southend4eva
First XI⭐
My trip to finally see Southend live, is now officially done and dusted, but the memories will live on.
Made possible by an amazing 16 year old son, who spent his hard earned savings on tickets and my beautiful wife who encourage it and covered the accommodation and spending money... :thumbsup: For a wife with 7 kids, that's a huge gift to her husband. :omg::thumbsup::smile::happy:
The highlights for me was just being in Southend and meeting the people who have such passion for their club.
It was why I chose the Club in the first place: local club, with local people who live and bleed their club.
It was such a buzz walking around Southend and taking a picture of me with every sign that spoke of the Shrimpers:smile:.
Finally getting to the ground for the first time and getting a tour by Ryan was just first class... What a top bloke he is!
Actually standing on the ground, sitting in the dugout and on Ron's match-day seat: all too good.
Walking down the players tunnel, meeting the various staff and buying out the club shop was surreal.
Meeting the CEO who got a call from Phil Brown while I was there and put me onto to have a chat was just top shelf.
Getting a write up in the match day program for the hull game was also another feel good moment.
Loved the away teams change room.
It gave me great pleasure watching the Hull game, knowing what awaited them both at halftime and the end of a game: must have really messed with some of their heads :smile:
Of course actually sitting in the West stand, as a fan with the fans was an incredible.
Being able to chant: "Come on Southend, , come one Southend" or "Sea sea seasiders," or "Yeeelllooowwwsss," and the rest..hahaha:loyalsupporter:
Sitting on the coach for the Daggers game, with so many good people was just awesome.
Though I did the typical Aussie thing by testing their patience, by leaving my tickets behind and without a blink they rushed me to the the guest house to get them.:thumbsup:
I did have to promise not to talk cricket! :winking:
The Shrimpers Trust meeting on a wet Thursday night with a few diehards was a real treat.
Hearing from Ricky Duncan, Teddy Smith and another young youth coach was inspiring, accompanied with the appropriate pics and quick chats, just topped it all of.
Crome the Newport game and feeling the angst of whether it would calked of was a good test.
Getting to sit in the dugout with and watch the players warmup, was like being a kid again and was just a great touch.
I managed to get a pic with Justin Edinburgh and another with Sammy the Shrimper.
But as I said from the start it was the people that made it special.
A big thinks to the Zone, who met me in the spread eagle, courtesy of Ken and paid for the tickets to the Hull game.
For OBL, who just went out of her way, time and again to make sure a great time: covering the tickets for the trust coach, lifts home after the AGM and the drive to get my forgotten tickets... Hahaha thank you so much.
Chris Phillips also deserves a mention who contested me regularly, put a great article in the echo of our trip and game and chatted to me for a good twenty minutes at the daggers game: after that charity walk... wow! First rate mate!
The hugest thanks to BB, who gave me an instant Southend collection of old and significant programmes, Man U and Chelsea/southend scarves, the best Jacket from about 20 years ago and so much more.
Also to "up the Shrimpers" for picking me up and dropping me at the airport and just generally talking together nonstop about all things SUFC... You legend!
Another nice touch was Ed at the Pierview Guesthouse, where I stayed who gave my son and I southend scarves and key rings, as a welcome to Southend gift.
As you can see not only did I have the best time ever, but we support a great club, with even greater people, from a town with a huge heart.
Thank you everyone who sent me messages and said hello.
You will not be forgotten and will always be appreciated for making my dream come true.
UTB's:loyalsupporter:
Made possible by an amazing 16 year old son, who spent his hard earned savings on tickets and my beautiful wife who encourage it and covered the accommodation and spending money... :thumbsup: For a wife with 7 kids, that's a huge gift to her husband. :omg::thumbsup::smile::happy:
The highlights for me was just being in Southend and meeting the people who have such passion for their club.
It was why I chose the Club in the first place: local club, with local people who live and bleed their club.
It was such a buzz walking around Southend and taking a picture of me with every sign that spoke of the Shrimpers:smile:.
Finally getting to the ground for the first time and getting a tour by Ryan was just first class... What a top bloke he is!
Actually standing on the ground, sitting in the dugout and on Ron's match-day seat: all too good.
Walking down the players tunnel, meeting the various staff and buying out the club shop was surreal.
Meeting the CEO who got a call from Phil Brown while I was there and put me onto to have a chat was just top shelf.
Getting a write up in the match day program for the hull game was also another feel good moment.
Loved the away teams change room.
It gave me great pleasure watching the Hull game, knowing what awaited them both at halftime and the end of a game: must have really messed with some of their heads :smile:
Of course actually sitting in the West stand, as a fan with the fans was an incredible.
Being able to chant: "Come on Southend, , come one Southend" or "Sea sea seasiders," or "Yeeelllooowwwsss," and the rest..hahaha:loyalsupporter:
Sitting on the coach for the Daggers game, with so many good people was just awesome.
Though I did the typical Aussie thing by testing their patience, by leaving my tickets behind and without a blink they rushed me to the the guest house to get them.:thumbsup:
I did have to promise not to talk cricket! :winking:
The Shrimpers Trust meeting on a wet Thursday night with a few diehards was a real treat.
Hearing from Ricky Duncan, Teddy Smith and another young youth coach was inspiring, accompanied with the appropriate pics and quick chats, just topped it all of.
Crome the Newport game and feeling the angst of whether it would calked of was a good test.
Getting to sit in the dugout with and watch the players warmup, was like being a kid again and was just a great touch.
I managed to get a pic with Justin Edinburgh and another with Sammy the Shrimper.
But as I said from the start it was the people that made it special.
A big thinks to the Zone, who met me in the spread eagle, courtesy of Ken and paid for the tickets to the Hull game.
For OBL, who just went out of her way, time and again to make sure a great time: covering the tickets for the trust coach, lifts home after the AGM and the drive to get my forgotten tickets... Hahaha thank you so much.
Chris Phillips also deserves a mention who contested me regularly, put a great article in the echo of our trip and game and chatted to me for a good twenty minutes at the daggers game: after that charity walk... wow! First rate mate!
The hugest thanks to BB, who gave me an instant Southend collection of old and significant programmes, Man U and Chelsea/southend scarves, the best Jacket from about 20 years ago and so much more.
Also to "up the Shrimpers" for picking me up and dropping me at the airport and just generally talking together nonstop about all things SUFC... You legend!
Another nice touch was Ed at the Pierview Guesthouse, where I stayed who gave my son and I southend scarves and key rings, as a welcome to Southend gift.
As you can see not only did I have the best time ever, but we support a great club, with even greater people, from a town with a huge heart.
Thank you everyone who sent me messages and said hello.
You will not be forgotten and will always be appreciated for making my dream come true.
UTB's:loyalsupporter:
