SOUTHEND United’s promotion dreams were shattered by Crewe Alexandra at Roots Hall tonight. Blues, who were battling to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg, twice fought back to grab a 2-2 draw. But it was not enough to extend
SOUTHEND United skipper Chris Barker was struggling for words after his side’s heartbreaking play-off exit to Crewe Alexandra tonight. Barker bagged his first goal in 10 years to secure Blues a 2-2 draw on the night at Roots Hall. But
HE was forced to cancel his original date with Southenders due to illness, but Andy Hamilton has rearranged and will be at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff, next week. The comedian, who penned hit sitcom Outnumbered along with writing partner Guy Jenkin
BLUES boss Paul Sturrock has made three changes to his starting line-up for tonight's play-off semi-final second leg clash against Crewe Alexandra at Roots Hall. Elliot Benyon and Freddy Eastwood have both been recalled in attack in place
Follow Echo reporter Chris Phillips' live updates from tonight's game. Blues V Crewe kicks off at 7.45pm and the Echo will be bringing you all the pre-match build up from tonight's crunch match. Southend United are just 90 minutes play
WHEN I was younger I used to stand on the North Bank watching big matches involving Southend United. I saw players score big and important goals and the team get promotion by getting vital victories. Ever since then it has always been my dream to be
BAKING in the dead of night and disposing of pots and pans, while wafting giveaway delicious smells out of the window. Don’t tell anyone, but cake making has gone undercover, with the launch of Southend’s first Clandestine Cake Club. Members of this
CASUAL visitors to the Miley pub in Rochford probably don’t realise the women pulling their pint is a three times Olympic Games finalist and only missed out on a medal by a couple of points. Ann Pearce, 75, was one of the world’s diving elite throughout
JAMES Tomkins says he’d love to cap his memorable season with a spot at the London Olympic Games. The 23-year-old centre back remains in the squad after it was cut from 191 to 80 last month by manager Stuart Pearce, and he has a good chance of making
Sue Simpson says the moment she’ll never forget was being in the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta in 1996 to see defending 100m champion Linford Christie disqualified in the final. The British sprinting legend made two false starts, leaving Canada
IN 1762, the historian Edward Gibbon’s journals recorded a new word added to the English language – “a Sandwich”. Gibbon noted that Londoners everywhere had suddenly started to ask for this novel concoction. It had been given its name, and its fashion
STEVE Tilson believes whoever wins tonight’s tie at Roots Hall will go on to win promotion. And he is certain that will be Southend United. Tilson, who spent seven years in charge of Blues before being replaced by Paul Sturrock, watched the first
THE new South Essex College prospectus will be launched at an open event tomorrow. Featuring biographies of a number of successful former pupils, the prospectus lists a wide range of courses for 2013-14, including social work, education studies, fashion
A MAN who struggles to walk because of a painful blood disease is about to trek 1,000 miles across the country. With just a backpack and tent, Colin Collett will walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise cash for charity. Colin, 45, of Southend
FREDDY Eastwood wants to send Southend United to Wembley by firing them to victory against Crewe Alexandra in the second leg of their play-off semi-final at Roots Hall tonight. Blues go in to the game 1-0 down after suffering a narrow defeat
A FISHERMAN is in a race against time to sell his home in order to pay a £395,000 fine for catching too many fish. Paul Gilson, 58, and his wife, Heather, who have two children, put their family home up for sale three months ago. However, the house
CHRIS Barker wants to clock up a century of Southend United appearances in style by beating Crewe Alexandra tonight. The Blues skipper is in line to make his 100th appearance for the club. And he would love to celebrate the landmark by leading the
LEARNER drivers can now take their tests in Southend for the first time in four years. The new temporary exam centre, based in the council-owned Tickfield Centre on Tickfield Avenue, opened its doors yesterday. The first pair to take
A CALLOUS thief stole a tip jar from the counter of a seafront restaurant. Police have released CCTV pictures of a man they want to speak to in connection with the theft. Between 8am and 5pm on Thursday March 29 the man entered the Three
THREE nature reserves in Hadleigh and Daws Heath have been awarded a cash boost to help improve wildlife. Essex Wildlife Trust has been granted more than £45,000 for major renovation work at Pound Wood wildlife haven, Little Haven nature reserve
Southend's £3million cultural centre is being moved from Tilbury Docks to its new home on the Pier. The 200-tonne web of steel, wood and glass is being moved at Tilbury Docks, ready to be winched into place at the end of the pier. Work
PLANS to change the face of Pitsea have been given the green light. At a meeting on Tuesday evening councillors at Basildon voted in favour of the plans. Under the proposals Pitsea swimming pool and the Aldi store in Northlands Pavement will be bulldozed
Eight-page Southend United pullout looking ahead to their crunch match with Crewe tonight, which could see them heading to Wembley Your weekly 12-page entertainment and leisure and pullout, the Scene. DON'T MISS IT...YOUR ECHO'S
MORE than 4,000 motorists have been given tickets after being caught driving too fast by average speed cameras on the A127. The figures, obtained by the Echo, put to bed long-held suspicions that the cameras do not actually work. Between
AN Olympian is being urged to dive in at the 11th hour and save a much-loved swimming pool from the bulldozers. Councillors in Pitsea and Vange wrote to Lord Seb Coe urging him to back their campaign to save the Pitsea pool. It came before
