This season Prostate Cancer UK is the official charity of The
Football League. To celebrate, we've asked bloggers from each of
the 72 clubs to count down their top five strikers to have worn
their No9 shirt, in recognition of the fact that prostate cancer
affects one in nine men.
Feed the goat... Shaun Goater signed off in style at Roots Hall. Photo courtesy of Action Images
Here blogger Jamie Forsyth, from allatseafanzine.wordpress.com,
selects Southend's five best No9s… and one to forget!
5. Shaun Goater (2005-06)
The Goat only had one season at Southend before he retired
- but what a season. His 11 goals, including two against
Colchester, helped propel Southend to the League One title. His
swansong against Bristol City saw him shed a tear, as all sides of
the ground - including some Man City fans who had made the trip -
thunderously applauded him as he left the pitch.
4. Brett Angell (1990-94)
A gangly, untidy footballer with a knack for scoring untidy
goals, Angell was instrumental as Southend hit the top of the old
Division Two in 1992. His winner against hated West Ham later that
year is still fondly remembered. A big move to Everton didn't work
out for him, but he will always be a favourite at Roots Hall.
3. Roy Hollis (1954-60)
Goal-sniffer Hollis never had much style - he was nicknamed
'Gormless' by fans - but he knew where the goal was, no matter what
part of his body he used to find it. He scored 135 goals in 260
games, a club record unlikely to be surpassed.
2. David Crown (1987-90)
A journeyman striker before he joined in 1987, his goals
kept Southend up that year before his two famous strikes at
Peterborough clinched promotion in 1990. He is also remembered from
being a post-width away from knocking an illustrious Tottenham side
out of the League Cup, but with 69 goals in 132 games, his Crown
did not slip.
1. Billy Best (1968-73)
Not only sporting an alliteration belonging to a Roy of the
Rovers cartoon, Billy was Best by name and best by nature and is
still revered by older fans. Best once got a hat-trick in the FA
Cup against Kings Lynn in a 9-0 win before bagging five as Blues
thrashed Brentwood 10-1 in the following round. His total of 123
goals is second only to Roy Hollis.
And the worst…
Sada N'Diaye (1997-98)
Despite a debut goal, it quickly became clear that lightning-fast
Frenchman N'Diaye didn't really have much else in his locker.
Unable to cope with the harsh English winter, he went into
hibernation. However, manager Alvin Martin did not notice, as he
continued to play him up front to zero effect. My lasting memory of
him is a horrible, waist-high Boxing Day "tackle" which saw him red
carded. He didn't play much after that.
Follow Jamie on Twitter @AllAtSeaFanzine