Roots Hall Stadium

Roots Hall has nothing to do with trees. It rhymes with RuPaul, but Essex Girls in general are much prettier and more glamorous.
First-​Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium — I’ve only been to Roots Hall once and it was just after a game. I was able to go inside and hang out with fans (briefly) and take pix. Then I hung out outside for ages and toured the grounds. This was back during my 2011 UK tour. I really enjoyed it.
I expected not to like Roots Hall, because I’m no Southend fan… but what a brilliant stadium it is. Intense and loud and the noise is closed in and it’s so much better than I expected. One of the better places to watch football in the lower leagues for sure, I love it.
I’ll be coming back to watch a full live game in 2016 most likely, it’s on my to do list for when I’m in England next year.
I’ve been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review — like all my reviews — are from first-​hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was «stuck» in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I’ll post later. Also, when back in UK I’ll take more pix, and add more stadia!
*** return to regular review ***
It holds 12k and was built in the 50s, and in 1979 30k showed up here to watch Liverpool play in the cup.
Southend are moving to a new stadium so it’s time to say goodbye to Roots Hall unfortunately.
One of the stands has 2 tiers and it’s right in the middle of a bunch of houses, it’s pretty awesome. There are even some flats towering above the stadium. It’s so enclosed. It’ll be a shame to lose it.