Southend Manor FC is a non-league football club that was formed in 1955 as a team for youth players by Gil and Doris Medcalf. Gil had earlier played for prominent non-league side Eton Manor, hence the club's title.
The club played in local league football for many years with an excellent record after initially joining the Southend Youth League. In 1964 they entered the Southend Borough Combination as a Division Five side, reaching the Premier Division by 1969. The club went on to be crowned champions six times in twelve seasons.
Two league titles in the early 80s in the newly formed Southend & District Alliance followed, but despite their fine playing record and set-up, Manor could not progress further as they used council pitches including the Victory Sports Ground.
Finally, after many years of application, they became tenants at Southchurch Park Arena, which was originally shared with Southend Athletic Club. It contained many of the attributes needed for Senior Football. In 1985 the club gained access to the Essex Senior League Reserve Division while carrying out the work needed to meet senior status requirements.
This status was reached in 1988 with a new clubhouse being erected. It didn't take long for Manor to make their mark, winning the Essex Senior League title in 1990-91 with a runners-up spot following in 1999-00. The Club continued to grow, fielding seventeen teams in 2009 from Under sevens to the First Team.
Full F.A. Charter status was awarded to the Youth Section in August 2004, while new state-of-the-art floodlights were installed in the same month, along with compliance with ground grading requirements, The Manor aimed to continue to consolidate its position at their level of non-league football.
John Higley was appointed as manager in December 2013, remaining in the post until May 2014 when he was replaced by Wayne Seal who resigned in December 2015 to be succeeded by Stuart Marshall who led the side to seventh spot in 2016-17. The managerial merry-go-round continued at Manor with Adam Peek arriving in November 2017.
In September 2019 Jerry Omago was appointed as head coach, with Ryan Gordon replacing him in September 2021 but lasted just a few months until James Wakeling was put in charge of team affairs in December 2021. Alex O'Leary was next in the managerial hot seat from October 2022. His side was relegated in bottom place at the end of the season.
Gary Monti came in as manager ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, which saw Manor playing in the sixth tier as a Division One South club in the Eastern Counties League. After a poor start Nick Wibrow alongside Mark Royal was given the manager's job in November 2023. A disappointing ninetieth place ensued. Royal took on the position alone from June 2024.
Southend Manor FC will compete in the Eastern Counties League Division One South in the 2024-25 season.
My visit
Tuesday 14th July 2009
The weather was stunning. I had previously called in at Roots Hall across town and then walked a couple of miles to Southchurch Park. It is located just a block behind the seafront and the ground is at the far end of a park that also has a pond, cricket pitches and playgrounds.
The weather was stunning. I had previously called in at Roots Hall across town and then walked a couple of miles to Southchurch Park. It is located just a block behind the seafront and the ground is at the far end of a park that also has a pond, cricket pitches and playgrounds.
It took me quite some time to locate the entrance to the ground. Fortunately, a gate was open so I could get close to take some good photos. The ground was very open with large grass areas around the pitch as well as a path.
The arena once housed an athletics track but that had now gone. On the clubhouse side, there are two modern-looking stands to offer shelter for spectators, one with seating and one with a few steps of terracing.
Southchurch Park looked to be a good venue in pleasant weather but is not somewhere I'd fancy on a wet and windy evening.
