TODAY’S OPPOSITION
SOUTHEND UNITED Founded in 1906 as Prittlewell United, the name was changed to Southend United a month later. The Shrimpers were admitted to the Second Division of the Southern League, winning promotion to the First Division in 1908. In 1920, they became founder members of Football League Division Three where they stayed for the next 44 years before being relegated to the Fourth Division in 1966. They spent the next 24 years yo-yoing between the third and fourth tiers. Back-to-back promotions saw them in the Second Division for the first time in 1991 where they stayed for six seasons before back-to-back relegations saw them back in the lowest tier again in 1997. A revival began with promotion in 2005 followed by the League One title in 2006, taking the Blues back to the second tier but only for one season. In 2009-10 Southend faced winding-up orders from HMRC over unpaid tax bills and with a transfer embargo imposed by the Football League until a settlement was reached, the team suffered on the pitch and relegation to League Two was an inevitable consequence.
In 2015 Phil Brown led the team, via the play-offs into League One, but after escaping relegation on goal difference in the 2018-19 season, Brown was replaced by Sol Campbell. But, more financial difficulties and another transfer embargo saw Southend relegated to League Two last season and Campbell left and was replaced by Mark Molesley. With the transfer embargo still in place until the HMRC debt was paid, Southend struggled on the field at the beginning of this season with just one win in the first 15 games. But with the half million pound debt reportedly paid in October, the club was able to focus on the football and won four out of six to close up on the teams above them. Able to strengthen in January, the Blues brought in a number of players, and although they still sit in the relegation places, their defence has tightened up significantly in recent weeks and they have been picking up points including creditable 0-0 draws at Cambridge United and at home to Salford City as well as a thumping 3-1 win at Forest Green Rovers, keeping them in touch with the teams above.
FOUNDED 1906
NICKNAME The Blues, The Shrimpers
ROOTS HALL Capacity 12,392
RECORD SCORER Roy Hollis 135 (1954-1960)
RECORD APPEARANCES Alan Moody 506 (1972-84)
RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID £750k Stan Collymore Crystal Palace November 1992 RECORD TRANSFER FEE RECEIVED £7.5m Stan Collymore Nottingham Forest June 1993
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