My Dream Is Coming True or My Wife Is The Best

[southend4eva]

Make sure you get into the Spread Eagle before one of the games. Many of the people who post on here will be in there.

Will do :thumbsup:

 

[Ricey]

Really blown away by the Zones, OBL's, the clubs response and to all those other shrimpers who have written or posted encouraging me about my trip a big thanks to you all.
I thought I'd post the clubs response because for me not only is it first rate, it's above and beyond what I could expect.
Just so proud to support this club and to my wife and son who have made it possible.

View attachment 2554

Pic of my son and I saying UTB's (Sorry about the back to front writing on our shirts as we were in front of the mirror!:smile:)

The Clubs response earlier today
Hi John,

Great to hear you’re heading over for a few games. In regards to tickets, I will get the Ticket Office to send you an email to sort both tickets for Hull City and the away game at Dagenham & Redbridge. (Ryan is CC’d in this email and he will pick that side of it up). I understand you’re also coming to the Newport County game on Friday 31st January. Unfortunately for cup games we can’t offer tickets, but we can for the league, so I’d like to offer you my two complimentary tickets to that Newport game.

I’d also like to try and feature you and your son in the Hull City programme, but I’ve got a very tight deadline for programme content. Do you think you’d be able to get some words about why you support Southend, why you’re coming over, what games you’re seeing etc, as well as a couple of photos (possibly one of you somewhere in a Southend United top?). If you can get all this to me by Monday at the very, very latest, then I’d be happy to put it in the Hull programme. I will also put aside a complimentary copy of the programme should you feature in it.

The story will also go on the website if that’s okay with you following the Hull City game.

We were also wondering, would you try and do a video diary of your journey over here, going to all the games and your thoughts? If this isn’t possible not to worry, but it might make a nice piece for our YouTube channel.

Furthermore, at the Newport County game, my colleague Ryan will be on hand to make it a bit more special for you and your son, by taking a seat in the dugout to watch the warm-up, have a few photos with the players and then take to your seats.

Ryan will be in touch about both tickets and the Newport game, and I have CC’d him into this email.

Please expect an email from Ryan who will need your card details to process the payment for the two tickets for Hull City and two tickets for Dagenham & Redbridge.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Tom

:clap::thumbsup::happy::loyalsupporter:

Glad that they have sorted something for you, Tom has been an excellent appointment by the club his work is exceptional. Make a real effort and seems to go that extra mile.

Hope you enjoy your first games.

 

[Beefy]

I was in southend4eva's part of the World over Christmas so missed this thread before now. What an amazing story and I'm delighted the Club are acknowledging this. Have an amazing trip, enjoy the delights of Essex and London and I just hope that the games aren't 0-0 draws!

 

[Shrimpers are Magic]

This is truly a unbelievable story. I sincerely hope you are made to feel welcome. I think this story needs highlighting to the wider football world.
Enjoy your time here and DON'T MENTION THE CRICKET!

 

[Silencer]

This thread is cracking, I am sitting here with goosepimples, so proud to be a Shrimper!!!

Wishing you a fab trip guys (Don't no talk about the Ashes, ok!!) and what a three perfect matches to be here for: A home FA Cup tie against a Premiership club, an away match against rivals in the season biggest derby match followed by a Friday night match at the Hall.

Enjoy, take lots of picture and mainly take it in for what it is - life is about making memories

Up the Blues

 

[Silencer]

This is truly a unbelievable story. I sincerely hope you are made to feel welcome. I think this story needs highlighting to the wider football world.
Enjoy your time here and DON'T MENTION THE CRICKET!

Ditto - same time we posted that ha ha

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

You're not bringing Stan and Ella Hilditch with you by any chance? :winking:

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Southend4eva
This is one of those moments in life that will always be remembered. Make sure if you need help with anything , just ask ! There are so many people touched by your story and willing to make this trip memorable. We are only a small club but we have a HUGE heart.
Having once lived abroad for many years I couldn't wait to come back to the Hall to see my beloved team, I can only imagine the excitement you have with this being your first time. Win,lose or draw we still love them so Up The Blues and I hope this rain clears up for you.

 

[Roxy]

As others have said, so pleased and excited for you all and wishing you a truly memorable and fantastic trip.
You do realise that if we win 3 out of 3, you will have to stay till the end of the season :winking:

 

[McNasty]

That is brilliant,:happy: but I just phoned the box office, like i was a local and booked 2 tickets for all 3 games that my Son and I am going too.:clap:
The lady Charlie was really helpful.:thumbsup:
Thanks so much for the offer, that is just the best :smile:
I do want to give a sincere heartfelt thanks to the zone and all its members for giving me many years of great banter and first class info about anything to do with the mighty shrimpers.
Thanks again Ken, this such a great gesture from an awesome bunch of fans... UTB's & Up the Zone!!!
Cant wait to get there; I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas:smile:

John,

I will meet you in the Spread before the first game and give you the money you have paid for the Hull tickets.

(and get you a beer )

Ken

 

[Tinks]

Wow have a safe trip over and here hoping you have a fantastic time

 

[OldBlueLady]

I wonder if we know the "Charlie" in the ticket office? There may be some on here who know who I wonder if it is (that sounds cryptic, I know, I'm sorry!) - the daughter of a former prominent poster? :unsure:

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

This thread makes me proud to be a Shrimper. *wipes away tear*

 

[mgh]

As others have said, so pleased and excited for you all and wishing you a truly memorable and fantastic trip.
You do realise that if we win 3 out of 3, you will have to stay till the end of the season :winking:

Conversely, if we lose 3/3 then expect to be ostracised, shunned, pilloried and generally driven out of town...:smile:

 

[lombard]

Charlie in the ticket office is Charlotte,the ex ticket office manager,who is now working for British Airways at Gatwick.She was most helpful whilst at the club. Levi is the ticket office manager now.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Charlie in the ticket office is Charlotte,the ex ticket office manager,who is now working for British Airways at Gatwick.She was most helpful whilst at the club. Levi is the ticket office manager now.

If she works for BA what was she doing in the ticket office? I know there is a Charley in there at weekends and sometimes during the week but I think that's mainly when college is on hols. Anyway, whoever, it's nice to hear some praise being given out.

 

[GodblessArthurRowley]

Travelling half way around the world to watch the Blues? Not being funny that's nothing, try travelling up from Devon when there is engineering works on the railway, now that's a challenge, and it takes almost as long. Seriously have a fantastic time and hope you see us win in style(or just win).
Don't know if you have seats in the East Stand Reds or Yellows, but if you have do take a trip to the Sportsman Bar or dungeon as I prefer to call it, where you might meet Dagenham Kev our greatest supporter.
Have a great trip.

 

[Pubey]

Fantastic stuff! Your wife and son have done you proud, looking forward to meeting up with you! :clap:
Not intending to see the Newport game now?

Imagine flying half way around the world to end up meeting with OBL:smile:

Great story, hope you have an amazing trip over and that you bring the Blues some luck.

pubes

 

[Mad Cyril]

Hi All,
I am flying from Australia (with my 16 year old son) on the 23rd of January until Feb 1, 2014, to finally fulfill my dream of seeing the shrimpers live.
I am only coming to the UK to see Southend play and hopefully attend some training sessions and if possible meet the players and manager.
I am only able to see two games which hopefully will be Hull and the Dag&Red game.
I will be staying at the 'Pier View' guest house in Southend on these dates.
I have tried to do this trip on several occasions, but a death in the family or a sickness, or lack of funds have prevented it.
But my 16 year old saved some money from an internship; so him and my wife have worked together to bring it too pass: with my son footing the bill... :clap:How awesome is that.:happy::thumbsup:


Though I am Australian and have never been to Southend, I have been a fanatical fan for twenty years, sitting up to the early hours of the morning listening to Blues Player!
I am a member of the 'Shrimpers Trust' and tried to by some shares when they where for sale some years back, but for some reason I missed out. :'(

I love English football and in 1994 I decided I didn't want to support the topflight teams but wanted to support a 'real' team.
Meaning one that is local and has supporters who are born and die their club.
Who support through thick and thin.
Who have stories that speak of their life their friends and family, many who are not here anymore, but their memories live on strong.
So in 1994 looked at all the teams I could, and decided on the shrimpers.

I have never looked back as this team has seen me through a lot of hard times.
I lived in an African Country called Malawi for ten years (1999-2009), working in community development.
There were a lot of saddness working with people in extreme poverty and getting on to forums like shrimperzone bought me great relief just reading all the stories about where folks went to watch the blures.
Serioulsy laughed my guts out at times and really felt it got me into it.
It would cost about 5 pounds a session on the net and i would have spent a few hundred over those years, but it was worth it.
I have been following shrimperzone since it started, but only joined in 2010 when I settled back in Australia, as for some reason it wouldn't let me join while I lived in Africa.
I still work in Community Development, now working in the outback with Indigenous Australians.
Southend still brings me endless hours of pleasure.
So hopefully I can bump into a few of you and live the dream:loyalsupporter:


View attachment 2552

The photo is of my family and me!

If anyone is extra bored, the below posts just fill in how much the Srimpers mean to me... UTB'S:loyalsupporter::loyalsupporter:

How ashamed do you feel ? (from 3/2011)
This sums it all up for me...
I don't know about everyone else but I am just tired of all this... Why don't we beat a different drum... I love Southend United. Full stop... That's the way it is. I'll support them no matter what. It's about our story of why we support this club. This negative stuff doesn't encourage support only discouragement and resentment.

My other passion is the St.Kilda Football Club in Australia. I can't remember when I started supporting them, i just always have, for over 40 years. It just part if my blood, my culture, my story. My mum who has passed on has left me that passion. It's part of our story!
This is despite the fact that they are the worst performed team of any club in Australian Rules Football, ever! I watched them every few weeks at their home ground from around 1979 to around 1983 and I don't remember them winning one of those games. I just remember turning to my mates after a game and saying, "well we support a s..t team don't we?" we would laugh and look forward to when we could go again.

Look them up and you'll see just how painful it's to pour your hard earned into this club that really never brings home the bacon. But I love this club as they are part of who I am. All the characters and stories they have produced, those who we loved and have since passed on, in hindsight have made it all worthwhile.

Supporting Southend is the same. Clubs like these are like a roller coaster ride. You think you are going to crash, throw up, even die... But when you get of, you see that your ok, so back on you go for anther ride.

I'll never stop being a sainter or a shrimper, cause it's who i am, it's my story... So for me let the ride continue, for who knows where it we will end up!? Have an opinion; sure... But don't spoil the the ride for others because your feeling a little sick. :nope: Lift your arms and scream, "bring it on." Let our story be told.

Where in the World, have you worn your colours? (from 2/2012)
I got my first shirt by meeting someone from Southend who lived near the hall, while we were holidaying in Egypt.
They were so amazed that I supported the Blues, in 2003 they sent me a shirt to Malawi where I was living.
I have worn this shirt in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa, America (New York, New Orleans and Washington) Australia (Perth, Sydney, Tasmania, Adelaide and Melbourne) and Thailand.
My second shirt was bought for me in 2010 by some friends in Perth who had family again living near the ground.
This shirt has been worn in Nepal, Australia (Perth, Melbourne and Tasmania) and will come with me in July, August to a trip to the US and Canada, hopefully with a couple of new shirts that I will by soon!

UTB's

You are my new hero.

 

[wally4pm]

This man is a super hero. Surely the club can get him and his son on the pitch either before the game or at half time and introduce them to the crowd who will no doubt give them a very warm reception. He is already my supporter of the year.
Welcome to the mad house mate.