Back in the dark days of the pandemic, when none of us could watch football, there was one person who was regularly on our screens at the heart of the response to the crisis. That man is a huge fan of our next opponents, Boston United, that man is Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam.
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Whether or not JVT makes it to Roots Hall on Tuesday night remains to be seen, but he can't be too pleased with the way his beloved Pilgrims have started their campaign back in the National League after winning the National League North play-offs last season. The fixture computer was kind in giving them back to back home games to start the season and they have lost them both - 0-3 to Rochdale on the opening day and 0-4 to newly relegated Forest Green Rovers last Saturday.
Manager Ian Culverhouse, the former Norwich favourite, will be looking for his team to bounce back in their first away game of the season and may hope that his star signing, Dan Mooney, shines on his return to Roots Hall more than he did most times he pulled a blue shirt on there.
Interestingly, Culverhouse was, of course, the Kings Lynn Town manager in Southend's first ever game at National League level (a scrappy 1-0 win for us). Only 2 players from the match day 16 in that game are still with us (Ralph and Bridge).
As the Shrimpers return to the Hall for our second home game of the season after Saturday’s long trip to Hartlepool where we continued our unbeaten/winless (delete as applicable to your level of optimism) start to the season we will be hoping for our first win of the new campaign. There were some encouraging signs in the second half on Saturday, but the lack of creativity in the first half was there for all, including our football department, to see. Let's hope the rumours of new signings come true in time for the first game under the lights this season.
It seems highly unlikely that the crowd will be anything like that on the opening day - in fact with school holidays and not many away fans we may see a couple of thousand less for this fixture. Nevertheless that's still more than decent backing at this level and now the initial euphoria of the takeover has subsided, maybe the team will perform nearer their potential in a more "normal" game.
Any new signings will be added to the poll if and when they materialise, but in the meantime, from those players available, who would you choose to start and what do you predict the result will be?
FA Cup: Prof Jonathan Van-Tam on his 50-year love affair with Boston United
As Boston United prepare for the FA Cup this weekend, superfan Prof Jonathan Van-Tam talks selfies, vaccinating his heroes, and turning his house into a Pilgrims shrine.
www.bbc.co.uk
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam dresses as nun for football match
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam donned a habit to watch Boston United take on Hereford.
www.bbc.co.uk
*Next slide please
Whether or not JVT makes it to Roots Hall on Tuesday night remains to be seen, but he can't be too pleased with the way his beloved Pilgrims have started their campaign back in the National League after winning the National League North play-offs last season. The fixture computer was kind in giving them back to back home games to start the season and they have lost them both - 0-3 to Rochdale on the opening day and 0-4 to newly relegated Forest Green Rovers last Saturday.
Manager Ian Culverhouse, the former Norwich favourite, will be looking for his team to bounce back in their first away game of the season and may hope that his star signing, Dan Mooney, shines on his return to Roots Hall more than he did most times he pulled a blue shirt on there.
Interestingly, Culverhouse was, of course, the Kings Lynn Town manager in Southend's first ever game at National League level (a scrappy 1-0 win for us). Only 2 players from the match day 16 in that game are still with us (Ralph and Bridge).
As the Shrimpers return to the Hall for our second home game of the season after Saturday’s long trip to Hartlepool where we continued our unbeaten/winless (delete as applicable to your level of optimism) start to the season we will be hoping for our first win of the new campaign. There were some encouraging signs in the second half on Saturday, but the lack of creativity in the first half was there for all, including our football department, to see. Let's hope the rumours of new signings come true in time for the first game under the lights this season.
It seems highly unlikely that the crowd will be anything like that on the opening day - in fact with school holidays and not many away fans we may see a couple of thousand less for this fixture. Nevertheless that's still more than decent backing at this level and now the initial euphoria of the takeover has subsided, maybe the team will perform nearer their potential in a more "normal" game.
Any new signings will be added to the poll if and when they materialise, but in the meantime, from those players available, who would you choose to start and what do you predict the result will be?
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