SOUTHEND UNITED
IT’S!OFTEN!SAID!THAT!FOOTBALL!CLUBS!FORGET!ABOUT!THEIR!OLD!PLAYERS,!THE HEROES!WHO!ACHIEVED!GREAT!FEATS!AND!SPILT!BLOOD!FOR!THE!CAUSE.!LATE!TACKLE! REPORTS!ON!HOW!SOUTHEND!UNITED!ARE!ONE!CLUB!ATTEMPTING!TO!BUCK!THE!TREND…

Big reunion: Former Southend players met up last March and, inset, Derek Spence, left, and Andy Leeder

REWIND back to April 25, 1981 on a warm spring evening at Plainmoor, and a young student helps to chair star striker Derek Spence off the pitch as Southend United clinch promotion, capping a glorious season for the yo-yo Shrimpers.
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