United wrap up the 2021/22 campaign on Sunday, as they travel to Roots Hall to take on Southend United.
Having gone down to a narrow defeat at leaders Stockport in midweek, Gary Johnson’s side will no doubt be looking to end the season on winning ways, and complete the double over The Shrimpers.
Who’s the Boss?
Having amassed nearly 400 league games for Southend during a decade at Roots Hall between 1998-2008, Kevin Maher was a popular choice to move into the hotseat vacated by previous boss Phil Brown last October.
During his playing career as a midfielder, Kevin also served the likes of Oldham, Gillingham and Dagenham before embarked on a coaching career that began as The Shrimpers’ U21/U23 boss, before going on to enjoy stints in caretaker charge of Bristol Rovers and Chelmsford, prior to returning to Essex last autumn.
How are they doing?
Having flirted with the relegation zone earlier in the season, the change at the helm saw Southend make a rapid rise up the table, prompting their fans to hope a late play-off bid may be on the cards.
Although a dip in form put paid to those lofty ambitions, they arrive at the final game of the season right in the middle of the table, in 12th place with 57 points from their 43 outings.
Player to Watch
Jason Demetriou is currently in his sixth season at Roots Hall and has made just shy of 200 appearances for the Essex side. The right-back is renowned for his attacking quality.
The 33-year-old began his career at Leyton Orient before spending five years in Cyprus, during which in 2010 he signed on for first division side AEK Larnaca. After three seasons at Larnaca he spent two seasons at Anorthosis before returning to England.
Demetriou spent one season at Walsall where he made 52 appearances and scored 4 goals in the 2015/16 season before signing on at Southend in the summer of 2016.
Having made 32 appearances this term, Demetriou recently netted his fourth goal of the season in the 3-1 win at Barnet.
Played for Both
Rhys Murphy enjoyed a short loan spell at Plainmoor early in the 2017/18 campaign. The striker made eight appearances and scored one goal for Gary Owers’ side.
The 30-year-old began his career at Arsenal where he progressed through the youth ranks before signing his first professional contract with the Gunners in 2009. Following loan spells at Brentford and Preston North End, Murphy went on to make 30 appearances and score 7 goals for second tier Dutch side Telstar.
After one season with the Dutch side, Murphy returned to England and his since played for the likes of Dagenham & Redbridge, Oldham Athletic, Crawley Town, AFC Wimbledon, Forest Green Rovers, York City, Gillingham, Chelmsford City and Yeovil Town before signing on at Southend over the summer.
The striker was part of the AFC Wimbledon side that won promotion from League Two in 2016 and more recently enjoyed two seasons at Yeovil Town where he scored 33 goals in 64 games.
Previous Encounter
Southend United 1 – 2 Torquay United
It couldn’t be any other encounter, could it?
With Leroy Rosenior’s Gulls heading for Roots Hall needing to better Huddersfield’s result in order to achieve promotion in May 2004, United made the perfect start after goals from Steve Woods and leading scorer David Graham, however with the Terriers also taking the lead at Whaddon Road against Cheltenham, it looked as the travelling Yellow Army may have been set for final day disappointment.
However despite The Shrimpers reducing the arrears to intensify Torquay’s nerves in the dying stages, a late leveller from ten-man Cheltenham sealed a remarkable turn of events, and left United savouring automatic promotion for the first time since 1966.