11...7...1...3...32...22...15
5...Crystal Palace.....11...5...4...2...23...16...14
6...Bournemouth......11...6...2...3...25...23...14
7...Brighton & Hove..12...5...4...3...16...15...14
8...Norwich City.......11...5...3...3...16...11...13
9...Coventry City......11...6...1...4...28...24...13
Other Results
Brentford 4-2 Bristol Rovers
Cardiff City 2-0 Mansfield Town
Coventry City 6-1 Bournemouth
Exeter City 6-2 Q.P.R.
Fulham 5-1 Clapton Orient
Gillingham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Luton Town 0-1 Watford
Northampton 0-1 Brighton
Reading 1-1 Norwich City
Thames 1-1 Torquay United
Forthcoming Matches:
Saturday 24th October 1931...NORWICH CITY v SOUTHEND UTD......Division 3 (South)
Saturday 24th October 1931...Southend United v West Ham United...London Combination
Saturday 31st October 1931...SOUTHEND UTD v BRIGHTON...........Division 3 (South)
Saturday 31st October 1931...Q.P.R. v Southend United...............London Combination
Extracts from "The Forgotten Years of the Kursaal" by Peter William Baker
No. 6 THE ONLY UNBEATEN SIDE IN THE COUNTRY
That was Southend United’s proud claim after nine League games and word was getting around after five consecutive away victories, we were very attractive opposition, as the record crowd of nearly 18,000 at Clapton Orient testified.
Thursday 8th October 1931
London Combination: Due to injuries the Blues team to play Brentford was very inexperienced and they were outclassed at Griffin Park and lost by 0-4. Brentford were superior in all departments led by two goals at the interval and had double it by the close.
Division 3(South) Match No. 10
Saturday 10th October 1931
FULHAM 1-1 SOUTHEND UNITED
Fulham were fourth three points below Southend, having won three and lost one of their four home games with some remarkable scoring. Coventry had been beaten 5-3, Torquay 10-2 and Luton 3-2 but lost to Northampton 1-3. A crowd of over 28,757 were at Craven Cottage for the visit of the Blues, and this in itself is a testament to the reputation that Southend had built up already. The spectators were not disappointed for they saw as finer game as you could hope to see, and one which would not have looked out of place in the First Division. The game ended in a 1-1 draw and for the first time on their travels Southend had failed to beat their opponents. “Everyone, however, seemed satisfied with a division of the points, for they had witnessed an exhibition which was a great credit to both elevens, and they all played so well that neither side .deserved to lose Though fought with great keenness and vigour, it was a clean game with few stoppages and remarkably little offside”. The first half ended goalless, but in the second half it was Fulham who broke the deadlock through their International half back, but within six minutes Southend were level through Thomson, both goals coming as results of corners. As the game reached it’s conclusion both sides were exhausted having given their all, but Southend were now definitely the superior side and with a little steadiness in front of goal, they could have secured both points. The United were still unbeaten and still top, but Brentford who had won six out of their last seven games were in close attention. Southend were ten games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly, Thomson and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues lost at the Kursaal in front of a large crowd, to the Arsenal Reserves by 0-3 all three goals coming in the first half. This result can be summed up as follows: “They were simply not good enough to hold up a combination which delighted the crowd with the ease by which the most intricate manoeuvres were consummated.”
Other Division Three (South) results on Saturday 10th October 1931
Brentford 2-0 Northampton
Brighton 4-1 Bournemouth
Coventry City 3-2 Luton Town
Clapton Orient 1-3 Torquay
Exeter City 3-1 Cardiff City
Mansfield 1-1 Crystal Palace
Norwich City 2-1 Q.P.R.
Swindon Town 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Thames 0-0 Reading
Watford 2-0 Gillingham
The Press and away supporters have been overwhelming in their praise of the manner our boys in blue have achieved that fine record of being the only undefeated League club in the country. This success has been greatly due to the work and support given by its affiliated club “The Southend United Supporters Club” and by their untiring efforts the club was spared from a financial disaster. This fact has been fully appreciated by the Directors of the Football club and it has been publicly stated by them that the Supporters Club has been the greatest asset the United has ever had. But the United are not out of the wood and to maintain a first class team much more support must be forthcoming. Therefore I appeal to the sporting public of the Borough to give greater aid to the United, and I feel confident that, with additional help, the club cannot fail to have a brilliant season. There is one way of rendering this vis. by joining the Supporters Club where by paying one shilling (5p) you can make that first step towards this end and I trust that the enthusiasts next Saturday will not be unmindful of this appeal.
C. Neville Hewitt Chairman of the Supporters Club From the Southend Standard 15th October 1931
LACK OF APPRECIATION
I am in full agreement with your comments to the size of the crowd at the Reading match. Undefeated the only one in the English League, top of the table, and bringing forth nothing but praise from all sections of the press and then the comparatively small crowd. What do the Southend people want. If ever there was a time to show their appreciation of a clever team and prove to the satisfaction of the Directors and Manager that first class football is wanted. And what is more can be made a paying concern it is now.
By an Ardent Supporter From the Southend Standard 15th October 1931
Division 3(South) Match No. 11
Saturday 17th October 1931
SOUTHEND UNITED 3-0 SWINDON TOWN
Swindon were bottom but one in the table with just three wins from their ten games. Away they had won one and lost three, their only success being a 2-1 win at QPR. For the second occasion of the current season Southend recorded a home win in front of a crowd of near 11,000, which was still thought of as disappointing due to the blues lofty position. It was a game which Southend dominated accept for a brief spell in the second half and the final score could well have been more emphatic. The Blues started by kicking down the slope and had Swindon penned in their own half for long periods, the only goal of the half came from Jones who converted a Crompton corner. However Swindon could not have complained had the lead been 3-0. The second half started with the United in a somewhat subdued mood and during this spell Swindon came back in the game and were unlucky when they twice hit the post. Southend soon regained their supremacy and the Swindon goal had some lucky scrapes before Barnett scored the second. A couple of minutes before the end when Shankly provided Thomson with an easy opportunity to make it three. After the game it was said that the Southend half back held the key and that in fact they were playing with eight forwards, while Swindon had to pull their inside forwards back to help the defence and were in effect playing with only three. Southend were eleven games unbeaten and top of the league. Team: Whitelaw; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson and Donoven; Barnett, Jones, Shankly Thomson and Crompton.
London Combination: The Junior Blues were in a bad patch and sustained their heaviest defeat of the season losing 0-5 at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea, however the news was that both Baron and Hall would be fit again for the following Saturday.
Div 3 (South)
17th October 1931....P...W...D...L....F....A...P
1...SOUTHEND UTD...11...7...4...0...23....9...18
2...Brentford..........11...8...1...2...23...13...17
3...Fulham.............11...7...1...2...37...20...15
4...Watford............11...7...1...3...32...22...15
5...Crystal Palace.....11...5...4...2...23...16...14
6...Bournemouth......11...6...2...3...25...23...14
7...Brighton & Hove..12...5...4...3...16...15...14
8...Norwich City.......11...5...3...3...16...11...13
9...Coventry City......11...6...1...4...28...24...13
Other Results
Brentford 4-2 Bristol Rovers
Cardiff City 2-0 Mansfield Town
Coventry City 6-1 Bournemouth
Exeter City 6-2 Q.P.R.
Fulham 5-1 Clapton Orient
Gillingham 0-0 Crystal Palace
Luton Town 0-1 Watford
Northampton 0-1 Brighton
Reading 1-1 Norwich City
Thames 1-1 Torquay United
Forthcoming Matches:
Saturday 24th October 1931...NORWICH CITY v SOUTHEND UTD......Division 3 (South)
Saturday 24th October 1931...Southend United v West Ham United...London Combination
Saturday 31st October 1931...SOUTHEND UTD v BRIGHTON...........Division 3 (South)
Saturday 31st October 1931...Q.P.R. v Southend United...............London Combination
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