Memorable opening day fixtures

[Rattus Norvegicus]

There are a number that stick in my mind over the years.

But how about that game in against Bristol City. 17th August 1991.

It seems odd to think that was 27 years ago. And as I remember it (being in the West Stand) Roots Hall was looking very different with the changes that had taken place to remove the standing areas and put in seating.

It was of course our first game in Division 2 and finished 1-1. Attendance of only 6,720 - that surely must be down to the summer holidays. Our goal came from Benjie (who else!) David Webb was the manager then and as I remember it, the game wasn't a cracker but still interesting as it was the first time we had a chance to see whether we could compete at that level - and we did.

I'm sure I have a programme somewhere and I might try to dig it out.

 

[MK Shrimper]

They're not great affairs. Blair Sturrock scoring vs ? off of his shin for a drab 1-0 win. Luggy's first game.

 

[LBBlue]

They're not great affairs. Blair Sturrock scoring vs ? off of his shin for a drab 1-0 win. Luggy's first game.

Actually a 95th minute equaliser - 7 August 2010 against Stockport. That game was the first to come into my mind -didn't we only have one registered player on 5th August -Anthony Grant.
It was a relief to have a game to go to. Look what happened to Stockport -it could so easily have been us.

A rare moment when Luggy lost it and got sent to the stand:

Nice little report still on BBC website

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8842806.stm

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:
"Everybody in this stadium saw the linesman put his flag up and he has to keep his flag up.
"If it is offside, it is offside. The referee didn't look at his linesman quick enough, his decision is making me pig sick."

 

[Lord Football]

16th August 1975 - Southend United v Sheffield Wednesday.

This was Wednesday's first game in the third tier. A massive army of Owls rolled into Southend. For reasons I don't understand, they were housed in North Bank, with the home following basking in the sunshine on the massive South Bank. I went to the game with my dad and grandad. The only time the three of us would ever watch a game together. We went into the North Bank and had to be escorted around the pitch to the "home" end.

Wednesday led 1-0 at the break. At half time it kicked off. On the pitch. Supporters fighting everywhere. My cousin (who I wasn't with) would hurl a bottle at the visiting keeper at the beginning of the second half. Plod were busy knicking people.

Blues mounted a comeback, and a brace by Brace secured a 2-1 win.

Due to the trouble, my mum wouldn't my dad me again (and when she relented, it kicked off again vs Brighton in the Cup)

Ironically, the return fixture was the final game of the season. Wednesday won and avoided the drop, and in doing so sent us down.

Why does it stick so vividly in my mind. My first ever game......

 

[Bearded Shrimper]

This one will certainly be very memorable for me despite missing it, I'm getting married! Very close to the ground too so cheer loud enough and I might hear

 

[Angell Delight]

There are a number that stick in my mind over the years.

But how about that game in against Bristol City. 17th August 1991.

It seems odd to think that was 17 years ago. And as I remember it (being in the West Stand) Roots Hall was looking very different with the changes that had taken place to remove the standing areas and put in seating.

It was of course our first game in Division 2 and finished 1-1. Attendance of only 6,720 - that surely must be down to the summer holidays. Our goal came from Benjie (who else!) David Webb was the manager then and as I remember it, the game wasn't a cracker but still interesting as it was the first time we had a chance to see whether we could compete at that level - and we did.

I'm sure I have a programme somewhere and I might try to dig it out.

It was 27 years ago! I was just 10. What a great day - baking hot sunshine and an early goal from Benji. More than held our own and by New Years Day we were top of Division One....albeit for just three hours after thumping Newcastle 4-0 at the Hall. Great times.

 

[LBBlue]

50 years ago - believe or not, I think the last time we had over 10,000 at Roots Hall for the opening league fixture. We'd already played the 1st round league cup tie the Wednesday before at third division Bournemouth and won 6-1. So 10,401 turned up at Roots Hall as we took on mighty Halifax Town in our new Navy Shirts and White Shorts. Second half goals from John McKinven and Andy Smillie turned a 1-0 half time deficit into victory. Promotion was going to be a doddle. It didn't quite work out like that but the 1968/69 season was a lot of fun as we scored 78 league and 28 cup goals.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Actually a 95th minute equaliser - 7 August 2010 against Stockport. That game was the first to come into my mind -didn't we only have one registered player on 5th August -Anthony Grant.
It was a relief to have a game to go to. Look what happened to Stockport -it could so easily have been us.

A rare moment when Luggy lost it and got sent to the stand:

Nice little report still on BBC website

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8842806.stm

Southend United manager Paul Sturrock told BBC Essex:
"Everybody in this stadium saw the linesman put his flag up and he has to keep his flag up.
"If it is offside, it is offside. The referee didn't look at his linesman quick enough, his decision is making me pig sick."

Cheers, my memory is failing me obviously. That was the day of my stag do! No week in Ibiza for me

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

50 years ago - believe or not, I think the last time we had over 10,000 at Roots Hall for the opening league fixture. We'd already played the 1st round league cup tie the Wednesday before at third division Bournemouth and won 6-1. So 10,401 turned up at Roots Hall as we took on mighty Halifax Town in our new Navy Shirts and White Shorts. Second half goals from John McKinven and Andy Smillie turned a 1-0 half time deficit into victory. Promotion was going to be a doddle. It didn't quite work out like that but the 1968/69 season was a lot of fun as we scored 78 league and 28 cup goals.

I remember that game, sat in the East Stand with my father & Grandad. The old Southend Pictorial ( which was on sale on a Friday ) had a photo on the back page, of our new 'rearguard', which was Dave Stone, John Kurila & someone else, who I've forgot!

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

16th August 1975 - Southend United v Sheffield Wednesday.

This was Wednesday's first game in the third tier. A massive army of Owls rolled into Southend. For reasons I don't understand, they were housed in North Bank, with the home following basking in the sunshine on the massive South Bank. I went to the game with my dad and grandad. The only time the three of us would ever watch a game together. We went into the North Bank and had to be escorted around the pitch to the "home" end.

Wednesday led 1-0 at the break. At half time it kicked off. On the pitch. Supporters fighting everywhere. My cousin (who I wasn't with) would hurl a bottle at the visiting keeper at the beginning of the second half. Plod were busy knicking people.

Blues mounted a comeback, and a brace by Brace secured a 2-1 win.

Due to the trouble, my mum wouldn't my dad me again (and when she relented, it kicked off again vs Brighton in the Cup)

Ironically, the return fixture was the final game of the season. Wednesday won and avoided the drop, and in doing so sent us down.

Why does it stick so vividly in my mind. My first ever game......

The 'Owls' Army were dropped off at Roots Hall from their coaches late morning, and marched down Vic Ave to the Town Centre.
We saw this, as at the time were walking on the opp side of Vic Ave ( thank God! ) down towards The Nelson ( was a decent Pub back then ).
We decided to go back into Town to see what their plan was.
Back then The Sutton Arms was our 'lads' meeting place & local, Sheffield sussed this out, yet despite various attempts to 'take it', were driven away each time.
They went back to the ground around 2pm, before the Police were in attendance, & all went in through The North Bank turnstiles.
IMO the Police thought it was safer to keep them in there, as there were so many of them, I reckoned nigh on 1,000 strong.
When our North Bank lads arrived, the Police made them go in the South Bank.
A lot of them stayed till late after the game, & the Seafront was pretty 'lively' during the evening with skirmishes occurring in several places.

 

[banjo saviola]

Late 90s (99 I think) v Plymouth. We went 1-0 down to an Adam Barratt header who was making his league debut that day. We turned it round late on and won 2-1. I missed both goals as I had a nose bleed and was in a Blooming St Johns Ambulance hut.

 

[Welly7]

There are a number that stick in my mind over the years.

But how about that game in against Bristol City. 17th August 1991.

It seems odd to think that was 27 years ago. And as I remember it (being in the West Stand) Roots Hall was looking very different with the changes that had taken place to remove the standing areas and put in seating.

It was of course our first game in Division 2 and finished 1-1. Attendance of only 6,720 - that surely must be down to the summer holidays. Our goal came from Benjie (who else!) David Webb was the manager then and as I remember it, the game wasn't a cracker but still interesting as it was the first time we had a chance to see whether we could compete at that level - and we did.

I'm sure I have a programme somewhere and I might try to dig it out.

I have a photo my brother took from the East Stand of the kick off between Angell and Benjamin, our first ever action in the second division!

 

[Welly7]

I remember Andy Rammell scoring after 7 or 8 seconds in 97 or 98? Think it was against Carlisle. Thought we were on to something after such a start...

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

The 'Owls' idiots were dropped off at Roots Hall from their coaches late morning, and marched down Vic Ave to the Town Centre.
We saw this, as at the time were walking on the opp side of Vic Ave ( thank God! ) down towards The Nelson ( was a decent Pub back then ).
We decided to go back into Town to see what their plan was.
Back then The Sutton Arms was our 'idiots' meeting place & local, Sheffield sussed this out, yet despite various attempts to 'take it', were driven away each time.
They went back to the ground around 2pm, before the Police were in attendance, & all went in through The North Bank turnstiles.
IMO the Police thought it was safer to keep them in there, as there were so many of them, I reckoned nigh on 1,000 strong.
When our North Bank lads arrived, the Police made them go in the South Bank.
A lot of them stayed till late after the game, & the Seafront was pretty 'lively' during the evening with skirmishes occurring in several places.

Anything to remember about the game of football though?

People on another thread are saying that today they are still worried about taking their children to certain games because of the fear of violence.

 

[mfurok]

I remember Andy Rammell scoring after 7 or 8 seconds in 97 or 98? Think it was against Carlisle. Thought we were on to something after such a start...

1996/97. Our relegation season. Tranmere.

 

[fbm]

16th August 1975 - Southend United v Sheffield Wednesday.

This was Wednesday's first game in the third tier. A massive army of Owls rolled into Southend. For reasons I don't understand, they were housed in North Bank, with the home following basking in the sunshine on the massive South Bank. I went to the game with my dad and grandad. The only time the three of us would ever watch a game together. We went into the North Bank and had to be escorted around the pitch to the "home" end.

Wednesday led 1-0 at the break. At half time it kicked off. On the pitch. Supporters fighting everywhere. My cousin (who I wasn't with) would hurl a bottle at the visiting keeper at the beginning of the second half. Plod were busy knicking people.

Blues mounted a comeback, and a brace by Brace secured a 2-1 win.

Due to the trouble, my mum wouldn't my dad me again (and when she relented, it kicked off again vs Brighton in the Cup)

Ironically, the return fixture was the final game of the season. Wednesday won and avoided the drop, and in doing so sent us down.

Why does it stick so vividly in my mind. My first ever game......

Nope.

Stuart Parker, who was making his debut.

 

[RHB]

There have been some great memorable matches mentioned on here. My one is very recent and it heralded what we thought would be the start of a great season. The 5th August, and I'm talking about Blackburn at home last season with Lenny and Kightly sealing a 2-1 win over the pre season promotion favourites. It also had a very resonable free kick from our old favourite, Charlie Mulgrew. After than result I thought we were on our way...........................

 

[ozzie]

funny, i was going to write about the 68 game v Halifax,Alan Ball snr was the manager of HTFC i think.Remember that big new programme they printed,blue ,still my favourite SUFC prog ever.
Also the Sheff Wed game...remember much of what BBBL wrote,was also in the Sutton,was working on "site" that morning,then one of the work mates told me what he saw,about 9.30 in the morning i was ill,had to go home,was in the town about 11.00.Dont remember much about the game either,was that the year that we brought out that real crap programme??If it was ,then we deserverd to go down.
Just to "throw" another game in..think it was the season before the Sheff Wed game,74 or 75..v Chesterfield a hot day..remember many things about that day,but cannot remember anything about the game,result or even what sort of programme we produced

 

[Swiss Tony]

Anything to remember about the game of football though?

People on another thread are saying that today they are still worried about taking their children to certain games because of the fear of violence.

Can you explain your point Rattus i'm at a loss thanks.

 

[Firestorm]

Forest , just after we had sold Stan in the close season.
Then he got a "sore throat"