FORMER Southend United striker Neil Tolson could have come up with a novel way to improve the current side’s threat from set pieces, eat more Mars bars!

Barry Corr’s effort against Portsmouth last weekend was just the third time Blues had hit the back of the net from a corner in their last 28 games.

But Corr, who also played for York City – Blues’ opponents tomorrow – played non league football after injury forced him to retire from the professional game in 2001.

And he went on to net one of his most memorable goals while unexpectedly lining up for Hyde United at Fleetwood Town eight years later.

“I was manager of Hyde at the time and we just didn’t have enough players,” said Tolson, 40.

“I turned up at the ground not expecting to play and not having really done exercise for about six months.

“But the secretary and the chairman both told me I was going to have to be in the team and there really wasn’t any other choice.

“I was struggling after about an hour though and there was a fan behind the goal who I asked to go and get me a couple of Mars bars.

“I needed a boost and something to give me more energy and I couldn’t really think of anything else to do.

“The next stoppage in play was a corner to us and I managed to get the Mars bars.

“I was eating one of them in my left hand and holding the other one in my right when the corner in and I actually scored.

“I got a second later in the game and we ended up winning 3-1.

“Our other goal that day was actually the best I’ve ever seen in a match I’ve been involved in.

“It was an overhead kick from about 18 yards but nobody ever talks about that.

“They always talk about me and the Mars bars and I think I should’ve got a sponsorship deal from it really.”

Tolson is now assistant manager at Conference club Altrincham but he will be quick to check the score of tomorrow’s clash between his two former teams.

The striker bagged 19 goals in 90 appearances during three seasons with York and memorably scored in both legs of their shock League Cup win against Everton.

After that, Tolson followed manager Alan Little to Roots Hall in the summer 1999 and holds mostly happy memories from his time with both clubs.

“York and Southend were fairly similar times for me and I enjoyed playing them, apart from the injuries I got,” recalled Tolson.

“Southend probably pulls at the heart-strings a little bit more for me because that’s where my daughter was born.

“The day before she was born I was told I could never play football again by the surgeon which is the biggest kick in the teeth I’ve ever had.

“But the day after was the best thing that’s ever happened to me so it was some 48 hours.

“Of course I wish I could’ve played for longer and gone on for another four or five years but at least I can look back and say I did actually play professionally which is better than not having done it at all.”

Tolson started off well with the Shrimpers too, scoring 10 goals in his first 33 games and he formed a prolific partnership with Martin Carruthers.

However, injury then forced Tolson to the sidelines in February 2000 and he went on to make just seven more starts before having to hang up his boots.

“It was a problem with my groin and I’ve still got the metal plate in there holding everything together,” said Tolson.

“It was quite an unusual injury because something was moving which is only supposed to happen when women give birth so I’m not sure how it was happening.

“I remember having to come off against Birmingham and telling the physio that I was done.

“I just knew I was never going to play again and, although I worked hard to try and make it happen, my body just wouldn’t allow it.”

By the time Tolson was told he had to retire, Little had been replaced in the Roots Hall hot-seat by David Webb.

But Tolson still struggles to understand the decision.

“I don’t think we had lost in five games and we were fourth or five in the table so it always seemed a strange one to me,” said the former striker.

“I was luckily enough to play for some great managers such as Joe Royle, Chris Kamara and Frank Stapleton but for me Alan would be up there with the very best I played for.”

Tolson eventually went in to management himself with Hyde having previously played for the club, without being able to train.

But he has now been assistant manager at Altrincham, where his ex Bradford team-mate Lee Sinnott is in charge, since June 2011.

They head to Barnet tomorrow but Tolson will eagerly be awaiting news from Bootham Crescent.

And he hopes the game will end all square.

“Both teams did well last season so I’m sure they will be looking to be up there again and I think a score draw would be the best outcome for me,” he added.