The Shots kick-off their October schedule with a visit to Roots Hall, as they face Southend United on Saturday afternoon.
Relegated from the Football League in 2021, ‘the Shrimpers’ are enjoying their fifth successive non-league season. This could have all been different, however, as the Blues found themselves on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller at Wembley in May, losing 3-2 to Oldham Athletic in extra-time. With prior wins against Rochdale and Forest Green, they became the first team in National League history to reach the play-off final after finishing seventh.
With 19 points from 12 league matches, the Blues currently find themselves 9th in the Enterprise National League table.
RECENT FORM
An undefeated August saw the side establish themselves as early promotion hopefuls. However, just five points from six games since has seen the side slip out of the all-important top seven.
- 30/09/25 – Boreham Wood 1-1 Southend United (Walker)
- 27/09/25 – Southend United 0-2 Scunthorpe United
- 24/09/25 – Eastleigh 2-1 Southend United (Dallas)
- 13/09/25 – Southend United 1-1 Boston United (Dallas)
- 06/09/25 – Southend United 3-0 FC Halifax Town (Dallas, Scott-Morriss, Goodliffe)
Coming into the match after a disappointing 3-2 loss at Wealdstone, the Essex-based side returned to Roots Hall with a victory against ten-man FC Halifax Town on September 6th. Andrew Dallas’ first-half opener was all that separated the two as the end of normal time approached, though late headers from Gus Scott-Morriss and Ben Goodliffe sealed a retrospectively emphatic victory.
Disappointing results against Boston and Eastleigh would follow, with perhaps the only positives being the continuation of Dallas’ fine goalscoring form as he claimed a goal apiece for his 4th and 5th of the new season.
They would lose their unbeaten home record on September 27th, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to an in-form Scunthorpe United. With the affair fought closely overall, a quickfire second-half double from Alfie Beestin and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming proved enough for the Iron to return to Lincolnshire with all three points.
The Shrimpers most recent outing saw spoils shared against Boreham Wood at Meadow Park. Former Burton Albion man Josh Walker poked home a scrambled effort in the 81st minute to cancel out Matt Rush’s opener, rescuing a much needed point amid a difficult period for the Blues.
IN THE DUGOUT
With over 450 appearances for the Shrimpers between 1998 and 2008, and 189 as manager, few individuals have had more impact on the history of Southend United than Kevin Maher.
Born in East London, the former Republic of Ireland U21 international came through the academy ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, before enjoying a ten year stint at Roots Hall which culminated in successive Football League promotions, captaining the side to League One title in 2005/06 as they reached the second tier for the first time in their history.
Retiring in 2015, Maher held a brief stint as manager of nearby Chelmsford City before spending four years coaching the Blues’ under 21 side. He would join the backroom staff of Bristol Rovers, eventually serving as assistant managers to the likes of Joey Barton, Graeme Coughlan and briefly, Tommy Widdrington.
He would return to Southend as head coach in October 2021, two months into their first season at National League level. While he has failed to achieve promotion as yet, he would come closest in June 2025, losing 3-2 to Oldham Athletic in the play-off final.
While supporters will hope that Maher achieves a Football League return sooner rather than later, he remains a true legend in Southed-On-Sea regardless of future achievement, exemplified by his awarding of the ‘freedom of the city’ in 2024.
FORMER SHOTS
Joseph Gubbins – The centre-back joined the Shots on loan from QPR on a one-month deal in 2021, making three impressive National League appearances that bore two clean sheets and seven points.
Joining Southend in 2024, the defender’s inclusion in the side has been sporadic, recently spending five consecutive games as an unused substitute.
Nathan Ralph – The left wing-back joined the Shots on loan from Newport County in 2016, making 12 appearances. His finest hour in North Hampshire undoubtedly arrived on March 28th, where a goal and an assist near-singlehandedly orchestrated a comeback victory against Braintree Town, with the Shots winning 2-1.
Joining the Shrimpers in 2019 via Dundee and Woking, Ralph has since made 170 appearances for the club, the majority of which as club captain, a role he continues to occupy to this day.
MATCH HISTORY AND LAST TIME OUT
The Shots and Southend have a significantly deep-rooted history, sharing 37 seasons in the Football League between 1932 and 1990. However, considering only the lineage of the phoenix club, the two finally met once more in August 2010, where a solitary Marvin Morgan goal secured Aldershot Town’s first victory of the League Two season.
North Hampshire has been something of a bogey location for the Blues, having won just one game in seven at the EBB Stadium this century.
Games played: 14
Aldershot wins: 7
Southend wins: 3
Draws: 4
Aggregate score: 17-14
Record Shots victory: 2-0 (2012)
Record Southend victory: 4-1 (2024)
The sides last met at Roots Hall in February, where second-half strikes from Noor Husin and Gus Scott-Morriss proved enough to claim all three points in Essex, with a late Cameron Hargeaves strike proving too little, too late as the score finish 2-1 to the hosts.
TICKET INFO
Tickets for the Shots’ trip to Roots Hall on Saturday, 4th October, can be bought online by clicking HERE.
Shots supporters will be in Block NF of the North Bank stand and can scroll down to select the options labelled as “North Stand AWAY” or “North Stand Restricted View AWAY”, or click on Block NF on the map.
Ticket prices are as follows with the brackets indicating prices on the day of the game:
- ADULT – £23 (£25)
- SENIOR (61+) – £18 (£20)
- YOUNG ADULT (17-22) – £18 (£20)
- DISABLED – £18 (£20)
- JUNIOR (9-16) – £12 (£14)
- CHILD (Under 8) – £7 (£9)
*Ticket prices will increase by £2 on the day of the game.
Southend United may also accommodate concession prices for both Armed Forces & Veterans and Emergency Service workers with proof of relevant ID, please contact the club directly for more information.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT
Live updates will be available from our social media platforms X (@OfficialShots), Instagram (@aldershottownfcofficial), and Facebook. After the game, highlights will be available on our YouTube channel.
The game can be streamed to overseas viewers via DAZN’s National League TV coverage. Click HERE to purchase a match pass.
There will be live commentary of the game provided by BBC Radio Surrey – listen online HERE
