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Ground Name: Roots Hall |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Future Developments South Stand (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Looking Towards The West Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train East Stand (photo) Admission Prices Local Rivals Programme & Fanzine Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2007-2008 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| At one end of the ground is the relatively new South Stand. This stand replaced a former open terrace and greatly improved the overall look. It is a small 'double decker' type of stand, the upper tier hanging over the lower. It is all seated and covered, but unfortunately has a few supporting pillars. On its roof is a small clock, dedicated to former player, Director & Chairman, Frank Walton. There are a couple of blocks of flats that overlook the ground from behind this stand. Away fans are now housed in what was originally the home end, the North Stand, which is a covered seated stand at the other end of the ground. This stand, like the West Stand at one side of the pitch, are both single tiered and have old looking 'barrel' shaped roofs, with the West Stand having a unique double barrel roof. The West Stand extends around to the North Stand so that one corner is filled with seating. It has a number of supporting pillars right at the front, which may hinder your view of the action. It also has the most precarious looking TV gantry, that stands on stilts and is accessed by a long ladder. On the other side the East Stand is another single tiered, covered stand, that has a row of executive boxes running across the back of it. At the front are some strange looking dugouts, which has the management team standing at the front leaning on a wall, with the players sitting behind. The club have an unusual looking club mascot called 'Elvis J Eel', the 'J' standing for jellied! | |
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The Club have received planning permission for a new 22,000 seat stadium, at Fossetts Farm, just behind the club’s training ground in Eastern Avenue. The Club hoped to have the stadium open in time for the 2008/09 season, however the scheme has suffered a couple of set backs. Firstly the stadium is now subject to a public enquiry and secondly the club have yet to receive planning permission for the residential re-development of Roots Hall, the proceeds of which are needed to finance the new ground. Although these hurdles are not insurmountable, it will mean that the £25m scheme may be delayed for sometime yet. Artists impressions of how the new stadium will look can be found on the Official Club website. |
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| South Stand | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are housed in the North Stand, which
is now all seated after being a former terrace. Like most former terraces that have had
seats bolted onto them, the leg room and height distance between each row is less than
desirable. The large number of supporting pillars will probably also impede your
view; although this does not make
for a great experience at least the Stand is covered.
Up to 2,000 away fans
can be accommodated in the North Stand, although the initial allocation is
1,200. One good thing for away fans in the North Stand, is
that comparatively few numbers of fans can really make some noise
from it. On my last visit there was quite a good
atmosphere and I experienced no problems around the ground. Refreshments within the away area are served from an 'Transport Cafe' type establishment, complete with tables and chairs. The usual range is available such as Pukka Pies (£2.20), cheeseburgers (£2.80) and hot dogs (£2.80). Bear in mind though, that getting your drinks in one piece back to your seat can be quite a challenge. The front of the stand is below pitch level, with stairs leading up to each pitch access point where the stewards stand. Going up and down these flights of stairs, with a cup of coffee in each hand, can present a problem. Even though Roots Hall is an older ground it has some rather modern electronic turnstiles. Each match ticket has a bar code printed onto it and fans insert their ticket into a bar code reader at the turnstile to gain entrance to the stadium. I did notice once inside the stadium, that the stewards were alerted when a concession or junior ticket was being used, so that they could check that it was for the appropriate person. |
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| Where To Drink? | |
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The main away fans pub is the Golden Lion, which is
situated on the A127, just up from from the car park entrance to the
Main Stand. On my last visit this pub was very busy, but
the bar staff were good in getting people served relatively quickly. This
pub which serves drinks before the game in plastic glasses, also had a large
screen television, showing Sky. The nearby Spread Eagle pub is for home fans
only. There is also a good fish
and chip shop located across the road by the traffic lights, called the
'Fish House', which I found to be excellent.
Judging by the amount of fans standing outside eating fish and chips (there
is some seating inside as well), then I'm not the only one that thinks it is
good. Henry Willard a visiting Yeovil fan adds; ''The Blue Boar' pub which is at the crossroads (where the traffic lights are) is a very good place for away fans to congregate before the game, it' was friendly and relaxed. A little further away are two more pubs. 'The Bell' which you pass on your way into Southend on the A127 and 'The Nelson' in North Road. The Bell is a large 'Toby Carvery', whilst The Nelson is a basic pub with a beer garden and is probably only worth a visit if you arrive early and want to kill time. It is about a five minute walk from the Spread Eagle. Just go past the the Spread Eagle on your right, turn right at the lights and then turn left into North Road, opposite the petrol station. The pub is up on the right. The 'Shrimpers Bar' at the ground itself, is now for members only. Please note that alcohol is not served to away fans within the stadium. |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| From M25 take Junction 29 and follow the A127 to Southend.
Continue towards the town centre, through the lights near to the Bell Pub. At
the next roundabout turn right (3rd
turning), continuing on the A127. The ground is on the right just past the
next traffic lights. If
you turn right as you reach the ground, this will put you behind the away
end where there is plenty of street parking to be found. Otherwise there is a car park at the ground,
behind the Main Stand which costs £5, or there is the
Southend High School For Boys which also offers car parking for £5 per car
(the school entrance is on Prittlewell Road). Bear in mind that in the fair weather months Aug/Sep/April/May, if the weather is at all sunny the whole of East London seems to head down the A127 on a Saturday afternoon, so allow an extra 30 mins if the temperature is above 65F. For a map showing the location of Roots Hall, click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. |
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| By Train | |
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The closest station to the ground is Prittlewell,
about a five minute walk away. It is served by trains
from London Liverpool Street. As you exit the station
turn right, you will then come to a crossroads with traffic lights.
On your right is the 'Fish House', fish and chip shop.
Pass this
and turn right. Walk about 100 yards and the ground is tucked away on your
left. If you happen to end up at Southend Central station (served by trains from London Fenchurch Street), you're about a 25 minute walk from the ground. The main bus station is close to Southend Central, and therefore it may be an idea to get a bus up to the ground, rather than walking. |
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| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans*: Southend Echo East Stand:Adults £20, Concessions £12, Juniors £10 Hi-Tec South Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £12, Juniors £10 Toomey Vauxhall West Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £12, Juniors £10 Royal Bank Of Scotland Family Enclosure: 1 Adult + 1 Child £20, Additional Adults £16 Additional Child £4 Away Fans*: North Stand: Adults £20, Concessions £12, Juniors £10 * Please note that these prices are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on the matchday itself can cost up to £2 more per ticket. |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Colchester United, Leyton Orient & West Ham. | |
| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official Programme £3. All At Sea Fanzine £1. |
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| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2007-2008 | |
| For the Southend United fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 31,090 v Liverpool, FA Cup 3rd Round, January 10th, 1979. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 11,735 v Yeovil Town League Two, April 30th, 2005. Average Attendance: 2006-2007: 10,024 (Championship League) 2005-2006: 8,053 (League One) 2004-2005: 6,077 (League Two) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Roots Hall | |
| Visited Roots Hall recently as an away fan or general football supporter? Then submit your own review of the ground and general day out click here. | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Southend page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me and I'll
update
the guide. |
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