An excerpt from the opening chapter of "A Century United- The Centenary History of Southend United" by Peter Miles and Dave Goody (Shrimper Publishing 2007)

Birth of the Blues- A Meeting of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Southend’s footballing landscape changed forever on the evening of May 19th 1906 in the humble surroundings of the Blue Boar public house in Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell. Just three days earlier Southend Athletic’s annual general meeting had proved to be an embarrassment with the sole decision taken on the club’s future was to change from white “knickers” to blue. The major problems of dwindling gate receipts, down from £427 in 1904/05 to just £240, issues with their Marine Park ground and a very poor showing in defending their title in the modest South Essex League were not addressed. Athletic’s governing body decided to bury its head in the sand despite a growing move towards the formation of a professional football club for the town surfacing as early as the previous month.

On April 19th a meeting had been held in the same public house which resulted in the securing of a seven year lease on the adjacent Roots Hall field. At first the formation of a rival amateur or semi-professional club “Prittlewell United” was suggested but rejected as it was rightly stated that Athletic would “fight tooth and nail” to keep the new club out of their league. Opposition was also encountered from other local amateur sides Leigh Ramblers and Leigh Rectory Yard. By the May 19th meeting the packed public house would soon learn that the town would have a fully professional club come what may.

The meeting duly elected a five man board of directors, these being:

Charles Albert Stein, a member of the Stock Exchange and residing at Manor Road, Westcliff.

Oliver Trigg (pictured), licensed victualler and landlord of The Blue Boar Public House.

George Hatton Hogflesh, described as an agent and also secretary of the Southend Harriers Athletics club. Residing at Finchley Road, Westcliff.

Frederick England, licensed victualler and landlord of the nearby Nelson Hotel.

Thomas Stuart Tidy, a cigar merchant, residing in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff.