Memory Lane Happy Birthday Dave Elliott

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE ELLIOTT

On the 10th. February Dave will be 80 years young. Dave played at Roots Hall from Feb.71 until Feb.75 playing almost 200 first team matches and was a key member in the club's first ever promotion back in 1972, a team that featured many legendary players from back then with the likes of Billy Best, Bill Garner, Gary Moore, Terry Johnson, Peter Taylor and many others. I was recently contacted by a member of Dave's family and asked if some of the more senior supporters like me

who had seen him play, could possibly send him a birthday greeting to mark his special day. So if you have any specific memories of Dave playing at Roots Hall. please post below. " Once a Shrimper always a Shrimper"

Many Thanks to you all Love Nobbler xxx

 

[CaptainSmudger]

Happy 80th Dave,
I am only 3 years younger than yourself, have been a Blues Supporter for 66 years and still have a season ticket this season.
I remember your playing days along with those other great names above with great fondness. Being a true lifelong Southend United fan ,if we are honest we are a yo-yo team. But… when we do get the good times as when you Dave were part of our team, boy how good does that feel.
Have a great Birthday and thanks for all your efforts.
Wishing you Well and good health for the future. COYB UTB

 

[Tampa Blue]

I remember him presenting awards to me and others at a football tournament held at Prince Avenue school.

It was him, Dennis Booth and I think it was Ray Ternent.

All three were lovely to us kids.

 

[blues exile]

A very happy birthday to Dave Elliott. You were one of those players who made supporting SUFC such an enjoyable past time back then. Thank you for your huge contribution to that era. As a fellow octogenarian it is so often depressing to read obituaries of our contemporaries so hearing you are approaching the 80 mark was good news indeed. Hope you have a great day.

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Happy birthday Dave, oh happy youthful days on the North Bank watching you guys play some brilliant football ................cheers

 

[Blue Yonder]

Happy Birthday Dave !!!! Great player ! We hanker for the days when we can sign a player of the same quality and profile (Dave was in his mid twenties with 80 games for Newcastle and 30 for Sunderland under his belt when signed).

 

[Westy]

Happy Birthday Dave - I am of the same vintage ( nearly) you were part of an elegant team so enjoyable then - great memories of standing on the North Bank with my late Dad

Have a great day fella

COUS!

 

[ozzie]

Happy birthday Dave...loved watching you play.A great player in a great never to be forgotten team/season 71-72...Thank you Dave for the memories...have a great day

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Happy Birthday Dave, thank you for your valuable contribution in our 71-72 promotion season. By a strange coincidence a week or so ago, i was reading through my old programme of the 3rd rd F.A. cup game home to Q.P.R. in Jan 75, & you were named as playing Right half ( no. 4 ) in that game!.
A fantastic game when we came from 0-2 down to draw 2-2 against a 1st div team with many well known players in their team, & we were unlucky not to win it. And barely a month later you had departed, can't recall the reasons why but hey-ho, as Ester Rantzen used to say 'that's life'!.

 

[LBBlue]

Dave joined the club a day after Terry Johnson, both from Newcastle, at the end of January 1971. It was hard to believe that a player with his pedigree - he played 40 games for Newcastle in the Fisrt Division in 1967/68 at the age of 22 having joined them from Sunderland for £10,000 - had come to Southend when at the time we were at the lowest of our low. We had gone 8 League games without a win, were 4th from bottom of the 4 Division and had just lost to Newport County 3-0 as they won their first game of the season having not won any of the previous 25. Dave also played his part in Newcastle’s Cup Win although I don’t think he appeared in the final games. (Alan Foggon did)

Fortunately the next game was waterlogged off and we had a two week break before we played York. Terry and Dave improved the side immensely and we went on to get some great results to get out of the bottom 4. We did already have a few players from the North East - Dave had played with Gary Moore at Sunderland.

Another of those players like Tony Bentley, truly professional giving their all every game, Dave was the mastermind in the middle of the field for the next few seasons as we finally won promotion, had some great cup ties and some enjoyable times.

The QPR game was fantastic - I’m sure he was hacked down in the box just after we equalised but the ref chickened out of giving a penalty.

I can’t remember which of the local reporters kept referring to Dave’s “ Cultured left foot” in his press reports. Dave could certainly pick a pass.

He left in March 1975 to become Player/Manager at Newport County.

One thing I only learned recently was that Dave suffered from epilepsy

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spo.../gibbo-files-mystery-wild-speculation-6479208.

Happy 80th Dave - thanks for the big part you played lifting our club out of the mess we had got into.