"End of the line?"

Went to see Southend play at home to Exeter on 13 March 2010, thirty-four days before the club is due to be the subject of an HMRC winding-up order at the High Court. This, then, may have been a last chance to see this vintage club at its ageing stadium. Not so long ago the talk was of moving to a new ultra-modern ground; now it's all about survival. This match between two relegation-threatened teams did nothing to raise morale.

Location

A 20 minute stride from Southend Central station. Lots of other stations are nearby. Buses and street parking also an option.

View

Diabolical view from the West Stand, with numerous roof supports and even a bloody step ladder obscuring the goal-mouths and the pitch. Fortunately there was absolutely nothing worth seeing on the pitch, so no action was missed. The game finished goalless.

Facilities

Toilets present but not necessarily correct. Could do with a few more.

Food & Drink

The thing to do is eat chips from a rolled up paper on the way to the ground. Buying food in the ground itself is missing the point. The West Stand bar area has the grimly nostalgic feel of an old working men's club - funny, but not the worst thing in the world by any means.

Police & Stewards

Stewards made minimal impact. Police nowhere to be seen, so no complaints there.

Atmosphere

Some maniac with the loudest drum in the world had a stab at manufacturing atmosphere with his mates. Mostly the 6,700+ crowd were frustrated and disappointed, and they let the players know it.

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