Southend United v Hereford United
Football League 2
Saturday 6th August 2011 KO 3.00 pm
Roots Hall
Victoria Avenue
Southend-on-Sea
SS2 6NQ
Phone 01702 304050
The Bulls kick off the new season with a visit to Southend's Roots Hall on Saturday.
Whilst The Club have received full planning for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm near the present training ground, the next season or perhaps two will be at Roots Hall where visiting fans are accommodated in the North Stand which is an all-seated former home terrace. There are some supporting pillars but with a capacity of around 2000, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a seat with a good view.
Admission: Prices are for matchday with advance tickets prices in brackets. Adults £21 (£19), Seniors £15 (£14), Students £14 (£13), Young person (17-20) ID required (not available on matchday), Juniors (9-16) £10 (£9) and U8’s £5 (£4). Advance tickets will be available from HUFC offices until Thursday 4th August.
Coaches: HUISA departs Legends at 8.00 am with a fare of £25 (members £23). Places can be booked through the office 08442 761939.
By car, travel to Gloucester and then follow signs for A417 (Cirencester). At the top of Birdlip (Air Balloon) take the A436 then the A40 towards Oxford. Continue through Oxford following signs for M40 (London) and join the M40. Join the M25 (clockwise) following signs for Watford. Continue on the M25 to junction 29 where you should join the A127 (sign Southend). The remaining 20 miles may well take up to 45 minutes! When you reach a roundabout near the Tesco/Strawberry Fields Pub/Travel Inn, take the third exit (sign Central Southend). At the next set of traffic lights continue on past The Bell Hotel to the next roundabout. Take the 3rd exit (Victoria Avenue) and continue down the hill to a set of lights. You should be able to see Roots Hall at this stage. Turn right at the lights into Fairfax Drive for the away entrance. There is limited parking at the ground (£5?) otherwise spaces can be found in the surrounding streets. Distance is around 190 miles and you should allow at least 4.5 hours due to traffic. Postcode SS2 6NQ.
Trains from London run from Liverpool Street roughly three to the hour and return after the game every 30 minutes from Prittlewell Station.
ALEHOUSES - On our visit last March, the nearby Spread Eagle was found to be "home only" whereas the other traditional Roots Hall boozer, The Blue Boar, was closed and boarded up. The Nelson in North Road may be worth a look as it has Sky and a beer garden while The Railway Tavern at 108 East Street was fairly welcoming in March. A mile from the ground on London Road is The Trading Room, a converted Bank that reportedly serves Courage Directors and Ridleys' Old Bob along with decent food. The delightful "Golden Mile" seafront offers a multitude of premises including The Liberty Belle, which does a Real Ale or two although nothing of particular note. Close to the Pier, you will find a gynormous Wetherspoons trading as The Last Post. It offers the usual fare including Spitfire, Directors and Theakstons Best as well as several guests and TWO CIDERS (probably fizzy). Finally, if you can find it, The Railway Hotel at 32 Clifftown Road is one of the few "proper" pubs in Saaarfend. Cheddar Valley cider and Weston’s Perry plus an interesting range of beers along with pleasant surroundings make it worth the search to find it. Please note, The Shrimpers Bar at the ground is now members only and no alcohol is served inside the stadium although refreshments are available from a café type building behind the North Stand. There is a chip shop opposite the Blue Boar by the traffic lights.
Enjoy.