Latest news with #TheShrimpers
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Southend ready for 'huge test' at Forest Green
One down, two to go - but don't expect Southend United boss Kevin Maher to be thinking about a possible trip to Wembley travel to Forest Green Rovers on Wednesday with the winners earning the right to face either York City or Oldham Athletic in the National League promotion final on 1 road to the home of football is proving a circuitous one for The Shrimpers and their band of supporters.A round trip of almost 600 miles took them to Gateshead for the last match of the regular season as they secured the final place in the they travelled over 500 miles to Rochdale and back as they came from 3-1 down to win 4-3 in the first game of the knockout time the journey to Nailsworth, home of Forest Green, and back is 320 miles and that is all the typically pragmatic Maher is concerned with for now."Every opponent, I have the utmost respect for. I know Forest Green and how good they'll be, how prepared they'll be, so it would be remiss of me to start thinking any further or talk about anything further than the game Wednesday," he told BBC Essex. "It's a huge test. Steve (Cotterill) is so experienced, a top manager, and they're a real good side. We saw that at Roots Hall and at their place as well. "They've been up there all season with the consistency they've got - they're really well organised and when you see their work rate and the intensity they play at, that tells you how it's going to be." The two previous games this season ended in 2-2 draws, with Southend having to come from behind twice in both to earn a Maher, who kept the team afloat through major financial issues which threatened the club's future, including transfer embargoes, is calling on every member of his squad to be ready for whatever role they may be asked to play."We go into another tough one, a semi-final, another one-off game, it might be 90, it might be 120 minutes, who knows," he said."Everyone's got a part to play and if you're not starting the game you've got to be ready because it might be any moment you're needed."Maher continued: "It's about getting them to the game on Wednesday night fresh and ready to go again. There are a few bumps and bruises which you'd expect after 120 minutes (against Rochdale) but by and large, we're in an OK place." What the players think of the boss Such is Maher's loyalty to the club he played over 380 games for and the squad he has painstakingly put together since the lifting of the embargoes and last summer's takeover by COSU (Custodians of Southend United), it is not surprising that it is reflected back at him by his players. "The amount of knowledge he has on the game is so impressive to see. The things we work on and the mentality he instils in the players, it really goes a long way to how we've been doing on the pitch," said skipper Nathan Ralph, who scored the first goal in the win over Rochdale."I don't know of another manager who's been through harder times than the gaffer. In those times, it was just a case of not making excuses for yourself. [He said] we were in this situation and we need to be the ones to get ourselves out of it. "That really helped get us motivated, get us on the pitch doing what we needed to do. In a tough period we were getting some big results that were really important for the club." Midfielder Jack Bridge previously played under Maher at non-league Chelmsford and cites him as a major influence on his development as a player."I've played a lot of games for him in the first team which I'm thankful for and we've had a lot of highs and lows but hopefully the biggest high is to come," the Southend-born 29-year-old said."He's had a fantastic career so just to be able to learn from him and the way he sees the game, you've just got to take everything in and go with it."It is not just the squad who believe fiercely in the boss, who was awarded a testimonial match last weekend in which he once again donned the shorts and defender Jason Demetriou, now the club's chief scout, speaks of how Maher called him almost every day for six weeks one summer to try to persuade him not to turn his back on the for first-team coach Dan Bentley, Maher's meticulous planning and willingness to take on board the views of fellow coaches are major strengths."His professionalism is second to none," he said. "The demands he puts on us and the attention to detail he has, the planning, the professionalism, it's a pleasure to work with him - he makes me better, he makes Daz (assistant boss Darren Currie) better and as a collective we get on really well." It is 10 years since Southend last played at Wembley, winning the League Two play-off final against Wycombe on whatever their fate at Forest Green, it has already been a season to remember.
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
London Marathon runner from Essex in world record bid as shrimp
An avid runner is hoping to become the "world's fastest shrimp" when he runs a marathonEssex-based runner Jamie Campbell is determined to break the world record for running a marathon in a crustacean costume (male shrimp). The 31-year-old said: "When the fastest marathon as a crustacean popped up and it's faster than my personal best, it just seemed like a really perfect opportunity."Mr Campbell, of Southend-on-Sea, is in training and will bid to take the record when he runs the London Marathon on 27 April. Mr Campbell wants to beat the current world record of three hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds. He purchased his costume online and, with the help of his wife, tailored it to ensure he could run comfortably in it. He has completed one run in the costume so far at his local triathlon club. Mr Campbell said he has a reputation among his friends for experimenting with "quite funny fancy dress.". Mr Campbell chose his costume based on the heritage of his home city which he said is known for its "rich fishing history" and where the football team's nickname is The Shrimpers. He is fundraising for BASICS Essex, a charity supported by volunteer healthcare professionals who assist the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. He said he plans to end the marathon with a post-race seafood platter and celebrate with friends and family. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Runner hopes to take crown of ‘world's fastest shrimp' at London Marathon
An avid runner with a penchant for fancy dress hopes to become the 'world's fastest shrimp' at the London Marathon. Jamie Campbell, 31, who lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, is on a mission to beat a time of three hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds to dethrone the current Guinness World Records (GWR) holder for the fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male). Donning a shrimp costume he ordered online – which is red and pink, made of polyester and features a pair of somewhat piercing eyes – Mr Campbell said he is confident he has what it takes to be king crustacean. 'When the fastest marathon as a crustacean popped up and it's faster than my personal best – but it's definitely achievable – it just seemed like a really perfect opportunity,' he told the PA news agency. 'If I don't (beat it), I will be a very unhappy shrimp.' Mr Campbell, who heads commercial partnerships at digital health company Avegen, said he has a reputation among his friends for experimenting with 'quite funny fancy dress', so felt it was apt to find a way to add some humour to his London Marathon running debut. 'I live in Southend, Essex, a city that's deeply connected to seafood. Our famous seaside is known for its rich fishing history, and our local football team, Southend United, is affectionately called The Shrimpers,' he added. 'Dressing as a shrimp feels like the perfect nod to both the city and our seafood heritage.' His wife helped to tailor his shrimp outfit so it suits GWR requirements, which includes it needing to go past his knees and not being too flexible. He has even trained in his crustacean get-up, much to the amusement of fellow runners. 'I've done one run in it with my local triathlon club (Jon Brown Run and Tri Club) and everybody loved it,' he said. 'They couldn't not laugh when they were just watching me run around next to them or running with them as well. 'Obviously a lot of seafood, shrimp, prawn-related puns were being thrown around and people can watch out for me running around Southend and maybe even a local Parkrun in it.' His main concern is the unpredictability of London weather and hopes it is fairly cool on the day of the marathon, adding: 'I'm a fresh shrimp, I can't be having it too hot.' He will be raising money for Basics Essex, a charity which is comprised of volunteer doctors and paramedics who respond to incidents at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. This largely drew inspiration from his family's background in healthcare as his father is a doctor, his mother is a nurse and he works in digital health. 'I want to raise awareness and funds for a charity where it's people you interact with, with those who could help family and friends in the local Essex area if ever they were in need,' he said. Mr Campbell added he has been 'really overwhelmed by the support', with over £1,800 being raised. 'If people are watching me at the marathon, I want them to cheer as loud as they want and search online for my JustGiving – it's world's fastest shrimp,' he added. He said he plans to end the marathon with a post-race seafood platter, celebrating with his triathlon club, family, friends, and members of the charity. 'On the day I definitely will be having some seafood – I'll maybe have some prawns because they're a bit bigger than shrimp,' he added. Pascale Harvie, president and general manager of JustGiving, said: 'Jamie's challenge is a brilliant example of the creativity and dedication that makes the JustGiving community so special. 'We're proud to support fundraisers like him who push boundaries to make a real difference, and we can't wait to see how he gets on!'
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Runner hopes to become ‘world's fastest shrimp' at London Marathon
An avid runner with a penchant for fancy dress hopes to become the "world's fastest shrimp" at the London Marathon. Jamie Campbell, 31, who lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, is on a mission to beat a time of three hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds to dethrone the current Guinness World Records (GWR) holder for the fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male). Donning a shrimp costume he ordered online – which is red and pink, made of polyester and features a pair of somewhat piercing eyes – Mr Campbell said he is confident he has what it takes to be king crustacean. "When the fastest marathon as a crustacean popped up and it's faster than my personal best – but it's definitely achievable – it just seemed like a really perfect opportunity," he told the PA news agency. "If I don't (beat it), I will be a very unhappy shrimp." Mr Campbell, who heads commercial partnerships at digital health company Avegen, said he has a reputation among his friends for experimenting with "quite funny fancy dress", so felt it was apt to find a way to add some humour to his London Marathon running debut. READ MORE: Woman with brain tumour shares four symptoms she spotted – doctors dismissed one READ MORE: London man in coma after horror Thailand bike crash needs £100k to get home "I live in Southend, Essex, a city that's deeply connected to seafood. Our famous seaside is known for its rich fishing history, and our local football team, Southend United, is affectionately called The Shrimpers," he added. "Dressing as a shrimp feels like the perfect nod to both the city and our seafood heritage." His wife helped to tailor his shrimp outfit so it suits GWR requirements, which includes it needing to go past his knees and not being too flexible. He has even trained in his crustacean get-up, much to the amusement of fellow runners. "I've done one run in it with my local triathlon club (Jon Brown Run and Tri Club) and everybody loved it," he said. "They couldn't not laugh when they were just watching me run around next to them or running with them as well. "Obviously a lot of seafood, shrimp, prawn-related puns were being thrown around and people can watch out for me running around Southend and maybe even a local Parkrun in it." His main concern is the unpredictability of London weather and hopes it is fairly cool on the day of the marathon, adding: "I'm a fresh shrimp, I can't be having it too hot." He will be raising money for Basics Essex, a charity which is comprised of volunteer doctors and paramedics who respond to incidents at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. This largely drew inspiration from his family's background in healthcare as his father is a doctor, his mother is a nurse and he works in digital health. "I want to raise awareness and funds for a charity where it's people you interact with, with those who could help family and friends in the local Essex area if ever they were in need," he said. Mr Campbell added he has been "really overwhelmed by the support", with over £1,800 being raised. "If people are watching me at the marathon, I want them to cheer as loud as they want and search online for my JustGiving – it's world's fastest shrimp," he added. He said he plans to end the marathon with a post-race seafood platter, celebrating with his triathlon club, family, friends, and members of the charity. "On the day I definitely will be having some seafood – I'll maybe have some prawns because they're a bit bigger than shrimp," he added. Pascale Harvie, president and general manager of JustGiving, said: "Jamie's challenge is a brilliant example of the creativity and dedication that makes the JustGiving community so special. "We're proud to support fundraisers like him who push boundaries to make a real difference, and we can't wait to see how he gets on!" Mr Campbell's fundraising page can be accessed here. Stay up to date about London's hottest events, latest restaurant openings, and best deals with our Going Out Out newsletter. Sign up HERE!
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Runner hopes to take crown of ‘world's fastest shrimp' at London Marathon
An avid runner with a penchant for fancy dress hopes to become the 'world's fastest shrimp' at the London Marathon. Jamie Campbell, 31, who lives in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, is on a mission to beat a time of three hours 13 minutes and 18 seconds to dethrone the current Guinness World Records (GWR) holder for the fastest marathon dressed as a crustacean (male). Donning a shrimp costume he ordered online – which is red and pink, made of polyester and features a pair of somewhat piercing eyes – Mr Campbell said he is confident he has what it takes to be king crustacean. 'When the fastest marathon as a crustacean popped up and it's faster than my personal best – but it's definitely achievable – it just seemed like a really perfect opportunity,' he told the PA news agency. 'If I don't (beat it), I will be a very unhappy shrimp.' Mr Campbell, who heads commercial partnerships at digital health company Avegen, said he has a reputation among his friends for experimenting with 'quite funny fancy dress', so felt it was apt to find a way to add some humour to his London Marathon running debut. 'I live in Southend, Essex, a city that's deeply connected to seafood. Our famous seaside is known for its rich fishing history, and our local football team, Southend United, is affectionately called The Shrimpers,' he added. 'Dressing as a shrimp feels like the perfect nod to both the city and our seafood heritage.' His wife helped to tailor his shrimp outfit so it suits GWR requirements, which includes it needing to go past his knees and not being too flexible. He has even trained in his crustacean get-up, much to the amusement of fellow runners. 'I've done one run in it with my local triathlon club (Jon Brown Run and Tri Club) and everybody loved it,' he said. 'They couldn't not laugh when they were just watching me run around next to them or running with them as well. 'Obviously a lot of seafood, shrimp, prawn-related puns were being thrown around and people can watch out for me running around Southend and maybe even a local Parkrun in it.' His main concern is the unpredictability of London weather and hopes it is fairly cool on the day of the marathon, adding: 'I'm a fresh shrimp, I can't be having it too hot.' He will be raising money for Basics Essex, a charity which is comprised of volunteer doctors and paramedics who respond to incidents at the request of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust. This largely drew inspiration from his family's background in healthcare as his father is a doctor, his mother is a nurse and he works in digital health. 'I want to raise awareness and funds for a charity where it's people you interact with, with those who could help family and friends in the local Essex area if ever they were in need,' he said. Mr Campbell added he has been 'really overwhelmed by the support', with over £1,800 being raised. 'If people are watching me at the marathon, I want them to cheer as loud as they want and search online for my JustGiving – it's world's fastest shrimp,' he added. He said he plans to end the marathon with a post-race seafood platter, celebrating with his triathlon club, family, friends, and members of the charity. 'On the day I definitely will be having some seafood – I'll maybe have some prawns because they're a bit bigger than shrimp,' he added. Pascale Harvie, president and general manager of JustGiving, said: 'Jamie's challenge is a brilliant example of the creativity and dedication that makes the JustGiving community so special. 'We're proud to support fundraisers like him who push boundaries to make a real difference, and we can't wait to see how he gets on!' Mr Campbell's fundraising page can be accessed here:
