Just a little bit of SUFC history

[DoDTS]

Hi Lombard then this was your first match.

Div 3 (South) Saturday 6th December 1952 Southend United 2-1 Walsall.
Southend won their first match at the Stadium since September 30th but although the two points were welcome it was an uninspiring performance, and certainly not one to atone for recent poor displays on away grounds. Walsall took the offensive from the kick off but it was United that took the lead after 15 minutes. The goal was one of the few highlights of the match, Mansfield starting the move slipping the ball through to McAlinden, who drew the defence and passed to Sibley who cut inside to race through and score. A second goal was added after 26 minutes when Sibley crossed the ball into the goalmouth where Marsden taking the ball on the turn drove into the net. In the second half Walsall staged a great revival and after 55 minutes scored their only goal from close range after a clever back heel. It looked at one stage as if Walsall would pull the game out of the fire but Blues held on. Team: Morton; Loughran and Anderson; Burns, Stirling and Lawler; Sibley, McAlinden, Marsden, Wakefield and Mansfield.

 

[wally4pm]

The talk of Rayleigh Rockets brought back memories. However, I used to follow the Romford Bombers and we regarded the Rockets as our rivals. What we wanted to do to Dingle Brown was not printable! Happy days.

 

[Green Wizard]

Came across this aerial view of the Kursaal in 1928:

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw024877?search=southend&ref=0

 

[DoDTS]

Came across this aerial view of the Kursaal in 1928:

http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw024877?search=southend&ref=0

Nice picture, later the small stand on the left, was replaced by one the same size as the one on the right, the difference being that the new stand was cover for standing area as opposed to seats in the old stand. The "bob" supporter could now watch matches in the dry on rainy days.

Looking at the picture it is hard to imagine that there was at one time dog racing round the outside of the pitch.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

I used to go to watch the Rockets at a young age and loved the smell.

IIRC, I only made one visit to Rayleigh Weir Stadium, in 1971, at the invitation of my 'parrain' (person appointed to look after a new student), when I went down to Brighton college of Education. Sue lived in Thorpe Bay and her father must have been interested in speedway. I don't recall too much about what occured on the track but do, like you, remember the smell. It was one of the times in my life that football took a back seat, however I do recollect taking a rather large transistor to hear our score. Could well have been Easter Monday, April 5th, when we lost at home to Peterborough 1-2...........I don't think our football was too attractive that season.

 

[devonexile]

Just too young to have watched SUFC at Grainger Road but ran my greyhounds there during the 70's and regularly went with my dad to see Rayleigh Rockets during the sixties. Happy days.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Just too young to have watched SUFC at Grainger Road but ran my greyhounds there during the 70's and regularly went with my dad to see Rayleigh Rockets during the sixties. Happy days.

In another life?!!! ;)

 

[leeblue]

I just remember the last days of dog racing at the stadium (very early 80s) went along a few times with my dad etc.

 

[devonexile]

In another life?!!! ;)

Not only did I run them, but some were so slow I often beat them!

As it happens they were trained by George Miller at the Stadium kennels in Canewdon. Miller later moved to Ramsgate dog track where I believe he was subsequently arrested and jailed for kiddie fiddling.

 

[C C Csiders]

I was at that match too, Southend United XI v Radio One Disc Jockeys XI, My Dad used to take me to midweek late afternoon LEague matches but I was too young to remember them.

The Stadium was not popular with Southend fans, it had little atmosphere watching the match from behind a dog track and you were a long way from the pitch especially behind the goals. They had warmed to the Kursaal and enjoyed the closeness to the pitch and the banter with the players. However they were rather sold the Stadium as a brand new shiny stadium without realizing it's limitations until the Kursaal had been demolished. Eventually in the early 1950s the fans had had enough of the Stadium and set about financing and building Roots Hall, with the closeness to the pitch number one priority, and the added bonus of a bit of cover behind one goal.

Hope they were CRB checked.

 

[ozzie]

I was at that match too, Southend United XI v Radio One Disc Jockeys XI, My Dad used to take me to midweek late afternoon LEague matches but I was too young to remember them.

The Stadium was not popular with Southend fans, it had little atmosphere watching the match from behind a dog track and you were a long way from the pitch especially behind the goals. They had warmed to the Kursaal and enjoyed the closeness to the pitch and the banter with the players. However they were rather sold the Stadium as a brand new shiny stadium without realizing it's limitations until the Kursaal had been demolished. Eventually in the early 1950s the fans had had enough of the Stadium and set about financing and building Roots Hall, with the closeness to the pitch number one priority, and the added bonus of a bit of cover behind one goal.

in the early 70s,i also went with a few mates and watched a game, showbizz, think it was those 3 twonkers from the "goodies2 played..never liked them

 

[lakeside speedway]

many attempts were made from when the stadium was built up until its closure to run speedway at stadium, the owners needed it to keep the stadium viable but the council never gave in owing to noise issues . the bikes did have a run around the stadium at the time time of rayleigh closing to move the rockets over from the weir but once again the council refused which was a great shame the stadium would have been a perfect venue for speedway racing and with the modern silencers now used , the noise nowadays wouldnt have been such a great problem even though it was just for 2 hours a week hmmmm ...........still speedway is my first love and always is the sport i follow above all others including football im affraid although now over at the arena essex raceway

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

in the early 70s,i also went with a few mates and watched a game, showbizz, think it was those 3 twonkers from the "goodies2 played..never liked them

I have a programme for a match played on Sunday 9th.May 1971 on behalf of "SHELTER"(National Campaign for the Homeless). Teams were Ex.Southend United featuring Arthur Rowley, Don Acton, Ernie Shepherd, Peter Gordon, Kevin Baron, Jack French, Alex Stenhouse, Peter Heathcote, Sandy Anderson, Tommy Linton, Martin Britt, Les Stubbs, Albert Wakefield, Dennis Yeomans, Jackie Bridge. (V) Showbiz XI from Tommy Steele, Jess Conrad, David Hamilton, Toni Dali, Tibor Szakacs, Malcolm Roberts, Ray & Dave Davies, John Dalton, Kenneth Cope, Tony Booth, Bob Patmore, Michael James, Larry Taylor, Chris Musk, Robin Askwith, Rocky Taylor, Jimmy Keen, Fraser Hines, Brian Cant, Richard O'Sullivan, Micky Dillon, Siggy Jackson, Peter Thompson, Mike Quinn. The match referee was Peter Goy & his linesman were Frank Dudley & Billy Best. Can anybody help with any match statistics(line-ups, report attendance etc) ?

 

[spoons]

I remember going there to watch dog racing with my dad and brothers. We used to go in the popular side and enjoyed photo finishes on the far side as we would all decide which dog had won and invariably get a few bob from bookies giving odds on the photo finish result, usually no better than evens but a chance to get stake back.
I used the forecast of 5 and 3 mostly but from memory just contributed to the bookies wealth.
I also remember Rayleigh Stadium having worked there for Reg Spooner who did some building renovation stuff there when they had greyhound racing.:smile:

 

[DoDTS]

Rayleigh Rockets seem to have inspired a few here's a couple of snippets:

After months of controversy between Benfleet and Rayleigh Councils and the ministry of Town and Country planning they finally gave approval to the erection of a greyhound and sports Stadium on the Arterial Road near the Weir Hotel. The developer is in on possession of a license for speedway racing which will be run under the auspices of the Speedway Motor-Cycle Control and is also in negotiations with a professional football club for the use of the centre of the ground. He hopes to invite star motor cyclists from Wembley and to form a local club. In addition the Stadium will be a centre for tennis and hockey. Southend Standard 1947

MECCA FOR ALL SPORTS OPENING AT RAYLEIGH
Best of it’s kind in Country – Speedway Racing starts this monthWith the opening of Rayleigh Stadium on July 24th for speedway racing, local youngsters who fancy their chances on the cinder track will have every encouragement to make names for themselves. With their D-Day rapidly approaching the promoters and organisers of the Stadium are hard at work putting the finishing touches to the organization which they hope will be dealing with huge crowds on their opening night. Visits of film stars and other attractive events will be presented for this opening performance and the team is in first class shape to compete against Leicester in a friendly match. Other friendly matches will be held weekly until next season when the team lately christened “Rayleigh Rockets” will be competing in the Speedway League III. Stands have been erected and the accommodation is for 30,000 at least. The cinder track is said by riders to be best of its kind in the county. Southend Standard 1948

30,000???

 

[westie]

30,000? More like 6,000 the one time I went in the mid fifties. Memories of that speedway smell and a band of nutty women chanting some song about Les McGillivary.

My first match at Grainger Road was in 1953, I was nearly 7 years old. Remember the long walk up North Avenue with my Dad from our house in Westbury Road to see the Blues beat Bristol Rovers 2-1.

Pegasus was formed in the early 70s and their manager was former Blues boss Ernie Shepherd. He asked me and my mate John to sign for them and we turned him down ... how mad was that?!

 

[DoDTS]

Here's alittle more:

PRO SOCCER AT RAYLEIGH?
Sponsored by Rayleigh Stadium plans are being launched to put a professional football team in the Southern League next season. The club will play as Rayleigh United in blue shirts with yellow collars and white shorts. Bill West former Southend and West Ham schoolboy player who is acting secretary said a bid will be made for professional players and recruits will also be taken from local amateur clubs. Matches will be arranged as far as possible so as not to clash with Southend United first team home fixtures. Southend Standard 1949

 

[snapper1]

I used to go to watch the Rockets at a young age and loved the smell.

Me,too ! Just loved the smell and the noise of the bikes was fantastic !! :-)

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

Rayleigh Rockets seem to have inspired a few here's a couple of snippets:

After months of controversy between Benfleet and Rayleigh Councils and the ministry of Town and Country planning they finally gave approval to the erection of a greyhound and sports Stadium on the Arterial Road near the Weir Hotel. The developer is in on possession of a license for speedway racing which will be run under the auspices of the Speedway Motor-Cycle Control and is also in negotiations with a professional football club for the use of the centre of the ground. He hopes to invite star motor cyclists from Wembley and to form a local club. In addition the Stadium will be a centre for tennis and hockey. Southend Standard 1947

MECCA FOR ALL SPORTS OPENING AT RAYLEIGH
Best of it’s kind in Country – Speedway Racing starts this monthWith the opening of Rayleigh Stadium on July 24th for speedway racing, local youngsters who fancy their chances on the cinder track will have every encouragement to make names for themselves. With their D-Day rapidly approaching the promoters and organisers of the Stadium are hard at work putting the finishing touches to the organization which they hope will be dealing with huge crowds on their opening night. Visits of film stars and other attractive events will be presented for this opening performance and the team is in first class shape to compete against Leicester in a friendly match. Other friendly matches will be held weekly until next season when the team lately christened “Rayleigh Rockets” will be competing in the Speedway League III. Stands have been erected and the accommodation is for 30,000 at least. The cinder track is said by riders to be best of its kind in the county. Southend Standard 1948

30,000???

This web site claims crowds were around the 10,000 mark. Never really seen many photos of the stadium but it looks quite a big area.

http://www.rayleighhistory.co.uk/page27.html

Also view of the stadium on these old programmes.
http://www.national-speedway-museum.co.uk/rayleigh programmes over three decades.html

Some old footage here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eY4J-kNv9Y