2025–26 Southend United F.C. season

Southend United 2025–26 football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Southend United F.C. season was Southend United's 120th season in existence,[1] and their fifth season in the National League after their relegation from League Two in the 2020-21 season. The club competed in the National League,[2] the FA Cup, and the FA Trophy. It was Kevin Maher's fifth season in charge of the club since his appointment as head coach on 20 October 2021.[3]

ChairmanJustin Rees
Head CoachKevin Maher
StadiumRoots Hall
Quick facts Chairman, Head Coach ...
Southend United
2025–26 season
ChairmanJustin Rees
Head CoachKevin Maher
StadiumRoots Hall
National League6th
Play-offsQuarter-finals
FA CupFirst round
FA TrophyFinal
Top goalscorerLeague: Andy Dallas (17)
All: Andy Dallas
Gus Scott-Morriss (17)
Highest home attendance9,716 vs Braintree Town
(3 April 2026, National League)
Lowest home attendance3,507 vs Folkestone Invicta
(11 October 2025, FA Cup)
Average home league attendance8,103
 2024–25
2026–27 
Close

On 17 May, Southend United beat Wealdstone 4-2 on penalties at Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final, to win the first trophy in the club's history. Goalkeeper Colin Andeng Ndi saved Wealdstone's first two penalties, with Jack Bridge and Joe Gubbins both scoring their spot kicks. Charley Kendall was denied, however successful penalties from Harry Boyes and Gus Scott-Morriss meant that Southend won the shootout.[4]

Pre-season and friendlies

On 8 June 2025, the club announced that 18 players from the previous season would remain at the club, with 2 players, Danny Waldron and Jack Wood, set for release on 1 July 2025. James Golding and Ben Goodliffe both returned to their parent clubs after loan spells.[5] Macauley Bonne was offered a new contract, but officially left the club on August 11, 2025.[6]

On 19 June 2025, Southend announced their first signing of the season, with Bulgarian centre-forward Slavi Spasov joining the club from National League South side Slough Town.[7] The club announced three more permanent signings before the start of the season, with Sam Austin joining from Notts County, Harry Boyes joining from Sheffield United, and Ben Goodliffe returning to the club on a permanent basis from Colchester United, after spending the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at the club.[8][9][10]

The club also signed Andy Dallas on loan from Barnsley on 8 August 2025, with the Scottish centre-forward joining until the end of the 2025-26 season.[11]

Southend United announced 6 friendlies against Cardiff City, Bishop's Stortford, Luton Town, AFC Wimbledon, Slough Town, and Charlton Athletic.[12]

  Win   Draw   Loss

12 July 2025 Friendly Cardiff City 3-0 Southend United San Pedro del Pinatar
18:00 BST
Report Stadium: Pinatar Arena
19 July 2025 Friendly Bishop's Stortford 1-2 Southend United Bishop's Stortford
15:00 BST
  • Akanbi 38'
Report Stadium: Woodside Park
Attendance: 591
22 July 2025 Friendly Southend United 0-2 Luton Town Luton
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 1,919
Referee: Aaron Farmer
26 July 2025 Friendly Southend United 1-0 AFC Wimbledon Southend-on-Sea
13:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 1,505
Referee: Daniel Baines
29 July 2025 Friendly Slough Town 0-0 Southend United Slough
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Arbour Park
Attendance: 869
2 August 2025 Friendly Southend United 0-3 Charlton Athletic Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 2,696
Referee: Robert Claussen

Competitions

Southend played in the National League in the 2025-26 season, as well as in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.

National League

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
4 Boreham Wood 46 27 9 10 95 58 +37 90 Qualification for the National League play-off quarter-finals
5 Scunthorpe United 46 23 13 10 77 62 +15 82
6 Southend United 46 23 12 11 83 47 +36 81
7 Forest Green Rovers 46 23 12 11 82 52 +30 81
8 FC Halifax Town 46 20 10 16 69 66 +3 70
Close
Source: National League official site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of matches won; 5) Head-to-head results

Results summary

More information Overall, Home ...
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 23 12 11 83 47  +36 81 13 7 3 41 18  +23 10 5 8 42 29  +13
Close

Last updated: 29 April 2026.
Source: [citation needed]

Matches - Regular Season

Southend United's fixtures were announced on 9 July 2025.[13]

9 August 2025 1 Gateshead 0-3 Southend United Gateshead
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Gateshead International Stadium
Attendance: 1,278
Referee: Stuart Morland
16 August 2025 2 Southend United 2-0 Tamworth Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,112
Referee: Neil Hair
20 August 2025 3 Southend United 0-0 York City Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,735
Referee: Jacob Miles
23 August 2025 4 Truro City 0-1 Southend United Truro
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Truro Sports Hub
Attendance: 3,067
Referee: Sam Mulhall
25 August 2025 5 Southend United 1-1 Hartlepool United Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,516
Referee: Jason Richardson
30 August 2025 6 Solihull Moors 1-2 Southend United Solihull
12:30 BST
  • Creaney 53'
Report
Stadium: Damson Park
Attendance: 1,566
Referee: Paul Marsden
2 September 2025 7 Wealdstone 3-2 Southend United Ruislip
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Grosvenor Vale
Attendance: 2,309
Referee: James Oldham
6 September 2025 8 Southend United 3-0 Halifax Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report
  • Alimi-Adetoro Yellow card 36' Yellow-red card 69'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,093
Referee: Paul Johnson
13 September 2025 9 Southend United 1-1 Boston United Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,900
Referee: Isaac Searle
24 September 2025 10 Eastleigh 2-1 Southend United Eastleigh
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Silverlake Stadium
Attendance: 2,596
Referee: Harrison Blair
27 September 2025 11 Southend United 0-2 Scunthorpe United Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,185
Referee: Elliott Swallow
30 September 2025 12 Boreham Wood 1-1 Southend United Borehamwood
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Meadow Park
Attendance: 1,839
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
4 October 2025 13 Southend United 3-0 Aldershot Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,754
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
18 October 2025 14 Morecambe 0-3 Southend United Morecambe
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: Mazuma Mobile Stadium
Attendance: 3,042
Referee: Paul Marsden
25 October 2025 15 Southend United 2-0 Brackley Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,963
Referee: Gareth Rhodes
5 November 2025 16 Woking 1-1 Southend United Woking
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Laithwaite Community Stadium
Attendance: 2,708
Referee: Aji Ajibola
8 November 2025 17 Southend United 1-2 Carlisle United Southend-on-Sea
17:30 BST
Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,847
Referee: Michael Barlow
15 November 2025 18 Yeovil Town 0-1 Southend United Yeovil
15:03 BST Report
Stadium: Huish Park
Attendance: 3,060
Referee: Scott Jackson
22 November 2025 19 Southend United 3-0 Altrincham Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,883
Referee: Harry Wager
29 November 2025 20 Forest Green Rovers 2-1 Southend United Nailsworth
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: The New Lawn
Attendance: 2,659
Referee: Declan Brown
20 December 2025 21 Tamworth 2-1 Southend United Tamworth
17:30 BST
  • Cullinane-Liburd 21'
  • Maher 68'
Report
Stadium: The Lamb Ground
Attendance: 1,399
Referee: Harrison Blair
26 December 2025 22 Braintree Town 0-1 Southend United Braintree
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Rare Breed Meat Co. Stadium
Attendance: 3,106
Referee: Scott Oldham
30 December 2025 23 Southend United 1-0 Sutton United Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,798
Referee: Alan Dale
17 January 2026 24 York City 1-1 Southend United York
17:30 BST
  • Pearce 87'
Report Stadium: LNER Stadium
Attendance: 7,114
Referee: Oliver Mackey
20 January 2026 25 Southend United 4-1 Eastleigh Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST
Report
  • Humphries 80'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,050
Referee: Sam Mulhall
24 January 2026 26 Boston United 3-3 Southend United Boston
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Jakemans Community Stadium
Attendance: 2,281
Referee: James Westgate
27 January 2026 27 Rochdale 2-1 Southend United Rochdale
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Crown Oil Arena
Attendance: 2,435
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
7 February 2026 28 Scunthorpe United 1-0 Southend United Scunthorpe
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Attis Arena
Attendance: 5,298
Referee: Ben Atkinson
14 February 2026 29 Southend United 5-1 Morecambe Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,985
Referee: Callum Walchester
21 February 2026 30 Brackley Town 0-3 Southend United Brackley
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 1,751
Referee: Paul Johnson
24 February 2026 31 Southend United 0-2 Boreham Wood Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST Report
  • Abdulmalik 11'
  • Rush 75'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,332
Referee: Craig Hicks
3 March 2026 32 Southend United 1-1 Truro City Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,741
Referee: George Laflin
7 March 2026 33 Carlisle United 2-2 Southend United Carlisle
17:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 10,520
Referee: Paul Marsden
10 March 2026 34 Southend United 1-1 Gateshead Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST
Report
  • Nicholson 45'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 6,822
Referee: Darren Drysdale
14 March 2026 35 Southend United 2-0 Forest Green Rovers Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,702
Referee: Paul Howard
17 March 2026 36 Southend United 3-2 Rochdale Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,259
Referee: Charles Breakspear
21 March 2026 37 Altrincham 1-0 Southend United Altrincham
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: J. Davidson Stadium
Attendance: 2,101
Referee: Dean Watson
25 March 2026 38 Southend United 1-1 Woking Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST
Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,381
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis
31 March 2026 39 Southend United 2-1 Yeovil Town Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST Report
  • Wannell 64'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 7,793
Referee: Abigail Byrne
3 April 2026 40 Southend United 3-2 Braintree Town Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
  • Battrum 69'
  • Kamara 83'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 9,716
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
6 April 2026 41 Sutton United 0-3 Southend United Sutton
15:00 BST Report
Stadium: VBS Community Stadium
Attendance: 3,711
Referee: Harry Wager
11 April 2026 42 Southend United 0-0 Solihull Moors Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,993
Referee: Aaron Bannister
14 April 2026 43 Aldershot Town 0-2 Southend United Aldershot
19:45 BST Report Stadium: EBB Stadium
Attendance: 1,992
Referee: Sam Mulhall
18 April 2026 44 Halifax Town 2-6 Southend United Halifax
12:30 BST
Report Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 1,896
Referee: Ross Joyce
21 April 2026 45 Hartlepool United 4-3 Southend United Hartlepool
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Victoria Park (Hartlepool)
Attendance: 3,044
Referee: Martin Woods
25 April 2026 46 Southend United 2-1 Wealdstone Southend-on-Sea
12:30 BST Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,803
Referee: James Durkin

Play-offs

Southend entered the play-offs after finishing 6th in the National League. This meant that they would face the team who finished in 5th, which was Scunthorpe United.[14]

28 April 2026 Promotion Play-offs Qualifying Round Scunthorpe United 1-0 Southend United Scunthorpe
19:45 BST Report
Stadium: Attis Arena
Attendance: 6,248
Referee: James Oldham

FA Cup

On 29 September 2025, Southend United were drawn at home to Folkestone Invicta in the FA Cup fourth round qualifying.[15]

11 October 2025 Fourth qualifying round Southend United 4-1 Folkestone Invicta Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 3,507
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
1 November 2025 First round Wealdstone 1-0 Southend United Ruislip
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Grosvenor Vale
Attendance: 2,146
Referee: Carl Brook

FA Trophy

On 17 November 2025, Southend were drawn at home against fellow National League side Truro City, with the game set to take place on 13 December 2025.[16]

In the following four rounds, Southend United were drawn away against Bath City,[17] Chatham Town,[18] Horsham,[19] and Southport.[20] After winning all of these matches, they are set to face Wealdstone in the final at Wembley Stadium on 17 May 2026.

13 December 2025 Third round Southend United 4-0 Truro City Southend-on-Sea
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 3,715
Referee: Aji Ajibola
13 January 2026 Fourth round Bath City 1-3 Southend United Bath
19:45 BST
  • Raynes Red card 19'
  • Alves 61'
Report Stadium: Twerton Park
Attendance: 1,131
Referee: Greg Rollason
31 January 2026 Fifth round Chatham Town 0-1 Southend United Chatham
15:00 BST Report Stadium: Bauvill Stadium
Attendance: 2,135
Referee: Isaac Searle
28 February 2026 Quarter-finals Horsham 1-2 Southend United Horsham
15:00 BST
  • Philpot 41'
Report Stadium: Hop Oast Stadium
Attendance: 2,580
Referee: Matthew Russell
28 March 2026 Semi-finals Southport 1-3 Southend United Southport
15:00 BST
  • Sze 30'
  • Renshaw Red card 90+2'
Report
Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 5,600
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
17 May 2026 Final Southend United 0-0
(4-2 p)
Wealdstone Wembley
16:30 BST Report Stadium: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 43,306
Referee: Farai Hallam
Penalties

Squad statistics

As of match played 17 May 2026
More information No., Pos. ...
No. Pos. Nat. Name League Play-offs FA Cup FA Trophy Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK IRE Owen Mason 7 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 9 0 0 0
2 DF ENG Gus Scott-Morriss 40+1 15 1 0 1 0 4+1 2 46+2 17 14 0
3 DF ENG Nathan Ralph 22+1 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 27+1 2 5 0
4 DF ENG George Wind 2 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 2+1 0 0 0
6 DF ENG Ben Goodliffe 31+8 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 38+8 3 3 2
7 MF ENG Jack Bridge 3+29 1 0+1 0 2 0 6 3 11+30 4 1 0
8 MF AFG Noor Husin 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 2 0
9 FW SCO Andy Dallas 37+4 17 1 0 2 0 2+1 0 42+5 17 4 0
10 MF ENG Sam Austin 29+17 4 0 0 0+1 0 5+1 1 34+19 5 1 0
11 FW ENG Josh Walker 9+19 6 0 0 0+2 1 1+3 1 10+26 8 5 0
14 FW ENG Tom Hopper 13+26 4 0 0 1+1 0 2+3 0 16+30 4 1 0
15 DF ENG Joe Gubbins 30+3 0 1 0 0+2 0 2+2 0 33+7 0 8 0
16 DF ENG Harry Taylor 43 0 1 0 2 0 5 0 51 0 11 1
17 MF ENG Cav Miley 23+9 0 0+1 0 1+1 0 2 0 26+11 0 10 0
18 FW BUL Slavi Spasov 10+16 7 0 0 1+1 2 2+1 0 13+18 9 1 0
19 MF ENG Leon Chambers-Parillon 12+15 2 0+1 0 2 0 3+1 1 17+17 3 0 0
20 MF ENG Alfie Massey 2+2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2+2 0 0 0
21 FW SCO Harry Cardwell 7+3 2 1 0 0 0 3 1 11+3 3 1 0
22 MF ENG Keenan Appiah-Forson 27+13 2 1 0 0+1 0 1+4 1 29+18 3 0 0
23 MF ENG James Morton 16+17 0 1 0 1 0 4+2 0 22+19 0 1 0
24 FW ENG Charley Kendall 16+12 8 0+1 0 0 0 2+4 2 18+17 10 1 0
25 MF ENG Noah Mawéné 0+3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 +3 0 0 0
26 DF IRE James Golding 12+3 2 1 0 0 0 2+1 0 15+4 2 3 0
28 MF ENG Oliver Coker 26+13 6 1 0 2 0 5 0 34+13 6 4 0
30 GK CMR Colin Andeng Ndi 33+1 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 38+1 0 0 0
33 DF ENG Harry Boyes 44 1 1 0 1 0 1+4 0 47+4 1 6 0
Player(s) who featured but departed the club during the season:
1 GK ENG Nick Hayes 6 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 8 0 1 0
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Transfers

In

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2025 MF England Sam Austin England Notts County Free [21]
1 July 2025 FW Bulgaria Slavi Spasov England Slough Town Free [22]
2 July 2025 DF England Harry Boyes England Sheffield United Free [23]
8 July 2025 DF England Ben Goodliffe England Colchester United Free [24]
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Out

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Name To Fee Ref.
17 August 2025 MF Republic of Ireland Mikey Faulkner England Bowers & Pitsea Free [25]
15 January 2026 DF England Adam Crowther England Chelmsford City Undisclosed [26]
15 January 2026 GK England Nick Hayes England Hartlepool United Free [27]
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Loaned out

More information Date from, Date to ...
Date from Date to Pos. Name From Ref.
24 October 2025 1 January 2026 FW England Jack Stone England Grays Athletic [28]
4 November 2025 8 January 2026 DF England George Wind England Hornchurch [29]
27 November 2025 14 January 2026 DF England Adam Crowther England Boston United [30]
13 February 2026 31 May 2026 DF England George Wind England Aveley [31]
14 February 2026 15 March 2026 FW England Jack Stone England AFC Sudbury [32]
Close

Loaned in

More information Date from, Date to ...
Date from Date to Pos. Name From Ref.
8 August 2026 30 June 2026 FW England Andy Dallas England Barnsley [33]
4 December 2025 31 May 2026 FW Scotland Harry Cardwell England Forest Green Rovers [34]
20 January 2026 26 April 2026 GK Republic of Ireland Owen Mason England Mansfield Town [35]
16 February 2026 31 May 2026 DF Republic of Ireland James Golding England Oxford United [36]
10 March 2026 31 May 2026 MF England Noah Mawéné England Preston North End [37]
20 March 2026 31 May 2026 MF England Alfie Massey England Millwall [38]
Close

Released / Out of Contract

More information Date, Pos. ...
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date Ref.
1 July 2025 FW England Danny Waldron England Brackley Town 1 July 2025 [39][40]
1 July 2025 MF England Jack Wood England Walton & Hersham 1 July 2025 [39][41]
1 July 2025 FW Zimbabwe Macauley Bonne England Maldon & Tiptree 11 October 2025 [39][42]
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References

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