Tuesday 14 May 1982 our first ever visit which was a great night at Southend.
I lived at Uxbridge and took my sons with me to see the Clarets win 4-1 to clinch promotion from Division Three. They went on to draw the last game at home on the 18th May, in front of over 18000 fans, to win the league with Carlisle finishing second.

Just one month previous, we had been beaten 3-5 at home by Southend who ended our 10 game unbeaten run. Needless to say, although we had just won 4 and drawn 1 since that defeat, I was quite apprehensive about the game. Brian Miller's team did us proud in the end but it was quite a nail-biting evening. We were 2-0 up and they scored and had several chances but we managed a third about 7 minutes from the end and then Brian Laws scored a 4th in the last minute. We had never been top all season but we went top after this win and stayed there for one week which was all that was needed.

We have played there 6 times since and have never won, losing 5 and drawing 1. Happy memories of that night though!