The night red hot Blues held mighty Liverpool

After all, this was a night a record Roots Hall crowd of more than 31,000 saw a Shrimpers side hold the European Champions to a goalless draw.

Liverpool had Kenny Dalglish, Emlyn Hughes, Alan Hansen and a whole host of other stars in their starting line-up.

But they could not see off Southend and, had Blues’ Derrick Parker not wasted a great chance to score, the Seasiders could have been celebrating an amazing triumph in the freezing conditions.

Blues were being managed at that point by Dave Smith.

And he holds great memories of guiding his team to a 0-0 draw.

“It was snowy and frosty and we could’ve beaten them on the night,” recalled Smith who enjoyed 322 games in charge of the club.

“Derrick missed a sitter at the end but I remember turning to one of my coaches and saying I was glad he missed.

“They thought I was mad but it meant we got to go to Anfield and I’d never managed a team there before.”

Blues held their own against their illustrious visitors despite an unusual training session leading up to the game.

“We couldn’t find anywhere to train so we went to the bottom of the pier,” said Smith.

“We ended up in a pub there drinking hot port and this was only a few days before the game.

“Maybe that’s the answer to playing so well.”

The match had originally been scheduled for a Saturday afternoon but the cold weather and snow meant it had to be postponed.

Conditions were still far from ideal when it went ahead on the following Wednesday but Southend coped well.

Goalkeeper Mervyn Cawston was only tested on a few occasions, firstly when David Fairclough broke free from his marker but as he was about to shoot Cawston slid out to whip the ball off his feet.

Later, Cawston tipped over a clever lob from Hughes and then saved a point-blank header from Hansen from the resulting corner.

Southend had opportunities as well though and a super through-ball from Gerry Fell found Parker in space.

As he rushed through a goal looked certain but Ray Clemence had other ideas and pulled off a fine save.

The relieved Liverpool manager Bob Paisley praised Southend at the final whistle and insisted they deserved to take the tie to a replay.

And Southend midfielder Ronnie Pountney remembers the clash with real fondness.

“It’s hard to remember much about the game because it all went so fast but both sides had chances and it certainly could have gone either way,” he said.

“It’s such a long time ago now but I remember the snow and that Roots Hall was packed.

“I was up against Ray Kennedy and our goalkeeper Mervyn Cawston was just tremendous.

He made some great saves and it was just a once in a life-time thing for us really.

“We won’t ever forget it either, that’s for sure.”

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO SOUTHEND'S TEAM?

>MERVYN CAWSTON: Goalkeeper who was ever-present in Southend’s 1980-81 Fourth Division title triumph and moved to Stoke City in March 1984. He later played for Chelmsford City, Southend again and had spells at various non-league clubs in Essex. Still living locally, he is an independent financial adviser.

>MICKEY STEAD: Versatile defender who starred in the 1980-81 Fourth Division title success and netted five goals in 297 league games prior to joining Doncaster Rovers in November 1985. He played for Fisher, then coached Chelmsford, Heybridge, Dagen-ham & Redbridge and Fisher. Now a London black cab driver.

STEVE YATES: Popular left-back who helped Southend to win promotion in 1977-78 and 1980-81, netting eight goals in 224 league games before moving to Doncaster Rovers in December 1983. He later played for Darlington, Chesterfield, Stockport and Shepshed Charterhouse, settling back in Measham.

MICKY LAVERICK: Midfielder who scored 18 times in 110 league outings before reuniting with Mick Buxton at Huddersfield Town in July 1979, then played for York City, Boston United, Sutton Town and Rainworth MW. He has worked in the prison service since July 1984, becoming an officer at HMP Ranby.

TONY HADLEY: Versatile defender who also starred in Southend’s 1977-78 and 1980-81 promotion successes, netting 19 goals in 297 league games overall during two spells before joining Chelmsford in July 1985. Now living in Rochford, he has since worked as a guard on the Fenchurch Street railway line.

ALAN MOODY: Long-serving defender who featured prominently in Southend’s 1977-78 and 1980-81 promotion successes, netting 41 goals in 446 league games and given a testimonial against West Ham prior to joining Maldon Town in May 1984. He has since become secretary at Banstead Downs Golf Club.

COLIN MORRIS: Influential winger who netted 25 goals in 133 league games prior to joining Blackpool in December 1979, then played for Sheffield United, Scarborough, Boston United and Bridlington Town. He became a salesman for Peugeot dealers Arundale of Bridlington and his son Lee played for Derby.

RON POUNTNEY: Long-serving midfielder who was Southend’s “Player of the Year” three times and netted 26 goals in 348 league games prior to joining Chelmsford City in July 1985, then played for Basildon. He had a belated testimonial in August 2000 and is now a painter and decorator living locally.

DERRICK PARKER: Leading marksman who moved to Barnsley in February 1980, then played for Oldham Athletic, Burnley, Rochdale, Northwich Victoria and Frickley Athletic. Later sales manager for Carlton Main Brickworks in Grimethorpe, he is also a Barnsley match summariser for Radio Sheffield.

PHIL DUDLEY: Ever-present favourite who netted three goals in 100 league games before moving to Chelmsford City in July 1983. He later played for Basildon, Heybridge, Haringey, Bowers, Billericay, Southend Manor, Ramsden, Great Baddow and Writtle while a director of Cavendish Tiling in Basildon.

GERRY FELL: Winger who helped to win promotion in 1977-78 and netted 12 goals in 45 League games prior to joining Torquay United in July 1980, then played for Whitehawk. He was a partner of James Lytle (Crawley) Independent Financial Advisers and now runs his own financial services company in Worthing.