Football families celebrate 120 years of club

A Canadian man has explained why he flew halfway across the world to celebrate a British football team turning 120 years old.

A year ago, Roy Gabriel, 74, discovered that his great-grandfather was one of the first people to ever play for Southend United in Essex.

About 8,000 people flocked to celebrate Southend United at Pioneers Day at Roots Hall in the city last Saturday.

He was among them after taking three flights from Dawson Creek in Canada in 24 hours with his wife.

Gabriel had no idea of his British roots until a researcher for the club contacted him asking if they knew a man called Ben Freeman. He realised he did know the same man but by the name of Charles.

He said: “He had played football and unfortunately had to part with all of his kids after his wife died at childbirth – it was a pivotal moment in our family history.”

<

The family members had brought medals that had been passed down from the original players [BBC]

In 1912, the four oldest Freeman children were sent to Canada after his wife had died.

Roy’s wife, Cindy Gabriel, 63, said: “About a year ago we found out that he was this professional football player for Southend United.

“We know a little bit of the family history but nothing about the sportsman that he was.”

The couple said they were excited to be there and Cindy added: “It is about the resilience of families and how they can be separated but then come back together and finding out those stories.

“And knowing that it is something that is going on – something that he was involved in 120 years ago was still going strong.”

<

(L-R) Pat and Maureen came from Scotland to celebrate their grandad who was the first player to be signed by the club [BBC]

Pat MacRae, 80, who lives in a small village near Edinburgh, said William ‘Jerry’ Thompson was her grandfather and the first person to sign for the club in 1906.

“We didn’t realise any of that – so it’s great news for us.”

Thompson used to play fullback at Southend United but MacRae said she saw him as “superman”.

She said he had taught her how to drive at 16 and “he would let me drive to the village and back again without my father knowing.”

But when it came to the game she said Thompson “didn’t speak much about it – he just said he played football and now my grandson is playing football.”

Thompson’s other granddaughter, Maureen Main, 84, also from Scotland, said she has lots of stories about her granddad.

“We knew that he played here and that he was one of the players. He was always very modest about what he did.”

The pair said that they had owned a medal belonging to their grandfather but had now donated it to the club.

Do you have a story suggestion for Essex? Contact us below.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.