Southend United V Chester FC Match Information

November 7, 2014 by Alec Hitchman

The FA Cup Returns

Southend United V Chester FC

Chester FC are the next side to visit Roots Hall, with their previous visit being a month and a half shy of ten years ago. Since then, Chester City were wound up in 2010. Not long after, Chester FC were formed. They won the title in each league they had been in, between 2010-2013, three titles in a row. They had a mixed first season in the Conference Premier (now known as The Vanarama Conference for sponsorship reasons), finishing in the relegation zone. However, due to Hereford United's financial worries, they finished in the relegation zone and Chester survived...just.
These two sides have never met before. As mentioned, Blues played Chester City before they were wound up. This will of course be the first meeting between the sides, but we can still look at Blues’ record against Chester City. Southend United played Chester City 38 times, with the last meeting ending in a 2-2 draw at Chester’s ground, The Deva Stadium. Our first meeting was back in 1933, when, coincidentally, Blues played them at home in the FA Cup.

So, Who are Chester FC?

Full Name:Chester Football Club
Founded:2010
Nickname:The Blues, The Seals
Ground:The Deva Stadium (5,376 Capacity)
Manager:Steve Burr
2013-14 Season:Skrill Premier (Conference Premier) – 21st

Most Recent Line-Ups

Chester FC:Worsnop, Heneghan, Brown, Charnock, Roberts, James, McConville, Hughes, Rooney, Mahon (Winn – 34’), Hobson (Menagh – 70’)
Southend United:Bentley, White, Sokolik, Prosser, Binnom-Williams, Leonard, Deegan, Timlin, Worrall, Corr, Weston (Coulthirst 84’)

Last Time We Met – Chester (City) 2-2 Southend United – 05/03/2005

Chester (City):Brown, Edmondson, Bolland, Hope, Hessey, Drummond, Carden, Davies, Walsh, Foy, Branch
Southend UnitedFlahavan, Hunt, Prior, Barrett, Wilson, Pettefer (Bramble – 73’), Maher, Bentley (Mark), Gower (Nicolau – 89’), Eastwood, Gray

Chester’s Last 5 Results

Eastleigh (A) – L 3-2
Stockport (A) – W 4-2 – FA Cup Qualifier
Alfreton (H) – W 2-1
Dover (A) – L 2-0
Aldershot (H) – W 1-0

What Could Happen?

A win for either side will send them through to the second round of the FA Cup. If tomorrow’s game is a draw, then there will be a replay at The Deva Stadium. Simple!

For the Chester Fans – A Quick Guide

Distance to Travel (Based on the distance between both team’s grounds)

245 Miles (4 Hours, 5 Minutes)

Where Can I Drink?

There is a bar in the ground known as the Shrimpers Bar. Although this is mainly for home fans, away supporters do have access. Other than this, there is the Blue Boar pub on Victoria Road, which, on match days, only admits away supporters. It is about a two minute walk from the ground (heading towards the town centre). You will have to walk past The Spread Eagle in order to get to the Blue Boar, but "The Spread" is only open to home fans on match days.

Where Can I Park?

There is plenty of street parking within walking distance of the ground, based in the many back streets behind and to the right of the away stand, otherwise, there is a car park at Southend High School For Boys, which charges £5 for match day parking.

Staying Overnight?

There are plenty of hotels and B&B’s in Southend. One of which is the airport hotel, approximately a 5 minute drive, or a 30 minute walk from Roots Hall. On the other hand, there are a number of B&B’s along the seafront, just like Morecambe! The seafront is roughly 25 minutes by foot from Roots Hall.

Where can I Eat?

There is a chip shop opposite the Blue Boar pub, called The Fish House. Other than this, there are the usual fast food restaurants in Southend high street. There is also the Chinese buffet, known as "East", which is located near the Royals Shopping Centre, in the high street. Locals will be happy to guide you should you need help.

Attractions

If you have planned to make a weekend of your visit, there are many attractions in Southend. One of which is Adventure Island, an amusement park on the seafront at the end of the town centre. Just along from that, there is a Sea-Life Centre, along with ten-pin bowling at the Kursaal.

Programme Price

£3.00 – Will probably be reduced to £2.00 or £1.50, this is a cup match after all!

Postcode (for SatNav users):

SS2 6NQ

My Predicted Southend Line-Up:

Bentley, White, Sokolik, Prosser, Binnom-Williams, Hurst, Timlin, Deegan, Weston, Corr, Coulthirst

The Opposition View

John Murray

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chester FC?

My name’s John Murray, and I went to my first Chester game in 1994. In my second game that season, we won promotion to what would now be League 1. I didn't realise at the time that it wouldn't get much better than that!
I wouldn't say I became a fully fledged supporter until 1998, when I started going to every home game and the odd away one. It just started to feel like it was my club, and that I was needed and appreciated there in a way that I would never be if I followed one of the big Liverpool or Manchester clubs.

2. This is probably an obvious question, but were you a fan of Chester City before the club was wound up in 2010?

Yes. I think of it as the same club. Technically, it isn't, but it's the same ground, same kit, same fans and some of the same players have turned out for both guises of the club. The only difference is that we're now owned by people who care - the supporters.

3. What are your views on the previously mentioned winding up of Chester City?

It still makes me very angry. Steven Vaughan is somebody who should not be allowed to own a club at any level. We're one of at least four sports clubs that he's left in an utterly appalling state.
As sad as the demise of City was, it had to happen and it was almost a relief. I look at the situations at clubs like Hereford, Salisbury and Northwich and feel really sorry for their supporters, because things just seem to be dragging on and on with no end in sight.
I also wouldn't swap the first three seasons at the new club for anything. Three titles in a row at Chester just seems like fantasy land, and games were fantastic to watch. It's been tougher since we got to the Conference, but I've never been prouder to be a Chester supporter.

4. What are your views on Southend United?

It's been a while since we played Southend, but I used to see you as one of the more friendly and genuine clubs at the level. I remember you running a bucket collection for us when we almost went bust during the 1998/99 season, which was a great gesture.
Today, it looks like you have a decent side, and Phil Brown is a manager with a point to prove. He’s achieved some very good things in the game and will want to make a name for himself again at Southend.
I can't pretend I was overjoyed with the draw, as it's a long journey and a tough tie, but it will be a good test for us and it's nice to renew acquaintances with an established League club.

5. What are your views on Chester's season so far?

I'm happy with it on the whole. It started dreadfully, and I think anyone who attended the 5-0 home defeat against Barnet on the opening day would certainly have taken 14th place at the start of November.
We have a limited team, but a likeable one. There are no egos in it, just hardworking lads. We're pretty entertaining to watch this season too, and we try to play attacking football.

6. A few of your players have Football League experience, given this, why do you think Chester aren't higher in the "Vanarama" Conference?

It's a very tough division. There are bigger ex-league clubs than us in it, like Bristol Rovers, Grimsby and Lincoln. Then you've got the financially backed clubs like Forest Green, Gateshead and Eastleigh. We're just a supporter-owned club on gates of 2,500 trying to live within our means.
We found out last season that the gap between the Conference North and the Conference Premier is huge. I really don't think there's a bigger gap between two divisions in English football, and it was illustrated by the way we beat Stockport in the last round of the FA Cup.
I think we'll need a few more seasons of consolidation at this level before we can realistically challenge for promotion.

7. Will you be going to the game? If so, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?

I'm hoping to go, but it will be a last minute decision. If I do, it will be a new ground for me to visit.

8. Chris Iwelumo has recently retired. Although he has no connections with Southend (apart from previously playing for our rivals, Colchester). Will his loss be a blow to the side?

Er...no, is the polite answer! Iwelumo had a great pedigree in the game, and seemed a good character to have around, but this was clearly one season too many for him. He seemed to have lost the ability to win headers completely, and ultimately it's a relief to have him off the wage bill. Still, I don't bear him any grudges and wish him well in his new coaching role at Stoke.
A bigger loss for us up front this weekend is Matty Hughes, who has been really impressive during his loan spell here from Fleetwood, but got sent off last weekend and is now banned for three games. We’re also without Michael Kay at the back for the same reason.

9. The FA Cup, what are your best memories of this competition? (With Chester City or Chester FC)

Beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in 2005 stands out. Forest were at a low ebb at the time, but it still looked like a remarkable scoreline. A trip to Ewood Park in 2001 is another highlight. We matched Blackburn for 70 minutes, then had a goal harshly ruled out before succumbing to two late strikes.
I'm sure you won't mind me mentioning a deserved win at Colchester in 2002 as well. They were two leagues above us at the time.
As Chester FC, it's the first time we've been in the First Round Proper, and we didn't even get to play in it until our third season, so hopefully the best memories are yet to come.

10. How do you think the game will pan out and what do you think the score will be?

Expect goals - we've only had one goalless game since Steve Burr took over as manager in January. I'll be optimistic and predict a 2-2 draw.

Andrew Davies

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Chester FC?

Andy Davies, supported Chester since 1994, five years old at the time, born a blue.

2. This is probably an obvious question, but were you a fan of Chester City before the club was wound up in 2010?

Yeah, as I said started going in 1994 and kept it going, tough times a plenty especially around five years ago.

3. What are your views on the previously mentioned winding up of Chester City?

It was a long time coming to be honest, what our then owner Stephen Vaughan put our fans (and staff) through was unforgivable. He was the first person to fail the FA’s ‘fit and proper person’ test whilst in charge following his involvement in VAT ‘Carousel’ Fraud, he was banned from being a company director in 2009. He was instructed to surrender his majority shares in our club, but merely transferred them to his son, unfortunately for us. I could go on all day about it really as there’s so much to tell, he’s absolutely detested in Chester as a result.
It did bring the fans together under a newly formed fans group and obviously we now own our club, which is the way to go in my opinion. We’ve been through an awful lot, more than most, but we’re in a good place now, in control of our own fate. The three straight championship winning promotions in our first three years from reformation were absolutely fantastic, back to the level where Chester City bowed out now.

4. What are your views on Southend United?

Often thought of you as a bit of a yo-yo club, capable of plying your trade a league higher at least but it doesn’t seem to last and establishing yourselves there seems to be the main struggle. This season, well, can’t help but notice that poor run through October which I felt gave us some hope when the draw was made, but obviously you recorded an overdue win last week.

5. What are your views on Chester's season so far?

Happy so far, after finishing last season in a relegation place we’ve made definite progress to sit more comfortably almost bang smack in the middle of the table right now. We were given a lifeline with a reprieve so we need to make the most of it. I think our manager Steve Burr has made a few shrewd signings, and after a slow start I think our lads have gelled together now and we’ve climbed up to mid table.

6. A few of your players have Football League experience, given this, why do you think Chester aren't higher in the "Vanarama" Conference?

After finishing where we did last season we needed a bit of an overhaul so we’ve seen a lot of new faces come in, it can take time to gel and the season didn’t start well. After a poor first few weeks we’ve improved to climb up the table and we’re looking up rather than over our shoulders now. The Conference is a tough league too, financial compliance rules are very different to as they are in the Football league so as a result you’ve got small clubs with big budgets, thanks to some ambitious owners.

7. Will you be going to the game? If so, will this be your first visit to Roots Hall?

I’ll be heading down and it will be my first visit to Roots Hall too. I’ve never made it down before and our last visit was nearly ten years ago now, new ground to tick off my list.

8. Chris Iwelumo has recently retired. Although he has no connections with Southend (apart from previously playing for our rivals, Colchester). Will his loss be a blow to the side?

I don’t think he’ll be a loss on the pitch if I’m being honest, he’s struggled since he arrived and the move didn’t work out. From what we’ve seen of him it felt more like when and not if he’d retire any time soon, so it wasn’t a surprise. Seemed like a decent bloke though and helped out with coaching some of our younger players.

9. The FA Cup, what are your best memories of this competition? (With Chester City or Chester FC)

We weren’t eligible to enter the competition immediately after our reformation and this is actually our first time in the first round since then so we’ve spent a few years out of the loop, in that regard. In recent times getting to the third round a few years on the bounce was good and giving Notts Forest a good beating at our place in amongst that lot was a highlight, as well as some decent third round trips to the likes of Blackburn and Ipswich. There was also a nice little win away at Colchester at this stage 12 years ago, which I thought I'd throw in there for your benefit!

10. How do you think the game will pan out and what do you think the score will be?

We’re without our main goal threat in Matty Hughes, who was sent off last week at Eastleigh, but I think we can give a good account of ourselves. We’ve also got a few injury concerns that we’re sweating on. If we can get as close to our first XI out as possible then I can’t see why we can’t come and grab a win, a draw and bringing you back to the Deva maybe more realistic though.