Source: FOOTYMAD
Southend United confirm Scottish tour thanks to Shrimpers Trust
It's off to East Fife in July to play in a four-team tourney with Dundee and Raith Rovers after all as the Shrimpers Trust membership said Yes and funds released will allow Blues boss Paul Sturrock and his squad to take part. It's really official now, after a report in the Scotsman broke the story, the Fifers broke it on May 5th with Dundee replacing the Europe bound Hearts, and after securing 10k's worth of funds, 50% of the cost of the tour, from the Shrimpers Trust, that well-known Scottish side Southend United are going to take part in a quadrangular pre-season tournament which will include the home side East Fife, near-neighbours Raith Rovers, and the Dark Blues of Dundee It's to be held at East Fife's Bayview ground over the weekend of July 16th and 17th.When Dundee United legend and present Blues boss Paul Sturrock mentioned that this was to be the case at the Shrimpers Trust Player of the Season awards last week we are told he spat on the ground!Dundee could certainly do with the dosh as on November 1st, 2010, they were given a record 25-point deduction by the SFL as punishment for going into administration for the second time in seven years, this came with a transfer embargo, and we know how that feels!Even so, Dundee then went on a 23 match undefeated streak in the first division beating the previous record set by the Champion team Dunfermline.Also involved are the other club in Fife, yes, there are two, (in fact there seem to be several!), the Rovers of Raith, and, of course, the south-east Essex 'Scottish' Shrimpers, which include Luggy as boss, his Dundee born son Blair, and skipper Craig Easton!There was a hope that Hearts would be involved but they should secure third position behind the Glasgow giants in the SPL meaning place in the Europa League at the second which takes place a few days earlier, or possibily the third which though starting on July 28th would seem too close, or they just don't want anything to do with it! Blues boss Sturrock does some recent history with Raith Rovers, lending them the now released French-Tunisian midfielder Adam Bouzid, though they soon gave him back after only a week.However, they might be looking at Adam again as a report this week has the Raith youth players being on stand-by for first team duty next season as the club expect to go into the campaign with a squad of just 13 recognised first team players!Rovers boss John McGlynn has completed one signing though, Morton striker Brian Graham (23), while he hopes to get club captain Grant Murray to put pen to paper when the out-of-contract defender returns from holiday. The earliest known picture of East Fife Football ClubCould be some good drinking done over those couple of days, EEB promises to work out some cheap fares and a decent pub crawl ASAP!You've been warned!
