Convert, or Always a Shrimper?

[sufcintheprem]

Me and my brother pretty much went for the pick one out a hat approach to getting a football team when our interest in football started in about 1990. By then I'd never been to Roots Hall and probably didn't go til about '93, wondering what all the fuss was about. Out of the hat came Manchester United (my brother got Spurs. In his face)

Whilst this was great for winning games, it became pretty obvious in my teens that there was no reason for me supporting Manchester United and I'd never be able to properly follow them. About this time, in my moment of doubt, Southend were in the process of getting relegated from Division 2 and for some reason, me and some mates decided to go along.

For some more obscure reason, we kept going. Don't know whether it was the appeal of shouting obscenities at complete strangers or chanting for some terrible guy called Martin to become 'out' but for some reason we kept going back.

Ever since, there has been precious little to cheer about yet I can't remember the last home game that I missed knowingly. Even delayed Boxing Day celebrations several times including THAT shocking game against Orient. Even missed the goal.

God only knows why I didn't kick it but I'm a Shrimper now and always will be!

 

[Richard_Cadette]

Always been a Shrimper, Ive got my old man to thank for that... I dont know how many times during a season I ask him why oh why couldnt he have supported someone else, even Wet Sham wouldnt have caused me this much stress... not to mention hair loss!!

Firt game, aged 6, Saturday May 1st 1982 (Christ, 23 years ago!!), a 4-0 winagainst Huddersfield... Talk about luring you in via a false sense of security!!!

Had a brief liking of Spurs as a kid, but they never came close to Southend, and now, couldnt contemplate cheering on anybody apart from my beloved Southend!!

 

[Guest]

It would be very interesting to ask the committee of the Shrimpers Trust this question as I know of at least one prominent member who was an ardent West Ham supporter.

And you'd be surprised, of all the regular travellers, how many supported Spurs, Arsenal, etc., before family commitments made the gravitational pull of their local club a much better option.

Southend's 'support' has always included a healthy number of those who actually follow other teams, especially on a Friday night.

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,16:31)]It would be very interesting to ask the committee of the Shrimpers Trust this question as I know of at least one prominent member who was an ardent West Ham supporter.

and I know another one who also follows Arsenal. what's your point?

 

[Kris]

I've always been a Shrimper despite never living anywhere near Southend (Watford, where I currently live, is actually as close as I've ever been).

My dad grew up in Rayleigh and was a hardcore fan back in the 60s and 70s, hence why I've subsequntly been brainwashed into supporting the Blues. My first game at Roots Hall was a 3-1 victory over Gillingham in about 1983 - I think Steve Phillips, Trevor Whymark and John Gymer were the scorers but I'm not sure.

This is probably not a good time to admit it but I spent most of my youth living in Northampton and I used to watch the Cobblers quite a bit as three of my best friends were - and are - avid fans. As you can imagine, there's been a lot of banter this season and I'm absolutely dreading tomorrow as a result.

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 20 2005,16:32)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,16:31)]It would be very interesting to ask the committee of the Shrimpers Trust this question as I know of at least one prominent member who was an ardent West Ham supporter.

and I know another one who also follows Arsenal. what's your point?

My point is some people seem to take pleasure in taking the higher ground of stating that Southend is their only club ever, by insinuation saying they're better fans, when the reality is somewhat different.

I would also, at some later stage like to raise a point of some people using their position in the trust to raise the profile of Shrimperzone and not much else in the local media but that's for another day and another thread.

Have a nice weekend.

 

[The General]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,17:04)]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 20 2005,16:32)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,16:31)]It would be very interesting to ask the committee of the Shrimpers Trust this question as I know of at least one prominent member who was an ardent West Ham supporter.

and I know another one who also follows Arsenal. what's your point?

My point is some people seem to take pleasure in taking the higher ground of stating that Southend is their only club ever, by insinuation saying they're better fans, when the reality is somewhat different.

I would also, at some later stage like to raise a point of some people using their position in the trust to raise the profile of Shrimperzone and not much else in the local media but that's for another day and another thread.

Have a nice weekend.

 

[Napster]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,17:04)]I would also, at some later stage like to raise a point of some people using their position in the trust to raise the profile of Shrimperzone and not much else in the local media but that's for another day and another thread.

Have a nice weekend.

Cant wait to hear your amazing theory.

 

[Napster]

Oh and using anonymous names helps your cause a lot, mr Groyne Strain

 

[The General]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 20 2005,17:16)]Oh and using anonymous names helps your cause a lot, mr Groyne Strain

Haha. Knew it would be a regular. Good skills Naps ...

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 20 2005,17:16)]Oh and using anonymous names helps your cause a lot, mr Groyne Strain

Hmmmm... Remind me to get my brother in Oxford to post anonymously for me if I ever feel like a bit of "Slander from the shadows..." Or didn't I read that it's possible to spoof your IP address? Now, what's OS's IP....

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Quote[/b] (Napster @ May 20 2005,16:32)]

Quote[/b] (Guest @ May 20 2005,16:31)]It would be very interesting to ask the committee of the Shrimpers Trust this question as I know of at least one prominent member who was an ardent West Ham supporter.

and I know another one who also follows Arsenal. what's your point?

The real point of all this is that around a third of SUFC supporters came to the ground as supporters of other teams and left converted. Now can we drop all the crap about "glory hunters" and the resentment when people actually bother to turn up to support the team?

Today's glory hunter is tomorrows sad Southend addict.

 

[BrettieAngell]

I first started supporting Liverpool was a wee lad, my old man took me to Roots hall when I was 9 years old (I'm 28 next week). I still follow Liverpool but obviously the mighty Blues are my first love!

 

[sealion]

Probabably gonna get slated for this but here goes-Moved to Leigh-on-Sea 5 years ago, got 2 boys aged 9 & 11. Followed Millwall for approx 35 years & have always been a regular thru' thin & thin. Still attend at the Den regularly but since moving to Leigh, have gone to at least 12+ Southend games a season taking my boys as I believe it is important to support your local club. (I don't believe my 2 boys should blindly follow me in my choice of club-geographical-born in Bermondsey,cue all the West Ham kits in the locality as their family come from East London-30 years ago-move on!!!!!!!)
5 years on after seeing some terrible football, Southend under Tilson are playing some quality football & I for one am praying Southend get promoted.
Work in London along with a few Leyton Orient supporters who always dig me out if Southend slip up soI am happy to take the plaudits if SUFC win.
I'll be the one in the East Yellows if Southend win with my 2 boys in full SUFC kit if WE turn over Northampton tomorrow.
I believe it's important to support/folllow your local team, can't fault Southend for it's policy of attracting the kids & it's work in the local community in attracting the next generation of its' fans & suppose I'm a good example of SUFC's work paying off.

 

[Shrimp in a Kilt]

Quote[/b] (sealion @ May 20 2005,23:46)]Probabably gonna get slated for this but here goes-Moved to Leigh-on-Sea 5 years ago, got 2 boys aged 9 & 11. Followed Millwall for approx 35 years & have always been a regular thru' thin & thin. Still attend at the Den regularly but since moving to Leigh, have gone to at least 12+ Southend games a season taking my boys as I believe it is important to support your local club. (I don't believe my 2 boys should blindly follow me in my choice of club-geographical-born in Bermondsey,cue all  the West Ham kits in the locality as their family come from East London-30 years ago-move on!!!!!!!)
5 years on after seeing some terrible football, Southend under Tilson are playing some quality football & I for one am praying Southend get promoted.
Work in London along with a few Leyton Orient supporters who always dig me out if Southend slip up soI am happy to take the plaudits if SUFC win.
I'll be the one in the East Yellows if Southend win with my 2 boys in full SUFC kit if WE turn over Northampton tomorrow.
I believe it's important to support/folllow your local team, can't fault Southend for it's policy of attracting the kids & it's work in the local community in attracting the next generation of its'  fans & suppose I'm a good example of SUFC's work paying off.  

I don't see anything to slate you for in that, Sealion. What I don't like is people born in an area who don't support the local team but instead support a team they have no connection with.

 

[sealion]

Cheers, couldn't really care less what happens at the Mill Stad -Roots Hall is of far higher importance to me & my 2 boys. After 2 fruitless trips to Cardiff , 3rd time lucky - I'll be watching in Cyprus for the final, praying SUFC will be there!

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

Never taken to a football game as a youngster because my parents couldn't afford it (apparantly), but always looked out for the results of Southend (local side) and Arsenal (my dad's team) when i was a kid.

I only went to SUFC 3 or 4 times a season in the divvy 1 and divvy 2 days, but as i soon as i got to about 12 i was old enough to start going with a few mates to every home and the odd away game. That got me hooked and now i only care for Southend, in fact i dislike Arsenal now as i have had the **** taken out of me so much over the years by glory hunting premiersh*t fans because i owned up to supporting Southend.

When i was about 12 or 13 we had just been relegated from Division 2 thanks to chipmunk, and i felt like the only Southend fan in the world sometimes. Even people who i saw at games would splutter the name of a premiersh*t team when asked who they supported. Despite the fact we had been relegated twice and were absolutely slated by the locals, i was still proud to say i supported my local side.

 

[sealion]

Always vital to stand up for your local team other than to be a TV fan who follows a 'big' club. If you live in the South Essex area , Southend United is your local team, don't forget,.:)

 

[Shrimpersarmy]

Very true. But when you are a kid, you just support the best team, the team your mates support or the team your dad tells you to support (if my dad had taken me to watch SUFC at a younger age i wouldn't have missed out on the glory years)