Memory Lane December 1977 Div 4 Southend 4 Newport County 2.

[Thundersley]

Does anybody have any pictures from this game? Remember we were 2.0 down, with about 15 mins left and won 4.2! Tony Hadley, Derek Parker and 2 from Gerry Fell. Amazing game.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

I have definitely seen / got picture(s) of Gerry Fell's goal(s). I'm racking my brain to remember where!!!

Leave it with me!

 

[Dazzaref]

I was there as a 12 year old with my mate and his Dad. 20 mins to go his Dad decided to leave! Vowed never to leave a game early again.

 

[Oldgit]

One of my first memories of following Southend, also must have been 12ish, went with my uncle what a game. Remember throwing the cushion from my seat onto the pitch from the east stand in celebration. Was that a thing, or did I just make that up?

 

[bertbert]

I was there stayed to the end.My mate Micky Bourne left disgusted.I stayed.Met him in the Red Lion .His sad face changed when told him the result.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

Here you go. Featured it on SUEPA Facebook a while back. I stayed till the end, what a comeback. Gerry has had some health issues of late, I'll check in again with him soon.

 

[overseas shrimper]

One of my first memories of following Southend, also must have been 12ish, went with my uncle what a game. Remember throwing the cushion from my seat onto the pitch from the east stand in celebration. Was that a thing, or did I just make that up?

'Must have been 12ish'? The uncertainty is rather odd seeing as the date of the match is given in the thread title. Are you unsure of your date of birth?

 

[* ORM *]

Remember this game well. Don’t think I ever remember a game where my old man insisted we left early. Our trouble was always getting to the game on time.

 

[Camden Blues]

My first ever game at the Hall - if only they were all like that one. Talk about hooked!!
Think the Echo ran the back page for each goal as - The Appetiser, The Equaliser, The Tantaliser and The Pulveriser - or something along those lines.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

One of my first memories of following Southend, also must have been 12ish, went with my uncle what a game. Remember throwing the cushion from my seat onto the pitch from the east stand in celebration. Was that a thing, or did I just make that up?

That was certainly a thing in those days. It started off with cushions being piled up near the East Stand turnstiles after entering, so those that wanted one, grabbed one. But so many got thrown onto the pitch, normally when things were going bad, or a bad ref's decision, after a bad loss, and sometimes in celebration like you, that they started charging for them. I didn't go in the East Stand very much at that time, only about 1 game a Season. But I'm sure they had a little cushion hut in the end, and you paid a small fee, but a bigger deposit that was returned on safe return of the cushions. And that stopped them being thrown onto the pitch.
Got me thinking now. I know many find the seats at Roots Hall very uncomfortable. I wonder if a fee and deposit for cushions would work nowadays? So ending up costing a fan maybe £3 per game to use a cushion, deposit returned. All money goes to help the clubs finances. It would bring in many thousands of pounds a season. It it was a concession hut, I wouldn't use one, but if the money went to the club, I would definitely. And I'm sure many fans would feel the same. Watch the game in a little bit more comfort, and help the club out at the same time. Sorry folks, back to that game. Yes, what a game in the end. You can't beat that feeling of coming out of Roots Hall, when something like that happens.

 

[northlincsshrimper1]

I was also at that game, sitting in the East Stand. If I am correct, the attendance was not very good, so I was able to have plenty of room. It is possibly one of the most long standing memories I have when watching Southend United. As you can see when the "bug" gets hold of you, it is impossible to shake it off.

 

[sufc_statto]

Here's Alf Smirk's match report from the Southend Standard...

 

[geoffmundo]

I was also at that game, sitting in the East Stand. If I am correct, the attendance was not very good, so I was able to have plenty of room. It is possibly one of the most long standing memories I have when watching Southend United. As you can see when the "bug" gets hold of you, it is impossible to shake it off.

Yes my late dad and I were in East stand too for this one, I was 14, if I remember correctly. It was still the time you could buy plastic cushions for about 2p and if the match was bad they used to be chucked on the pitch as the players dashed off!

 

[SuperRonnieP]

I was there as a 12 year old with my mate and his Dad. 20 mins to go his Dad decided to leave! Vowed never to leave a game early again.

Same here. Been tested many times since that game, but always think 'remember Newport County' and stay to the bitter end.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Same here. Been tested many times since that game, but always think 'remember Newport County' and stay to the bitter end.

The play-off final being a case in point. Never understood people leaving when there was only one goal in it. Especially with a match of such high stakes!