New Southend United left-back Shane Wardley is looking forward to swapping sofas for full-time soccer.

The 20-year-old furniture maker has just joined Blues for £5,000 from Dr Marten's Premier Division outfit Cambridge City on an 18 month contract.

And the former Ipswich Town youngster, who has also had spells at Rushden and Diamonds and Chelmsford City, can't wait to try and establish himself with the Third Division Shrimpers.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead at Roots Hall and trying to break into Southend's first team," said Wardley, who will pull on a Blues shirt for the first time tonight when the Seasiders' reserves travel to Bristol Rovers for an Avon Insurance League match.

"I signed last week, but I haven't trained with the Southend lads yet because I've had to serve my notice at work.

"But luckily my boss is a big football nut. He's a massive Chelsea fan, so he knows all about the Southend manager David Webb, and he has let me leave early because we're shutting down for Christmas."

However, Wardley admitted he was surprised at how quick his stab at League football has come around. The defender, who can also play in midfield, has only been at Cambridge City since the start of the season, following a two-year spell with Chelmsford.

Now he is hoping to make the grade as a Southend player just as quickly. "Making the move to Cambridge at the start of the season was a step up in level from Chelmsford and my sole aim was just to establish myself there," added Wardley.

"But we are only half way through the season and my big chance has come along with Southend. It's an opportunity which has come about a lot quicker than I thought it would.

"But I never considered it as being too quick a jump again. Joining Southend is a challenge I'm looking forward to and I aim to make the most of it."

And finally, Wardley defined what he would add to Blues' squad. "I like to get stuck in and make tackles, but I also love to get forward and shoot," he said. "I've only scored one goal this season, against Bath City when Southend were watching me, and I hope to get a few at Roots Hall.

"I'm equally comfortable playing in midfield or at the back. But for now my main aim is to establish myself in the Southend reserve team and take advantage of training full time to make myself stronger."

Blues will field another two new faces during their game at Bristol Rovers this evening, which kicks-off at 7pm. Romford striker Mervyn Abraham will trial for the Shrimpers as will young Southampton central midfielder Matt Davies, who is a former England under-18 international.

Water, water everywhere - Shrewsbury firefighters Mark Jones, left, and Martin Jones, pump water from Gay Meadow in hope of making the ground fit for Southend United's league visit on Friday.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.