SOUTHEND United superfan Phil Cox will see his 1,500th Shrimpers match in succession tonight.

The 52-year-old, who lives in Southend, has not missed a Blues game in 28 years.

And this evening’s Checkatrade Trophy clash with Peterborough United will see Cox reach an unbelievable milestone.

“It will be the 1,500th game in a row for me tonight and the last time I missed a match now was December 1989,” said Cox.

“I just started watching because Southend were the local team and I think it’s important people follow their local side.

“I think it’s nicer to support a smaller club and I first started going in 1983 after I got a job.

“I got a season ticket shortly after that and I’ve been going ever since.”

Cox estimates he has spent more than £32,000 supporting the Shrimpers, travelling a total of 264,000 miles.

And he has also missed an important family occasion to continue his run of games.

“I missed my nephew’s wedding to go to a home game against Dagenham,” said Cox, who has seen 558 Blues wins in his 1,499 games.

“I did go to the reception afterwards but I couldn’t miss the match and I’m not sure if there are any other Southend fans who have seen as many games in a row as me.”

As a regular in the Roots Hall stands, Cox has experienced many highs and lows supporting the Shrimpers.

But seeing David Webb’s side win promotion into what is now the Championship with a 1-0 win at Bury in 1991 remains his favourite ever moment.

“The matches that stick out are always the ones which end in promotion,” said Cox.

“The first one that springs to mind is when we won at Bury in 1991 to win promotion to what was then the Second Division for the first time.

“That’s probably my favourite one because it was the first time we had ever played at that level. Winning the play-off final against Wycombe at Wembley in 2015 is obviously right up there as well but being honest it was only any good for the last 30 seconds!

“The other play-off final against Lincoln in Cardiff was a special moment as well.”

And one of Blues’ goalscorers that day, Freddy Eastwood, is one of Cox’s favourite ever players.

“Stan Collymore is an obvious one and so is Freddy,” said Cox.

“But I also really liked Chrissy Powell.”