Were you born into SUFC or was it a choice?

[usa_shrimper]

Dad was from north London and as a kid (70's) spent many friday nights watching Southend and going to watch Spurs on the Saturday.

 

[wally4pm]

As a boy I used to go to Spurs with kids from school but gradually stopped going although I still 'follow' Spurs. I then began watching Romford and followed them all over the country as they were a top non league side in those days (Late 1960's, early 1970's). When they folded, I had no team to support and as my family were all living in Southend, began to watch them and of course, fell in love with them. Now Southend is my first team (even when we played Spurs in the Cups) and although Romford have now reformed, still prefer Southend. I can remember Romford playing Southend in the Eastern Professional Foodlight Competition ( as something very similar) many years ago. Have now been supporting Southend for over 20 years and reckon it will be about another 20 before I see this new Stadium!

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I've put chose SUFC, but it's proabaly a bit of both. My dad was never a football fan, my Uncle was an Arsenal fan but used to watch Southend in his youth. I'd started following the Blues results on tv and wanted to go and see a game, my uncle wanted to take his son to a football match so off we all went to Roots Hall. The rest is history.

 

[TrueBlue]

My dad is West Ham - I grew up in the late 80s early 90s with West Ham from my dad and all the other top teams from friends being shoved down my throat - I am born in Rochford hospital I have always lived in Hockley something I am proud to say and I am proud to say Southend is my team they represent who I am and where I am from and thats the reason I am Southend and nobody else

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

My Dad is a life long Shrimper and took me to my first game when I was eight, during the 1980/81 Fourth Division Championship season. It was a good year to be introduced to the Mighty Blues.

 

[Pubey]

I was born in East London but moved to Southend when young. My Dad supported Aberdeen when growing up but only because his dad did. I started watching Southend and they became my team, and in time my parents go to more and more matches too. I have Uncles who support Man Utd and so I've always had a soft spot for them too. My inlaws support United too, but I tend to watch Wigan with them (where they live).

 

[NZamba Legend]

I am Italian and grew up in Florence. I used to support Fiorentina but on 12 October 1993 my dad took me to see their Anglo-Italian Cup game against a small team from England, Southend United. From that day on I have supported the Shrimpers. When I was 16 I left our beautiful family home in the Fiesole hills overlooking Florence and moved to England, renting a bedsit in York Road just to be closer to my beloved Shrimpers. The first thing I did upon arriving in Southend was to get a portrait of my new hero Phil Gridelet tatooed almost across my entire back. Sometimes I miss Italy but I do not regret the choices I have made in life.

 

[shaneyshrimper]

Always followed Arsenal in the glory years at Highbury. Soon realised the cost which started to hurt. Cannot stand to watch football on the box as the game is about pssion and only a live atmosphere can do that. Southend was the nearest team, so now I wouldnt be without them, even with all the ribbing I get about being a shrimper. Sometimes a team really does pick you... Up the Blues!!

 

[Crawliano]

Simple as this for me... The only footballing "dynasty" in my family was a Spurs supporting uncle and another uncle who supported Leeds. So, I went along with my friends at school, supported West Ham as my best mate at the time did, then realised that was stupid and I could support Arsenal who were good and not Liverpool (as they all spoke funny up there), then one day, to be different at the age of 8 decided that I would support Southend just pretty much for the lolz, cue the ridicule. I never looked back, proudly now in my 23rd year supporting the club.

 

[Reg Martin]

Wasn't sure which option to select - Born in Rochford brought up in Leigh-on-sea but parents are Londoners and my dad supported Leyton Orient as a boy but he supported Southend as well after moving down in 1950s (I may be wrong but I think the Southend-Orient dislike is a more recent thing. I don't remember it in the 70s when I was growing up though our paths never crossed in that decade)

 

[united we stand]

Born in Rochford Hospital. As a kid supported Liverpool ,because thats what everyone around me did ( I didn't understand what the 'SUFC ' graffti on BFW in Hullbridge stood for for years ! . My mates dad took me and his son to a few friday night matches in the North bank when we were about 10 but TBH it was fun but I wasn't hooked. My dad had no interest in football but my parents are from Dagenham and romford so rest of family is oure West ham .

To my great embarresment I probably went to approx 4 games frm 1978 to about 2006 when my son turned 7.
My son still isn't totally convinced, his Sunday team loses more games than it wins, so he was rather hoping that to get his ' we won' adrelin fix from the shrimpers. But his best mate is a season ticket holder so there is still hope
. For me it had to be my local side- there was never any decision to make . Southend may be crap, a joke, a crap stadium , have no money etc etc---- but its MY crap team and I love it !

 

[Kristof]

Born in Walthamstow but moved down to Essex aged 4 so avoided Hamster or Borient allegence as none of my family like football very much! Once at school started playing and decided to support my local team rather than the usual Spurs Arsenal West Ham or Liverpool that all my school mates supported. :thumbsup:

 

[Big_Nath]

Question: Im born and bread in Wales so how did I end up supporting Southend United? Answer: Passionate fans and a proper atmosphere no matter what. We were already relegated from division 2 going into division 3 - Last game of the season Oldham away. Southend fans singing their hearts out "bye bye Oldham, hello Rochdale"

That's what real football's all about not these muppets on £250,000 a week

 

[barryp1]

Born in Tintern Avenue, Westcliff

 

[ian180]

Born in Norwood South London, my dad was a crystal Palace supporter and I was taken a few times. Much to his dismay I announced I was a Chelsea supporter. I moved to Rochford when I was seven, but Chelsea was still my team and I later went to both home and away games. I remember getting crushed at Grimsby when they won the old 2nd division title when the great Kerry Dixon (hero) scored. Unfortunately, the cost stopped me going, and I started going to see the local team. I am now a season ticket holder with one of my sons and the other (Adam the shrimper) goes when not at uni. A couple of seasons ago, I was given a ticket for a Chelsea game as a birthday present, but it was not the Chelsea I knew. I now love going to Roots Hall and look forward to every game

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

and my dad supported Leyton Orient as a boy but he supported Southend as well after moving down in 1950s (I may be wrong but I think the Southend-Orient dislike is a more recent thing. I don't remember it in the 70s when I was growing up though our paths never crossed in that decade)

Thats correct, when we played Orient in the 80's for the first time in decades, there was no real rivalry. That has only reared its head over the last 10 years when we've played them on a more regular basis. You will probably recall that in the mid 70's, Brighton, Watford, and to a lesser extent Cambridge were all viewed on the same level as our local rivals. Colchester never came into the equation, as we took over the town every time we played there, and they never showed at Roots Hall to generate a 'derby' atmosphere.

 

[enfieldblue]

supported man u as a kid (lack of paternal guidance i call it - lol) uncle took me to a few blues games in the early 70's (can't say what games tho) then went away from football into music, but the damage was done. started looking for the blues results, league positions etc, etc. 1999-2000 season took my two boys to the rotherham game - we lost but i was hooked again. older boy remains a spurs fan but younger lad now support the blues. gained a vertain kudos when at secondary school for supporting a non sheep following team.
p.s. read "she stood there laughing" by stephen foster - an excellent book explaining the passion of following (a then) lower league team

 

[Up the Shrimpers]

My dad was a Hendon FC fan my Mum & Grandad were Walhamstow Avenue fans. My family moved to the Southend area in late 1960's parents never took me to see Southend though, but I started going to watch Southend in the early 1980's with mates from school.

 

[Cultist of Sooty]

Chose, I suppose.

I was born in Falkirk but my family moved to Stanford-le-Hope when I was a bairn. My Dad was a Falkirk fan, and I've always had a soft spot for them. But he took me to watch Southend games when I was just a wee lad and that was it; Southend were my team.

My older brother was an Arsenal fan. He tried to make me support them, but I'd already imprinted on Southend.

 

[Beefy]

Chose. My immediate family aren't into football at all. My Grandad was a lifelong West Ham fan (albeit one who had watched Southend regularly at the Kursaal) and as the only footballing influence in my young life I grew up following the Hammers. I went to the odd Southend game per season with friends from the age of eight or nine, started going most weeks under Barry Fry and then every week from the season after under Peter Taylor so that by the time I was about 15 or 16 I couldn't care less about West Ham or anyone else.