Southend United F.C.: Difference between revisions

| clubname = Southend United

| image = Southend United.svg

| fullname = Southend United Football Club

| nickname = The Shrimpers/The Blues

}}

 

 

 

==History==

{{recentism|section|date=October 2023}}

 

Southend United F.C. was founded on 19 May 1906 in the Blue Boar Hotel<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southendtimeline.com/1906.htm |title=1906 – Southend Timeline |work=southendtimeline.com |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120074912/https://www.southendtimeline.com/1906.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="BBC-15Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Fans fear future without football club |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-64635685 |access-date=16 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=15 February 2023}}</ref> after landlord Oliver Trigg invited a group of footballers and businessmen to discuss setting up a new professional club.<ref name="England-26Apr2023">{{cite news |last1=England |first1=Sophie |title=Historic pub where Southend United was founded to be sold |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23479270.historic-pub-southend-united-founded-sold/ |access-date=26 April 2023 |work=Echo |date=26 April 2023}}</ref>{{efn|When the club was incorporated on 1 August 1906, Trigg was among the club's initial five directors, listed as proprietor of the Blue Boar Hotel; others were a licensed victualler (Frederick England, of the Nelson Hotel in Prittlewell), a London stock-broker (Charles Albert Stein), an agent (George Hutton Hogsflesh), and a merchant and cigar importer (Tom Stuart Tidy).<ref name="CoHo-Incorp">{{cite web |title=Southend United Football Club - Incorporation |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00089767/filing-history/Njc2Nzc2NDVhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=Companies House |access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>}} The new Southend United would displace the more prominent Southend Athletic in the town, who later disbanded.<ref name="HistoryMiles">{{cite web|url=https://www.southendunited.co.uk/club/history |title=History and Honours |author=Peter Miles |publisher=Southend United F.C. |access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> A prospectus for shares in the club issued in August 1906 noted the club had been elected to complete in the Second Division of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] and in the South Eastern League, and a seven-year lease had been agreed to play at Roots Hall Field in [[Prittlewell]].<ref name="CoHoProspectus">{{cite web |title=Southend United F.C.: Increase in nominal capital: Prospectus (August 1906) |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00089767/filing-history/NTk1Mjk5ODNhZGlxemtjeA/document?format=pdf&download=0 |website=Companies House |access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref>

 

In their first season under Jack's management, Southend won the Southern League Second Division title for [[1906–07 Southern Football League|1906–07]], then repeated the feat the [[1907–08 Southern Football League|following season]], gaining election to the Southern League First Division in 1908.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> The club first entered the [[FA Cup]] in [[1907–08 FA Cup|1907–08]], where they met East Ham.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> When Jack left Southend in 1910, he was succeeded as player-manager by Molyneux. Southend were relegated back to the Second Division after the [[1910–11 Southern Football League|1910–11 season]], but returned to the First Division two seasons later as runners-up.<ref name="FCHD">{{cite web|url=https://fchd.info/SOUTHENU.HTM |title=Southend United |publisher=Football Club History Database |access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref> However, [[World War I]] disrupted the club's progress.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> To aid the country's war effort, parts of the club's ground Roots Hall were dismantled and requisitioned to a nearby timber yard where buildings had been destroyed by bombs.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> After the war, Roots Hall was unusable so Southend moved to '[[Kursaal (amusement park)|The Kursaal]]'.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/>

 

[[File:Southend United FC League Performance.svg|thumb|300px|Chart of table positions of Southend in the English football league system]]

The club remained in the Southern League until the first post-[[World War I]] season of [[1919–20 Southern Football League|1919–20]]. The club then joined the Football League's new [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] and finished 17th in their first season.<ref name="FCHD"/> In 1921, the Third Division was regionalised with Southend United joining the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]].<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> In their second Football League season, Southend had to apply for re-election.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> However, from 1922, under new manager [[Ted Birnie]], the club began to stabilise and began to challenge for promotion to the Second Division, finishing third in 1932.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> After a successful twelve years, Birnie left to be replaced in May 1934 by [[David Jack]], son of the club's first manager,<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> and the Shrimpers moved from the Kursaal to the [[Southend Stadium]].<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> A highlight of Jack's six-year tenure saw Southend draw 4–4 in the [[1935–36 FA Cup|FA Cup]] third round at [[White Hart Lane]] against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in January 1936 before losing the replay.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> Following the start of [[World War II]], the [[1939–40 in English football|1939–40]] season was abandoned.<ref name="HistoryMiles"/> In the [[1948–49 Football League|1948–49]] season, the Shrimpers narrowly avoided a re-election vote.<ref name="FCHD"/> Southend came close to promotion when they finished third in 1950 (the club's joint highest league position until 1991).<ref name=PeterMason>{{cite book|last=Mason|first=Peter|title=Southend United: the official history of 'The Blues'|year=1994|isbn=1-874427-20-8}}</ref> Southend remained in the Third Division South until the re-structuring of the Football League in 1958.<ref name="FCHD"/>

Alvin Martin left in April 1999, with Southend fifth from bottom in [[the Football League]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend United's Managers: Alvin Martin|url=http://www.shrimper.org.uk/managers/alvinmartin.shtml|work=Blue Anorak|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305222220/http://www.shrimper.org.uk/managers/alvinmartin.shtml|archive-date=5 March 2001}}</ref> [[Alan Little (footballer)|Alan Little]] was manager for a brief spell, helping them to avoid the drop into the [[Football Conference]] and also helped them survive a serious financial crisis by slashing the wage bill and rebuilding a much cheaper side. The club's first flirtation with the High Court came in July 2000, when a debt to the Inland Revenue was paid off shortly before a scheduled winding-up petition hearing.<ref name=Derelictionp6/> Little's dismissal in September 2000 came as a surprise as, despite a poor start to the season, it followed a five-game unbeaten run that saw 'the Shrimpers' rise to 10th in the Third Division. He was replaced by [[David Webb (footballer)|David Webb]] on 2 October 2000,{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} soon after Ron Martin had taken over as chairman.<ref name="Conn-22Sep2000"/> The club then turned to [[Rob Newman (footballer)|Rob Newman]], [[Steve Wignall]] and, in late 2003, former Southend United midfielder [[Steve Tilson]].

 

Under Tilson, Southend reached their first national cup final, meeting [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] in the 2004 [[final (competition)|final]] of the [[Football League Trophy]] at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Grahame|title=Blackpool's Millennium bug|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/mar/22/match.sport10|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 November 2011|date=22 March 2004}}</ref> Over 20,000 Southend fans travelled,<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardiff is Your Lasting Memory|url=http://www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~529078,00.html|publisher=Southend United FC|access-date=22 November 2011|date=17 November 2004}}</ref> but the team did not rise to the occasion and Blackpool won 2–0. Tilson then led Southend to promotion to League 1 in 2005, while making a second successive appearance in the Football League Trophy final, which the Shrimpers lost 2–0 to [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend 0–2 Wrexham|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4423417.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2011|date=10 April 2005}}</ref> but the third appearance at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in the [[Football League Two|League Two]] play-off final against [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] brought success<ref>{{cite web|title=Lincoln City 0–2 Southend United|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/4573787.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2011|date=28 May 2005}}</ref> giving the club its first promotion via the [[play-off]] system and their first major silverware since 1981.

 

=== 2010–2019 ===

 

During the 2009–10 season, Southend faced two winding-up orders from [[HM Revenue and Customs]] over unpaid tax bills.<ref name=guardian20091027>{{cite web|title=Southend avoid winding up order but now face administration|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/27/southend-hmrc-administration-hearing|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 November 2011|date=27 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Southend winding-up hearing adjourned for 28 days|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/8507587.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2011|date=10 February 2010}}</ref> In February 2010 Southend players were not paid, the [[Professional Footballers Association]] had to pay the players, and the club were placed under a [[Transfer (association football)#Transfer bans|transfer embargo]] until they paid the money back.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phillips|first=Chris|title=Ron Martin explains PFA loan to cover wages at Southend United|url=http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/5051012.Martin_explains_PFA_loan_to_cover_wages/|publisher=Echo|access-date=22 November 2011|date=10 March 2010}}</ref> In March 2010 Southend were given a 35-day extension to pay the unpaid bill or face administration,<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend United get High Court extension to repay debts|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/8559824.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2011|date=10 March 2010}}</ref> and further seven day extension in April 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend United given a further week to pay off £400,000 tax bill|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/14/southend-tax-bill-hmrc|work=The Guardian|access-date=22 November 2011|date=14 April 2010}}</ref> On 20 April 2010 the bill was paid,<ref>{{cite web|title=Shrimpers settle tax debt|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11716_6104961,00.html|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=22 November 2011|date=20 April 2010}}</ref> and in August 2010 all actions against Southend United were dropped and an agreement was reached with HMRC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Southend United stave off administration|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/8878585.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 November 2011|date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

 

On 22 October 2019, [[Sol Campbell]] was appointed manager of Southend.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50035674 |title=Sol Campbell: Southend United name ex-England defender as new manager |publisher=BBC News |date=22 October 2019 |access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref> Campbell took charge for his first game — a 3–1 home defeat to [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] — on 25 October.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southend United 1-3 Ispwich Town: Sol Campbell loses first game in charge |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50106064 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2019 |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref>

 

====Financial difficulties and double relegation====

Financial difficulties resulted in non-payment of players' and other employees' wages in December 2019, after which players consulted with the PFA.<ref name="BBC-09Jan2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United players to meet with PFA over unpaid wages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51053076 |access-date=9 January 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Club chairman Ron Martin paid £140,000 to pay wages,<ref name="BBC-10Jan2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Chairman Ron Martin personally meets £140k wages shortfall |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51070380 |access-date=13 January 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=10 January 2020}}</ref> and a winding-up petition was dismissed after debts were cleared.<ref name="BBC-22Jan2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: HMRC winding-up petition dismissed in insolvency court |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51207894 |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=22 January 2020}}</ref> However, financial constraints and an EFL transfer embargo prevented the club signing any new players.<ref name="BBC-12Feb2020">{{cite news |title=Sol Campbell: Southend United boss 'disappointed' at lack of January signings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51474900 |access-date=23 February 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=12 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC-02Mar2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Chairman Ron Martin confirms club under transfer embargo |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51706877 |access-date=5 March 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=2 March 2020}}</ref> February 2020 wages were not paid on time,<ref name="BBC-03Mar2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: PFA in touch with club over unpaid wages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51718893 |access-date=5 March 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=3 March 2020}}</ref> and Southend was charged with misconduct and later received a suspended three-point penalty and £7,500 fine.<ref name="BBC-02Jun2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United given suspended points deduction for late payment of wages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52898117 |access-date=2 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=2 June 2020}}</ref> On 11 March, a further HMRC winding-up petition was adjourned - first to 29 April<ref name="BBC-11Mar2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Winding-up petition adjourned until 29 April |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51834346 |access-date=11 March 2020 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=11 March 2020}}</ref> then three more times,<ref name="BBC-29Apr2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Winding-up petition adjourned until 22 July |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52475002 |access-date=29 April 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC-22Jul2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United winding-up petition adjourned for third time until 16 September |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53501901 |access-date=23 July 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2020}}</ref> eventually to 28 October 2020.<ref name="BBC-16Sep2020">{{cite news |title=Southend United winding-up petition adjourned for fourth time until 28 October |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54177652 |access-date=25 September 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=16 September 2020}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

====Further financial difficulties====

 

On 18 January 2023, the HMRC winding-up hearing was adjourned again, to 1 March 2023.<ref name="BBC-18Jan2023">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Winding-up petition hearing adjourned again until March |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64316801 |access-date=18 January 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 January 2023}}</ref> Martin was seeking a £5M loan to pay debts including £1.4M in unpaid tax owed to HMRC.<ref name="BBC-11Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Southend United: MP Anna Firth 'hopeful' football club will survive |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-64601255 |access-date=14 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=11 February 2023}}</ref> With players and other staff unpaid for January, anxious fans started planning a '[[Phoenix club (sports)|phoenix club]]'<ref name="BBC-01Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Southend United fans begin 'phoenix club' planning in case Shrimpers go out of business |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64482329 |access-date=6 February 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="King-04Feb2023">{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Ian |title=Southend United's current crisis could land them a place on football's financial graveyard |url=https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-southend-united-crisis-financial-graveyard-martin |access-date=8 February 2023 |work=Football365 |date=4 February 2023}}</ref> and there were unsuccessful attempts to engage with Martin over a possible sale of the club.<ref name="Phillips-16Feb2023">{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Chris |title=Ex Southend United star reveals he was part of bid to buy club |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/23327745.ex-southend-united-star-reveals-part-bid-buy-club/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |work=Echo |date=16 February 2023}}</ref>

 

 

====Club put up for sale====

 

 

 

 

 

==== Points deduction ====

 

 

 

====Sale to Justin Rees consortium====

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

==Club identity==

|-

| 2024–2025

|}

 

In September 2022, after the club had been unable to get a hotel operator on board, plans to build a hotel at the proposed new stadium were dropped in favour of 42 additional homes, taking the total to 224 homes. A revised planning application also outlined plans to lower the stadium capacity to 16,226 seats.<ref name="Sexton-22Sep2022">{{cite news |last1=Sexton |first1=Chris |title=Southend United new stadium's hotel plans ditched |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/southend/22481110.southend-united-new-stadiums-hotel-plans-ditched/ |access-date=22 February 2023 |work=Echo |date=22 September 2022}}</ref> In February 2023, applications for the additional homes and smaller stadium were both still to be decided by Southend Council as information had not been provided by the club.<ref name="BBC-20Feb2023">{{cite news |title=Southend United: Council says lack of information delaying new stadium plans |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-64703464 |access-date=22 February 2023 |work=BBC News |date=20 February 2023}}</ref> Scaled-back plans for the ground were eventually submitted to the council in late March 2023.<ref name="England-24Mar2023">{{cite news |last1=England |first1=Sophie |title=Southend United stadium plans submitted to council |url=https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23407972.southend-united-stadium-plans-submitted-council/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |work=Echo |date=24 March 2023}}</ref>

 

 

==Rivalries==

 

===Current squad===

 

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Gus Scott-Morriss]]|other=}}

{{fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Nathan Ralph]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}

{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Adam Crowther|other=}}

{{fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Ollie Kensdale]]|other=}}

{{fs player|no=9|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Harry Cardwell]]|other=}}

{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Danny Waldron|other=}}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Cav Miley]]}}

{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[James Morton (footballer, born 1999)|James Morton]]|other=}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Oli Coker]]|other=}}

{{fs player|no=30|nat=CMR|pos=GK|name=Collin Andeng-Ndi|other=}}

|-

|[[2022–23 Southend United F.C. season|2022–23]]||[[Cav Miley]]

|}

 

|-

|2022–23||[[Jack Bridge]]||34||7||13

|}

 

|-

|Chief executive|| Tom Lawrence

|-

|Head coach|| [[Kevin Maher]]

|First-team coach|| [[Mark Bentley]]

|-

|-

|Head of football||[[John Still (footballer)|John Still]]