Southend United fans have commemorated the foundation of their footballing favourites with a helping hand from Sir Teddy Taylor , the honorary president of the Shrimpers' supporters club.

The Rochford and Southend East MP unveiled a special plaque at the Blue Boar public house in Victoria Avenue highlighting the birthplace of the Blues.

He was helped by young Shrimpers fans Ben and Thomas Berry plus supporters club chairman Trevor Bashford.

Back in 1906 the Seasiders were formed at the famous Southend landmark, currently undergoing a revamp, following a meeting organised by the pub's landlord Oliver Trigg.

Blues subsequently went on to join the Southern League, despite the opposition of the area's leading amateur club at the time Southend Athletic, before joining the Football League in 1920 - all of which Shrimpers fans wanted acknowledged.

Richard Coxell, vice-chairman of Southend's supporters club, said: "This is were it all began for the club we all love and follow and we wanted to commemorate that.

"The Blue Boar is a historical site and is well known locally and we wanted the people of Southend to be aware of the place their professional football club was born in."

Last year Southend's supporters club put up another plaque in Hamlet Court Road on a house occupied by the Shrimpers' first manager Bob Jack and his son David, the former England international who also coached Blues.

Here we go - brothers Thomas Berry, ten, and six-year-old Ben (right) unveil the plaque with a bit of help from supporters club chairman Trevor Bashford (left) and Sir Teddy Taylor

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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