Weekend Round-Up 21/08/2010

A reverse of fortunes for Colchester United this week as the U’s were on the right side of an 83rd minute goal. Ian Henderson stealing all 3 points at the depth against a resolute Rochdale side. Andy Bond continued to impress as he added to his goal tally, putting united ahead in the 38th minute. Rochdale equalised within minutes of starting the second half, Dawson unopposed heading home from a corner. After going in front late on Colchester managed to hold on and gratefully take 3 points back to North Essex.

Dagenham & Redbridge were encouraged with the news that Lee Hughes was sidelined with a groin injury but John Still will rue the missed chances during a positive first half. Josh Scott hitting the woodwork was the closest of the Dagenham opportunities. Notts County came out stronger after half time and went ahead on 54 minutes, Craig Westcarr slotting home after a neat move from County’s Ben Davies. Daggers will undoubtedly be looking forward to playing at Victoria Road, Tranmere are the visitors next Saturday.

Southend United have now suffered successive losses after a 3-1 defeat to a strong Port Vale side. The Shrimpers got off to a less than ideal start when Justin Richards put Vale 1-0 up on 5 minutes; this was followed by a second after half time. It was 3-0 on 83 minutes before an own goal by Gareth Owen. Southend find themselves 22nd and will need to start picking up points soon to avoid slipping into a relegation dog fight.

It’s still looking good at the top of the Blue Square South as far as Essex teams are concerned. Chelmsford City made it 3 wins out of 3 games and go top of the league with a brace from Dave Rainford. Takumi Ake made it 3 on 46” and effectively wrapped up the points for City. Braintree Town drew away at St. Albans City whilst Thurrock failed to hold on to a 2-1 lead and eventually drew 2-2 with Boreham Wood. It was Elliot Godfrey who grabbed an 83rd minute equaliser and robbing Thurrock of all 3 points.

Billericay Town find themselves on top of the pile this evening with an impressive 3-0 win over Tonbridge Angels. AFC Hornchurch secured an opening day win against Cray Wanderers, 1-0 was enough to secure all 3 points. Canvey Island, Aveley and Concord Rangers all picking up a solitary point after all drawing their respective fixtures.

Grays Athletic began their life in the Ryman League North with a 1-0 defeat against Harlow Town at their make shift home in East Thurrock. Brentwood Town currently occupy top spot with a convincing 5-0 home thrashing of Leyton. Maldon and Tiptree won their first ever competitive league fixture, a 2-0 triumph over Potters Bar in front of an attendance of just 57. Meanwhile, Heybridge Swifts managed a sure start, beating Tilbury 1-0 at Scraley Road. Romford beat Cheshunt 2-1, East Thurrock drew 1-1 with Great Wakering Rovers whilst Redbridge lost 1-0 away to AFC Sudbury and Ilford drew 2-2 away at Waltham Forest.

Camulodunum

Weekend Round-Up

In League One, Dagenham and Redbridge’s match with Exeter City was postponed due to Adam’s Stansfield death earlier this week. Colchester United started off their home campaign with a tough opener to Sheffield Wednesday who defeated The Daggers 2-0 last week. A fairly even match saw Colchester United take the lead with a spectacular effort from Andrew Bond who was plucked from non-league Barrow in the summer. However, Alan Irvine brought on Neil Mellor to form a three man attack alongside Clinton Morrison and Marcus Tudgay. This proved to be an astute substitution with Mellor scoring in the 82nd minute to muster a draw for the Owls.

Dropping down to League Two, Southend United played a hard fought game with Aldershot Town away at the Recreation Ground. With the game looking to be heading for a draw after few chances, Colchester United target Marvin Morgan scored in the 81st minute to give Southend United their first league defeat of the season.

The Non-League season kicked off today and for the Essex sides competing in Blue Square Conference South, it proved to be an exceptional start. Chelmsford City travelled to Hampshire side Basingstoke although arrived in less than fortunate circumstances after traffic congestion caused them to arrive late, thus the game being moved to a 3:15pm kick off. However despite the less than ideal preparation, the Clarets made a great start by going a goal up in the 17th minute by the impressive Matthew Lock after being set up by new signing Sam Higgins. Nevertheless, the adversity that had plagued their trip looked to have taken its toll. Two minute later, Basingstoke was awarded a penalty after a Marlon Patterson foul, which Rob Rice converted. But Chelmsford were able to settle and two substitutions by Pennyfather obstinately changed the game. Billy Bricknell replaced Higgins while John Martin came on for Stephen Reed. The two men immediately made an impact, a header by Bricknell rattled the post in the 66th minute, however the rebound was met by Martin to make it 2-1. Bricknell then netted a goal himself, his first since joining from Billericay after good work once again by Lock in midfield. A nervy finish resulted in Basingstoke pulling a goal back, however Chelmsford held on to win 3-2, a result Pennyfather will no doubt be delighted with.

Braintree Town also opened their account with an emphatic 3-0 win over Steve King’s Farnborough Town. Braintree Town have a made abundance of changes to the squad since Rod Stringer arrived, including losing star striker George Purcell to York City. Be that as it may, goals weren’t a problem at Cressing Road. The impressive Sam Lechmere was at the heart of everything Braintree were able to produce. A 5th minute corner from the winger was headed home by Bailey-Dennis. Braintree then extended their lead on the half an hour mark, Lechmere once again involved and unselfishly set up striker Sean Marks to score. Lechmere then capped off a fine performance by scoring low drive before the break to mark off a brilliant opening day win for the Irons.

Thurrock FC weren’t able to make it an Essex whitewash in the Conference South but made an impressive comeback to salvage a 2-2 draw at Ship Lane. After a dreary first half, St Albans took a quick fire 2-0 lead with goals from Drew Roberts and Inih Effiong in the space of three minutes. However Cliff Akurang who returned to the club after a venture in League football with Dagenham and Redbridge and Barnet showed his worth by scoring two goals, one of them a contentious penalty in the 73rd minute.

The Ryman League still doesn’t commence until next week. AFC Hornchurch take on Cray Wanderers at home, Billericay Town are also at home against Tonbridge Angels. Canvey Island have a tough away trip at Margate while Aveley go to Horsham. In the Ryman League North, Brentwood Town, Grays Athletic, Harlow Town, Heybridge Swifts, Tilbury, Maldon and Tiptree, AFC Sudbury, Romford, Redbridge and Ilford are all in action.

Shaun (D&R)

No Yorkshire Delight but plenty to bask in

Obscure, bizarre and overwhelming are just a few adjectives to describe the feeling on Saturday when we arrived at the doorsteps of the beating heart of South Yorkshire, Sheffield. In many ways, this was the perfect setting to begin our adventure into the incongruous surroundings of League One, a city which I begrudgingly left only two months ago after finishing my studies. As familiar and acquainted as I am with the city, our 11:45 arrival to Sheffield train station led us to the ‘The Sheffield Tap’ situated at the station itself, a dainty little pub which I never got time to visit in my final year at University. This perhaps came at a relief to the ‘older’ acquaintances (I say this with much caution) who accompanied me as the initial plan was to drag them to my ex student haunts in the city centre. For the ale habitué among us, this was ecstasy with a wide selection of world beers and ales however the statement: “I just want a Fosters” sums up the other half’s mindset who hadn’t quite acquired the bitter taste, me being one of them. Fortuitously, a few of us stumbled onto a cherry beer which while perhaps a little quaint, was nonetheless lovely, therefore indefinitely ruling out stopping at any more watering holes.

Four cherry beers later and we were half an hour away from the new season, time to get a taxi to Hillsborough something I’ll probably never say again. After watching a billowing of blue and white shirts rush past it, the whole grandeur of the event was beginning to sink in, Dagenham and Redbridge at Sheffield Wednesday. Owl’s fans will no doubt look down on our starred eyed confoundment with a hint of condescension, however this is as good as it gets for our club. I imagine Wednesday fans hold their memories of Old Trafford and Anfield clenched tightly to there chests as they find themselves in the same domestic league as ‘minnows’ such as ourselves, I can imagine myself in ten years time doing a similar thing, incessantly telling anyone who wants to know that we played infront of 23,000 people once our mercurial rise has ceased (I’ve articulately side stepped the option of mentioning non-league here!). So while Wednesday fans may be quite flattered that we view the trip to Hillsborough in such a perplexed way, it is a million galaxies away from going to Leigh RMI and losing 2-1 on the opening day of the season in 2003 infront of 400 fans, one of the first seasons I started to follow Daggers away.

I therefore tried to take a lot of it in, I got myself a programme which I don’t do very often these days, slotted my ticket stub neatly into my back pocket and gazed at the stadium in tranquil silence at how far our club had come. However, Giles Coke and Clinton Morrison soon enough smashed this dumbness into pieces within 14 minutes as they stormed into a two-goal lead. After a quite assured first five minutes it seemed like apprehension and nerves had overcome the players rather than Sheffield Wednesday endeavour with two sloppy and avoidable goals. However as the game went on, the further we settled to our new surroundings and started to gain a foot hold in the game. League One football obstinately was a breeze for Vincelot who was imposing himself upon with the game with spells of elegant passing and assurance needed after such a shaky start. We matched Wednesday for large periods of the game, although It did lamentably feel like Sheffield Wednesday had dropped a gear to shun any kind of a comeback which they managed very effectively, Purse and Beevers were exceptional at the back and didn’t give our attack much of a chance except for Gain’s fluky attempted cross which nearly deceived Weaver in goal.

The final whistle was blown and I think most fans walked away quite happy that we weren’t overawed by producing a bold, credible performance in the second half. Infact, I think many left quite optimistic for the Exeter game on Saturday. Par Huddersfield and Southampton, this was undoubtedly of our toughest games of the season and we came out of it with immense dignity. The daunting gap in the gulf of football was certainly bigger than the one onto the train at Dagenham East station, Tudgay and Teale in particular indicated this with some deft touches and moves. However, we didn’t go there with the “Park the Bus” mentality that many other teams employ away at ‘bigger’ teams, we didn’t lump the football upfield or show any indication that gamesmanship or brutality was going to be our avenue to survival this year. We went there; we tried to attack and marginally lost in what was arguably quite a close encounter for most of the game. The game turned sour in the second half mainly because Doe and Arber were able to stifle Morrison and Tudgay, probably two of the best strikers we will be coming up against this season (Lambert and Barnard will be left toothless upfront against us of course!).

After a couple more cherry beers at t’tap, we were back on the train to London and managed to blag first-class seats after they buggered up the seating reservation which resulted in a merry trip home accompanied kit-kats, wine and some of Mark and Spencer’s finest Belgium lager. After a few more beverages in Russell Square and a staggered walk to my house at 1 in the morning. I was home with a cup of tea still shouting a resounding no to my drunk self that we will not get relegated this year, Bring on the Grecians.

Oh and Man of the Match for us was Vincelot by far, I’m starting to like the French.

Opening day reaction.

Exeter 2 : 2 Colchester United

I'm happy with a point, although it's always disapointing to let go of a lead so late into the game. Pleased for Cousins in goal, didn't sound like he did too much wrong but he'll be disapointed to have to pick the ball out of the net twice.

Exeter are fast becoming our 'bogey' team so it's good to go there and come back with a point, it sounded like we had chances to win all three points mind you.

Camulodunum

Sheffield Wednesday 2 : 0 Dagenham & Redbridge

..On the train...

Southend United 1 : 1 Stockport County

A game which we should've won after sustained spells of pressure ended in relief to get a point after Blair Sturrock's last-gasp equaliser. Southend dominated for most of the match but lacked quality in the final third. Barry Corr does well as a targetman but he could've scored a hat-trick today and needs someone alongside him to play off him rather than playing on his own. Stockport threatened occasionally on the counter-attack, with Blues' goalkeeper Glen Morris impressing on his debut, and took the lead in controversial fashion. I'm not entirely sure what happened but I understand the linesman had his flag up for offside when George Donnely smashed the ball home. The goal infuriated the home side and manager Paul Sturrock was sent to the stands in his first competitive game. But it was the boss' son who saved the day in the 95th minute when he bundled home a Zaaboub corner.

Overall, a game lacking in quality, something Southend fans will have to get used to this season, but not lacking in talking points and not a bad peformance from our almost completely new team (only 2 of the starting XI played in the home game against Stockport at the end of last season). A mixed day for the Sturrock family.

Billy Blenheim

Opening Day Fixtures

Colchester United kick off league 1 with a long trip to Exeter City. They’ll be hoping to avoid defeat especially in the same manner they lost last season. The 2-0 defeat at the beginning of April summed up the end of the season for Colchester United; a disappointing performance in a match where we really should have attacked from the off and walked away with 3 points and a clean sheet.

Forget that though, first game often means nothing in relation to the rest of the season, beating Norwich 7-1? Point proved.

Dagenham & Redbridge begin life in League 1 with a dream away fixture at relegated Sheffield Wednesday. With no pressure on Daggers at all, I fancy them to spring a surprise – even a draw would be a brilliant result. This will be a great day for all Daggers fans and staff.

Southend United and their new look squad welcome Stockport County to Roots Hall on the opening day. Both relegated from League 1 last season and suffering monetary problems must be looking to bounce straight back up. I hope so anyway, I miss the rivalry already!

Braintree Town commence their season with a home fixture against newly promoted Farnborough. Farnborough ran away with the ‘Zamaretto Premier League’ title last season, so they’ll be no push-overs. Braintree have replaced striker George Purcell with ex Colchester United youth team product, Jamie Guy. Guy seemed to lose his way at Colchester and went out on loan to several clubs, hopefully regular football and goals will help rekindle the potential U’s fans saw in him.

Chelmsford City The Clarets travel to Basingstoke Town on the 14^th August, Chelmsford will be hoping to improve on their playoff disappointment last season and push for promotion to the Conference Premier.

AFC Hornchurch begin their campaign on the 21^st August, against Cray Wanderers. Horchurch struggled against the Wanderers last season having been defeated twice and not managing to score in either fixture. AFC will want to end this run of poor form against Cray and start another season in the Ryman Premier well.

Billericay Town face Tonbridge Angels at home first game of the season. Tonbridge will feel like last season was an opportunity missed having missed out on the play-offs due to a poor run-in, picking up a mere 4 points from their last 5 games. The Blues strengthened their squad with the signing of widely experienced midfielder Micah Hyde and will hope to see what their current squad can achieve.

Canvey Island make the trip around the Thames estuary to visit Margate for their season opener. Finishing just 5 points above Margate last season, Canvey will be wanting to start well and grab what could be a crucial 3 points come the end of the season. Canvey will want to repeat last season’s good form against Margate last season which included a 2-1 away win.

Aveley FC travel to Horsham on the first day of the season on the back of a strong season in the Ryman Premier. Despite losing their manager and many players to Braintree Town, Aveley fans will see how this season unfolds under the guidance of Alan Kimble.

Camulodunum

Continuity the key at Colchester.

3 or 4 years of ‘footballing boom’, appears to be over for Colchester United and its fans - this isn’t going to turn into a rant about how Cowling is ‘gutless’ for promoting former assistant manager John Ward to manager. Far from it. Personally I like to see everyone getting a chance to prove their worth.

“I like to get Crosses into the box and create lots of chances…” John Ward.

Cowling received mixed opinions after naming Ward as his number 1 although, he was probably prepared for it. Since the club were promoted it seems as if there is a totally different expectation from the fans. I’m not one to say “I’ve been supporting The U’s since 1945 blah blah blah etc etc etc” There are a lot of very strong teams in League One next season (Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Huddersfield to name a few). I’m so disappointed to hear when fans instantly condemn decisions by the club.

Ward appointed fans favourite Joe Dunne as his assistant, a move nearly every fan is pleased with. Both Ward and Dunne have mentioned meetings with RC after Boothroyd left where they discussed in depth about what they feel they could achieve at the club.

“We managed to get across what we felt we could do get some continuity straight away.” Joe Dunne

Dunne also brings up a point that many Colchester fans have also brought up when venting their frustration at losing another manager. 3 managers in 4 years! I don’t think fans appreciate that fact that Dunne mentions, with each new manager comes new players, new staff and ultimately, the players which don’t fit it with the new manager’s plans are given the cold shoulder. This happened under both Lambert and Boothroyd. White, Jackson and Ifil under Lambert and Corcoran, Maybury and Lockwood under Aidy. This must have been a massive influence on Robbie when making his decision, Ward and Dunne both stressed their desire to keep the backroom staff the same along with offering every player a fresh start.

The season ahead isn’t a particularly exciting one for U’s fans. No stand out games like Leeds, Southend and Norwich but we look forward to the challenge of Dagenham and Redbridge.

“What a wonderful story for John Still and the Dagenham boys… For us to have a local derby twice, it’ll be good for them as well as ourselves.” John Ward.

For SOTD and I, this fixture will have a hell of a lot more riding on the result than most CUFC and D&RFC fans.

Transfer activity took it’s time to begin at the WHCS but at the beginning of the week, news came that both David Prutton and Phil Ifil had left the club. Quite happy as I think both players were on a considerable wage, Prutton for his experience and Ifil for his potential. News also broke that we’d signed 2 new players, Brian Wilson from Bristol City and Andrew Bond from non-league Barrow. Particularly please with both, compared to the previous seasons; no high profile signings and the eagerness of getting the friendly’s to see what they are like.

Camulodunum

The Demise of Grays Athletic Football Club

27th September 2005: Dagenham and Redbridge 1…Grays Athletic 2. Stevland Angus has just taken Grays Athletic three points clear at the top of the Nationwide Conference while Essex rivals Dagenham and Redbridge drop down to a humdrum 10th. Five hundred ‘G-Men’ mustered in the Pondfield Terrace are maniacal, I walk dolefully towards the exit not quite being able to comprehend what quite has just happened. “One Team in Essex, There’s only One Team In Essex” is echoed ardently throughout Victoria Road. Grays Athletic had expedited up the non-league hierarchy to not only become the best non-league side in Essex, but the best non-league side full stop. Nearly five years down the line, to pronounce that these two Essex clubs paths had gone different ways would be the grandest of understatements.

Gary Hooper, Aaron McLean, John Nutter, Dennis Oli and our very own Stuart Thurgood (who incidentally scored) were present that night. Now, are all household league names, this was a exceptionally talented team which under the prudent guidance of current Barnet manager Mark “Stimo” Stimson, won the F.A Trophy at everyone’s favourite second team’s stadium: Upton Park and took Grays to the Conference play-offs, only to miss out narrowly 5-4 on aggregate to Halifax Town. The mercurial rise of such a small club however was primarily due to one man- the prosperous Micky Woodward.

A name now recognised by many in Essex was the monetary vanguard behind Gray’s assault on ‘tinpot’ grounds around the country. Felicitous and hungry for success, Woodward was upsetting the non-league pyramid but pleasing many outside of it. Ricky George wrote in a Telegraph article a week before Grays encounter with Dagenham and Redbridge; “It's a great story and one that supporters up and down the country will be following with interest”. The former chairman of Barkingside FC was certainly more likable than the arriviste Karl Williams who fell before him after orchestrating a similar raid on non-league football with Hornchurch FC until his company Coldseal Windows went bust ultimately triggering the liquidation of the club.

But polite and passionate as Woodward was, his ambition was somewhat disillusioned and simply unrealistic. While his first five years as chairman were marked by incessant success, the past five years have been nothing less than a disaster. Betting allegations, point’s deductions, floodlight failure (many Dagenham fans will sympathise with this one) and managerial chaos have all culminated in what many could say the demise of Grays Athletic Football Club. At one point, Woodward tried a stint at management without any previous football experience…madness. However if Grays thought it couldn’t get any grimmer, regrettably it just has.

Goodbye to Bridge Road.

Now under a new regime including ex- West Ham player John Moncur and Chief Executive Andy Swallow, Grays Athletic are waving goodbye to the New Rec where they have played for 120 years after the owners decided not to extend the clubs lease for next season. Memories of Bridge Road are most likely irksome for many Dagenham fans. Many won’t have forgot the infamous F.A Trophy game when ‘massive’ Dagenham and Redbridge turned up with over one thousand fans which Woodward really hadn’t prepared for. However, I always admired that Woodward had the courage to walk over to us himself, the exasperation of over 1,000 Daggers couldn’t have been a nice experience, although I can’t help but think that enmity is something he is quite use to closer to home.

Many Essex fans will have seen that Grays finished bottom of the Blue Square Premier this season on a dour twenty six points. However the failure to beat the drop stretches much deeper beyond that simple figure. Without a ground, they have no other choice than to ground share, although the most likely target is East Thurrock which is six miles away, hardly desirable. With attendances now barely reaching the three hundred mark, even the strongest of optimist will struggle to see a future for the club as they plunge back down to non-league obscurity. Not only do they need to find somewhere to play, they need to find a league to play in. The Ryman League Premier has refused them entry, although they have subsequently appealed this decision. Meanwhile, 10 miles down the road, the club they looked to have overtaken in the football hierarchy were celebrating a promotion to the third tier of football, talk about grabbing your balls and sticking a finger up your arse while you’re there!

“Grays will be next” was the phrase being pontificated by most football teams five years ago including myself, however to say that I have been grinning disdainfully since they begun to deconstruct would be very wrong. I may not speak for most Dagenham fans, but Grays Athletic is the only side that felt like a true Essex Derby. The disappointment, grief and hurt from that night were emotions that should be felt from a derby. Yes, the skirmishes with Barnet and Southend have fomented some spice but have they ever been truly believable? Losing at Underhill has become as inevitable as an England keeper fucking up in a major competition, it isn’t a proper derby and I doubt it ever will be. If anything our relationship with Grays is now pretty happy bloody dory, we let them have our ex captain Anwar Uddin for a few weeks not that it made any contribution in their plight to beat the drop.

Rummaging into the politics at Grays would be a big step out of my depth, however from the outside it’s a pretty clear that a big lesson has been learnt. Football clubs shouldn’t be dallied with like a neglected toy. They are a human subsidence that carries history, emotion and a sense of togetherness. You only have to look at recent pictures of Scarborough’s McCann stadium to emphasis the message further. However let’s not forget that Woodward isn’t the only one that has chased the dream; the number of league clubs that have entered administration tells a story in itself concerning the mismanagement that currently exists within modern football, although not helped by a crippling recession.

As far as I know, Woodward is still part of the club and his early business endeavours have been replaced by a raw passion for the club, I hope together with Moncur and Swallow they can turn it around. Eastwood, Kightly, McLean are just some of the talent that Grays have produced over the past decade. They are a proud club with hard-working people. While Grays Athletic may not have died just yet, you can’t help but think they are laying perilously in their hospital bed waiting for their fate. I can only wish them good luck in finding a new ground, hopefully back in Grays and make a return to the Conference one day built upon graft, heart and living within their means. “One Team In Essex” they chanted, let’s just hope they are simply a team in Essex in the years to come.


UPDATE: Grays Athletic Win Appeal.

In the process of writing this blog, Grays Athletic won their appeal to compete in the Ryman Premier League next season, ground sharing at East Thurrock United. While the club still finds itself in a deep hole with many disquiet fans, this is great news for the club. I wish Andy Swallow and everyone at the club good luck as they try to rebuild the club.

Shaun (D&R)

Football League Fixtures 2010/2011

The 2010/2011 Fixtures have been released. Here are the respective views in brief by our three Essex panelists.

Camulodunum (CUFC)- Colchester United

"It's a given that we're always away first game of the season so I'm not surprised. Daggers at home on the 28th September, I'll be looking forward to that, although slightly nervous as they'll treat it as a cup final and beat us.....


The first 2 homes game, we play both Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth at home which I see as good to get them out of the way early. Hopefully we'll have a bit of early season optimism and pull a few big crowds.


Bristol Rovers at home last game of the season, my birthday - Secure a play-off place?! C'mon!!!"

SOTD (D&R)- Dagenham and Redbridge

"Away to Sheffield blimming Wednesday. If League One football hadn't hit Sheffield Wednesday fans yet, Then it will come down like a ton of bricks when they scan over the fixtures to find their first game is against Dagenham and Redbridge, the famous pub team from Essex. Literally the perfect game to begin our League One campaign. Over 20,000 fans, sunshine (We hope), A city with plenty of boozers and a game that will epitomise the achievement's of John Still and his warrior Daggers.

For personal reasons it gets even better, I have just finished studying in Sheffield so a weekender with old friends beckons. "How many will you take?" will probably be the frequent question posed by Wednesday fans on our forum in the upcoming weeks. I'm going to be optimistic and say over a thousand. We took over 500 for Stockport which was our first ever league game, But i don't think many people will want to miss possibly our biggest league game in our history. Luckily being skint this summer is a blessing in disguise as I don't have a holiday booked in August, although I'm aware than many others do...perhaps there will be another volcanic eruption if you're lucky?

As for other fixtures, my first instinct was to look at when we are playing Colchester in our first Essex league derby for a number of years. Unfortunately my fears were confirmed, both games on Tuesday Night. However, the away game is quite early in the season so I can see us taking quite a few.

As for the others, Southampton and Plymouth on Tuesday Nights will be a mission to get to, but I'm sure many Daggers fans will try every avenue possible to get to these. Bournemouth away on a Saturday for once and still when it is quite warm, could be a quality weekender while Tranmere may persuade many to take in the culture of Liverpool City Centre!

Overall I'm pleased with them. Our first 3 home games are arguably winnable. Peterborough away on he last day of the season already cries out Mackail-Smith relegating Dagenham and Redbridge, but my only thoughts are on Sheffield at the moment.

I'm off to look at the fixtures again, even Dagenham vs Walsall is quite surreal to look at!


Billy Blenheim (SUFC)- Southend United

So, the fixtures for next season have been announced and Southend fans face the thrilling prospect of trips to beautiful British towns such as Bury, Crewe and Morecambe. Yes, I am being slightly sarcastic. The fixture list is only bound to compel the misery at being relegated. One post on Shrimperzone reads: "It finally dawned on me that with the fixtures coming out today this must be how the also rans must feel every year." We mustn't be arrogant and big-headed though. Only 6 seasons ago we were in League Two and promotion next year will be difficult given our financial situation and lack of players.

And there isn't even a proper local derby to look forward to this season, with Gillingham and Barnet being our closest trips. Annoyingly, both of the Gillingham games are on a Tuesday night. 'Highlights' of the season are definitely Oxford away on New Years Day and Wycombe away on the final day of the season, two fairly short trips. The Shrimpers begin the season at home (for the 7th season in a row) to fellow relegated and skint Stockport, before a not too distant journey to Aldershot. On the positive side, there are plenty of new grounds for Shrimpers fans to visit next season and they will be one of the biggest clubs in League Two next season, if you don't take into account our dire finances and threadbare squad"

Carling Cup Draw 2010

First Round Draw: Games to be played the week beginning 9th August 2010

Southend United v Bristol City
Billy Blenheim - "The first round draw of the Carling Cup is never great as the Premiership teams aren't in it, so there aren't many financial opportunities for us. A home draw against Championship opposition is probably the best we could ask for. Also a chance to see Jamal Campbell-Ryce again. We just need a team to play against them with now... "

Milton Keynes Dons v Dagenham & Redbridge
Shaun (D&R) - "Well that's another 1st round exit, bring on the fixtures tomorrow"

Hereford United v Colchester United

Camulodunum; "Meh, rubbish draw for us again and I certaintly will not be making the trip west."

To view the draw in full click http://www.carling.com/carlingcup/fixtures/

Essex XI

After a week of debate, sweat and research (We won't lie, our Ryman Premier League knowledge was pretty rusty). We have came up with our very own Essex XI.

The Eleven have been based on player's respective performances in their own league, rather than on ability. We have tried to take into account most of the Essex Teams within the non-league pyramid. We believe the selection is a good reflection on last season's performances at Essex clubs. Feel free to comment if you agree or disagree.

Just click the Essex XI tab on the top which will take to you to the selection or click here

SOTD (D&R) and Camulodunum (CUFC)