Echo News A last look at 2024, the year Southend United were finally saved

[Evening Echo]

BLUES supporters select their most memorable moments from the past 12 months.

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[Evening Echo]

LOOKING back at the start of 2024, it could now be said ignorance was bliss for everyone connected with Southend United.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

BLUES supporters select their most memorable moments from the past 12 months.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

Backing the Shrimpers - Southend United fans at Roots Hall (Image: Lucy Copsey)

By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

SOUTHEND United supporters pick their favourite moments from 2024.

Like most, the takeover finally being confirmed.

@Moorhouse79

Surviving

@Southend11

My favourite moment nothing to do with football was when COSU took over as new owners in July that was a day of celebration like a breath of fresh air sweeping Southend United.

@Simontimofish

28th.Sept. The emotional return of Billy Best back at Roots Hall on the hallowed turf and the spine tingling ovation Billy received that day from the crowd will live long in the memory. The Legend that time never forgot.

@DBrabbing

Unveiling the new sign, not for the act itself but for the new beginnings it represented.

@PhilOwen702

19th July at 15:06

@euniesufc

Waking up to see Josh Walker had equalised in the 94th against Wealdstone after going to bed peed off when we conceded in the 91st.

@LawrenceBenge

Still having a club come end of the year.

@__jacklawrence

Exit of Ron Martin

@Shrimperlass

COSU takeover

@SUFC_Nick

Survival

@andybaloo1973

My highlight of '24? Hands down, knowing COSU took over from Ron Martin. Nothing over the next few years as the club rebuilds will beat that feeling!

@stuartbailey276

Saving the club from going out of business.

@PhippsGeoff

Has to be final confirmation that COSU FC Limited completed the takeover.

@SimonGDodd

I have a few choices: COSU takeover completion, being at the semi final and the final of Euro 2024 and getting married. The answer depends on if my Wife is within earshot!

@sufcberry

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

LOOKING back at the start of 2024, it could now be said ignorance was bliss for everyone connected with Southend United.

Read more on this story


Help with Echo links

Celebrating - Southend United fans show their joy after the club was saved (Image: NICKY HAYES)


By Chris Phillips@cjphillips1982Chief sports reporter.

LOOKING back at the start of 2024, it could now be said ignorance was bliss for everyone connected with Southend United.

On the face of it, the takeover seemed virtually completed and the future looked bright.

A transfer embargo, which had been in place for more than a year, was finally removed and new signings were finally being snapped up by the Shrimpers.

But we should probably have known better.

Nothing is ever straight-forward when it comes to Blues and, after several more nervous moments, the takeover was finally completed in July.

As such, 2024 will forever be remembered as the year Southend United were saved.

Here, Echosport talks to those who lived and breathed every second of an eventful 12 months for the club.

SOUTHEND UNITED HEAD COACH KEVIN MAHER: “There were times it was getting close to the wire and there were so many phone calls I had to deal with.

"Not knowing what was going to happen, you're dealing with phone calls from staff who haven't been paid and players who haven't as well.

"There's stuff I've done you can't believe and I'm sure I'll look back somewhere along the line, take a breather and just realise it wasn't normal!

"There have been highs as well though and sometimes when you have periods like that it makes you grow as a club.

"You get that togetherness and I think it's so important we keep that at our football club because it drives you forward.


"The word pride comes up a lot when you talk about the staff and the players and now it's time to look forward.

2025? "I haven't thought that far ahead really. Just to win football matches and let’s take this football club as far as we can.

"Let’s work together on the same page and pull in the same direction.

"We've shown what can happen before at this football club when we do that.

"Things have maybe been a bit slower this season than we would've wanted but if we stay together then we can achieve anything."

SOUTHEND UNITED WING-BACK JACK BRIDGE: “It’s been a big year in terms of off the field stuff and getting everything sorted.

“In football it’s more season by season but we’re looking forward to what the future holds now we’re a stable club.

“We want to build on the Boxing Day win by getting a good result against Braintree then we’ll look to build from there and make the next year a good one as well.”

DANIEL COWAN, LEADER OF SOUTHEND CITY COUNCIL: “My main memories of 2024 and the talks were how all-consuming they were. They never stopped, from dawn to dusk to twilight and back to dawn again.

"The best moment would be a tie between the day we finally agreed heads of terms and when COSU took ownership.

“The worst moment would be the day I wrote an open letter to the fans saying I was walking away because I had to put the council first and the other side wasn’t budging.

“Hopes for the future? To get investment into the ground through the Fossetts deal and attend a game with SUFC back in the Football League.”

JASON BROWN, COSU MEMBER AND SOUTHEND UNITED’S MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER: “I look back on the year with pride at how the consortium persevered to get the deal done under very challenging circumstances but also with the realisation that there is a long way to go and tremendous amounts left to do if we are to get the club to a sustainable position.

“The high point was the ultimate closure of the transaction over the summer having spent almost 12 months working towards that goal.

"Another one was the success of the season ticket sales, which gave us an insight into how much support there was for the change of ownership.

“The low point was probably losing Harry Cardwell and Ollie Kensdale, for very different reasons, so early in the season, which I think killed our momentum and gave us a very early reality check.

“Looking forward, on the pitch, I’m still hopeful that we can make a push for the play-offs in the first half of 25.

"Off the pitch, I’d like to see the AFL development move forward at Fossetts, which is important to help contribute funds for the redevelopment of Roots Hall.”

CHRIS PHILLIPS, THE ECHO’S SOUTHEND UNITED REPORTER: “The years have all rolled into one a lot lately when it comes to Southend United but for me 2024 will always be the year the club was saved.

“The high point for me was knowing it was about to happen and starting a live blog to break the news.

“I also really enjoyed the photo shoot and interviews we did at the Railway shortly afterwards too.

“It was a big celebration and a huge relief after so many months of misery.

“I think the lowest point of this actual year would be when the National League suddenly sprung the £1million bond on the club.

“I was actually supposed to be off that day to watch the tennis in Eastbourne but luckily I’d taken my laptop.

“Knowing I would be worrying two members of the consortium actually rang me to tell me it would still be OK but that was definitely a blog I didn’t enjoy doing that evening.

“As for the hopes for the future? I just want to write about football please!”

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

“Knowing I would be worrying two members of the consortium actually rang me to tell me it would still be OK

Always reassuring to hear that your club is run by good people with good people skills.