Article: Last night's visit to Southend was all a bit retro, wasn't it?

[Easy 10]

So whatever happened to Southends "Sperm" stadium they were submitting plans for ?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

So whatever happened to Southends "Sperm" stadium they were submitting plans for ?

Same place as the large phallic pink mascot they used to have?

*They have a more modern version of Sammy the Shrimp now, or Kevin the Klan Grand Wizard, as he's popularly known.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I don't blame you for not doing so obviously, very far from it, but theoretically couldn't you have nicked them for saying that?

LEEEEV it *icky, they ain't wurfit!

 

[saafend_seagull]

So whatever happened to Southends "Sperm" stadium they were submitting plans for ?

Can't get planning permission

Also sainsburys gave them a couple million which has gone down the drain

And they don't own roots hall

Doesn't look great for them

 

[Easy 10]

Same place as the large phallic pink mascot they used to have?

*They have a more modern version of Sammy the Shrimp now, or Kevin the Klan Grand Wizard, as he's popularly known.

Fair to say, a shrimp really isn't the easiest of costumes to pull off (so to speak).

I'm sure I can recall widespread chants of "What the F****G hell is that ?" on my previous visits to Roots Hall, when the slightly unbalanced wobbly crustacean made its touchline appearance.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Can't get planning permission

Also sainsburys gave them a couple million which has gone down the drain

And they don't own roots hall

Doesn't look great for them

Who owns Roots Hall? Council?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Fair to say, a shrimp really isn't the easiest of costumes to pull off (so to speak).

You think?

I bet this gave Essex kids nightmares.

 

[saafend_seagull]

Last night was all a bit retro, wasn't it?

Who owns Roots Hall? Council?

Not sure, I'll find out. Just asked my friend who said planning permission was granted but sainsburys who are helping with the development need to purchase some land owned by a college of some sort on the site.

Found answer on wiki

In March 1999 Southend United's Roots Hall ground was sold for £4 million to Martin Dawn subsidiary Roots Hall Limited to clear a £3.87 million debt; the club would lease back the ground at an annual rent of £400,000

 

[Biscuit]

Wonderful story and fair play for making the trip [MENTION=249]edna krabappel[/MENTION]

Being in my late twenties with a large mortgage I rarely ever go to away games now and I do miss the cultural exploration of 'lost' civilisations. Indeed the last away trip I made was Watford away a couple of seasons ago. Nowadays I can barely afford my season ticket but somehow find a way. Your story reminds me of when I used to travel with my family and enjoy all manner of enriching away-day experiences.

I remember a late summers visit to Millwall. It had recently stopped raining and the sky was a fierce pink colour as I made my way towards the Den. The rainfall had created numerous puddles and there was an eerie orange glow that bounced blinding from the floor. I stepped carefully as I could barely see and had my eight-five year old Gran on my arm. The silence was broken when a couple of thuggish locals spotted us crossing a bridge. "F*** off home you dirty F***s" they called, as they proceeded to launch rocks, cans, bottles and anything within arms reach in our direction. A couple narrowly missed us as we picked up the pace - blinded by the late afternoon sun.

Inside the stadium the witty locals were in fine voice. The brilliantly unique "Does your boyfriend know your here?" chant was met by "He's over there, he's over there!" by the Albion faithful. The locals couldn't cope. "**** off you gays!" one Millwall supporter spluttered. Kisses were blown in his direction and one portly gentleman mimed 'call me' with an invisible phone. The reaction was immediate. The locals rose like stricken animals. They began literally throwing themselves at the cage that separated us. "I'm not gay you ****ing prick, you're the ****ing gay!" they called angrily. More kisses were blown, more tempers were lost. It wasn't something I enjoyed. Mocking those who lack mental dexterity and wherewithal isn't something to be proud of.

It wasn't only Millwall though. I firmly believe that narrowly avoiding a beating in Cardiff is a right of passage to many fans south of Watford-gap. It was on visits to teams such as Chesterfield, Margate, Luton, Rotherham or Tranmere where I enjoyed myself the most. I knew I'd come home with knowledge of a place that many of my school friends would know nothing about. I learnt of Chesterfield's crooked spires - of the best pubs in Northampton, and places to avoid in Coventry. I'd stand in the freezing cold on a winters night in Carlisle. A last minute winner and we'd be home in a heartbeat - A defeat and the long journey home would last a lifetime.

I enjoyed standing in terraces with bars that wobbled. I became accustomed to flakey paintwork and tearing tickets at old-fashioned turn-styles. I enjoyed talking football with a really passionate Lancastrian. I loved our new signings, convinced even the most hopeless of prospects might just do the business for us. I remember Kurt Nogan being king and desperately wanting a Steve Foster headband.

It's nice going back in time sometimes, but my word is it nice coming home.

 

[mona]

You think?

I bet this gave Essex kids nightmares.

Strewth! That looks like the Partick Thistle mascot suffering cold turkey.

 

[Easy 10]

Not sure, I'll find out. Just asked my friend who said planning permission was granted but sainsburys who are helping with the development need to purchase some land owned by a college of some sort on the site.

Found answer on wiki

In March 1999 Southend United's Roots Hall ground was sold for £4 million to Martin Dawn subsidiary Roots Hall Limited to clear a £3.87 million debt; the club would lease back the ground at an annual rent of £400,000

Just read that Sainsburys aren't interested in purchasing the Roots Hall site any more as they're not currently building (new store projects across the country are also on hold).

 

[Lady Whistledown]

It was on visits to teams such as Chesterfield, Margate, Luton, Rotherham or Tranmere where I enjoyed myself the most. I knew I'd come home with knowledge of a place that many of my school friends would know nothing about. I learnt of Chesterfield's crooked spires - of the best pubs in Northampton, and places to avoid in Coventry. I'd stand in the freezing cold on a winters night in Carlisle. A last minute winner and we'd be home in a heartbeat - A defeat and the long journey home would last a lifetime.

I enjoyed standing in terraces with bars that wobbled. I became accustomed to flakey paintwork and tearing tickets at old-fashioned turn-styles. I enjoyed talking football with a really passionate Lancastrian. I loved our new signings, convinced even the most hopeless of prospects might just do the business for us. I remember Kurt Nogan being king and desperately wanting a Steve Foster headband.

It's nice going back in time sometimes, but my word is it nice coming home.

You're right, of course, even without the unpleasant football venues. I've visited parts of the UK I'd never have gone to if it wasn't for Brighton & Hove Albion. There's no other reason to find yourself in Scunthorpe, Carlisle, Walsall or Doncaster, is there? I've also discovered that some places are actually a lot less awful than their reputations. I quite liked Rotherham last season: alright, there were more branches of Cash Converters than I think I've ever seen in a single urban area, and also a quite shocking proportion of clinically obese folk, but, in the main, the town pleasantly surprised me. Similarly, Hartlepool isn't nearly as grim as you'd imagine. Or Huddersfield. Middlesbrough obviously is though

 

[Goldstone1976]

Middlesbrough obviously is though

Middlebrough is the Detroit of England. Quite how that town gets rescued from the mire of economic gloom is beyond me, I'm afraid.

 

[Gwylan]

Thanks for that Edna, you've let me relive the horrors without actually making the journey. I've been to Roots Hall three times, seen us lose every time and I vowed never to go again.

It is weird following football teams, not only do you get to see strange parts of the country, you get to see strange parts of the town too. How many times have I got lost in some bland-looking hinterland, desperately trying to find my way back to the station?

 

[Biscuit]

You're right, of course, even without the unpleasant football venues. I've visited parts of the UK I'd never have gone to if it wasn't for Brighton & Hove Albion. There's no other reason to find yourself in Scunthorpe, Carlisle, Walsall or Doncaster, is there? I've also discovered that some places are actually a lot less awful than their reputations. I quite liked Rotherham last season: alright, there were more branches of Cash Converters than I think I've ever seen in a single urban area, and also a quite shocking proportion of clinically obese folk, but, in the main, the town pleasantly surprised me. Similarly, Hartlepool isn't nearly as grim as you'd imagine. Or Huddersfield. Middlesbrough obviously is though

Middlesbrough is up there with Coventry in the "Quikrete Town of the year" nominations. Unpleasant.

I'm a video director by trade and travel a lot as a result. Bizarrely our clients seem to require interviews shot in Doncaster or Ipswich or Walsall or somesuch place.. Places I've got to know through my football travels. My colleagues believe I've an almost Encyclopedic knowledge of our fair land. I guess I only have Mssrs Brady, Case and Gritt to thank for that!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Textbook thread on ShrimperZone re the chanting last night, though the ones defending it seem to be under the impression it was simply a case of calling people gay, rather than "town full of ******s". Plenty of "It's just BANTZ" sort of responses, as to be expected.

This one's quite funny though. Bet the journey home was a treat for this old Essex romantic..

I had the honour of sitting next to my 'significant' other half last night. When Brighton sang with great gusto "where's your famous Essex slags" I asked her to give them a wave, she didn't seem too amused.

 

[jimbob5]

Middlesbrough is up there with Coventry in the "Quikrete Town of the year" nominations. Unpleasant.

I'm a video director by trade and travel a lot as a result. Bizarrely our clients seem to require interviews shot in Doncaster or Ipswich or Walsall or somesuch place.. Places I've got to know through my football travels. My colleagues believe I've an almost Encyclopedic knowledge of our fair land. I guess I only have Mssrs Brady, Case and Gritt to thank for that!

I can see why Southend is not everyone's cup of tea but presumably you would rather be there than Cov; and you'd rather be in Cov than Middlesbrough. Although the last has some fantastic surrounding countryside so it's tricky to be too judgmental.

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

To be fair, some of the Southend fans seem pretty ashamed of last night's display of pond-life homophobia. A whole thread on the topic, with most posters taking a more enlightened view. Although a few still seeing it all as harmless, 70s-style 'banter'...

 

[Biscuit]

I can see why Southend is not everyone's cup of tea but presumably you would rather be there than Cov; and you'd rather be in Cov than Middlesbrough. Although the last has some fantastic surrounding countryside so it's tricky to be too judgmental.

Southend > Coventry > Middlesbrough

We could do this for all 92..

I'll start: Brighton >

 

[Gwylan]

... you'd rather be in Cov than Middlesbrough. Although the last has some fantastic surrounding countryside so it's tricky to be too judgmental.

I actually had a walking holiday in the countryside around there (it was timed to take in a Brighton game too); it's an absolutely gorgeous area, almost worth suffering Middlesbrough for (and Middlesbrough is a jewel compared with Billingham or Stockton, down the road)