Oliver Trigg was the man who kicked it all off.
Literally.
The time was six pm on 25 August 1906. Southend 'A' versus Southend 'B' at Roots Hall, the first practice match, in aid of the Victoria Hospital. Trigg was given the honour of 'kicking off' in his capacity as chairman of The Southend United Football Club, Ltd.
As landlord of the Blue Boar, Trigg had played an instrumental role. The Blue Boar had hosted the very first meeting where a collection of local footballers and businessmen had gathered on 19 April to talk about forming a new football club.
In the mean time, led by Trigg, the plotters had managed to get a three year lease on the ground at Roots Hall.
As a result of that initial get together, a further meeting - organised and inspired by Trigg - took place exactly a month later at the Blue Boar. It was at this meeting, on 19 May 1906 that Southend United was formally founded.
Oliver Trigg, licensed victualler, was elected as chairman and was one of five directors alongside Charles Stein, 'Member of the Stock Exchange'; George Hogsflesh, 'agent'; Frederick England, licensed victualler; and Tom Tidy, 'merchant and cigar importer'.
Thanks to the vision of men like Trigg and his fellow directors, horizons were widened. The club became Southend rather than Prittlewell, semi-professionalism and amateurism was dropped in favour of professionalism and the club applied to join not the South Essex League but the prestigious Southern League.
The newly elected directors were told to tout for professional as well as amateur players. Trigg and his directors managed to persuade Bob Jack to become player, manager and secretary. Jack managed to secure 11 professionals, including two former internationals to sign as well as a number of prominent local amateur players such as Wanstead's Harry Halse.
Membership of the Southern League was by way of election. As chairman Trigg must have lobbied hard. With the help of Leyton FC's Robert Campbell, Southend United picked up 33 votes ahead of Swindon Reserves, 30; Royal Engineers, 27; Wycombe Wanderers, 18 and Tunbridge Wells Rangers, 16 who were all elected whilst Hastings and Grays were turned away.
Trigg's contribution was also financial. In the early days, existance was often hand to mouth and the directors often had to dig into their own pockets. When the share issue fell short of its target, Trigg contributed £861, a considerable sum in those days.
By 1910 the club were £800 in debt and directors were reduced to running money raising bazaars and paying for travel expenses out of their own pocket. As the excellent Southend United: The official history of the Blues (the source of much of this post) notes, this wasn't inconsiderable when players like Walter Smith travelled from Liverpool for every game.
Trigg even had to return as chairman late in the 1913/14 season when boardroom bickering got so bad.
Oliver Trigg was the man who got it all up and running. Without him there probably wouldn't be a Southend United. He helped initiate it, fund it and nurse it through its infant days. Whilst the club went into hibernation during the Great War, the club kept one valuable asset: its Southern League membership and this was to be the basis of the club becoming a Football League club in 1920. Sadly Trigg wasn't alive to see it, having died of a heart attack on 25 February 1919. His legacy lives on, as Southend United have retained their Football League membership ever since.
Literally.
The time was six pm on 25 August 1906. Southend 'A' versus Southend 'B' at Roots Hall, the first practice match, in aid of the Victoria Hospital. Trigg was given the honour of 'kicking off' in his capacity as chairman of The Southend United Football Club, Ltd.
As landlord of the Blue Boar, Trigg had played an instrumental role. The Blue Boar had hosted the very first meeting where a collection of local footballers and businessmen had gathered on 19 April to talk about forming a new football club.
In the mean time, led by Trigg, the plotters had managed to get a three year lease on the ground at Roots Hall.
As a result of that initial get together, a further meeting - organised and inspired by Trigg - took place exactly a month later at the Blue Boar. It was at this meeting, on 19 May 1906 that Southend United was formally founded.
Oliver Trigg, licensed victualler, was elected as chairman and was one of five directors alongside Charles Stein, 'Member of the Stock Exchange'; George Hogsflesh, 'agent'; Frederick England, licensed victualler; and Tom Tidy, 'merchant and cigar importer'.
Thanks to the vision of men like Trigg and his fellow directors, horizons were widened. The club became Southend rather than Prittlewell, semi-professionalism and amateurism was dropped in favour of professionalism and the club applied to join not the South Essex League but the prestigious Southern League.
The newly elected directors were told to tout for professional as well as amateur players. Trigg and his directors managed to persuade Bob Jack to become player, manager and secretary. Jack managed to secure 11 professionals, including two former internationals to sign as well as a number of prominent local amateur players such as Wanstead's Harry Halse.
Membership of the Southern League was by way of election. As chairman Trigg must have lobbied hard. With the help of Leyton FC's Robert Campbell, Southend United picked up 33 votes ahead of Swindon Reserves, 30; Royal Engineers, 27; Wycombe Wanderers, 18 and Tunbridge Wells Rangers, 16 who were all elected whilst Hastings and Grays were turned away.
Trigg's contribution was also financial. In the early days, existance was often hand to mouth and the directors often had to dig into their own pockets. When the share issue fell short of its target, Trigg contributed £861, a considerable sum in those days.
By 1910 the club were £800 in debt and directors were reduced to running money raising bazaars and paying for travel expenses out of their own pocket. As the excellent Southend United: The official history of the Blues (the source of much of this post) notes, this wasn't inconsiderable when players like Walter Smith travelled from Liverpool for every game.
Trigg even had to return as chairman late in the 1913/14 season when boardroom bickering got so bad.
Oliver Trigg was the man who got it all up and running. Without him there probably wouldn't be a Southend United. He helped initiate it, fund it and nurse it through its infant days. Whilst the club went into hibernation during the Great War, the club kept one valuable asset: its Southern League membership and this was to be the basis of the club becoming a Football League club in 1920. Sadly Trigg wasn't alive to see it, having died of a heart attack on 25 February 1919. His legacy lives on, as Southend United have retained their Football League membership ever since.
