A WHOLE host of Southend United legends reunited to remember their former manager Dave Smith.

The popular former Shrimpers boss – who led the club to the Division Four title back in 1981 – died at the age of 88 last September.

And tribute organiser Andy Leeder, who runs the Southend United Ex Players Association, was delighted to see so many familiar faces back together at Essex Bowls Club.

“Dave was always known as a forthright character who expected nothing less than 100 per cent from every player at every game, and in return he gave his loyalty to the players,” said Leeder.

“Indeed, he worked with small squads, using only 49 players during seven full seasons at Roots Hall – compare that to last season when the club fielded nearly the same number of players in just one campaign."

The event was attended by 25 of the players under Smith during his Roots Hall tenure, plus 12 of Dave Smith's family who travelled down to Essex from Lancashire.

Many of the players also travelled long distances to be there, including Steve Goodwin who flew in from his home in Norway, and fans at the sell-out event also travelled from far and wide including one from Ireland.

The event was kicked-off by current Southend United manager Kevin Maher who received a rousing reception.

He paid due respect to his predecessor as well as the Shrimper fanbase who he acknowledged were continuing to suffer from the club’s current turbulent times but showing fantastic resilience with their support for the team.

After a short tribute video and some clips sent in from former players unable to be there on the night, co-hosts and former teammates Glenn Pennyfather and Derek Spence took over proceedings and retold many tales of their own as well as introducing and involving the other former players there.

Frequently those present were in stitches at some of the memories recalled, with Ronnie Pountney in particular coming in for a bit of ribbing as it was widely known that the former Shrimper midfielder was ‘Dave’s favourite’!