It is only since 1991 that Southend United Football Club have thrown off the shackles of being a third or fourth-tier club as first Dave Webb and then Steve Tilson have guided the Shrimpers to the second level of English football.

Having won promotion in 1990 to the Third Division, the Southend football made it a double when they reached Division Two for the first time the following year under Webb after coming second.

Southend Utd spent six years in the Second Division before being relegated in 1997 and suffered a further drop a year later, remaining there until Tilson's arrival in 2004 signalled an upturn in fortunes.

First he guided Southend Football Club them to the LDV Vans Trophy final where they lost to Blackpool and then a year later led the Shrimpers out of League Two after a 2-0 extra-time play-off triumph over Lincoln City.

In 2006 Tilson oversaw a second successive promotion, Southend Utd. securing the League One title on the final day after a 1-0 victory over Bristol City, with Wayne Gray providing the late goal.However, Southend Football Club’s Championship stay lasted just one season (2006-07), as with only 10 wins, they finished in 22nd place.

Southend Football Club were formed in 1906 at a local pub located just a stone's throw from the club's current home, Roots Hall, and played in the Southern League until 1920, when the Shrimpers became founder members of the Football League Division Three South.