Phil Yelland take a look at how Southend United have fared on previous trips to Barrow ahead of this weekend’s encounter at The Progression Solicitors Stadium.
Saturday sees our final home game of the season and a chance to contribute our remarkable run of success against Southend United where we have beaten them three times in their three previous visits.
Their first trip to Barrow came in 1967 as we were pushing for promotion from Division Four; this was their first season in that division and we got home with the only goal of the game, which came from George Smith.
We had to wait until March 1971 to play them on home soil again in Division Four. That season we were destined to finish bottom of the table, but we did the double over The Shrimpers. Having defeated them 3-2 at Roots Hall at the start of November 1970 for our first win of the season, we completed the double with a 2-0 victory thanks to Eddie Garbett’s goal and a Bobby Noble penalty.
Their most recent trip came in February 1972 when we were on a run that looked to be taking us clear of trouble. We won 2-1 with goals from Garbett again and local midfielder Steve Calvert. That month, Bluebirds boss Jack Crompton won the Manager of the Month award, but nobody knew what lay ahead.
As we look for our fourth success over United, we also have the incentive that if we can win on Saturday, it will be our ninth home win of the season. The last time we bettered that in the Football League was the 1968/69 season.
Go to it, lads.