Southend Manor F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Southend Manor


fullname = Southend Manor Football Club
nickname = The Manor
founded = 1955
ground = Southchurch Park, Southend
capacity = Unknown
chairman = Bob Westley
manager = Steve Sinnett
league = Essex Senior League
season = 2007-08
position = Essex Senior League, 6th
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_blackshoulders|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=FFFF00|body1=FFFF00|rightarm1=FFFF00|shorts1=000000|socks1=FFFF00
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Southend Manor was formed in 1955 by Gil and Doris Medcalf in Southend-on-Sea as a team of 10 and 11 year old boys. Gil Medcalf had played for Eton Manor both before and after the Second World War, and the inclusion of manor in our club name is a direct echoing of Gil's own career.

The team was accepted into the lowest division of the Southend Youth League in 1959 and promptly finished last. Steady improvement was made in the Youth League and when the team became too old for youth football, in 1964, Southend Manor entered Division 5 of the Southend Borough Combination. The rest of the 60's saw a steady advance up the divisions with the Premier Division being reached in 1969.

The 1970s and early 1980s saw a domination of the Borough Combination. In twelve seasons Southend Manor were league champions six times and runners up three times.

The league's knock-out cup was won five times and they were once runners up. In particular, the 1978/79 season saw a closing run of 25 wins and one draw in the last 26 games which included the capture of the Essex Intermediate Cup. With both League and League Cup won, an exhausting season ended with the winning of the Southend Charity Competition. In the early 1980s entry was gained to the newly formed Southend & District Alliance and two titles were gained in the first three years. With such a good pedigree it must be wondered why Southend Manor were unable to progress to higher standards of football. The problem was that the club used council pitches that were only available for a limited part of the season. However, after many years of pressure Southend Manor was allowed to use Southchurch Park Arena (originally sharing with Southend Athletic Club) which had many of the attributes needed for Senior Football.

In 1985 the club gained access to the Essex Senior League Reserve Division, while carrying out the work needed to meet senior status requirements. This status was reached in 1988 with a new clubhouse being erected. In the second season the Essex Senior League Cup was won. In season 1990/91 the Essex Senior League title was won along with the Harry Fisher Memorial Cup, while the League Cup saw us fall in the final. In 1991/92 the final of the Harry Fisher Memorial Cup was reached but the Club was narrowly defeated by a goal in the last minute of extra time. In 1992/93 Southend Manor won the prestigious Essex Senior Trophy, and in 1995/96 they reached the final of the League Cup once more but were beaten by double winners Romford. In 1996/97 the club reached the last 32 of the FA Vase and in May of the same year reached the final of the Anglia TV 5-a-side Tournament held at Norwich. The 2001/02 season saw the Club win the League Cup against Sawbridgeworth and the Charity Shield against League Winners Brentwood. The Eastern Floodlit Cup was won in the season 2002/03.

The Mini and Junior Sections of the Club, having been introduced in season 1999/2000, are thriving and the Club now fields 17 teams from Under 7 to the First Team. Full F.A. Charter status was awarded to the Youth Section in August 2004, new state of the art floodlights were installed in the same month and, subject to the usual budget considerations, and compliance with ground grading requirements, The Manor will continue to consolidate its position at this level of non-league football. One of their best players currently is Loz Smith.

Honours

Southend Borough Combination
*Winners: 1971-72,1973-74,1978-79,1979-80,1980-81,1981-82
*Runners up: 1970-71,1972-73,1977-78

Southend & District Alliance
*Winners: 1983-84,1984-85
*Runners up: 1982-83

Essex Senior League Div 1 South
*Winners: 1986-87
*Runners up:1985-86

Essex Senior League Div 1
*Winners: 1987-88

Essex Senior League
*Winners: 1990-91
*Runners up: 1999-2000

Essex Senior League Cup
*Winners: 1987-88,1989-90,2000-01
*Runners up: 1985-86,1990-91,1995-96,1999-2000

Essex Senior Trophy
*Winners: 1992-93

Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy
*Winners: 1990-91,1992-93
*Runners up: 1991-92

Eastern Floodlight Competition
*Winners: 2002-03

External links

* [http://www.southendmanor.co.uk Official site]