Southend United F.C.

1906–1920: Foundation and early years

Southend United Football Club was founded on 19 May 1906 in the Blue Boar Hotel after landlord Oliver Trigg invited a group of footballers and businessmen to discuss setting up a new professional club. The new Southend United would displace the more prominent Southend Athletic in the town, who later disbanded. A prospectus for shares in the club issued in August 1906 noted the club had been elected to compete in the Second Division of the Southern League and in the South Eastern League, and a seven-year lease had been agreed to play at Roots Hall Field in Prittlewell. Robert Jack ("late of Plymouth Argyle Football Club") was appointed as manager, secretary and player, and 12 professional players were recruited, including two - outside left Alfred Ernest Watkins (formerly at Millwall) and back George Molyneux (formerly at Portsmouth) - listed as internationals (Watkins had played for Wales, Molyneux for England). Other signings included goalkeeper Charles Cotton from West Ham, outside right Arthur Holden from Portsmouth, and centre-forward Harold Halse from Wanstead, plus players from Southend Athletic, Grays United, South Weald and Leigh Ramblers. In the Southern League Second Division, Southend would primarily compete against reserve teams. In their first season under Jack's management, Southend won the Southern League Second Division title for 1906–07, then repeated the feat the following season, gaining election to the…

Sources: League

Third Division / League One (level 3) Champions: 2005–06 Runners-up: 1990–91 Fourth Division / League Two (level 4) Champions: 1980–81 Runners-up: 1971–72, 1977–78 Promoted: 1986–87, 1989–90 Play-off winners: 2005, 2015 Southern League Second Division Champions: 1906–07, 1907–08 Runners-up: 1912–13 Cup

Football League Trophy Runners-up: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2012–13 FA Trophy Winners: 2025–26 Essex Professional Cup Winners: 1949–50, 1952–53, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1961–62, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73 Essex Senior Cup Winners: 1982–83, 1990–91, 1996–97, 2007–08 Essex Thameside Trophy Winners: 1990