On Saturday, Roots Hall will welcome families whose connection to Southend United goes back to its first season. For the present team, coming home after six goals at Gateshead, it is an occasion worth living up to. The Pioneers celebration gives the Barrow match a significance beyond the table, although second place and a three-point gap to Boreham Wood provide plenty of interest there too.
The football question is whether Southend can carry that convincing performance into a game which may require changes at the back. Barrow have yet to win away, but their recent goals show a danger more specific than their 17th-place position suggests: clearing the first delivery does not necessarily finish the job.
The families behind the first season
Forty relatives from the families of 14 of the 20 Pioneers are expected for the occasion. The club will welcome them onto the pitch before kick-off, 120 years after Southend’s first fixture against Swindon Town on 1 September 1906. This is also Retro Shirt Day, but the family connection gives it something an old kit alone cannot supply. These were people with lives beyond a name in a club record, and Saturday puts their descendants in front of today’s supporters.
Andy Leeder talked about that work when he joined the podcast in August. He described tracing relatives as far away as Canada; his plan at that stage included a procession led by the great-great-grandson of Southend’s first signing, William ‘Jerry’ Thomson. The project covers the 16 players from that first season and four other important figures, including founder Oliver Trigg. It is a history of how the club began, rather than simply a list of its first twenty names.
The research is gathered in The Southend United Pioneers, written by Paul FitzGerald, Terry Hamlyn and Andrew Leeder. It is available from the Shrimpers Trust online shop for £15.75 including postage and packing to a UK mainland address. Profits after publishing costs go to the ringfenced Southend United Ex-Players Association (SUEPA) Fund, keeping the proceeds within the work of connecting the club with its former players.
Supporters are being encouraged to wear a favourite older shirt. The club has also announced 120 retro-style footballs, alongside scarves and T-shirts, for its matchday shop, with remaining stock to go online later. Chicken-nugget trader Serious Nugs will be in the fan zone before kick-off. Arriving early would allow time for the families’ appearance; it deserves more than being caught while looking for a seat.
A partnership that may have to change
On the podcast I called the back four of Vontae Daley-Campbell, Ben Goodliffe, Dan Cox and Kyle McAdam, with Darren Oldaker ahead of them, Southend’s strongest five. Gateshead were poor, but the greater connection between those players was still worth recognising.
Joe Duncan and Cox have been selected for Wales Under-21 duty. Wales face Belgium at Westerlo on Tuesday 29 September, then Austria at The Oval in Caernarfon on Tuesday 6 October. That could affect both the Barrow match on 26 September and Southend’s home game against AFC Fylde on Saturday 3 October, depending on when the squad meets up and the players’ release arrangements. On the podcast, the panel expected Jack Sims to come into goal against Barrow and discussed Rayan Oyebade alongside Goodliffe.
If those changes come, Oldaker’s position becomes particularly important. Southend do not need a centre-back charging towards the first loose ball while Isaac Marriott runs into the space behind him. Against Sutton, Barrow scored from goalkeeper Ben Winterbottom’s long free-kick: Alex Reid’s knockdown reached George Walker, who released Marriott on the right. That is a practical test for whoever plays beside Goodliffe. Can the first challenge be made without losing the runner beyond it?
There is a shorter route too. In Barrow’s 1-0 win over Aldershot, Arian Allen’s delivery from the right was cleared, only for Keaton Ward to head the ball back towards Danny Amos. His flick found Rekeem Harper, who turned and finished from close range. Aldershot had dealt with the cross and still conceded. Oldaker and the midfield around him need to be involved after the clearance, especially when Southend’s full-backs have gone forward.
Where Southend can hurt Barrow
Barrow have drawn three and lost two away from home, conceding in all five. At Worthing they led 2-0 at half-time after two debut goals from Mikey Lane, then were pushed back and finished with a point. Worthing recovered through Dom Hutchinson arriving through the middle, twice supplied by Charley Kendall. Those central runs offer an opening for Sam Austin or Leon Chambers-Parillon, and Harry Cardwell’s two goals at Gateshead give Kieron Dyer a strong case for keeping the same attack.
Lane is the caution against getting carried away. The Fleetwood loanee also combined with Marriott to create shooting space near the edge of the box at Solihull. Barrow can play through there as well as use the longer delivery. A Southend side pushing them back must still be close enough to prevent Lane turning and bringing Marriott into the attack.
Southend do not owe the families of the Pioneers another six-goal half. A win built on the same understanding between players would be a fitting contribution to the day. Watch what happens after Barrow’s first delivery is cleared: if Marriott and Harper are being picked up rather than left to collect it, Southend will have carried something more useful home from Gateshead than the score.
The panel’s predictions
I went biggest with 4-0 at Gateshead and still managed to undersell Southend’s 6-1 win. Nobody on the panel called six. This time Charlie goes for 3-0, with Katie, who was not on the podcast, choosing the same score. Sensei Phil and I both called 3-1. All four forecasts back Southend; the difference is whether Barrow find a goal against a defence which may have to change again.
Southend’s score is listed first in every prediction.
| Contributor | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Charlie | 3-0 |
| Chris B | 3-1 |
| Katie | 3-0 |
| Sensei Phil | 3-1 |
Matchday details
Southend United v Barrow: Saturday 26 September, Roots Hall. Kick-off 3pm BST. For New Zealand supporters, that is 3am NZDT on Sunday 27 September, when the clocks move forward.
Heritage: Families of the Pioneers on the pitch before kick-off. Wear a favourite retro shirt.
Book: Buy The Southend United Pioneers from the Shrimpers Trust, £15.75 including UK mainland postage and packing.
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