Memory Lane Origin of the PAK

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Something I posted about 3-4 years ago when we had just had news of the new stadium go ahead....this thread reminded me of it.

My Roots Hall.

Roots Hall.

This is probably a lot harder for me than most on here.Yes I know Canvey and a few others were there or therebouts in those old days when it all began for me.

I Guess I was about 9 when I used to visit Priory Park and wondered who these people were kicking footballs about, It took a kickabout friend to point out to me "that is Southend United"...I was at boarding school at that time so it was mostly at half terms that I had the chance to visit the Park....This was the normal training ground in those day's.. It became the normal at every school break for me, we became the local ball-boy's of the day and we became part of the family when we were invited to Roots Hall on Matchday as a thanks.

I do not remember the first game I went to or in what order the players appeared ...I remember Chisnel,Woodley,Bentley, Mcgiven and one of my all time favourites at the Hall...Trevor Roberts, who kind of took a shine to us youngsters and was a top top man. ( sadly he died many years ago). I think it was Arthur Rowley in charge in those days followed by Ernie Shepherd, but forgive me if I am not accurate.We became a fixture at the Hall after that.

We used to bunk in mostly over the old South Bank by the Hospital Toc H wooden hut. In our day's off at half term we were at the ground most day's as volunteers..There are so many things we used to do to help but one that stands out in my mind is when they extended the East stand and put in proper seats instead of bench's..I spent I think about a week ( well it felt like it at the time) sticking gold transfer numbers on to each seat.

There is a picture of one of my relatives in the recent book "A Century United" as a player , maybe it was in the blood but my love for SUFC has never wained from those day's.I have so many stories to tell over the 40 odd years I have loved the Shrimpers and not the time to tell them all here, but it does bring a lump to my throat as we are about to kiss the old place goodbye. Roots Hall will always be a special place to me but I felt many years ago that if we had a chance to move we should take it, but it never materialized.

I have seen 100's and 100's of players come and go and a fair few manager's. I miss some of my old friends from those day's that are sadly not here anymore, but I have made so many more over the year's and I have had a few gap's along the way due to family commitments.

Today I have mixed feelings of course, my youth and all of my life up until now supporting SUFC has been at the Hall, but I know it is time to move on and bring a new future to SUFC...I look forward to Fossetts with a smile and a new future for the club and us all, but with a tear for those long gone day's that have made my life and love of my club complete.

Long may SUFC remain in all your hearts.

John.

Excellent post, spoken from the Heart.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

Excellent post, spoken from the Heart.

yep spot on with my emotions ,from the 1st time in the mid 60s when my dad took my hand ,and led me up that steep hallowed concrete path into the northwest corner(just remembered they used to open those gates with about 20 mins to go ,so probably wanted to get me accustomed to the swearing and abuse before subjecting me to the full 90 mins worth)Just remember looking down from what seemed miles away onto the n/b goal being attacked by a team in blue,and the love affair started!!.Only regret is that he never saw us reach the promised land under Webby.Anyway will have so many memories to take to FF (HOPEFULLY) who can forget the open air toilets with broken glass embedded in the walls,sitting on the walls during the games,stewed hot dogs from a trolloy on the n/w corner(were the sausages real? ) rossette sellers at the entrance at Fairfax,running battles on the terraces,toilet rolls hanging all over the goal,having to pay extra to get in the west stand(rich supporters),throwing seat cushions onto the pitch to show our appreciation(east) and even today no onions in the west .Fossetts you have a lot to live up to!!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

When I was a wee lad, Billy Best scored a One on One by lobbing the goalie, I run on the pitch from the front of the North Bank, he lifts me up, and the players lift him up. Pure Magic and not a word from any copper when I jumped back over the wall. You could do that sort of thing in those days.

Kids or anyone on the pitch, lobbing toilet rolls, knees up mother brown, or climbing all the way up the Floodlight Pilon during a match (A copper told me to come down at once, then he said never do it again, and let me rejoin the North Bank to a big cheer), you wouldn't get away with any of that nowadays.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

yep spot on with my emotions ,from the 1st time in the mid 60s when my dad took my hand ,and led me up that steep hallowed concrete path into the northwest corner(just remembered they used to open those gates with about 20 mins to go ,so probably wanted to get me accustomed to the swearing and abuse before subjecting me to the full 90 mins worth)Just remember looking down from what seemed miles away onto the n/b goal being attacked by a team in blue,and the love affair started!!.Only regret is that he never saw us reach the promised land under Webby.Anyway will have so many memories to take to FF (HOPEFULLY) who can forget the open air toilets with broken glass embedded in the walls,sitting on the walls during the games,stewed hot dogs from a trolloy on the n/w corner(were the sausages real? ) rossette sellers at the entrance at Fairfax,running battles on the terraces,toilet rolls hanging all over the goal,having to pay extra to get in the west stand(rich supporters),throwing seat cushions onto the pitch to show our appreciation(east) and even today no onions in the west .Fossetts you have a lot to live up to!!

That does sound unforgettable.

Get yourself over to my Greatest Players before 1980 thread and nominate yourself a player.

 

[Chairman Trigg]

That does sound unforgettable.

Get yourself over to my Greatest Players before 1980 thread and nominate yourself a player.

should have been pitch side wall :scared:

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Sad act that I am I've still got an autograph book with autographs of players I got from priory park. Happy days!

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Bunking in by jumping into the north bank toilets and using the money we saved to buy a double diamond from the tea bar behind the west stand they never used to ask your age, I'm getting all sentimental now.

 

[Cricko]

Bunking in by jumping into the north bank toilets and using the money we saved to buy a double diamond from the tea bar behind the west stand they never used to ask your age, I'm getting all sentimental now.

Ahhh the lovely NB loos.....class personified with their black concrete walls and smell.....those were the days.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Ahhh the lovely NB loos.....class personified with their black concrete walls and smell.....those were the days.

I've posted this before, I remember when Gus (Keith Summers) collapsed in the North Bank khazi, due to a surfeit of alcohol. The khazis were so insanitary I'm sure Porton Down took samples away to possibly engage one day in germ warfare.

Does anyone remember a bloke known as Harry the Hatchet? I think he was a Shoebury lad and his real name was Dick Bennett, great bloke, be good to know if he's still with us.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Bunking in by jumping into the north bank toilets and using the money we saved to buy a double diamond from the tea bar behind the west stand they never used to ask your age, I'm getting all sentimental now.

I also had to bunk in, in the Seventies when I had no money. We used to bunk in at the South Bank, hide in the toilets until fans started coming through the turnstiles and then walk behind the West Bank and into the North Bank. You had to do it early because there would be only about 1 copper to avoid. Then they rumbled it and put an old ex copper in his Seventies I guess, to patrol the South Bank back wall (Anyone remember him?).
Then we got in at the West/North corner, Shakespeare Drive alley. Not so easy there tho as they had put more barbed wire and sharp jagged glass on top of the wall. Like EandB says, it was straight into the toilets.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

Dicky Hatchet remember him leading a charge at Chelsea in the League Cup, aint seen him since the early eighties and your right he was right nice fella.

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Owen actually did score a 40 yarder for us at the Hall against Northampton. I worked with Owen about 12 years again, and he would stil ltalk about that goal, he was also asked to talk about it a fanzine, the article was called great goals scored by tubby no necked full backs.

My memory of Owen was him running around like a man posessed and regularly passing to the crowd !

 

[GrumpyBlue]

Yes me too

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Does anyone remember a bloke known as Harry the Hatchet? I think he was a Shoebury lad and his real name was Dick Bennett, great bloke, be good to know if he's still with us.

He lived in southend, in one of those side roads near southend youth centre(focus) which joined onto Sutton Road. He was the groundsman at Belfairs woods, hence his nickname. Thought he married Chelsea Phil (Philomena), remember her Harry?. Hav'nt seen or heard about him for many years.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I wound him up the first time I met him and he chased me on a drive-on Lawnmower. I got to know him after that, and he would always stop and talk to our gang. .

Were you one of The Quality Street gang from that time?.

 

[canveyshrimper]

He lived in southend, in one of those side roads near southend youth centre(focus) which joined onto Sutton Road. He was the groundsman at Belfairs woods, hence his nickname. Thought he married Chelsea Phil (Philomena), remember her Harry?. Hav'nt seen or heard about him for many years.

Yes remember Philomena from the LeighComm days, I'm trying to remember her mates, one I think was Christine Sargeant, and Sue something or other. I remember a coach trip from LeighComm to the Streatham Ice Skating with lots of misbehaving on the coach.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Yes remember Philomena from the LeighComm days, I'm trying to remember her mates, one I think was Christine Sargeant, and Sue something or other. .

Sue Shields?. They were both mates of 'Big Doris' from Hadleigh/Benfleet.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Sue Shields?. They were both mates of 'Big Doris' from Hadleigh/Benfleet.

That's right, they were from around Queensmere/Kingsmere area of Thundersley, I think Ollie had a brief liaison with "Doris".

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

I think Ollie had a brief liaison with "Doris".

Blimey, they must have looked like a couple of 'Orcas' thrashing around!

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Were you one of The Quality Street gang from that time?.

No, I wasn't. To be honest, I've never heard of them.