THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK
Life President⭐⭐🦐
I was at the game last night in the East Stand and was privalaged to meet three people in the bar from Rotterdam Holland. They flew into Southend airport from Amsterdam. It was an older gentleman aged about 60, his daughter and her husband. They came to watch Southend for the second time this year. They actually support Feyenoord, but absolutely love the faster paced thunder and guts football of the English game. They don't like the money side of English Premiership clubs, so prefer our lower Leagues. Their football can be very boring he said as it's a slow passing game. If a team goes 1-0 up they then play keep ball in their own half and are very good at it. Unlike here where we put immense pressure and closing down until we get the ball back he said. He said our players show much more fight and effort, and it makes for a more exciting game. It's the football he loves. My friend introduced them to Brian Dear, who showed them pictures of him with the likes of Bobby Moore, and the Cup Winners Cup they won in 1965, in which Brian had a goal disallowed. They ended being taken to the railway pub by my friend where they talked for a couple more hours. The daughter told my friend that her father was overwhelmed by all the help and friendliness of Southend fans, and the icing on the cake was meeting Brian Dear, where they of course got lots of selfies with Brian. He was a former docker in Rotterdam, so probably a hard man in his time, but you could see he was over the moon with his trip to Southend last night. They will be coming back for sure. I know over the years that many others in small groups have come over to watch Southend.
When in the Shrimpers bar, another fan said he had seen about 12 Germans that had also come over to watch our match. I know it's much easier now with Southend airport being so close to our ground, but until last night I didn't quite get why all these football fans would come from Europe to watch a team like Southend. Now I get it. They love the atmosphere, they like the smaller tighter grounds, they love the never say die attitude of our players. It's a style of football they long for but are not getting in their country. Long may it continue that they keep coming to watch Southend.
If you see or hear any in the pub or a Roots Hall bar, speak to them. They all speak English and are extremely friendly.
When in the Shrimpers bar, another fan said he had seen about 12 Germans that had also come over to watch our match. I know it's much easier now with Southend airport being so close to our ground, but until last night I didn't quite get why all these football fans would come from Europe to watch a team like Southend. Now I get it. They love the atmosphere, they like the smaller tighter grounds, they love the never say die attitude of our players. It's a style of football they long for but are not getting in their country. Long may it continue that they keep coming to watch Southend.
If you see or hear any in the pub or a Roots Hall bar, speak to them. They all speak English and are extremely friendly.
