ONE of the greatest nights in Southend United history came 14 years ago this month as Blues pulled off a League Cup giant-killing.
An impressive Freddy Eastwood free-kick allowed the Shrimpers to record a slender 1-0 win over Manchester United at a jam-packed Roots Hall.
The Premier League giants, who went into the tie as the League Cup holders, were managed by legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson and boasted ten international superstars in their starting line-up.
That included the likes of future England all-time leading goalscorer Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, who went on to become the most expensive footballer in history following an £80million move to Real Madrid less than three years later.
Superstar - Cristiano Ronaldo went on to become the world’s most expensive footballer less than three years later but he could not stop Southend United in their tracks
But a moment of brilliance from Eastwood soon before the half-hour mark sent the 11,532 fans crammed inside Roots Hall into ecstasy and Southend, managed by club legend Steve Tilson, held on to book their place in the competition’s quarter-finals.
It is widely regarded as the greatest result in Blues’ history, but Tilson revealed a mix-up with Mitchell Cole’s loan spell at Northampton Town nearly led to the result being wiped out.
They think it’s all over - Southend United supporters ran onto the pitch after the referee blew the final whistle and the hosts progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals
He said: “Mitchell had come back to us after playing his last game at Northampton and we decided to put him on the bench because his pace could really hurt teams late on.
“But what I didn’t realise to begin with was that although he had played his last game at Northampton, his loan spell, in terms of the number of days he was there, hadn’t actually finished.
Mastermind of the cup upset - Southend United boss Steve Tilson celebrates at the final whistle
“The club secretary Helen Giles was luckily aware of the whole situation and rang up the Football League to tell them about what had happened.
“Thankfully Helen was alert to it because I’m not sure the result would have been allowed to stand if she hadn’t, especially if Mitchell had come on.
In fine voice - two young Shrimpers fans get behind their beloved club on that night in November 2006
“It could have been a nightmare but luckily it never came to that.”
Scroll down to see more photos from that memorable night at Roots Hall.
Jubilant - Southend United’s players celebrate after Freddy Eastwood (far right) fired the Shrimpers to a shock League Cup win over Manchester United
Could not be beaten - Blues goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan picks up the man of the match award
The crowd goes wild - Freddy Eastwood is mobbed after his free-kick broke the deadlock in November 2006
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- IN PICTURES: Canvey Island looking to replicate FA Cup giant-killing exploits of 2001
Backing their side - more than 11,000 fans crammed into Roots Hall to watch the Shrimpers dump Premier League giants Manchester United out of the League Cup
Frustrated - Wayne Rooney, who is now the England international team’s all-time leading goalscorer, shows his anguish as a Manchester United chance goes begging
Legendary figure - Sir Alex Ferguson shows his disappointment as Manchester United crashed out of the competition at Southend United’s expense
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