Pre-Match Thread Southend United v Oldham Athletic, Sunday 1st June, 15:00 ko, National League play-off final @Wembley Stadium

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

I love how confident the majority of the Oldham fans are on their forum, will be all the more precious when we shut them up

The same mistake made by Rochdale and FGR

 

[RHB]

Nearly bed time, and then.................match day, Woo Hoo!

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

2? The game is tomorrow.... unless you haven't slept from last night

Worked 6-6 last night, , will now go to bed and sleep until 7am. Am meeting GYS Jnr at 11 in the morning in Watford. COYS.

 

[ShrimperNath]

Working 7pm til 7am tomorrow morning in Hereford. Back home to Leominster,try and get an hour kip maybe, drive to Kidderminster, catch train to Wembley,

 

[Sussexshrimper]

48 years of going ..and all this club has been through the last few years ..this is our reward ..come on blues one last push ...but whatever the result ..this final is proof of what this club is ...this squad have been remarkable..and hats off to kevin maker..I remember shouting **** off maher on the final whistle at maidenhead..I was wrong

 

[Sussexshrimper]

Maher even bloody 54 year old eyes

 

[Bromley Blue]

Maher even bloody 54 year old eyes

Have you been drinking?

 

[Bromley Blue]

I think there’s not much between the two sides. League table wise it was close and both meetings between the sides were tight affairs.

Yes Oldham have impressed during the playoffs but I’ve got to say I was expecting a lot more from York. They kinda just rolled over and let their bellies be tickled. I really hope we don’t do the same tomorrow.

We’ve made harder work of progressing to the final but at least we know our side are capable of a response if we do fall behind. I think the squad can take a great deal of confidence from that.

I think Oldham go into the game as slight favourites but so did Rochdale and Forest Green. Who knows if it’s a step too far but whatever happens I’ll be immensely proud of our lads as I really can’t quite believe we’ve made it this far this season tbh.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Proper “early doors ’
For the last time this season
Come on you Shrimpers.

 

[Jack_23]

Whatever the result we all deserve this day . Let’s all enjoy ourselves. Be loud, proud and be one massive shrimpers family

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I’m awake and can’t quite believe we’re off to Wembley in a few hours. Will be making the most of the day whatever the result! Spent last night watching the CL final just picturing Macauley Bonne scoring a late winner v Oldham and the place erupting .. we’re not going there to make up the numbers we’ve got spirit and fight and an amazing fanbase.
Enjoy the day all

 

[RHB]

Proper “early doors ’
For the last time this season
Come on you Shrimpers.

I think it's time for your song Harry mate, enjoy the day.

 

[MilkeySUFC]

Had (more than) a few beers last night, hoping to help me sleep. Not worked particularly well! See you all at Wembley!

Love this club.
COME ON YOU SHRIMPERS!!

 

[Callum]

big match day shrimpers once a shrimper always a shrimper what ever the result

 

[Uncle_Rons_Teapot]

Safe journey to all going to and leaving Wembley and let's enjoy our day out whatever the result

EVERYWHERE WE GOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[bluesfansince1952]

A play off game at Wembley is always an occasion but it is hard to imagine how the stakes could be higher than they are today. A win would see us escape from the National League, a competition that does not seem to have the respect it deserves. Many on here have derided it as 'crap' 'rubbish' etc but the fact remains it is fiendishly difficult competition to escape from and that could hardly be the case if it really was awful. After Wrexham became the plaything of millionaires and enjoyed the backing of all the resources that money could buy they still needed more than one attempt to finally find their way back into the EFL. COSU are never going to be able to match that kind of effort, and, should we fail today, who knows how long it will take us to eventually fight our way out of the National League.

I think there is a case to be made that our season really started in earnest in the week ending of the 2nd of February. I say this as three players absolutely integral to our late season success and play off run joined the club during that week. The first was Ben Goodliffe who came to us on loan from Colchester on the 25th of January while on the 28th Tom Hopper joined us also from Colchester. The following day saw the arrival of LCP from Slough Town. Success was not instantaneous as before we secured our play off spot on the final week end of the season we had to endure three results which sent SZ into total meltdowwn. The first was in the 8th of Feburary when we lost away to Maidenhead 1-0; the second was losing 3-0 away to Boston on the 25th of March while the third was as late as the 12th of April which saw us lose 1-0 at home to Solihull.

Folowing the Solihull defeat a play off place was statisically possible but seemed unlikely. However, by now the newcomers had fully intergrated into the squad and it was time to remove the suit and climb out of the telephone kiosk and show off the cape. We then flew off on a seven match unbeaten run winning five in the process. It barely seems creditable that the players who performed so effectively and valiantly in our two play off games were the same who faced Maidenhead, Boston and Solihull. Undeniably the team that will take the field today will be significantly different from the line ups we saw pre Christmas. We are improved and still developing.

I feel that this is the most important game ever in the history of the Club. Hopefully we will never know how important as if we win today we will never long how long it will take us to escape the National League. If we were to still find ourselves in the NL in 2030 it would be clear just how momentous today is.

I cannot even begin to try and predict the result. Previous form counts for little in a match of this nature and what will matter will be the team and indiviidual performances on the day. It will be anyone's game although luck will surely pay a part as it always does in games of this sort. It will seem beyond cruel if we do not win as this would mean the torture we had to endure as fans in both the Rochdale and Forest Green games (where we seemed down and out in both) would have all been for nothing.

Who would could have thought when the final whistle sounded on the 12th of April signifying the end of the Solihull game that just seven weekends later that we would be playing off for an EFL place on the first of June? It is all beyond belief and thinking of the benefits of winning and consequences of losing make my stomach churrn. I am not now even sure I have the courage to watch the game.

My final thought: Am I right in thinking that the late great Sammy McCrory would have been the first ever current Southend player to score at Wembley? (For Northern Ireland in their 3-2 win over England in 1957.) Please correct me if I am wrong but in any event is anyone able to remember at which end he was able to find the net? Here is to more goals at the same end today and hopefully even the winner! How good would it be to both win and remember Sammy!

Up Up The Reds!

 

[Target man]

"My name is Kevin Andrew Maher, commander of the Armies of the South East, General of the Essex Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Justin Rees. Father to 3 sons, husband to an Irish wife. And I will have my trophy in this life or the next"

 

[tommy tucker]

My heart goes out to the club today I may not be there but i know the lads will give it there all .Win or lose every real shrimper fans wiil be very proud of what the team Managment And COSU have brought our club in just under 1 year .Im so very proud of you all .

 

[RHB]

Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, we're going to Wemberley, Que sera, sera.​

The numerous times I've sung that during games, thinking fat chance, and now we actually are (again), woo hoo. Gods of Football, be with us today.

 

[Westy]

Quite emotional on the train on the way reading these posts - 60 years of supporting , highs and a lot of lows but couldn’t be prouder to be a Shrimper today !

COYB one last big effort !