DoDTS
The PL League Boss⭐⭐
My god all this doom and gloom, on a miserable Sunday here's a little bit of light relief from eighty odd years ago.
The English Channel had first been swum in 1875 and then again in 1911, but after that American women and European Bakers had repeated the feat. Lord George Riddell owner of the News of the World offered a £1,000 to any English person that would swim the channel and at least beat the time of the American women. Norman Leslie Derham of Southend completed the challenge on Thursday 16th September 1926, in a time of 13 hours 56 minutes, 35 minutes quicker than the American lady (although slower than the European Baker) and claimed the prize. He had twice failed in his attempt and on the third attempt had to postpone twice on Tuesday September 14th and Wednesday 15th because of bad weather, but was successful on the third day.
Two days later Southend United were playing at the Kursaal against Aberdare Athletic and perhaps the following inspired the team:
“There was an unusual interlude to this contest, it proved rather distracting too, Mr. Norman Derham, Southend’s channel swimmer was towed to the ground and when he arrived was “chaired” on the shoulders of his friends round the touch-line. He received an ovation, Players, Linesmen and Referee joined in the cheering. Derham on his triumphant passage waved encouragingly to Hick before he kicked off Play was well underway before Derham left the field ”
From the Southend Standard 23rd September 1926
We beat Aberdare 5-1, which after a bad start of one point from the first four games, this win was our third successive victory. Doesn't this make you feel proud to be a Southender? (I have seen mentioned that Norman Derham was actually born in South Africa, who cares, we're Southend till we die!)
DoDtS
The English Channel had first been swum in 1875 and then again in 1911, but after that American women and European Bakers had repeated the feat. Lord George Riddell owner of the News of the World offered a £1,000 to any English person that would swim the channel and at least beat the time of the American women. Norman Leslie Derham of Southend completed the challenge on Thursday 16th September 1926, in a time of 13 hours 56 minutes, 35 minutes quicker than the American lady (although slower than the European Baker) and claimed the prize. He had twice failed in his attempt and on the third attempt had to postpone twice on Tuesday September 14th and Wednesday 15th because of bad weather, but was successful on the third day.
Two days later Southend United were playing at the Kursaal against Aberdare Athletic and perhaps the following inspired the team:
“There was an unusual interlude to this contest, it proved rather distracting too, Mr. Norman Derham, Southend’s channel swimmer was towed to the ground and when he arrived was “chaired” on the shoulders of his friends round the touch-line. He received an ovation, Players, Linesmen and Referee joined in the cheering. Derham on his triumphant passage waved encouragingly to Hick before he kicked off Play was well underway before Derham left the field ”
From the Southend Standard 23rd September 1926
We beat Aberdare 5-1, which after a bad start of one point from the first four games, this win was our third successive victory. Doesn't this make you feel proud to be a Southender? (I have seen mentioned that Norman Derham was actually born in South Africa, who cares, we're Southend till we die!)
DoDtS
Last edited:
