Southend United's away trip to Shrewsbury Town today (Friday) is on - barring another deluge of rain in Shropshire.

The Shrews have not played a home game since October 28 after heavy rain caused the River Severn to burst its banks and flood the Gay Meadow pitch.

Floodwater was at one point lapping round the seating, but fire crews pumped away the water this week and the ground has been disinfected following health advice.

"The water has been pumped away and the ground cleared up," said a club spokesman.

"We are all geared up and the match will go ahead."

There has been drizzle in the riverside town, but not enough for the Severn - which runs just yards from Gay Meadow - to threaten the ground again.

The game kicks-off at 7.45pm and is Blues last before the big derby match against Leyton Orient on Boxing Day.

The Shane man - with Southend's Avon Insurance Combination League match away to Bristol Rovers off this week, Blues manager Dave Webb (right) got the chance to run the rule over new signing Shane Wardley in training.

The 20-year-old joined the Shrimpers for £5,000 from Cambridge City this week and met his new clubmates at the Seasiders' Boots and Laces training ground.

Picture: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.