DARRYL Flahavan insists he will never grow tired of talking about the night he shut out one of the world’s best footballers at Roots Hall.

Flahavan pulled off a string of fine saves to frustrate Cristiano Ronaldo in Southend United’s 1-0 win against Manchester United in the League Cup 10 years ago this Monday.

And it is a match Flahavan’s family are now also starting to enjoy.

“Now my kids are getting a little bit older they’ve taken a bit more interest in what I used to do in my career and it’s the Man United game they always like to watch,” said Flahavan.

“My boy, Aaron, is now also playing in goal so he likes to see it and my daughter has also put it on YouTube before.

“I’ll sit down and have a cheeky look at it with them and it was an amazing night.

“Ronaldo has now gone on to become one of the very best footballers in the world since and he’s a global superstar.

“But every time he comes on the television or the Champions League is on I do like to remind the kids that he didn’t score against me and that Southend were able to win!”

The game therefore remains one of Flahavan’s favourites from his lengthy spell with the Shrimpers which saw him make more than 350 appearances.

Echo:

Man of the match - Darryl Flahavan

But the popular shot-stopper started the evening hoping he would not be embarrassed live on Sky Sports.

“I was out first for the warm up so I heard the Manchester United team on the tannoy,” said Flahavan, who is now goalkeeping coach at Leeds United.

“I just remember thinking god I hope we don’t get too exposed here, especially as the game was live on national TV.

“They were the biggest club in England if not the world at that point when we played them so I was expecting a really busy night.

“And for us to beat them like that was just fantastic for everyone at the club.

“Luckily enough we had a lot of success around about that time but winning that game was right up there in terms of my favourite moments at the club.”