New Southend United keeper Andy Woodman is relishing the chance to prove himself at Roots Hall.

The Brentford shot-stopper - who celebrated his 29th birthday on Friday - has joined Blues on a month's loan from Griffin Park and looks set to replace Mel Capleton as the Shrimpers' number one.

"All I want to do is play first-team football and I'm grateful to Southend for giving me the chance to do that," said Woodman.

"I couldn't have joined a better lower league club than Southend. I know some of Southend's old players - Chris Powell came on my stag night - and they speak very highly of the place.

"I just can't wait to get the new Third Division season off to a good start against Brighton on Saturday."

The former Crystal Palace trainee joined Brentford from Northampton Town in a transfer deal worth £100,000 two-years ago.

Woodman won a Third Division championship medal in his first year at Griffin Park and made another 38 league appearances last term.

However, he has been frozen out of the first-team picture by the summer arrival of Hibernian keeper Oli Gottskalksson at the Second Division club, which has left Woodman completely puzzled.

"Finding myself out of favour at Brentford has completely mystified me," added the custodian.

"I didn't play badly last season and there certainly wasn't any animosity between myself and the management team.

"But I haven't been heavily involved in things pre-season and I've been in the game long enough to realise when I'm not wanted."

Woodman wasn't too upset at having to leave Brentford behind for a month however and is looking forward to his new Roots Hall challenge.

"Brentford was a strange place to play at last season," he explained. "We went on a great run and were second in the table about January time gunning for promotion.

"But the fans never got behind us and people failed to come out of the woodwork and boost the crowds.

"In the end we suffered an end of season slump and finished down at the bottom of the league.

"Now I'm hoping for a change at Southend. I've always played well at Roots Hall and I hope that continues.

"I know the fans here are good and I've always had plenty of lively banter with them as a visiting player."

Finally, Woodman, who was also being tracked by both Brighton and Bristol Rovers, said he expected to get some stick on Saturday.

"I know a few of the Brighton boys well," he said. "Charlie Oatway and Darren Freeman have already been on the phone to tell me they're going to give me a nudge in the ribs at corners."

Blues's reserves crashed 3-0 to a very strong Ipswich Town side in a training ground practice match on Wednesday afternoon.

By Bernie Friend

Reporter's e-mail: bernie.friend@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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