Where is Southend-on-Sea?
A. On the north of the Thames Estuary, about 40 miles east of London, so we are not actually on the sea. Q. Why United – Did two teams join together? A. Not really, Southend United were formed following a meeting on 19 May 1906 when it was decided the town needed a semi-professional club, the former top local amateur team, Southend Athletic, contributed a few reserve players, but that was about it. Q. Do they wear Blue because they are near the sea? A. No, Southend Athletic wore red + they wanted to be different. Q. Strange nickname ‘Shrimpers’, do they catch shrimps locally? A. Not in any great numbers although shrimp boats did operate on the Thames until the 50’s using cotton nets to catch the shrimps and boiling them on board over braziers to sell to the day-trippers. Cockles are the local delicacy, so Southend could have been the Cocklers. Q. Isn’t their nickname ‘the Blues’? A. For some reason Southend’s board of directors favour this so local directional signs, car stickers and t
