The Shrimpers finished just six points off the play-offs, despite a points deduction,  following an impressive end of season run losing just one of their final 16 matches.

Southend are currently in 10th place with 52 points. (as at 9th March)

Reverse fixture on 23 Nov 24 – Southend 2 FGR 2 (Bunker, Doidge)

8 match current form tables:-

FGR overall = 10th with 12 points.

Southend overall = 7th with 13 points.

FGR Home = 5th with 16 points.

Southend Away = 7th with 12 points.

March Results:-

Southend 2 Altrincham 1

Southend 2 Woking 2

Yeovil 2 Southend 2

Kevin Maher started his playing career at Spurs but spent most of his career at Southend where he played 385 times. He also played for Oldham, Gillingham & Dagenham. Although born in Ilford he represented Ireland at U21 level.

Maher started his coaching career at Southend U21s and has been manager at Chelmsford and twice caretaker manager at Bristol Rovers before returning to Southend as manager in 2021.

John Still was appointed as the Southend’s Head of Football in November 2021.

Overseeing the scouting and recruitment departments at Roots Hall, he has more experience than almost anyone in the game, having turned professional in 1967 and managed since 1976. After a short-lived playing career, Still’s first job as manager came at Leytonstone when he was just 26, and he’s gone onto take charge of both Barnet and Dagenham & Redbridge over three separate spells, also managing Luton Town and Peterborough United. Still is the only man to guide three clubs out of non-league into the EFL and was Luton’s manager when they were promoted to League Two to start their rise to the Premier League.

James Morton –

After signing a four-year deal with Bristol City in summer 2019, Morton joined FGR on a season-long loan, making his L2 debut when he played the entire match against Oldham on the opening day of the 2019–20 season. In total he played 12 times for FGR. In 2023 he joined Southend from Weston Super Mare.

Ryan Inniss played for Southend on loan from C Palace in 2016/17 season making 12 appearances in all competitions.

Harry Cardwell played for Southend 2022-23. He made 79 appearances and scored 27 goals.

James Morton signing for Southend.

Harry Taylor

In 2022, Harry Taylor joined the Blues on a two-year deal with the option of another year. He signed from Barnet, where he made over 185 appearances over an eight-year span. Capable of playing in midfield or in defence, Harry began his career in Chelsea’s youth team before joining Barnet’s academy in 2012 along with his younger brother Jack, now at Ipswich.

Southend had a transfer embargo until the summer.

Gus Scott-Morris, despite being a full back, is the top scorer with 9 goals. On 16 December 2023 against Bromley, Scott-Morriss had to take over as goalkeeper after the Blues’ goalkeeper had come off injured and there was no substitute goalkeeper. He made some good saves and didn’t concede a goal.

Full back Gus Scott-Morriss, Southend’s top scorer, playing in goal.

Southend are known as “The Shrimpers”, a reference to the area’s maritime industry that is included as one of the quarters on the club badge.

Founded on 19 May 1906 in the Blue Boar pub, Southend won the Southern League Second Division in both of its two initial seasons and was admitted into the Football League in 1920. It spent the next 44 years in the third tier of English football, before dropping into the 4^th Division in 1966. They spent the next 24 years moving between the third and fourth tiers, winning promotions in 1971–72, 1977–78, 1980–81 (as champions), 1986–87 and 1989–90. They were promoted into the 2^nd Division for the first time at the end of the 1990–91 season. After six seasons in the second tier, they suffered a double relegation in 1997 and 1998. Under manager Steve Tilson, Southend again secured a double promotion in 2004–05 and 2005–06 to win a place in the Championship as L1 champions. However, they only lasted one season in the second tier and then, after two top half League One finishes, were relegated back to League Two in 2010. They secured promotion as play-off winners in 2015, but suffered another double relegation in 2020 and 2021, amid deep financial problems that several times pushed the club to the brink of liquidation, to drop—after 101 years in the Football League—into the National League.

The future is now looking much better for Southend United following a takeover in July 24 by The Custodians of Southend United consortium headed by Australian Justin Rees. In November 2024 Southend United’s future was further boosted by new investment from US-based technology entrepreneur Shivaas Gulati.

Action from the draw in November 24.

Justin Bieber with his Southend shirt moaning ‘ Why do I always have to play in goal?’

‘Tell me about it’ replies Gus Scott-Morriss.

The slightly odd connection between Bieber and Southend started in 2015 when Shrimpers midfielder Ryan Leonard credited the pop star’s songs for breaking his goal drought. The 23-year-old had gone 17 games without a goal in all competitions before his first goal at the end October sparked a goalscoring run of three goals in the last four games. “Since we started playing Justin Bieber I’ve starting scoring again,” he said

Leonard was Southend ‘Player of the Season’ 3 times before joining Sheffield United, he now plays for Millwall.

Justin Bieber is playing Tokyo that week so unlikely to make it to the match.

‘Is This Love?’ – Singer Alison Moyet was a Southend season ticket holder for several years and named her dog ‘Tilly’ after Steve Tilson. She wrote the song ‘Blue’ about her love of Southend United. She probably won’t be playing any concerts in Shrewsbury anytime soon. She is in the middle of a sold out world tour and is playing Bath Forum on the evening of Saturday 15th March – surely no coincidence -so maybe she will make it to TNL for the game.

Another northern sky
Another motorway parade
Another day like this
Whatever will be will be
And we will be in Shrewsbury (do I have to go)

Do I have to go
Could I ever stay away
And you never know
Tonight our luck could change
And we’ll be flying all the way (going all the way)
A late point and I’ll be laughing
And Saturday won’t seem so bleak
With you, Blue
Ever a stepping stone
Someone’s Mickey Mouse affair
We’re so unfashionable
But I’m not with you for your stylish hair
Or the seaside air (if we ever get there)
Tell me we’ve acquired a striker (Stanley)
And a lucrative sponsorship came through (on a free)
Will you, Blue
Can we not buy someone famous
And pull a crowd we can’t contain at all
All true, Blue

Southend Mascot – Sammy the Shrimp.

Singer Olly Murs at Southend’s ground supporting Coggeshall FC, who he co-owns, in the Essex Cup.  Previously Murs has said of Southend. “It’s a massive club and I just hope it can get fixed up, This club should be at the very least League 2 with everything they’ve got.’ Olly Murs tour doesn’t start until May 25.

Southend v FGR Programme from November 24.

Action from the reverse fixture in Nov 24.

Forest Green Rovers F.C – The New Lawn, Another Way, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL6 0FG

Rovers Raffle – organised by the Supporters Club to subsidise away travel, ground improvements, Women’s, Academy teams etc. Tickets cost £1 each (cash or card accepted) with winners announced at half time or check winning numbers here – Raffle Results – Forest Green Rovers Supporters Club

Fan Zone – Fan Zone to the right of the ground entrance, behind the North Stand. Open to home & away supporters. The Fan Zone has a food truck, BrewDog bar, toilets and a large marquee with picnic benches. There is live music in the marquee from about 1:30pm. The Fan Zone is usually not open for midweek fixtures.

Green Man Pub – Normally home fans only,  serves food and drink. Opens 12:00pm.

Gym Bar – Closed this season.

Club Shop – Opens 12:00pm.

TNL is a cashless stadium.

To find out about hospitality and events, please email hospitality@fgr.co.uk.

For FAQs please visit www.fgr.co.uk/first-time-visitors.

FGR match tickets are available at www.fgr.co.uk/tickets/match.

Park in the school car park on matchday for £15, this must be booked in advance and can be booked online. For all further enquiries, please email reception@fgr.co.uk. Opens 12:00pm.

To book disabled parking at The New Lawn, please email reception@fgr.co.uk.  2 working days before the match.

FGR Park and Ride service departs every 15 minutes from Renishaw car park – Postcode GL5 5EY priced at £5 per car. This service is only in operation for Saturday games. Starts 12:30pm. Park & Ride operates for Men’s match only, after 5:30pm there is free car parking at the ground.

If parking in the nearby streets, please park legally and be considerate of local residents.

Any queries – email reception@fgr.co.uk or call FGR on 0333 123 1889 between the hours of 9am – 3pm Monday to Friday (excluding Wednesday).

Action from the reverse fixture – Pucklechurch v FGR.

On 9 February 25 FGR fought back from 2 goals down to draw 2-2.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, FGR are hosting a dedicated Her Game Too fixture on Saturday 15th March, which will see both our Men’s and Women’s teams take to The New Lawn in back-to-back fixtures.

This is the second opportunity supporters will have to cheer on the FGR Women at The New Lawn this season. Following defeat by Marine Academy Plymouth on 9th March FGR are currently sitting 4th with 29 points in the Regen Arable South West Regional Women’s Football League, Louise Fensome’s side are pushing for promotion.

Since drawing 2-2 with FGR, Pucklechurch have drawn 3-3 with Biships Lydeard and lost 11-0 to Cheltenham in a Cup match. Pucklechurch played bottom team St Austell on 9th March winning 2-1. Pucklechurch’s top scorer is Amy Jeffries with Jessica Frazer another goal threat. Pucklechurch are 8th out of 11 teams in the League with 16 points.

Tickets for FGR vs Southend United (3pm KO) are on sale as normal, and FGR vs Pucklechurch (5.45pm KO) is a free event and does not require a ticket or booking for entry.

The Park and Ride will available for the Men’s match ONLY. Supporters who wish to watch both games but plan to the Park and Ride service for the Men’s fixture are advised to move their car up to The New Lawn after the Men’s match. Fans can park onsite for free from 5.30pm onwards, or if you arrive before that time, you will be advised to park on local roads.

All supporters for the Women’s match will be seated in the Candriam East Stand, which fans will be able to access through reception. If you’re watching both matches, you can remain in the Candriam East Stand after the Men’s fixture, or move across from either the North or South stand after the Men’s game.

The Club shop will remain open and the Fan Zone will close as normal at half-time of the Men’s match. Supporters staying for the women’s match will be able to purchase food and drink from the Carol Embrey suite located on the 2nd floor of our Candriam East Stand.

On 26 May 946, King Edmund 1, a grandson of Alfred the Great was killed in a brawl at Pucklechurch. He was only the second King of ‘all England’. He was buried at Glastonbury Abbey.

According to the post-Conquest chronicler, John of Worcester:

‘While the glorious Edmund, King of the English, was at the royal township called Pucklechurch in English, in seeking to rescue his steward from Leofa, a most wicked thief, lest he be killed, was himself killed by the same man on the feast of St Augustine, teacher of the English, on Tuesday, 26 May, in the fourth indiction, having completed five years and seven months of his reign. He was borne to Glastonbury, and buried by the abbot, St Dunstan’

Something to chant at the match? – ‘Who killed King Edmund?’

FGR Women celebrating – On 20 April 2023 FGR came from behind to beat Pucklechurch 3-2 to win the Gloucestershire FA Trophy with Nynka Rucker scoring 2 goals in injury time.

Nynka Rucker, with the FGR Supporters Club Committee, in May 2023 celebrating winning both the Gloucestershire FA Trophy by scoring 2 injury time goals in the final versus Pucklechurch and being named Supporters Club FGR Women’s  Player of the Season.

Ryan Inniss, ex-Palace, & Ben Tozer are Her Game Too Player Advocates.

Forest Green Rovers pair become Her Game Too Player Advocates | WE ARE FGR