Stevie Waller RIP

[ozzie]

With the heaviest of hearts i must write and tell you that my dear mate and your mate Steve Waller has died.
Known Steve for over 40 years,met Steve,like most of my mates watching Southend Utd play.
We were at Colchester,going to Layer Rd,we were walking through an underpass(above was a main rd),when Steve started to be rather cocky to the police,they warned him,he carried on,so they grabbed hold of him.
I also grabbed hold of him,saying to the policeman"sorry he is rather drunk,he is my brother i will look after him",
They said ok,but look after him....
Steve as you know had blond/white hair...mine was long brown hair!!!,think they were pleased just to see the back of him.
So started a "friendship"that lasted till this day.

Im sure a lot of the "older lads"could write about Steve,here on the Sh.zone and some storys ,like i have,we could not!!!!!
When i come back home for a visit,Southend will never be the same.A BIG part of "my Southend puzzle"has gone forever.
Will miss you and love you forever mate,crying again.
The "KRAUT" XX

 

[Mr Browns Ghost]

Totally agreed was always still buzzing about the back streets of Southend until he so infortunalty died. A true legend to the town of Southend and to the club , a proper man
RIP steve

 

[C C Csiders]

Last game of the season in about 1981 with an old South Bank full of Burnley who had come to win promotion Steve casually walked onto the pitch from the West Bank proudly displaying his Southend scarf and managed to get all the way in front of them before being escorted away

 

[rigsby]

Last game of the season in about 1981 with an old South Bank full of Burnley who had come to win promotion Steve casually walked onto the pitch from the West Bank proudly displaying his Southend scarf and managed to get all the way in front of them before being escorted away

I was in the West Bank that night and I remember a large group of Burnley coming up to the fence and trying to pick a fight with an outrageous song that went..."We all agree.....Allot is better than Lever". No Wonder Stevie invaded the pitch

 

[Suffolk Blue]

Remember him helping me out of a bit of trouble at Aldershot back in the late 70s. He certainly stood out from any crowd. Larger than life guy - RIP

 

[Tommy2holes]

RIP fellow shrimper. Does anybody have a picture to add so that we can put a fave to the name.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

Thanks for letting me know yesterday Oz.
I have so many Steve Waller stories .
I would not know where to start.
He was a larger than life character who lived life to extremes.
Will be sadly missed. Every big day out Steve was there with that huge smile.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Sad news Ozzie, last saw him couple of years ago at a game. What did he die of?

 

[Benfleet A1]

Jesus!! I don't know what to say, truly stunned by this news.

 

[Rob Noxious]

Last game of the season in about 1981 with an old South Bank full of Burnley who had come to win promotion Steve casually walked onto the pitch from the West Bank proudly displaying his Southend scarf and managed to get all the way in front of them before being escorted away

Sorry but just need to point out that was '82.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

 

[Kevin Hogg]

Above pic was Steve at last game of 1990/91 season in The Spread. Promotion secured at Bury the previous Saturday - a great day was had by all. Though the title was lost in defeat to Brentford.

 

[Kevin Hogg]

 

[* ORM *]

It's at times like these where I really wish I was agnostic rather than an atheist. When another face, who I didn't know well but sure as hell recognise, moves on it is a sad day indeed. We need stories at times like these.

 

[E for B and Billy Best]

I was genuinely shocked when I was told on Monday. I was speaking to him at Joe M's 60th last month and although he had an op recently he looked fitter than he had for a long while. I knew Steve from a young age from being at Prince Avenue and even then he could be a little bit larger than life. He did a bloody good job keeping it hid but Steve always had a heart of gold, and I'm sure Joe M and Oz could tell you many times how he put their needs before his own.

 

[ozzie]

Sad to read so few "posts " have been written about Steve,many more people knew him.Maybe by the weekend,other people would have,sadly,have seen this news.
Will write a couple of "posts" about Steve soon.
Thanks Kev,with that Photo,Steve looking how we will always remember him..STEVE...gutted

 

[ozzie]

Steve came over here for work(Germany),it did not last even a day...he was no Brickie,site worker even worker!!
But he stayed a few days with me and my future wife(1983)
My wife does not drink!!! and still with me !!!
So the first day Steve and myself went out for a beer or two...got home! late, she knew whats on
In the morning,Steve and myself,not so well,she asked Steve(not me) what would you like to drink for breakfast...
Tea or coffee..
Steve said" neither danke,can i have a schnapps"!!!
That was the end of any chance of my wife ,liking any mates of mine.
Although Steve came,often ,with his wife to visit us ,in Exeter, later in the 80s,she liked his missus..but Steve !!!

 

[Benfleet A1]

I'll always remember him as the bloke who scared the **** out of my brother for suggesting a punch up against god knows who when we played, wait for it, the Japan National 11. Was bro's first ever game. Surprised it didn't put him off for good.

Then there was the time he decided to get out of a transit for a wee on the way back from Torquay. He had just woken up and the van was travelling along the M5 in a snow storm. Broke a leg I believe.

Or his one man attack on a crowd of Lincoln by the tea bar in the old South Bank resulting in him being slung over the wall by plod and dragged away.

But my favorite will always be when he was on crutches in the North Bank getting all rowdy when a copper had enough and started dragging him out. Steve was screaming 'Leave me alone, I'm a cripple' while the faithful all fell about laughing.

As you say Ozzie, larger than life but a good egg really.

 

[ozzie]

With a beer in my hand,just said goodbye to Steve..will be tomorrow sober

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Recall him in recent years with his 'Columbo' Mac being his trademark.