Memory Lane Old Photos of Southend United.

[DoDTS]

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1927 saw the introduction of Greyhound racing at the Kursaal which was initially seen as an enjoyable diversion from Football with a chance to have a legal flutter, but it also was a big attraction for “trippers” many who would attend the worse the wear through drink and were known to cause problems. Greyhound meetings were often held four times a week and the Kursaal being a tight enclosure meant the pitch and the track overlapped and the playing surface suffered. As the novelty wore off a certain amount of resentment from the football spectators ensued as the good Kursaal pitch becoming a mud bath in places. By the end of 1920s, annual attendances at the country's licensed tracks were totalling 17 million.​

They offered cheap quick thrills, and an excuse for a good night out, plus a bit of a punt. Above all, they were proudly working-class. The early appeal of greyhound racing to Britain's working men is easy to explain, said the chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board: "At that time, a working man couldn't get a legal bet except at a dog track and he couldn't get credit at a bookmakers. Greyhound tracks were also a lot cheaper to get into than racetracks, and far easier to get to." The sport, he said, is "deeply embedded in a certain kind of cultural life.

THREW “BOOKIE” DOWN A BANK
THEN ASSAULTED THREE CONSTABLES FROM GREYHOUND RACES TO PRISON​

There was another scuffle at the greyhound race track at the Kursaal on Tuesday followed by the appearance at Southend police Court of a Leyton man who was charged with being drunk and disorderly and with three police constables in the execution of their duty. In court a PC stated that he was on duty at the greyhound stadium at 6.50 p.m. when he saw the prisoner on the south bank of the ground causing a disturbance. He was drunk and fighting with a large crowd of people round him. He threw a bookmaker down the bank and when the bookmaker returned the prisoner adopted a fighting attitude and used indecent language, he was approached by Police officers at which he said “no ---------policemen would put him out of the ground” and a scuffle developed between him and three police officers.
From the Southend Standard

 

[DoDTS]

UNITED MANAGEMENT TAKE POSSESSION
The directors of Southend United have taken possession of the Kursaal ground in order to comply with the Football League’s ban on Greyhound racing at the Kursaal. The last greyhound meeting was on Monday 9th July 1928, after which a meeting was held asking the football club to remove the ban, but shortly after midnight the Football club took possession of the ground locking and bolting the gates refusing admission to anyone. On legal advice the locks were changed and entrances bolted with four policemen in attendance.​

From the Southend Standard 12th July 1928​

Everything from the Electric Hare Racing Club Ltd. had been left in place from the previous nights racing, even a directors Saloon Motor Car had been left in the Car Park, it had been so closely kept secret that even the man who lived on the ground found himself locked in. When the employees of the Racing Club turned up they were refused admission and catering had to be taken into the occupiers locked inside. Later in the morning notices were painted and left on every entrance reading, “the tenancy of the Electric Hare Greyhound Ltd has ceased, no more racing will take place here. By order of the directors of Southend United Football Club”. No one had attempted to enter the enclosure but as afternoon came a small crowd gathered outside the Woodgrange Drive end probably through curiosity, while at the Beresford Road end there was a crowd of some 200 people, including bookmakers, bookmakers clerks, racing attendees etc, a demonstration ensued with people standing up and making speeches condemning the football club. A couple even climbed a fence and gained admission but they were soon caught and ejected. By nine the crowds had dispersed and the Football Club were in total possession, although the Police stayed on sight for a day or two

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END OF GREYHOUND TRACK
It is interesting to note that the whole of the greyhound track has been sold to a company whose intention is to establish dog racing at Watford and that the smaller appliances and fittings have been disposed of to local firms. The electric standards which surround the pitch and which suggested the presence of a light railway have been piled up with the rest of the fittings in and near the entrance on the Beach Road entrance. Everything is down. All that remains is to patch up the fence and clear the ground. Then when the fence is up all that will serve to remind the crowd of the dogs is the yellow grass patches round the four corners and these will soon disappear. All the dogs left the kennels on Friday and Mr. J Shand managing director of the greyhound Company have gone to Liverpool to manage a track there. He has taken several of his old staff with him.​

From the Southend Standard 16th August 1928.​

With the Greyhound Racing finished at the Kursaal, other tracks were keen to pick up the clientele, racing at West Ham Stadium was soon being advertising in the Southend Standard.​

This wasn’t a good time for a betting man in Southend the Horse Races were called off as well.

 

[Mick]

Stamford Bridge had a greyhound track before it was redeveloped and The Shay in Halifax had a speedway track. Don’t know if there were any more. White City where QPR played for a bit was also the home of Athletics. I guess it depended on whether the track impinged on the size of the pitch. The views from behind the goals at those grounds were rubbish as you were so far away from the action.

Closer to home, Romford's old Brooklands Stadium was hosting speedway a couple of years after we played there in the Essex Professional Cup.

 

[Strykr]

We've just received from the daughter of our second oldest SUEPA member 93-year-old Jim Thomson (a Shrimper May 1956 to March 1959) these four fabulous pics (we love it when this happens). That's Jim heading the ball - can anyone put names to all the other faces?
And in the header shot, might that be Jim scoring v Liverpool in the FA Cup in Jan 1957?
I might be going up to Scotland next Spring - if so I'll be popping in to see Jim, he's a top man to talk to, loads of memories and he may well have some more pics. Thinking of doing some voice recording sessions with some of our oldest Shrimpers otherwise at some point those memories will be gone forever.

View attachment 34108

Look at that pitch!

I bet those guys never moaned about playing 180 minutes of football in an entire week.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

The talented sportsman from Perthshire who starred for Southend United

Arthur Williamson made the move down south in the 1950s and enjoyed an impressive career

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

It's a small world. My wife's cousin lives in the village Arthur Williamson was born.

 

[WickfordShrimper]

The talented sportsman from Perthshire who starred for Southend United

Arthur Williamson made the move down south in the 1950s and enjoyed an impressive career

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

It's a small world. My wife's cousin lives in the village Arthur Williamson was born.

Nice write up for one of our own :-)