Since having suffered a first-ever relegation to Non-League football in 2021 amidst a whirlwind of financial turmoil, Southend United have rebuilt incrementally to position themselves amongst the favourites to achieve promotion from this year’s National League.
A flying start under first-time manager Kieron Dyer has seen the club shoot out the blocks so far this season with three league wins from three – a statement of intent from a side whom the Reds will meet for an inaugural meeting at Woodside Road in late October.
History
The Shrimpers were founded in 1906 and subsequently admitted into the Football League in 1920, where the club would remain for the next 101 years of its existence. Spending the majority of the 20th century in the Third Division, the Essex outfit enjoyed their most successful period towards the end of the millennium with a six-year stint in the second tier from 1991 to 1997.
This season marks 20 years since the Blues last featured in the second tier; managed by former player Steve Tilson, the club won the League One title in 2006, albeit their Championship stay would only last one season.
It was the start of this decade where Southend’s fortunes took a severe turn for the worse. Pre-existing financial struggles under the ownership of Ron Martin were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the club repeatedly failing to pay players and backroom staff on time.
In March 2023 the club was put up for sale, which was followed by the serving of a staggering 18th winding-up petition by HMRC. Martin’s demands in the sale rested significantly on payment for the club’s stadium, Roots Hall. Finally, in 2024, a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees agreed the takeover of Southend United, bringing an end to a distressing period in which the club faced heavy doubts regarding its long-term future.
The last two seasons on the pitch for the Shrimpers have fallen just short of the club’s ambition of returning to
the Football League.
Under another former player-turned-manager in Kevin Maher, United suffered play-off final agony at the hands of Oldham Athletic in 2025, before losing out to Scunthorpe in last year’s Eliminator stage. Play-off defeat last term prompted a change in management by the new leadership, with Maher relieved of his duties just days after leading the club to FA Trophy success with victory over Wealdstone at Wembley.
Manager – Kieron Dyer
Appointed in June this year following Maher’s departure- former England international Kieron Dyer stepped into his first foray into management.
Born just over an hour away from Southend up the coast in Ipswich, Dyer began his playing career as a trainee in the Ipswich Town academy. He went on to feature 91 times for the Tractor Boys, earning call-ups to the England youth setup at both Under-19 and Under-20 level.
Dyer’s departure from Portman Road in July 1999 would set in motion the most prominent stage of his career.
Aged 20, the midfielder headed to the North East to join up with Ruud Gullit’s Newcastle United. In an eight-yearstay on Tyneside, Dyer would go on to make just under 200 appearances for the Magpies, scoring 23 goals in the process. The period at Newcastle would also coincide with his senior international career, making 33 appearances for England from 1999 to 2007.
Following the end of his playing days in 2013, Dyer took up his first coaching role in the Ipswich Town youth set-up, later becoming the Head Coach of the club’s Under-23 side. His most recent coaching position before taking the Southend job came in 2023 where he joined up with former Ipswich boss Paul Cook as a First-Team coach at Chesterfield.
Previous Meetings & Player Connections
While this season will mark the first meetings between Worthing and Southend United, recent history does contain links between the two clubs regarding personnel.
Former Rebels midfielder Michael Klass began his professional career on the Essex coast, making his senior debut for Southend in the EFL Trophy in 2017. Our first summer signing following promotion to the National League, Noor Husin, made the move from United for whom he made 150 appearances in a four-and-a-half year spell.
Stadium – Roots Hall
Boasting the third largest capacity in the division behind Carlisle United’s Brunton Park and the Gateshead International Stadium, Roots Hall has been the home of Southend United since 1955, although the club had previously played on the grounds around the time of its inception in 1906.
Once made up of four terraced stands, the stadium’s record capacity totalled an impressive 31,033 for an FA Cup tie vs Liverpool in 1979.
Modernisation and redevelopment has seen the terraces converted for seating, although the low roofing on each of the four stands maintains the close atmosphere created by terraces of old.
Away supporters are situated in the North Stand, housing a potential away capacity of up to 1,200. The stand, known commercially as the Solopress North Bank, contains a small kiosk for away fans to purchase hot and cold refreshments.
Distance from the Sussex Transport Community Stadium: 93.5 miles
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗