Question for personnel within the Southend management.

[stewart]

Back in 1961/62 ,Southend united held there first ever youth international tournament ,there was 8 teams invited ,Arsenal, West ham, Borussia Muchengladbach
Sparta Rotterdam our own Colts team as we were named back then ,and i think a couple of the local youth teams, I wonder if records are kept of the young men who represented Southend United colts are kept, I remember apart from myself ,Mickey Wright was captain ,Steven Clarke and im sure Frankie Banks played for the colts team. I ask this because i wonder what has happened to the young lads ,q was just 16 at that time, It will be 60 years on this year that Southend started their youth academy ,Be nice for a get together of all these lads or those that have survived the years, just a thought.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Seems more like a question for SUEPA, especially as none of the management would have even have been alive at the time.

 

[Zeuss]

Back in 1961/62 ,Southend united held there first ever youth international tournament ,there was 8 teams invited ,Arsenal, West ham, Borussia Muchengladbach
Sparta Rotterdam our own Colts team as we were named back then ,and i think a couple of the local youth teams, I wonder if records are kept of the young men who represented Southend United colts are kept, I remember apart from myself ,Mickey Wright was captain ,Steven Clarke and im sure Frankie Banks played for the colts team. I ask this because i wonder what has happened to the young lads ,q was just 16 at that time, It will be 60 years on this year that Southend started their youth academy ,Be nice for a get together of all these lads or those that have survived the years, just a thought.

In my extreme youth I used to get to the Hall hours early to collect autographs ( I still have that formidably large collection including some very famous names ,for example a very young reserve WHU centre half —Bobby Moore ).
The diminutive Mickey Wright was one of the group that gathered before (and often after) every match, Although he was older than me,I remember when he was signed on as a junior, I figured I was getting too old for that hobby.
Frankie Banks has told me Mickey is still a good friend of his.
Good luck with your venture.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

The aforementioned Micky Wright with Derek Ewing at Roots Hall in March 2019.

Stewart, what you say is a great idea, and I wold have thought that the club would be up for it. Involving the SUFC History guys in the research of the names involved, and any pics before we start any tracing appeals might be an idea (I suspect they would b a better bet for any records). If yo would like to email us at suepassoc@gmail.com with your views, any further info and/or pics you have, etc would maybe be a start.

 

[stewart]

In my extreme youth I used to get to the Hall hours early to collect autographs ( I still have that formidably large collection including some very famous names ,for example a very young reserve WHU centre half —Bobby Moore ).
The diminutive Mickey Wright was one of the group that gathered before (and often after) every match, Although he was older than me,I remember when he was signed on as a junior, I figured I was getting too old for that hobby.
Frankie Banks has told me Mickey is still a good friend of his.
Good luck with your venture.

I went to school with Mickey Wright and Steven Clarke

 

[stewart]

The aforementioned Micky Wright with Derek Ewing at Roots Hall in March 2019.

Stewart, what you say is a great idea, and I wold have thought that the club would be up for it. Involving the SUFC History guys in the research of the names involved, and any pics before we start any tracing appeals might be an idea (I suspect they would b a better bet for any records). If yo would like to email us at suepassoc@gmail.com with your views, any further info and/or pics you have, etc would maybe be a start.



View attachment 18327

Im afraid all pics i had were lost many years ago, I was one of those colts, perhaps Mickey Wright or Frankie Banks would be more help to you,I was hoping that THE youth Academy may have records from way back then

 

[DoDTS]

I know nothing of the players but I was there, aged about 12.

I'm not sure if it was 1961-62 or the following year but I remember going to watch some of it. It was over Easter, played at Victory Sports Ground (which was quite handy for me as I lived in Ennismore Gardens right behind the Victory) with the finals played at Roots Hall.

The cost was quite reasonable and programmes were produced (which I had until a few years ago). Their were three matches played at one time so you picked your choice of matches and stood between two pitches and alternated between watched both.

The fixtures and tables were shown on boards in front of the old pavilion which was open then. I'm pretty sure that they had food and drink on sale but then I could nip home in between matches.

I believe there was about 16 sides taking part, initially in groups and then progressing to a knock-out. At that young age I was most impressed by the foreign sides and I used to watch them if I could. I remember

Schalke from west Germany
Orion Boys from Holland (played in Orange)
Tournhout from Belgium

Then again a long time ago and memories play tricks.

I've often thought that I would love to go see a similar tournament now

 

[fatgrandad]

I know nothing of the players but I was there, aged about 12.

I'm not sure if it was 1961-62 or the following year but I remember going to watch some of it. It was over Easter, played at Victory Sports Ground (which was quite handy for me as I lived in Ennismore Gardens right behind the Victory) with the finals played at Roots Hall.

That tournament, or a descendant of it, must have continued for several years, as I remember going up there to watch it in late 60s or very early 70s. I was similarly in awe of overseas teams.

 

[Big Bad Barry Corr]

The aforementioned Micky Wright with Derek Ewing at Roots Hall in March 2019.

Stewart, what you say is a great idea, and I wold have thought that the club would be up for it. Involving the SUFC History guys in the research of the names involved, and any pics before we start any tracing appeals might be an idea (I suspect they would b a better bet for any records). If yo would like to email us at suepassoc@gmail.com with your views, any further info and/or pics you have, etc would maybe be a start.



View attachment 18327

I’m sure if anyone has records of this it will be Peter Miles and Dave Goody ?