Southend have bounced back after an
indifferent season to mount a real promotion challenge this time around.
Shrimpers boss Steve Tilson lost
goal machine Leon Constantine in the Summer to Peterborough - basically
the one man who kept them from the relegation zone. He made some shrewd
signings, including Spencer Prior (ex-Cardiff City) on a free to shore
up the defence and experienced midielder Carl Pettefer from Portsmouth..
Former Wimbledon striker Wayne Gray arrived to bring a bit of pace, but
he'll be going some to get near Constanine's 25 goals. Best of the lot,
Fredy Eastwood arrived (see below) to make Southend a potent attacking
force. That was after we gave them a pasting in September, thanks to an
Alun Armstrong hat-trick when they hardly had a kick in the first half.
Man
to watch Fredy Eastwood Signed on a three-year deal
after impressing on loan from Grays Athletic, the young striker scored
the club's fastest goal - 7.7 seconds - on his debut and wasted little
time in reaching double figures. The hardest thing the Shrimpers will
face is hanging onto him, if he keeps this up. .
M25 at junction 29, follow A127 to Southend for 19 miles, ground is on right hand side on approaches to town centre. Street parking.
Trains and buses
Trains: It's
a fairly straightforward amble to the ground. A five minute walk
from Prittlewell railway station - a right turn
and then another right turn past the (recommended) Fish House chip
shop. Or its a straight 15-20 minute walk from Southend
Victoria (also from London Liverpool St) up Victoria Avenue
to the ground, with buses Nos 7,8,9, 15 and 16 from the town centre.
Taxis
Andrews Taxis 01702 200200
Associated Star Cars 01702 611611
Suggested trains:
NB Trains with engineering works from Darlington to Southend
Prittlewell - advise checking before booking. Sugg dep Darlington 08.00 change to bus at Peterborough,
Stevenage 11.42 arrives London Kings Cross 12.04. Tube to Liverpool
Street, 11.55 arr Prittlewell 13.48. Return 17:08 (Liverpool Street
18:01), London King Cross 19:00 (change to a bus at Stevenage to Peterborough,
20:55) Arr Darlington 22:48. Supersaver £72 returnOther routes:London Liverpool
St 10.15-Southend Victoria arr 11:10
Duration: 55mins, trains approx every 20 mins.Return
Southend Victoria-Liverpool St 17.26 (18.21) £10 cheapday return.
Trains from Birmingham New Street involve changes
via London Euston and Liverpool Street, dep 0900 arr 12.31, rtn 17.46
(Euston 20.30) arr 22.44. £44 saver return. From Sheffield
it's easier, suggesting the 08.27 out via St Pancras, Tube to Liverpool
St, arriving 12.31, back on the 17.46 via the same route, on the 19.25
from St Pancras, arr Sheffield 21.54, saver return £61.90.
There's an accommodation
list on the council website, with Westcliff-on-Sea a decent enough
area, not too far from the ground. Contact: Southend Tourist Information
Centre 19 High Street Tel: 01702 215120
On a previous weekend stay, we walked
off the previous night's post-match drink and curry with a walk down the
mile-long Southend Pier. If
you've time, it's worth it - or be lazy and catch the train along it.
For those staying over, one of my favourites and Essex's finest - The
Blockheads - play at Finnery's, 21-22 Marine Parade, Southend on the Friday
night (£15 ticket) before the game. Still a great band, even if
sadly without the late Ian Dury.
Town centre/real
ale
Cork
& Cheese Ale House10 Talza Way A full range of real
ales, despite its unpromising position below Victoria Plaza shopping centre. There's a battle to save the pub from a supermarket development.
Open from 11am and does light snacks. It's the local CAMRA 2004
town pub of the year award winner and DAFTS recommended. A short walk from Southend Victoria station - take the footbridge over the roundabout to the top of the shopping precint and it's on the ground floor. Click for streetmap
There's an Essex
pub guide on the South East Essex CAMRA site.
Near the ground/real ale
The Spread Eagle,267 Victoria Avenue
Large pub with good choice of real ale, but quite expensive. Five
minutes from ground.
The Cricketers 228 London Rd, Westcliff-on-Sea
The only other local CAMRA recommended pub in the area, also does Saturday
lunches.
Near the ground
The New Shrimpers Bar, Southend
United FC, beneath main stand by the East Greens turnstiles.The Shrimpers' Supporters' Trust
now run this bar and away fans - especially fellow Trust members are welcome,
as are families. Hot and cold food, snacks, Sky TVs and Courage
Best on hand-pump. Entry and signing in fee is £1, but it gives you a
raffle ticket into the end of season draw.
The Railway 108 East
Street, Prittlewell Away fans are welcome and a good selection
of ales. Over the road from Prittlewell station. Click for street
map
The Golden Lion. 289 Victoria Avenue Popular with visiting fans, very close to the ground.
Light snacks. Click for street map
To eat
If you
can't get decent fish and chips here, give up! Plenty of other take-aways
near the ground on the A127 Victoria Avenue, with the Fish House
on the corner with East Street recommended.
If
you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on
this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling
then
E-mail DAFTS
The best Southend United website is
Shrimpers.net site on
Rivals, including a good local
info page. They've revamped what was a fairly unexciting Official
website - it looks a lot better, although couldn't have looked much
worse to be frank! There's also the adult-orientated Prawn
Seasoning webzine, which takes the mickey and is also quite useful
for directions etc.
It's
all here for details of Tickets, Travel,
Things to Do, Eat and Drink and
Links
