families through the ages

[TMWLT]

as a child I remember standing on a box in the 1970ss in the south bank to see over the wall with my dad, we started off in the seats in the east stand in the 1960s, but as one gets older, so you progress around the ground.

It struck me that theres not many father and son combinations following the shrimpers anymore, why is this?? My son bob and i have being going since the late 1980s, and still go today, clearly there is ginger and jamie and a few others like phil the referee and his son, but whats happened, here does it work 2 ways, the sons of the fathers go, but the fathers same age as me stop london clubs!! or is it the fathers go, but have let the sons bow to pressure at school and support the teams they see on the telly.

*Rubbish Deleted*

 

[SUBBlue]

I've been going to see Southend with my Dad & Brother since I was 7 (I'm now 35!)
I preferred the old days in the East Stand Black seats when you could lob leather cushions at all & sundry to voice your displeasure....;)

 

[Hazey]

I always go with my stepdad. As we live in Northampton it's the only way we both get there. However it's good having them tell you about "the old days" of the North bank where you used to walk around the ground to the other side at half time. Although it is annoying when they "have seen it all before" when i am *****ed off at a defeat now haha.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

no if its a dust up you want call on ginger and jamie

Well, that's true enough, as any of the 2,000 or so at the Kassam in April 2005 could confirm.

Not exactly our club's - or its supporters - finest hour, though, was it... Southend fans hitting one another? It didn't fill me with any pride for our club, that's for sure.

:thump:

 

[Grayson]

Me and my brother started going with my Dad since 1995. In the past year or so, my brother has stopped going but two of us are still going strong. Football just would not be the same without him, and it's great to always have someone to go with.

 

[SaLsSuFc]

i started going with my dad and brother but now my brother goes and sits with the blue voice section but i still sit with my dad in the west. I go to all the away games but he only goes to the close games so i go with him to them as wel.

 

[Tilly hates yellow boots]

I've never been with my dad, he supports West Sham (came from there) I saw the light....came to Southend on my own when i was about 8 and havn't stopped since =]

 

[SUFC_Al]

have been going with my dad and brothers since 1986.

 

[Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset]

My Dad took me first in '71, I wanted to go to West Ham like me mates but I suspect my old man thought it was safer and cheaper (and a bit nearer). I took a milk crate into the ground to stand on so I could see over the West Stand perimeter wall (luxury). Now anyone who is behind me needs a crate to stand on to see (on those rare ocassions we can frequent a terrace)

I now take my Dad on occassion though since he's gone to fossilise in the IOW and defected to Pompey (hmmm) that gets rarer (he still got his mug shot in the Share Brochure thingy we all got at the weekend though in the Southampton crowd scene).

Since '97 I've been taking my boys. First attempt with No.1 son went ok until the second match when he cried and didn't want to go in. He's now a season ticket holder.

No.2 son made his debut with Freddie but in subsequent matches became a bit frustrated at the lack of goals after seven seconds and has not always been overly enthusiatic since when presented with the chance of going. Still though got the little sod a season ticket this year.

No.3 son is a little more keen, at eight years old is showing a healthy interest in the Blue Belles and more often than not takes up his middle brother's season ticket. A bottle of coke and some Harribo make his day.

When wifey has had enough of the kids I take all three and they sit and annoy each other all game. Shrimper the dog would I'm sure like to come along too but I suspect might get arrested for mauling the mascots.

Yep, its still a father and son thing. :)

 

[Tinks]

I love these nostalgic type posts.
I first started visiting the hall in 1968 with my father,uncle and brother and then we stood what was known as the "paddocks". I then progressed in my early teens to the east stand seats with my grandfather.
When I met my boyfriend (who is now my husband) I used to stand in the north bank - oh what wonderful years and some very good memories. The only time we stood in the south stand was for the Liverpool match. Then from the age of 18 stood in the west when it was still terrace and have remained there ever since.
My son has attended RH with us since he was a nipper and even though he now lives away from home always tries to attend matches when possible, and as most of you probably know my daughter is also a regular down at the hall.
Yep sad to say my 2 darlings were raised at Roots Hall

 

[canveyshrimper]

Like most I started as a nipper when my grandfather took me to my first game. In those days we stood in the West Stand, and the little kids would all be able to get to the front of the terrace on their milk crates etc.

I guess when I was about 14/15 I started going to home games with my mates, and then you could walk round from North to South depending on which way we were kicking. Eventually it was always the North Bank, which holds brilliant memories.

Nowadays I've graduated to the East Stand. Still ove the club after all these years and the bloody Orient game on Saturday.

 

[Cricko]

Like most I started as a nipper when my grandfather took me to my first game in 1923 In those days we stood in the West Stand, and the little kids would all be able to get to the front of the terrace on their milk crates etc.

I guess when I was about 30/40 I started going to home games with my mates, and then you could walk round from North to South depending on which way we were kicking. Eventually it was always the North Bank, which holds brilliant memories.

Nowadays I've graduated to the East Stand. Still ove the club after all these years and the bloody Orient game on Saturday.

*Edited* for truth purposes.:p

 

[canveyshrimper]

*Edited* for truth purposes.:p

Thanks grandad, I had forgotten the exact years.:finger:

 

[Cricko]

Thanks grandad, I had forgotten the exact years.:finger:

No worries mate,it must be your Alzheimer's Kicking in;) :p

 

[sufcjoe]

My dad took me to my first game against shrewsbury town in 1999 but as his a wet spam fan he only took me to a couple but as i enjoyed it so much my grandad took me to every home game and the occasional away game before eventually getting our first season tickets about 4 years ago.

 

[andrew_sthnd]

Supporting Southend has and always will be a father and son (okay and brother!) thing for me! My Dad took me to my first game aged six and although we went on and off throughout the years we only started going regularly in 2001. I lived in Chelmsford until I went to Uni in Pompey and most people had barely heard of Southend United let alone supported them so me and my Dad always went together. Later on my brother started joining us and we now all have three ST's in South Upper! Unfortunately I can't go as often as I would like due to living where I do but my brother still goes with my Dad. I wonder what will happen when he goes to uni next year? My Dad will still go so maybe me and my brother will have to go to alternative home games to keep him company!

As I write this I'm remembering how much I treasure going to football with my Dad and brother! Although my Mum comes now and then it will really always be something between us three lads! Long may it continue!

 

[Southminster_Shrimper]

Yep, went a few times with my dad, lack of money prevented more visits unfortunately. Have stood in the north stand a few times and also been in the east back in those days. Was a ball boy with my football club in mae yoof aswell. Also stood on the South bank on a milk crate to watch the Liverpool game.

After a period of exile in a sh1te hole dump called Slough, I returned to Essex...no prizes for guessing where....

Now ofcourse, have a nice "cumfy" seat in the West Stand with my son and daughter (well 3 seats obviously, we dont all sit in the one).

My son has been a team mascot (Coventry last season) and ball boy (against the O's)....

For me, feeling part of the club is what its all about....its where the lower leagues win hands down.

 

[Sean 2]

Funnily enough,i was having a discussion with my old chap on the blower at the weekend regarding the Blues.
We don't go together anymore since he resides in the hell-hole that is Spain,but he tried to make out he was a Spurs fan.

I told him yes,ok,he did go and watch Spurs in the 60's with all his mates but where did he take his only son? You got it,Southend!!
I said if you were that passionate about Spurs then you would've taken me there instead of Roots Hall.He conceded to being a Shrimper!

The old man it is i thank for all those games in the 70's & 80's,i even played at Roots Hall in cup finals when he was the manager of a Sunday side.
Now my young twins have been already and my tiny lad keeps on at me to go again,though he's only 3:D
They already know how to sing Sea,Sea,Seasiders!!

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Well that doesn't sit right with my crowd .. as we regularly take 7 or 8 kids with us ... though i think SUFCEssex and Shrimptank are not allowed to bring all of their children as we'd take over the whole of the Family Enclosure if they did

 

[choggy]

My dad and my uncle were supporters since the 1950's.

* Rubbish deleted about how bored I was with them telling me how Roots Hall was paid for by the supporters, how Bert Trautmann was the best goalie they'd ever seen, how we nearly beat Liverpool in the cup and what a complete ****** Vic Jobson was etc etc *

Anyway, first game I remember (although I'd been to a few before) was Southend v Orient when when we thrashed them 5-1 with no dodgy ref in sight and Ricky Cadette scored his 4 goal debut. I'd found my team...

The first time my dad saw Stan Collymore wear a Southend shirt he said 'Son, that guy will play for England'. How I laughed....

He never saw Stan the Man or Chrissy Powell wear the 3 lions, never saw Dean Austin or Justin Edinburgh (who he throught was toilet) play for Spurs, or Spencer Prior play a European game against Bayern, and he'd have found the idea of Steve 'he's a complete fairy' Tilson becoming a successful manager for us absolutely hilarious....

....But that's my story, that's what I'm going to bore my kids stupid telling them, because one day they'll see a Ricky Cadette scoring 4 goals on debut, or a Stan Collymore destoy Brizzle Rovers, Millwall and just about everybody else or a Freddy Eastwood score the winning goal from 30 yards against Man U in the cup.

And that's what being a supporter is all about. You forget the bad times and relive the best times though your children. My kids are doomed. They'll be Southend fans before they know how to kick a ball. Up the Blues!