Southend United 4–0 Newcastle United: the day we reached the summit
New Year’s Day 1992. Four goals at Roots Hall, Newcastle beaten, and Southend briefly top of the second tier. A result that still deserves its place in our history.
Southend United 4. Newcastle United 0. There are results you can look back at for years and still enjoy simply saying out loud. This is one of them.
The names are part of the attraction, of course. Newcastle at Roots Hall, beaten by four clear goals, is a score that makes people look twice. For Southend, though, the bigger part of the story was what the win did to the table. After the New Year’s Day early kick-off, David Webb’s side briefly stood at the top of the Second Division.
The second tier. One division below the top flight. It was a remarkable place for Southend to find themselves, and the fact that it did not last all afternoon does not make it any less ours.
Four goals that still read beautifully
Brett Angell was credited with two, with Keith Jones and Andy Ansah also scoring. Southend led 2–0 at half-time and added two more after the break. Newcastle had no reply.
It is worth enjoying the names as well as the numbers. Angell, Jones, Ansah, Ian Benjamin, Steve Tilson, Chris Powell: this was Webb’s Southend, a side whose place in the club’s story goes well beyond one famous scoreline.
Newcastle were managed by Ossie Ardiles and had players including Lee Clark, Gavin Peacock and David Kelly in their starting side. A bigger name did not buy them a goal or a point at Roots Hall that day.
The top of the table, for a while
This is the detail that needs telling properly. Southend’s game finished before the rest of the afternoon’s football had settled the league positions. For that interval, The Shrimpers were top.
The pleasure comes from the fact that it happened at all, and from the result that put us there. Southend had earned that place, however briefly it lasted.
Football memories do not have to last a whole season to matter. Sometimes the lasting part is a score, a set of players and a position in the table that seemed a long way from the usual expectations.
A piece of our history worth keeping close
For me, the best thing about this result is that it needs very little dressing up. Four goals, a clean sheet and Southend briefly leading the second tier. Put those things together and it is easy to understand why this game still comes up whenever supporters talk about the best days at Roots Hall.
There will always be room on this site for days like this. The club’s history belongs to supporters who were there and to those finding it for the first time. Both should be able to look at that score and enjoy it.
Southend United 4–0 Newcastle United. Still a lovely way to start a sentence. Up the Shrimpers.
The match details
Southend United
Paul Sansome, John Cornwell, Pat Scully, Spencer Prior, Chris Powell, Dean Austin, Andy Ansah, Steve Tilson, Keith Jones, Ian Benjamin, Brett Angell.
Manager: David Webb.
Newcastle United
Tommy Wright, Steve Howey, Kevin Scott, Paul Bodin, Steve Watson, Matty Appleby, Lee Makel, Lee Clark, Gavin Peacock, Alan Thompson, David Kelly.
Manager: Ossie Ardiles.
Result and attendance
Full-time: Southend United 4–0 Newcastle United.
Half-time: 2–0.
Attendance: 9,458.
Competition: Football League Second Division, 1991/92.
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