The league campaign had just about everything. There were spells when Southend looked capable of beating anyone in the division, mixed with the sort of frustrating afternoons that every supporter knows only too well. Even when the form dipped, the Shrimpers stayed in the promotion race and kept giving us reasons to believe that the season might still end with a return to the Football League.

A sixth-place finish earned a place in the National League play-offs. Promotion ultimately slipped away, which was difficult to take after the hope that had built during the campaign, but it did not erase the progress made across a demanding 46-game league season.

The cup competitions supplied the memories that defined the year. The FA Cup journey ended away to Wealdstone, but the FA Trophy became a completely different story. Round by round, the belief grew until Southend were heading back to Wembley with thousands of Shrimpers making the familiar trip beneath the arch.

The final against Wealdstone was tense rather than spectacular. After 90 goalless minutes, it came down to penalties. Southend held their nerve, won the shoot-out 4–2 and lifted the FA Trophy. Whatever frustrations the league season had produced, seeing the players celebrate at Wembley made it a campaign that supporters will always remember.

There was disappointment that promotion did not follow, but 2025/26 still delivered progress, another play-off challenge and a trophy at Wembley. It was exhausting, exciting and occasionally infuriating — in other words, a proper Southend United season.