Zigger Zagger

They came, Donny scored, Blues conga'd

By Chris Phillips


IF the Southend United players had performed as well as their fans at Doncaster Rovers on Friday night then the Shrimpers would now be planning a trip to Wembley.

More than 2,000 supporters made the trip to the Keepmoat Stadium after chairman Ron Martin covered the cost of their coach travel.

And, despite seeing their side thrashed on the pitch, the fans made amazing amounts of noise all evening and easily outsang their hosts.

"It just started to go downhill after the penalty which put them ahead," said keen Blues fan Craig Patterson from Rayleigh.

"Before we knew it we were 4-0 but we decided it was time for a little party because we didn't travel all that way just to look miserable, so we decided to enjoy ourselves with a little conga.

"It was fantastic. It isn't every game you see fans whose side are losing 5-0 outsinging the winning team. In fact in that position most people normally go home "But it was great and the Doncaster fans came on the pitch and clapped us at the end which is all credit to them.

"I even managed to swap shirts with one of them."

And fellow supporter Pete Collier was also full of praise for the Doncaster supporters.

"I thought the Donny fans were going to cause trouble when they came on to the pitch at the end, but they just came across and applauded us," he said.

"It was brilliant and sent shivers down my back. I'm proud to be a Southend supporter."

Such was the atmosphere in the away end that if it was not for the scoreboard you would probably have believed Blues were winning the tie.

The supporters cheered right until the end and Glenn Birnie from Rochford insisted the noise almost made the night bearable.

"I think it was making the best out of a bad situation," he said.

"The team weren't obviously going to cheer us up so we had to do it ourselves.

"If we had just sat there in silence it would have been one of the worst games ever following Southend.

"But thankfully we managed to make it a bit more memorable."

The chants did not change the views of some supporters though and they were understandably disappointed by the result.

"It was awful," said Basildon-based Michael Williams.

"I never really fancied our chances against Doncaster to be honest and I think Steve Tilson's biggest mistake was resting those players against Port Vale on the final day of the league season.

"If we had beaten them then we would have played Carlisle in the play-offs and I think we would have beaten them.

"It's disappointing, especially for me because I had a choice tonight between watching Blues or Girls Aloud.

"They were on at the O2 Arena and I bought the tickets in about December.

"I never thought we would be in with a chance of the play-offs and I have to admit I wish I'd gone to watch them now."

But at least he returned home in reasonable time, unlike one of the coaches which broke down just outside Doncaster on the way back to Southend.

"We didn't get to Roots Hall until 5.15am," said Dave Daveson.

"It wasn't the best but it was still great being at the match and I'm so glad to be a Blues fan."

very good read what other experience at KMS and
doncaster,keep up the good work bradfordexile