96/97 Season

[Javea Shrimper]

What sort of memories do people have of the ill-fated 96/97 season, our last in the upper echelons of the Football League? We're putting together a new feature for SZ about notorious seasons and the 96/97 Ronnie Whelan inspired relegation campaign is up first. Remember when we beat front-runners Bolton Wanderers 5-2 at Roots Hall at the beginning of September only to get crushed 6-1 by Crystal Palace just two weeks later? Remember when Ronnie Whelan was effectively "sacked" in February after an altercation with the match officials at Manchester City?  What about the hopes of gaining a second win away from home when we travelled to West Brom, who had lost 15 games in a row at the time, only to lose 4-0 in a run that saw us win just once in 14? What do YOU remember about this infamous season?!

WS

 

[Napster]

Nothing much. I was at uni.

But I do remember the 5-2, and thought this was our season.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I was at the Huddersfield game, the day the dream died.  It remains one of my unhappiest football memories ever - the day plays like slow-mo in my head, with Royce frantically waving his arms at an utterly disinterested rabble in front of him.

The stats of that game are particularly fresh in my mind. Huddersfield had won once away all season. They had 9 first-team regulars absent. We had to win to have any mathematical chance of staying up.

2-1 to the Yorkshiremen. I was too numb to cry.

To be honest, I remember very little else about that season.

 

[Clarky_Blues]

Yes I remember that day at Huddersfield.

Plus I also remember John Neilsen's volley in the 5-2 win against Bolton. We hammered them and I think they still went on to win the league with over 100 goals and 100 points!

 

[Javea Shrimper]

Close. 100 goals and 98pts! We were one of only four teams to beat them in the League that season.

WS

 

[Kenny]

not many memories,

Nielsens goal in the 5-2
the pathetic 1-1 draw with Tranmere on the oprening day, bloke next to me at the bus stop reckoned we were gonna really struggle without a better striker or two - he wasn't far wrong.
The 2-2 with Oxford. Steve Bennett sending off Roget instead of Boere. Bennett has gone on to become a premiership ref....

I also remember that incident at Man City where Jobson seemed like he was going to pull the trigger only to backtrack.
oh and then of course 96/97 was the season dogged by all the "rumours" of the drinking that was going on.

 

[Javea Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Kenny @ Sep. 23 2004,19:52)]I also remember that incident at Man City where Jobson seemed like he was going to pull the trigger only to backtrack.
oh and then of course 96/97 was the season dogged by all the "rumours" of the drinking that was going on.

Basically Ronnie Whelan was suspended on full pay on 10th February 1997 pending a referee's report on an incident during the previous Saturday's match at Maine Road. Whelan and his assistant, Theo Foley, had complained to the linesman about an off-the-ball incident in which Georgi Kinkladze had brought Phil Gridelet to the ground. The referee ordered both Whelan and Foley from the dug-out for the rest of the game. Foley was sacked by chairman Vic Jobson as a result of this. Jobson told the media that Foley, as the senior of the two men, should have restrained Whelan rather than joining in the melée. Following a board meeting Ronnie Whelan was reinstated four days later.

WS

 

[Javea Shrimper]

Quick editing ...

WS

 

[essexgirl]

Quote[/b] (Kenny @ Sep. 23 2004,19:52)]The 2-2 with Oxford. Steve Bennett sending off Roget instead of Boere. Bennett has gone on to become a premiership ref....

In the same incident, Phil Gridelet asking the lino by the east stand WHAT FLIPPING (or words to that effect!) COLOUR AM I???  

 

The 5-2 Bolton game was my highlight of that season too

 

[The Eternal Optimist]

I seem to remember Tilly scoring an overhead kick in a night match? I think we beat Stoke or was it Grimsby in a thrilling match that could have gone either way. We also beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at home I seem to remember. I also remember chatting to a smug Port Vale fan whilst living up in Stafford who told me that the Shrimpers were doomed early in September  

I wish he'd have given me the lottery result for that saturday, who knows I could be sitting in Ron Martin's seat and we may be playing Championship football!

 

[stid]

And it all started so well - we took the lead against Tranmere in the opening game after only one minute. The other 45 games and 89 minutes were less memorable....

Except the 5-2 against Bolton and Nielsen's goal. When they showed it on TV you could actually see away fans in the North Bank applauding - how often does that happen?

The thing that I remember more than anything though was the total lack of desire among so many of the players to stay up - there were several of them who just didn't seem to care. Reinforcing for ever my view that I'd rather have modest players who give it everything than talented time-wasters.

 

[The Eternal Optimist]

Quote[/b] (Javea Shrimper @ Sep. 23 2004,17:27)]..... only to get crushed 6-1 by Crystal Palace just two weeks later.

Only bright spark of that game was that Paul Williams (whatever happend to him?) scored a consolation and never gave up running and chasing lost causes.

 

[Clarky_Blues]

Plus Kinkladze running rings around us at Man City and then on the local Manchester radio station after the game they said "Southend's kit was like a pub teams and the midfield were like 4 Mr Blobby's"

 

[sismith]

Strangely everyone holding up "come on you blues" signs at the game vs bradford, then later that game Andy Rammell scoring before we went onto to draw 1-1.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Sep. 23 2004,17:38)]I was at the Huddersfield game, the day the dream died.  It remains one of my unhappiest football memories ever - the day plays like slow-mo in my head, with Royce frantically waving his arms at an utterly disinterested rabble in front of him.

The stats of that game are particularly fresh in my mind.  Huddersfield had won once away all season.  They had 9 first-team regulars absent.  We had to win to have any mathematical chance of staying up.

2-1 to the Yorkshiremen.  I was too numb to cry.

To be honest, I remember very little else about that season.

A memory of the Huddersfield home match:


http://fp.homesoffootball.f9.co.uk/images....all.jpg

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (SuperShrimper @ Sep. 23 2004,21:22)]Strangely everyone holding up "come on you blues" signs at the game vs bradford, then later that game Andy Rammell scoring before we went onto to draw 1-1.

That Bradford game was a real 6 pointer. Both teams were desperate for all 3 points, but the draw would do Bradford more favours that it would do us.

It finished 1-1, Bradford stayed up and next season were promoted to the premier$hite, we were relegated and next season were relegated to division 4.

However my abiding memory from that game is the save Roycie managed to pull off from Edinho's header from about 6 yards out. Worthy of comparisons with another save an English 'keeper made from a Brazilian's header!

 

[tommytwoholes]

Remember getting to the ground at about 7.15 for a 7.45 kick off against Man City . I was a west stander then and asked my mate how many he thought they would bring, to which he replied" 800 or so they are a fairly big club" . I turned to look at the away end which was completely full(it seemed like 4000). What followed was a cracking game of football a brilliant atmosphere and southend almost snatching a point with tilly hitting the post at the last knockings. Two other things i remember from that match . Kinkladze scored a really really good goal and was one of the best players i have seen at roots hall. And i developed a slight soft spot for city for having such loyal fans.

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (tommytwoholes @ Sep. 24 2004,11:52)]And i developed a slight soft spot for city for having such loyal fans.

Loyalty is always an interesting concept.
The Man City fans who turned up to that game are perceived as incredibly loyal, but the Southend fans who turned up to the same game are not!

 

[steveh1510]

Quote[/b] (The Eternal Optimist @ Sep. 23 2004,20:18)]Paul Williams (whatever happend to him?)

He signed for Canvey after leaving us didn't he?

Memories of 96/97? Kinkladze pushing me out of the way as I watched the Man City team coach arrive, then going on to destroy us during the game. My first ever away game early in the season at Charlton, even though we lost 2-0. Tilson's cracker against Grimsby.

 

[tommytwoholes]

No i would say the southend fans who have stick by the club since we plumetted down the league are incredibly loyal. But man city still got 32,000 for a tuesday night 2nd division game against bury . Southends fans are loyal they are just alot more fickle.