Convert, or Always a Shrimper?

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Simple choice really.

Supporting another club as a kid counts as conversion, BTW.

Remember this is an anonymous poll if you are considering choices 4 or 5.

Feel free to elaborate. Unlike OS, I don't mind people posting on my polls..  

 

[Southendsleeper]

To be honest you need a slap for even asking that

 

[A loyal supporter]

I liked Nottingham forest back in the 70's when they were European champions but that was just me being a 6 year old.

First taken to Roots hall two years later and have been a fan ever since. Even though I did the Forest thing to call me a convert would be pretty harsh so I've gone for option A.

 

[Birri]

I supported the hampsters & then spurs as a kid untill 11 when I saw my first live match at roots hall and I converted overnight been a shrimper eversince nothing can beat a wet cold evening game at roots hall watching a southend win!. Unfortunately living in kent now I cant get to evening games any more

 

[Shrimper James]

The 1990 World Cup in Italy was the first time i ever saw a game of football from what i can recall. I was 8. I got taken to Roots Hall about 3 times during the 1990-1991 season and then a few more every year as the seasons progressed. Then i started going regularly in 1995 and never looked back. I've never had another team.

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Quote[/b] (Southendsleeper @ May 19 2005,16:47)]To be honest you need a slap for even asking that  

That's one for "Loyal Supporter" then!

But sadly not every one is born a Blue, we must rejoice when lost sheep see the light. And Evangelism is the only way to swell the ranks of the true believers.

 

[Streaky]

I went to see West Scam a few times when i was a kid.  First game at Roots Hall was against Leicester and we won 3-1 Never looked back since.

 

[Jonny_Stokes]

Hmm, where's the "I post on here, but I'm not a Shrimper" button?

 

[West Country Shrimper]

I was converted when I was 14/15 yrs old. No one persuaded me to do it, I chose to do it myself.

Before then, I was never an Orient fan, before Jonny says anything

I just loved football in general and never really had a team I followed until I went to the Hall.

I do have a soft spot for Ipswich Town though and have done for a couple of years, if some of you havent noticed already. Sometimes go to their games if Southend are away.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I'm a convert. My first love was Flamengo; the first game of football I ever went to was Flamengo v. Santos at the Maracana, aged 8 or 9.

When we moved back to the UK, I didn't really support any team until I was about 16 or 17. I then visited the North Bank of Roots Hall on 18th March 1991, and the rest - as they say - is history.

Now, only Southend will do.

I've never supported any teams other than 'Mengo and Southend, though. Still have a soft spot for Mengo, but a bit hard to be in love with a team which is half the world - and crucially three-quarters of a lifetime - away.

Yours wistfully,

Matt

 

[Monkey]

First went to a Southend game when i was about 5. I went a few times a season untill about '93/'94 when i got my first season ticket, never stopped going since. Im 21 in July so it must be about 15 years since my first game!

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Born a West Ham fan and remained so until 1976 when my father took me to my first ever game ... at Roots Hall. Converted.

WS

 

[Andy_S]

Started off as a Liverpool fan when i was about 7 or so, got converted to an Arsenal fan due to the amount of Arsenal fans living in the same street as me, but lost interest due to the ridiculous amount of money needed to go, the horrible trip into North London, and the feeling of not really being needed and being just '1' in a massive crowd.

As time went on I became more and more addicted to Southend, and thus I've lost nearly all interest in the Prem now. Going along to Roots Hall, along with the general atmosphere there, is far more enjoyable than anything I ever experienced at Premier$hite games.

I'm now proud to say I support Southend, and I couldn't give a monkeys about any of the funny looks I get when people first find out. Some people in my office seem to think it's quite 'quaint' I think.

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Quote[/b] (Jonny_Stokes @ May 19 2005,17:54)]Hmm, where's the "I post on here, but I'm not a Shrimper" button?

Orient fans should clearly go for the "I can't stand football...." choice.

 

[BoyWonder2]

Well, I "supported" Arsenal and Spurs for a bit when I lived in Chingford because everyone else supported them two. Then when I moved here I supported Manchester United because they were winning things and I had relatives up there so I often got taken on ground tours etc. I also got tours of Maine Road and went to watch Stockport occassionally, so I had a soft spot for them.

Then I was taken to a Spurs VS Chelsea match that finished 1 a piece and the game did nothing to persuade me to support either side. I was then taken to Southend United Vs Kingstonian in the FA Cup third round. FA Cup fever was all around Roots Hall and I sat in the west stand and was converted. We lost 1 nil and I was gutted, Leo Roget became my faviourite player for running the length of the pitch to get involved in a fracus over Ben Abbey who was lying on the deck after being elbowed.

My next match was a 3-0 home defeat to Blackpool and I watched a few other games that season and I became a Southend United supporter. I brought the home shirt before the Blackpool game.

Apart from a slight soft spot for Stockport, I have no affection to any other side then Southend United and I'm now fully used to being asked if I support a proper club or a Premier$hite club.

My proudest moment, non football related, about Southend was on wednesday. I coach the local primary school football team and was surrounded by Chelsea, West Ham, Arsenal and Manchester United shirts. Three of the kids, one wearing a Chelsea shirt, said that Southend United were the best team. Filled me with immense pride.

 

[chaco27saf]

The only team I have ever supported is Southend. I've always loved soccer, mostly since I've played since I was a kid. I never supported a team back in the states however, and despite the fact that the Premier$hite is much more accesible to Americans I never really liked the attitudes of the players at that level and I could never support a team like Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, etc.

Maybe its because everyone is truly a Shrimper at heart, and we're just the lucky few that have realized it and given in to the greatness that is Southend United!

 

[BoyWonder2]

Quote[/b] (chaco27saf @ May 19 2005,19:45)]The only team I have ever supported is Southend.  I've always loved soccer, mostly since I've played since I was a kid.  I never supported a team back in the states however, and despite the fact that the Premier$hite is much more accesible to Americans I never really liked the attitudes of the players at that level and I could never support a team like Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, etc.

Maybe its because everyone is truly a Shrimper at heart, and we're just the lucky few that have realized it and given in to the greatness that is Southend United!

You may have mentioned it before Seth but why Southend United?! You had the choice of 92 league Clubs and you chose Southend. Why?

Not that I'm moaning or anything.

 

[hexagon_sun]

I was born into a house of Chelsea fans but my Irish Grandfather was a huge Man Utd fan (due to his love of George Best) and he convinced me to support them despite my Dad taking me to Stamford Bridge regularly in the late 70's/early '80s. I first went to Roots Hall in the early 80's I think (all I can remember is that we were playing Peterborough) and then not again until the mid-90's. I started following Southend with more interest when I moved here in '98 and since then have lost all interest in the Premiersh*te and am now a fully fledged Shrimper

 

[Guest]

I have always loved football, but due to my family hating it I never got to any games, so I started off as an Arsenal fan, however once my Junior football team took all of us little players to a Southend game I decided that Southend was for me. Unfortunately, living in Brentwood prevented me from getting to many games for several years, then I started work, which involved working every Saturday. When I left for uni, I started going to every game, have become a season ticket holder for next season, and couldn't imagine life without the SHrimpers

 

[Kim Mitten]

I have always supported the might Southend, even with others trying to persuade me otherwise.

My Gramps was Chelsea, a seaso in the 50's, 60's, 70's, my Dad, Everton.
At a time when i didnt support anyone but just enjoyed football the kid next door in Benfleet tried to get me to support Arsenal, he even gave me some of his old Arsenal Kits.
But in 1989 aged 7 I thought, Southend is just down the road this is going to be my team.

In the early 90's in finally got my Grandad to take me to a game and that was that.
I even managed to get him to convert a little, he still supported Chelsea but after I moved from the area i still went to Southend matches with him as much as i could.

I haven't regreated a single moment, even watching games with Chipmunk managing.