SOUTHEND United host King’s Lynn in a vital National League clash on Friday.

But the match seems certain to be far closer than the last time the two teams met at Roots Hall.

Back in January 1969, the Shrimpers thrashed King’s Lynn 9-0 in an FA Cup first round clash at Roots Hall.

And it is a match hat-trick hero Billy Best still remembers with real fondness.

“Funnily enough I was looking at the programme earlier today and I saw Southend were playing King’s Lynn so it brought back all of those memories,” said Best, 79.

“I think about it quite often to be honest because at my age you live off your memories.

“But I remember it was so easy.

“It was what you would expect when a league team plays a non-league team and it went our way fortunately on the night which was good.

Incredibly, however, the Shrimpers went one better in the next round of the cup and beat Brentwood 10-1 at Roots Hall with Best scoring five times.

“In the next round we got 10 and that was another good one,” said Best.

“Gary Moore got a hat-trick against King’s Lynn and then four against Brentwood and I enjoyed playing alongside him.

“He was very unselfish.

“He didn’t mind who scored as long as the team scored and we won and I was the same.

“But there can’t have been many teams who have scored 19 goals in two cup games.”

Goals were a regular occurrence during Best’s spell with Blues as he hit the back of the net 123 times in 246 games.

Best was with the Shrimpers between 1968 and 1973 and thoroughly enjoyed his time in Essex.

“It was a joy to play for Southend,” said Best.

“I found out later on that the supporters had been hoping for a six foot five inch tall, bustling centre forward and they got a five foot six me.

“I didn’t score for the first four or five games either and I’m sure they were starting to wonder a bit about me.

“But fortunately it just clicked, I ended up with 14 goals in about 20 games and went on from there.”

In more recent times, success has been in short supply for the Shrimpers.

And Best is sad to see his former side now lining up in the National League.

“I’m sad to see where Southend are now,” said Best.

“Both of my clubs had been struggling a bit really.

“Northampton have been up, down and all over the place but they’re having a good run at the moment.

“It’s sad to see Southend having hard times but I really hope things pick up and that they can get another win against King’s Lynn.”