TERRY Alderton has revealed how saving Southend United manager Phil Brown from baying Oxford fans was part of the weirdest day of his life.

The well known comedian and Shrimpers supporter leapt to the defence of Brown after he was sent to the stands towards the end of Southend’s 3-2 triumph at the Kassam Stadium.

But he then also bumped in to well known 1980s television presenter Timmy Mallett at the game before being heckled by an angry Oxford supporter at a charity gig later that evening.

“Saturday definitely had to be the strangest day of my life, “said Alderton, 44.

“I was only 100 yards or so behind the dug-out so I could hear and see everything that was going on.

“When Phil was sent to the stands, I had to help him over a wall to get where I was which was quite unusual in itself.

“But then Timmy Mallett came over to talk to my friend and he was still wearing ridiculous glasses too.

“After that I did a charity gig in Oxford and there was a fan there who just wouldn’t let it go and had to get kicked out.

“It was all very odd and I think days like that only happen when you support Southend United.

“It certainly wouldn’t take place in the Premier League.”

Brown was sent from the dug-out after fourth official Gavin Muge accused him of making an offensive gesture towards the Oxford fans behind the dug-out.

The Blues boss was therefore forced to sit among the U’s supporters until Alderton, who was watching the game in a box, came to his rescue.

“Phil looked like a little lost schoolboy and didn’t really seem to know where he was going and he ended up sitting down among the Oxford fans,” said Alderton, who had been in EastEnders up until last September.

“He was getting all kinds of abuse and I didn’t think it was fair so I shouted for him to come and sit with me.

“I don’t think he knew who I was to start with and I was wearing a top with an old Southend badge on so he was probably thinking who the hell does this guy support.

“But once I took my hat off and told him who I was I helped him up to where we were sitting.

“It was great because he was still bobbing and weaving and shouting out instructions which I wish I had recorded now.”

However, Alderton still feels Brown should not have been removed from the dug-out in the first place.

And he insisted at no point did the Shrimpers chief aim any kind of gesture towards the Oxford fans.

“All Phil did was turn round and kind of cheer with his arms in the air at one point but that was it,” said Alderton.

“He was getting lots of abuse and I’m sure Oxford’s fans all thought they were really funny shouting out things nobody had ever shouted before.

“They seemed to like reminding him that he wasn’t in the Premier League anymore so I decided to lighten the mood and kept on shouting for Jack Payne to come on.

“I think that made Phil turn round more than anything else and he looked very confused that an Oxford fan was shouting for Jack to come on.”

Payne did eventually enter the action and helped the Shrimpers come out on top with an energetic display before Alderton ended the afternoon by heading down to Southend’s changing room.

“I know Phil’s a grown man but I just wanted to make sure he was OK,” said Alderton.

Adam Barrett came over and gave me a big hug while the likes of Jack Payne were just wondering who this strange bald man was in the changing room.

“It was certainly a bit manic and all we needed was the dum, dum, dum at the end of EastEnders to finish it off.”