Southampton Shrimper
Team Eggheads
I had a look through the Summer edition of "Saints Magazine" in my local supermarket the other day, to see if they had any mention of that memorable day in May, the last game of the season. They didn't. Not even in the Alan Ball tribute. But they did feature an interview with our very own favourite goalkeeper, Darryl:
HOME TOWN RETURN
It was a strange day for Darryl Flahavan on May 6. The last day of the Championship season and his side Southend have already been relegated, sure to be upsetting enough. But with the chance of one last hurrah they slip to a 4-1 defeat at St Mary's in their final Champioship game for at least a season.
Professionally he had given it everything he could to try and ensure his side victory. Personally though he must have been torn. Flahavan is a lifelong Saints fan and was no doubt cheering them on in the play-offs after that victory lifted Saints into a top six position.
The 28-year-old stopper, brother of the late Aaron Flahavan, was released by the club as a youngster but has gone on to prove himself quite emphatically in the pro game. He said: "When the fixture list came out, our game at Southampton was the first one I looked for. It was the one I was most looking forward to all season - it's just a shame the circumstances were what they were.
"Growing up in your home town, you want to play for your club. I got close, but it never happened and I've got over that now. I would say being released by Southampton was the biggest downpoint of my career, but I am now just looking forward for the team. The management that let me go aren't there anymore; it's a totally different set-up. I don't have to prove a point, but those that doubted me at the time, I think I've proved them wrong now.
"I've been very pleased with the way the season has gone for me on a personal level. I believe that my consistency has been good. I have obviously made the odd one or two mistakes, but you're going to get that. I have played 54 games and I would certainly make a couple of mistakes out of 54 games every season."
Flahavan and Southend's thoughts are already turning towards next season. "It is going to be a lot more difficult than people think next season," he said. "We've just come down from the Championship and people will expect us to go straight back up again. It's like any league, when you get relegated, teams in that league want to beat you because you've just come down from a higher division.
"It's going to be very tough, but if we can keep the squad of players that we have got and get the confidence going again, we have a good chance. It's too early to turn around and say we are going to go straight back up."
HOME TOWN RETURN
It was a strange day for Darryl Flahavan on May 6. The last day of the Championship season and his side Southend have already been relegated, sure to be upsetting enough. But with the chance of one last hurrah they slip to a 4-1 defeat at St Mary's in their final Champioship game for at least a season.
Professionally he had given it everything he could to try and ensure his side victory. Personally though he must have been torn. Flahavan is a lifelong Saints fan and was no doubt cheering them on in the play-offs after that victory lifted Saints into a top six position.
The 28-year-old stopper, brother of the late Aaron Flahavan, was released by the club as a youngster but has gone on to prove himself quite emphatically in the pro game. He said: "When the fixture list came out, our game at Southampton was the first one I looked for. It was the one I was most looking forward to all season - it's just a shame the circumstances were what they were.
"Growing up in your home town, you want to play for your club. I got close, but it never happened and I've got over that now. I would say being released by Southampton was the biggest downpoint of my career, but I am now just looking forward for the team. The management that let me go aren't there anymore; it's a totally different set-up. I don't have to prove a point, but those that doubted me at the time, I think I've proved them wrong now.
"I've been very pleased with the way the season has gone for me on a personal level. I believe that my consistency has been good. I have obviously made the odd one or two mistakes, but you're going to get that. I have played 54 games and I would certainly make a couple of mistakes out of 54 games every season."
Flahavan and Southend's thoughts are already turning towards next season. "It is going to be a lot more difficult than people think next season," he said. "We've just come down from the Championship and people will expect us to go straight back up again. It's like any league, when you get relegated, teams in that league want to beat you because you've just come down from a higher division.
"It's going to be very tough, but if we can keep the squad of players that we have got and get the confidence going again, we have a good chance. It's too early to turn around and say we are going to go straight back up."
