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Ground Name: Roots
Hall |
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| Contents | |
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What's The Ground Like? |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
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At one end of the ground is the relatively new South Stand. This stand replaced a former open terrace and greatly improved the overall look. It is a small 'double decker' type of stand, the upper tier hanging over the lower. It is all seated and covered, but unfortunately has a few supporting pillars. On its roof is a small clock, dedicated to former player, Director & Chairman, Frank Walton. There are a couple of blocks of flats that overlook the ground from behind this stand. Away fans are now housed in what was originally the home end, the North Stand, which is a covered seated stand at the other end of the ground. This stand, like the West Stand at one side of the pitch, are both single tiered and have old looking 'barrel' shaped roofs, with the West Stand having a unique double barrel roof. The West Stand extends around to the North Stand so that one corner is filled with seating. It has a number of supporting pillars right at the front, which may hinder your view of the action. It also has the most precarious looking TV gantry, that stands on stilts and is accessed by a long ladder. On the other side the East Stand is another single tiered, covered stand, that has a row of executive boxes running across the back of it. At the front are some strange looking dugouts, which has the management team standing at the front leaning on a wall, with the players sitting behind. The club have an unusual looking club mascot called 'Elvis J Eel', the 'J' standing for jellied! | |
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After undertaking a public enquiry, full approval has been given for the Club to embark on building a new 22,000 seat stadium at Fossetts Farm, just behind the club’s training ground in Eastern Avenue . The scheme which will also feature a hotel, conference facilities, retail opportunities as well as residential accommodation. The Club had hoped to have the new stadium open for the start of the 2010/11 season, but due to financial problems this now looks unlikely. Artists impressions of how the new stadium will look can be found on the Official Club website. | |
| The East & South Stands | |
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Thanks to Owen Pavey for providing the photos for this page. | |
| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are
housed in the North Stand, which is now all seated after being a
former terrace. Like most former terraces that have had seats bolted
onto them, the leg room and height distance between each row is less
than desirable. The large number of supporting pillars will probably
also impede your view; although this does not make for a great
experience at least the Stand is covered. Up to 2,000 away fans
can be accommodated in the North Stand, although the initial
allocation is 1,200. One good thing
for away fans in the North Stand, is that comparatively few numbers
of fans can really make some noise from it. On my last visit there
was quite a good atmosphere and I experienced no problems around the
ground. Refreshments within the away area are served from an 'Transport Cafe' type establishment, complete with tables and chairs. The usual range is available such as Pukka Pies (£2.20), cheeseburgers (£2.80) and hot dogs (£2.80). Bear in mind though, that getting your drinks in one piece back to your seat can be quite a challenge. The front of the stand is below pitch level, with stairs leading up to each pitch access point where the stewards stand. Going up and down these flights of stairs, with a cup of coffee in each hand, can present a problem. Even though Roots Hall is an older ground it has some rather modern electronic turnstiles. Each match ticket has a bar code printed onto it and fans insert their ticket into a bar code reader at the turnstile to gain entrance to the stadium. I did notice once inside the stadium, that the stewards were alerted when a concession or junior ticket was being used, so that they could check that it was for the appropriate person. | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
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After being closed for a while, the Golden Lion, that was previously popular with away fans has now re-opened. This pub is situated on the A127, just up from the car park entrance to the Main Stand. The nearby Spread Eagle pub is for home fans only, along with the Blue Boar that is a little further on up the road. A bit further away is the 'The Bell', a large Toby Carvery, which you pass on your way into Southend on the A127. David Wells informs me; 'There is the Bar Victoria Court, which is located further down the A127 from Roots Hall towards Southend. It is not a traditional football pub by any means but it is okay for pre-match pint'. The town centre is around a 20 minute walk away, where there are plenty of pubs including a Wetherspoons outlet (the Last Post on Clifftown Road). There are also a number of bars along the seafront, which can be quite nice on a a sunny Saturday afternoon. Any Walden adds; 'The Railway Tavern which is outside Prittlewell station is also used by away fans.' The 'Shrimpers Bar' at the ground itself, is now for members only. Please note that alcohol is not served to away fans within the stadium. There is also a good fish and chip shop located across the road from the Blue Boar by the traffic lights, called the 'Fish House', which I found to be excellent. Judging by the amount of fans standing outside eating fish and chips (there is some seating inside as well), then I'm not the only one that thinks it is good. | |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| From M25 take
Junction 29 and follow the A127 to Southend. Continue towards the
town centre, through the lights near to the Bell Pub. At the next
roundabout turn right (3rd turning), continuing on the A127. The
ground is on the right just past the next traffic lights. If
you turn right as you reach the ground, this will put you behind the
away end where there is plenty of street parking to be found.
Otherwise there is a car park at the ground, behind the Main Stand
which costs £5, or there is the Southend High
School For Boys which also offers car parking for £5 per car (the
school entrance is on Prittlewell Road). Bear in mind that in the fair weather months Aug/Sep/April/May, if the weather is at all sunny the whole of East London seems to head down the A127 on a Saturday afternoon, so allow an extra 30 mins if the temperature is above 65F. For a map showing the location of Roots Hall, click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. | |
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| By Train | |
| The closest
station to the ground is Prittlewell, about a five minute walk away.
It is served by trains from London Liverpool Street. As you exit the station turn right, you will then
come to a crossroads with traffic lights. On your right is the 'Fish
House', fish and chip shop. Pass this
and turn right. Walk about 100 yards and the ground is tucked away
on your left.
If you happen to end up at Southend Central station (served by trains from London Fenchurch Street), you're about a 25 minute walk from the ground. The main bus station is close to Southend Central, and therefore it may be an idea to get a bus up to the ground, rather than walking. | |
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| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans*: Southend Echo East Stand: Adults £20, Senior Citizens £13, Under 21's/Students £12, Under 16's £10, Under 8's £5 Hi-Tec South Stand: Adults £20, Senior Citizens £13, Under 21's/Students £12, Under 16's £10, Under 8's £5 Essex Auto Group West Stand: Adults £20, Senior Citizens £13, Under 21's/Students £12, Under 16's £10, Under 8's £5 South East Essex College Family Enclosure: 1 Adult + 1 Child £20, Additional Adults £16 Additional Child £4 Away Fans*: North Stand: Adults £20, Senior Citizens £13, Under 21's/Students £12, Under 16's £10, Under 8's £5 * Please note that these prices are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on the matchday itself can cost up to £2 more per ticket. | |
| Local Rivals | |
| Colchester United, Leyton Orient & West Ham. | |
| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official Programme
£3. All At Sea Fanzine £1. | |
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| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2009-2010 | |
| For the Southend United fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 31,090 v
Liverpool, FA Cup 3rd Round, January 10th, 1979. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 11,735 v Yeovil Town League Two, April 30th, 2005. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 7,850 (League One) 2007-2008: 8,173 (League One) 2006-2007: 10,024 (Championship League) | |
| Fans Reviews Of Roots Hall | |
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Sean Wilkinson (Northampton Town)
12/04/08 | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Southend page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is
incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide.
* Football had been
played on the same site since 1906. The Club subsequently built a
new ground at Roots Hall in the
1950's. | |
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