Southend United will not be members of the Premier League for season 2010-11 following the scoreless draw between Ferrybank and Bohemians at The Village Grounds on Sunday moring last. This dull game produced very little in the manner of goal scoring chances but nevertheless the outcome was good enough to move the two clubs up to a final tally of 19 points, one more than Southend’s total.
The main talking point of the Ferrybank v Bohemians match was a very bad injury picked up by Bohs’ defender Kevin Whittle. Southend went unbeaten in their last eight games, including a victory over St Saviour’s on Wednesday last (see report on page 26) but alas their 53-year history in the top flight has come to an end.
The under age structure at the club is first class and their youth team are still on course for a league and cup double (they play Bohemians in a play-off game for the league title) so they have plenty of talent coming through at Southend Park and even at this early stage they would have to be regarded as raging hot favourites to win Division 1A next season and bounce back at the first attempt.
Nevertheless it will be a very strange Premier League without the famous tangerine shirts involved next term. No one has got any pleasure from their relegation and many people involved in the local game have made that view known, including folk from the other Premier League clubs. But football owes no one anything and now the good people involved with the club will have to plan for promotion from Division One during the coming months.
The new champions Carrick United were presented with the Premier League Championship trophy on Sunday in Tom Drohan Park following their 2-0 victory over Waterford Crystal. Alan Coady and Glen Keane scored the goals in the first half.
Carrick United have won the league eight times during the last eleven seasons and they have gone unbeaten all season in the league this season, a truly remarkable achievement. Carrick were expected to win the title and they duly delivered, but no one expected Southend to get relegated.
No surprise then at the top, but a strange outcome at the bottom!
