21st March 2004

[Beefy]

It is now three years exactly (well, in about 39 minutes) since the first LDV Final against Blackpool. A day that, at the time, I thought we would never surpass. Thanks to Tilly, Brush, Freddy Eastwood, Darryl Flahavan, Ron Martin and others we've had several days since that have pushed that one close but I know that there will always be something very special about that day in my heart, and I'd imagine the same is true for a lot of you.

It was a great day because it was a day that I never thought I'd see. Southend United playing in a showpiece final in one of the finest stadiums in Europe. Ok, the game itself was rubbish from our perspective but when I look back now I don't even really think about that.

It was a real turning point, in my opinion. For years we'd stagnated in the bottom division. For years we'd almost forgotten as fans and as a club what success, even relative success, actually felt like. That LDV run gave us our first taste of glory in a long time and it is something that we've been fortunate to taste again since. Those 20,000 Shrimpers there included many who I'm sure at the time were part-time fans at best but who have come back ever since, and also others who had their support for the club renewed and reinvigorated that day.

Without that day, maybe we would be where we are today.

 

[Maldon Blues]

All I can say is "Was that really three years ago?!"

Blimey, doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

 

[leeblue]

Agree fully beefy, what a day it was 20 000 taken to cardiff AMAZING. Sod the result just seeing Kev lead the boys out was amazing. The only thing about the day I did not like was the choice of KIT. Why we couldnt play in blue I will never know. And as you said many supporters may have been re-invigorated or even just starting to support the blues, In my twenty odd years of loving the blues this was indeed a day to remember. I went all three times to Cardiff and each visit had a unique point to it. The day out for the first LDV, The heartache of not winning the secon (I really thought we were gonna beat wrexham) and the ecstacy of winning the big one, singing 'one kevin maher' as he went to collect trophy seriously choked me up.

 

[Sean 2]

Yes, i also went to all three Mill Stad occasions.Each time we said we'd better go 'cos the chances of us actually playing any sort of final at an
arena such as that were minimal in our remainding years.
Then bugger me,three times in succession! First LDV we hired a minibus.
Second LDV we drove by car and for the big one we caught the train to
Cardiff.

I can remember being truly amazed at the low attendance for the play-off
final but that day will stay in my memory forever.Beating Man Ure and drawing with Swansea just about comes close.A feeling of real emotion
overwhelmed us that day.Jumping around hugging my mate as we were both in tears,unbridled joy for two guys fast approaching forty.

I'd come back to supporting my team after "being too busy" for the previous 5 yrs and had witnessed my old favourite Tilson taking over as manager.
I simply couldn't bear to see Southend slip into the Conference as their league position threatened at the time and was determined to shout and cajole the players from the stand just as i had done in the Webby era.

I could see the team were knocking it around on the deck under Tilly and Brush and results improve to get us up the table to safety that season,
and nothing made me prouder.But whats this,we're through to a cup final?
Christ,never thought i'd see Southend at a stadium like this and an occasion
as this! Now i was getting excited.

Of course,Tilly and Brush didn't stop there as we all know.

But for me the 1st LDV was fantastic and treated as a proud day out with
my club.

Although the Play-off Final was soooo bloody important to win,to get out of that division was of upmost importance,especially after the way we should have walked the league that year and ended up watching bloody Swansea
snatch the third automatic promotion place from us.Watching Juppy's goal
go in at Cardiff just summed it up.

WE ARE BACK!

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Perhaps the SZ team can dig out the special ShrimperZone feature I created for this special day to remind us; I can't seem to find it online.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Surely we should all wear something silver today to mark the occasion, especially for TtK!

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

3 years ago, oh my god!!

Increadible, great post though!!