Shrimp in a Kilt
Guest
to everyone who came up and introduced themselves to me and the kids before, during and after the match. I met Rich (GlasgowSUFC) and his dad, Firestorm and his missus, Napster and Hong Kong Blue, IGUN and OS, Exiled Essex Shrimper (I think that was the SZ name - it was nice to speak to you anyway) and Simon from Yorkshire Blues (who have their own polo tops with "Yorkshire Blues" on - come on Scottish Shrimpers there must be enough of us to form our own clique!) who remembered my Liteace from the first LDV final when he taunted me with cans of beer from his van while we queued to leave Swansea. He came up and stuck his hand in the window while we were again queueing to leave Grimsby, and as it was while all the trouble was kicking off up and down the road I was a little worried for a minute.... It was great to meet you all, and thanks for taking the time to chat to me. I also had to text West Country Shrimper the bad news for the second successive match - sorry Hils! Would love to have met more of you (looked for but didn't see Seth and Katecat).
The kids had a great day and realy enjoyed themselves. My son's friend Derek, who has no connection with Southend but that, didn't stop singing and chanting for the whole game. His verdict was 1. Great fans. 2. Exciting game. 3. Thought we played very well over all and on another day would have had a pen/scored. Nervous, but certainly didn't bottle it. 4. Grimsby fans ruined it at the end. I agree with all that.
There has been a lot of talk on here about "making your own luck, and luck not being a factor. I can't agree. Football is an exciting game precisely because luck plays such a large part. Compare with Rugby where luck is much less of a factor, and there is hardly ever a giant killing. On the Bury board the Swansea fans (Dai Hard - I like it
) admitted that the had had the "rub of the green" and that Bury probably should have won. The Bury fans, just like us, are complaining that the team was intimidated by fans on the pitch. They are also adamant that they should have had a penalty near the end, and the Ref wouldn't give it for fear of a riot. We have had luck in some games and not in others. So what, we can change nothing of what has happened only what is yet to come.
Day improved somewhat on the way home when I had a text read out on 606 - Sorry pessismists and doom-sayers, I pointed out that taking Southend to two LDV finals and the playoffs in only a season and a half as a manager was brilliant. Slightly less impressed with the geographical knowledge displayed when the lady reading the texts suggested that driving back to Scotland from Grimsby was easier for me than "The long trip to Southend" - got home at 08:45 this morning.
The kids had a great day and realy enjoyed themselves. My son's friend Derek, who has no connection with Southend but that, didn't stop singing and chanting for the whole game. His verdict was 1. Great fans. 2. Exciting game. 3. Thought we played very well over all and on another day would have had a pen/scored. Nervous, but certainly didn't bottle it. 4. Grimsby fans ruined it at the end. I agree with all that.
There has been a lot of talk on here about "making your own luck, and luck not being a factor. I can't agree. Football is an exciting game precisely because luck plays such a large part. Compare with Rugby where luck is much less of a factor, and there is hardly ever a giant killing. On the Bury board the Swansea fans (Dai Hard - I like it
Day improved somewhat on the way home when I had a text read out on 606 - Sorry pessismists and doom-sayers, I pointed out that taking Southend to two LDV finals and the playoffs in only a season and a half as a manager was brilliant. Slightly less impressed with the geographical knowledge displayed when the lady reading the texts suggested that driving back to Scotland from Grimsby was easier for me than "The long trip to Southend" - got home at 08:45 this morning.
