FORMER Southend United star Peter Taylor rolled back the years to entertain a packed Essex County Bowling Club.

The ex Shrimpers winger and manager spoke extensively about his illustrious career alongside host Glenn Pennyfather in a night organised by Southend United’s Ex Players Association.

And SUEPA’s Andy Leeder was delighted with just how popular the night proved to be.

“It was an evening to remember,” said Leader.

“There were fantastic stories from Peter and the event was superbly hosted by Glenn.”

A number of ex Shrimpers players including Steve Tilson, Andy Ansah, Andy Thomson, Paul Sansome and Dave Regis were all in attendance, along with current Blues boss Kevin Maher, as Taylor looked back on his playing days and his long managerial career which also included a spell in charge of England.

And Leeder feels the event again showed the importance of Blues not forgetting their roots.

“I strongly believe that the club needs to take its history forward as it moves in to a new era under the consortium,” said Leeder.

“It was great to see both Justin Rees and Ian Redbourn there with both being among the last to leave and having a good time.

“I received a lovely thank you note from Justin the following day.”

SUEPA now has close to 500 former Shrimpers signed up, making it the biggest group of ex players in the world.

And Leeder is keen to keep putting on more events for a variety of reasons.

“The bigger SUEPA gets the more we can do and putting on events like this is just one way of helping to both raise funds and bring a smile to people’s faces,” said Leeder.

“The event raised more than £2,700, part of which has been paid to the Bobby Moore Bowel Cancer Fund with the remainder to be used by the Shrimpers Trust in all the work they do to support the club and charitable causes.”