Southend defender Gus Scott-Morriss was left with a headache after booking them a place at Wembley, but not because of the celebration champagne.
In fact, the full-back ended up with a supporter’s knee in his head during a painful slip-up.
4
4
4
Southend will compete for a spot back in the Football League against Oldham on June 1, with Scott-Morriss’ winning penalty in a shoot-out against Forest Green Rovers clinching that spot.
There could not have been a more fitting watch-winner – the right-back is the Essex club’s unlikely top scorer this season with 17 goals
After his spot kick sent the net rippling, the 28-year-old reeled off in celebration at the New Lawn stadium to where the away fans were waiting pitchside, and as he slid onto his backside to celebrate, an onrushing supporter did the same.
Rather painfully, that fan’s knee went straight in the side of Scott-Morriss’ head as he clutched it in pain while being mobbed by pitch invading fans.
read more non-league news
Thankfully, the Shrimpers star was okay, and he later tweeted about the moment in amusing fashion.
“Who the f*** kneed me in the head,” he wrote, followed by plenty of laughter.
Reposting a clip of the incident, he then added: “F****** get in there, half a head though f*** me.”
Scott-Morriss’ winning penalty kick came after a 2-2 thriller between his side, which came seventh in the National League, and Forest Green who finished in third.
Only one team from the National League goes up automatically to the professional EFL, and that will be Barnet this season. They will be joined by the winner of the play-offs, with only two promotion places available.
Southend finished a whole 34 points off of the league champions in the final play-off berth, and will now look to complete the job against Oldham.
4
A return to the top four tiers would be their first since their 2021 relegation, which spelt huge trouble for the seaside club.
Southend were as high as the Championship in 2007 after back-to-back promotions, winning the League Two play-offs and then sealing the League One title – with current manager Kevin Maher leading the team as club captain.
But they soon headed all the way back to League Two before financial issues struck in 2019, with players and employees reporting unpaid wages before the COVID-19 pandemic further worsened matters at the start of 2020.
Back-to-back relegations in 2020 and 2021 sent the Shrimpers down to the National League, where they remained until this season’s potential salvation.
Property developer Ron Martin had been owner and club chairman since 2000, but debts of up to £17.4million were reported in late 2019 leading to multiple winding up orders and a drawn-out sale procedure.
Now in a better place financially, and with new owners at the helm, promotion would be a huge achievement for the 119-year-old side ahead of their 120th year next season.
