Match Preview: Southend United (H)

It’s the first of three home games in seven days when AFC Fylde take on Southend United on Tuesday night in the Vanarama National League.

It’s the first game following the departure of Head Coach Chris Beech and Assistant Head Coach Nick Anderton who departed the club on Sunday afternoon.

The Coasters will be looking to get back to winning ways following a poor run of results whilst Southend will also be looking to bounce back after falling to a 3-1 home defeat to Sutton United last time out.

The Opposition Dugout: Kevin Maher

Managed by Kevin Maher, the Londoner returned to Southend in October 2021 having played over 450 games for the club during his playing career as well as an academy coaching role.

Born in the Ilford area of the capital, Maher came through the youth system at Tottenham Hotspur, turning professional at White Hart Lane before joining Southend in January 1998.

The midfielder would spend a decade at Southend, becoming a key player in the squad.

During his 454 appearances for United, Maher won back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship.

Firstly, Maher featured 42 times in the 2004/05 campaign as Southend won the fourth-tier play-offs, prior to playing 44 games for Steve Tilson’s League One title-winning team.

Maher also represented the Republic of Ireland U21s and senior team early in his playing days.

After departing Southend in the summer of 2008, Maher would go onto spend stints at Oldham Athletic, Gillingham – playing in over 100 matches combined for the Latics and Gills, as well as representing Dagenham and Redbridge, Bray Wanderers, Whitehawk and Chelmsford City, managing the Clarets for a spell.

Following Chelmsford, Maher’s coaching journey reunited him with Southend in 2015, where he became U21s manager and coaching the club’s young players until he left for Bristol Rovers in July 2019 as Graham Coughlan’s first-team coach.

Working under three other managers at the Memorial Stadium, Maher would also serve as caretaker manager after Coughlan’s departure in December 2019.

In October 2021, Maher was appointed as the Shrimpers Head Coach and guided the Essex club through a difficult period and towards a brighter future.

One to watch: Gus Scott-Morriss

Full-back Gus Scott-Morriss has made a brilliant start to the campaign, scoring six goals in Southend United’s first eight games of the season.

Scott-Morriss has been at the club since the summer of 2022 and has made well over 80 appearances for Kevin Maher’s team since signing.

Gus started out at Royston Town, spending seven years at the Crows before joining Hemel Hempstead Town in 2021, turning out more than 40 times.

He made the step up to professional football two-years ago when he made the transfer to Southend, with the 27-year-old in excellent goalscoring form during the early part of the season.

Scott-Morriss has also been capped by the England C team.

Tickets:

Fylde supporters can purchase their tickets for the fixture against Southend United.

Admission for home fans is cheaper when purchased before the day of the game.

Prices are as followed:

West Stand premium: £21 (non-member pre-game) £25 (non-member matchday)

West Stand: £18 (non-member pre-game) £22 (non-member matchday)

West Stand U18s Young Guns: £6 (non-member pre-game) £8 (non-member matchday)

West Stand Child U18s: £4 (non-member pre-game) £6 (non-member matchday)

Adult East Terrace: £16 (non-member pre-game) £18 (non-member matchday)
East Terrace U18s Young Guns: £7 (non-member pre-game) £9 (non-member matchday)

East Terrace U12s: £5 (non-member pre-game) £7 (non-member matchday)

North Stand Adult: £13 (non-member pre-game) £15 (non-member matchday)
North Stand U18s Young Guns: £5 (non-member pre-game) £7 (non-member matchday)

North Stand U12s: FREE

To buy your tickets, please CLICK HERE

Match coverage

There will be no live audio commentary for this fixture, but if you can’t make it to Mill Farm, you will be able to follow the Southend United game through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

X: @AFCFylde

Facebook: @AFCFyldeOfficial

Instagram: @afc_fylde

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