DARRYL Flahavan remains proud of his part in the ‘golden period’ of Southend United – even if he was disappointed to depart.

Flahavan made a total of 351 appearances during two separate spells with the Shrimpers.

And the shot-stopper would have loved to have remained at Roots Hall.

“I had been at the club for eight years and I wanted to stay for two or three more but the club were only willing to offer me 12 months which I was disappointed with,” said Flahavan.

“The only option I wanted was to stay with Southend but it wasn’t to be and maybe it was time to move on for both for me and the club who wanted to move in another direction.”

Flahavan was a regular for the Shrimpers during his first stint by the seaside.

But the second spell was far more memorable as Steve Tilson led the team to back to back promotions and a place in the Championship.

“Steve’s a great guy,” said Flahavan, explaining the side’s success.

“He’s a nice guy and recruitment wise you have to say he had an eye for a player too.

“We were lucky that players were hitting their peaks at the right time and we benefited from that as a team.

“One of the biggest things in football is confidence and we were given a lot of that by Tilly and Brushy (Paul Brush).

“There was a bundle of ability in that team too and we were able to go out and show that.”

However, it took time for Flahavan to fully appreciate what the team achieved.

“It’s only when you reflect now that you think we had some really good times,” said Flahavan.

“It was probably the golden period of the club’s history and we’re proud to be a part of that.

“A lot of us as a group gave a lot of our best years to the club and it was a great time.”

However, Flahavan would not have ever arrived at Roots Hall had he not opted to join Woking at a young age.

“I was at Southampton for a few years but I needed to get out and play football,” said Flahavan.

“It was difficult back then and it wasn’t like it is today with the loan moves.

“I had the opportunity to go and play in the Conference with Woking when I was 20 and looking back that was one of the best things that happened to me.

“At that time we seemed to play Yeovil quite a lot.

“We got them in the cup, the FA Trophy and played them in the league when David Webb was the manager.

“Fortunately for me I had some decent games against Yeovil and Dave was based around the Southampton area so I think he knew of me anyway.

“My contract was running out at Woking and he got in contact.

“I was going to join Yeovil but he told me hold fire and that he would be back in contact. At the time I thought it was a gentle way of telling me he didn’t want me but he was true to his word because a week or so later he got the Southend job.

“He rang me up and the rest is history.”

But Flahavan was forced to take a pay cut to join.

“It was about playing League football and it was a roll of the dice to see what happened,” said Flahavan.

“It was never about the money side of things.

“I wanted to come to the club and I did take a wage cut to join.

“But it gave me an opportunity to showcase myself.”

Flahavan joined Blues in 2000 before leaving three years later after he was surprisingly released by Steve Wignall.

And the custodian came close to making a move elsewhere.

“I nearly got the opportunity to join Wimbledon who were in the Championship at the time,” said Flahavan.

“But they were in administration and it couldn’t happen.

“After that, I got a call to come back to Southend which I did.

“The club were struggling and the manager was removed but Steve Tilson came in and everything picked up.

“It was fantastic after that.”

Flahavan stayed with Southend until 2008 and after leaving he teamed up with Crystal Palace.

“I went to Palace and I knew it would be tough there as they had a fantastic goalkeeper in Julian Speroni,” said Flahavan.

“But it was a big Championship club that was capable of getting in the Premier League where everyone wants to play.

“I took the challenge on but Speroni was having the best years of his career so it was really hard to break in.

“I played a few games but I ended up going on loan to Leeds but Palace went into administration and I wasn’t allowed to leave permanently.”

A loan switch to Oldham followed before Flahavan made a sentimental move to Portsmouth where his brother Aaron – who died in 2001 – played during his own career.

“The opportunity to go to Portsmouth came up and with my brother’s ties to the club it pulled on my heartstrings,” said Flahavan.

“I knew I wouldn’t start but I wanted to try and get into the side as a tribute for my brother.

“Career wise it wasn’t the greatest of moves but for my family it was something I wanted to do.”

However, Flahavan spent just one season at Fratton Park before opting to join Bournenouth where he again started to sample first team football.

“I had four or five great years at Bournemouth,” said Flahavan.

“I got a few injuries towards the end but I was going to stay as a player coach.

“But I still felt fit and thought accepting that would retire me rather than retiring myself if that makes sense.

“I went to Crawley but me and the manager didn’t really see eye to eye on the playing side of thing so it was probably best we parted company.”

And since then Flahavan has moved into coaching and he is currently enjoying working with the goalkeepers at Birmingham City.

“I’m into my fourth year as a coach and I really enjoy it,” said Flahavan.

“I went straight into the deep end at a huge club like Leeds United but I have a thirst for learning and this isn’t just my job it’s my hobby as well.

“Goalkeeping is my obsession and you end up learning more as you go along.

“At Leeds I worked with Robert Green, an England international.

“I learnt a lot from Rob and I’d like to think he learnt a lot from me too.

“At Middlesbrough I worked with a great goalkeeper in Darren Randolph and now at Birmingham I’m working with Lee Camp who is an international who has played 500 games in the championship.

“I’ve been exposed to a lot at a high level but it’s been going well and hopefully that can continue.”