As a kid I was never into football that much. My dad did whatever he could to try and interest me, especially when it came to his team, Tottenham Hotspur. My brother is a couple of years older than me, and he happily went with my dad to see games, though he ended up providing his allegiance to the red side of Liverpool. For me, the idea of watching football was not as high up as other past-times.
I went to a crap old school in Southend. For where it was situated (on the "millionaire's row" AKA Southchurch Boulevard) it weren't half a shit-hole (since leaving the Thorpe Bay school, it was closed down but has since re-opened as a community college). The only way to bide the time during breaks (aside from bunking off or smoking) was to play football.
Playing football was a good thing - with my friends back then we played dirty, so there would always be dodgy tackles and a few punchups, but that was all part of the fun. I was an energetic kid (in a way I still am - I find it very difficult just sitting down & doing nothing, and my mind will always wander unless my attention is fully taken), so the idea of sitting down for 90+ minutes always put me off.
It wasn't until 1992 that I was watching a league cup game on TV that pitted Tranmere Rovers against Aston Villa that I actually appreciated the art of watching football. From that moment on, I started following the mighty (I use that term loosely) Villa. However, being that I was a 12 year old kid who couldn't get to Birmingham to watch them, I also started visiting my hometown team of Southend United.
Over the next 20 years, I found that I'd spent most of my adult life cherring on the mighty Shrimpers over the Villa. In fact, I worked for Southend United as a chief steward from the beginning of the 95/96 season, until the end of the 96/97 season. During that time I got to meet the team and found myself chatting with one of my favourite players - Chris Powell - during Steve Tilson's testimonial match, as well as joke around with Andy Ansah and Jason Lee, experiences I would never have had the chance with some of my favourite Villa players.
Over the past 2 years, I've found my loyalty to the Villa waning, and at the end of last season I did something that some people may find controversial. I ditched my allegiance to Aston Villa. A lot of people thought that this was sacrilege, but I had always follwed Southend United alongside them. Given Villa's form last season, I had had enough and decided to appreciate the football that my home town team could provide as my football allegiance.
I've been to a few games this season at Roots Hall, but none with as much on the line as last night. Southend United had a slender 1-0 advantage over hated rivals Leyton Orient going into the 2nd leg of the Johnstones Paint Trophy Southern Area Final. A spot at Wembley was available to the winner, so a win or draw would get us there.
As a football fan, I've experienced my fair share of nail-biting moments, but watching that game live last night was by far the worst. We did not play exciting (or even good football) but we managed to sneak a spot at Wembley in injury time. I was elated and managed to get on the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate with the other blues fans.
I've seen Southend United go from the top of the 1st Division (what is in effect the Championship) down to the bottom of league 2. I've seen us go through highs (successive promotions & LDV final appearances) and lows, hell earlier on this season we were the most in form team in the country! I've never had the opportunity to cheer my home town team to glory at Wembley Stadium, but I will do loud & proud on the 7th April 2013.
Last night was the culmination of 22 years of support for my team. This is my thank you to those players and staff that made it possible for me to get to see Southend United at Wembley (seeing as its been 83 years since we were there last, this may not happen again in my lifetime).
Now its time to cheer the boys on as they push for a playoff place - lets hope this gives us the momentum to get there! I'm going to use my last few words to quote a song that was sung loudly last night by the thousands on the Roots Hall pitch:
Que-sara-sara, whatever will be will be, we're going to wem-ber-ley, que-sara-sara!
