It was refreshing to hear Blues chairman John Main giving a big pat on the back to fans for supporting the team this season.

I know of many people who had followed the club for a number of years who suddenly turned their backs on Roots Hall for what they perceived as a couldn't care less attitude from the club's hierarchy.

Comments branding some fans as being like the Hitler youth and also urging them to support another team if they didn't like the way things were being run all contributed to a steady stream towards the exit door.

And that quickly became a flood as Southend United tumbled down two divisions in quick succession.

But there now seems to be a more positive attitude towards supporters with special ticket deals aimed an encouraging youngsters back to the ground.

I have warned in the past about the big danger lower division clubs especially face in these days of so much live soccer being shown on our TV screens.

Walk along Southend High Street on any Saturday and you will see kids parading around in Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal shirts rather than those of their local team.

And that's because too many are becoming armchair supporters - adopting the most successful Premiership sides that they watch week in and week out.

Without clubs like Southend showing an initiative to encourage a real pride in wearing a blue shirt those very children who are the future lifeblood will be lost for ever.

I realise that people are very fickle and that Southend's attendances will be determined to a large extent by the way they perform on the field.

But if you can foster a good relationship with local soccer followers and a feeling of being an important part of the future of the club then hopefully people will stand by you through thick and thin.

Mr Main obviously realises the value of good PR work to lift the spirits and enthusiasm of people who have had a lot of it knocked out of them over the years.

Hopefully too, boys and girls who come along to Roots Hall will discover there's nothing quite like watching a pro soccer game live - the atmosphere even from a 4-5,000 crowd can never be matched by sitting in front of a TV screen however many gimmicks the television companies come up with.

Good luck Bobby!

Congratulations to Bobby Robson for giving all of us golden oldies a shot in the arm.

For those of you who must have been living in Outer Mongolia for the last few days and don't know, Robson has taken on the massive task of restoring some pride to fast fading Newcastle United.

And he had taken up the cudgels at the age of 66 - a time when most are reaching for the bus pass and a pair of slippers.

Hopefully Bobby will succeed where much younger guns like Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Ruud Gullit have bitten the dust and prove that, even in this modern, youth driven, era, there's no substitute for some good old fashioned experience . . good luck Bobby.

I've a feeling, with the Magpies in such a state, you will need it.

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