There was a bizarre twist on Tuesday night as Fylde v Southend gets stopped due to a drone, allegedly flown by a team’s coach driver.
Supporter Daniel Mays said to the D1VERSITY YouTube channel: “So, mate, it gets better. The coach driver on the players coach has flown a drone over the ground. It delayed the second half, then kicked off.
“He’s obviously then been spotted by the stewards doing it. He has then been approached and apprehended by stewards and he has apparently assaulted a steward and is now under arrest.
“So the players coach only has one driver. We left the players coach there, so God knows what’s happening there.”
He also tweeted at 10pm: “Shocking, game delayed in the second half due to a drone being flew over the ground, coach driver for the players allegedly arrested! How true I don’t know but our supporters coach has just left 🔵🔴 @SUFCRootsHall
“The story gets better – Southend players coach driver delayed kick off in the second half by flying a drone over the stadium, appears to have been arrested! What a nightmare you couldn’t make it up! Shocking performance, shocking end to the game. Onto the next one 🔵🔴”
@londonshrimper wrote: “The game has stopped because there’s a drone over the pitch. Just when you think you’ve seen it all supporting Southend United…
“The person flying the drone over the pitch was the driver of our first team coach and has since been arrested. You couldn’t write it 😳”
Users of the shrimperzone forum wrote: “This is the greatest thing I have ever seen. Imagine going first time and breaking down on the train and then the second to concede 90th minute loser, only to find out the coach driver has been nicked. This is the most Southend thing in the history of Southend. What’s more tinpot, train breaking down and stranded. Or switching to coach who’s driver whips out a drone, gets nicked and stranded.”
Lancashire Police however have told Southend Echo that there were no arrests made, and no further action will be taken against anyone involved, with spokesman adding that the matter is been dealt with by the club.
Games having to be stopped at Fylde Southend because of a drone above in the sky. Another normal day of Vanarama National League #ycfc pic.twitter.com/ufYhMGgAnX
— G (@George_ycfc) September 17, 2024
There’s a delay to the start of the second half for what we believe is a drone flying overhead.
45′ // ⚪ 1-0 🔴
— Southend United FC (@SUFCRootsHall) September 17, 2024
The person flying the drone over the pitch was the driver of our first team coach and has since been arrested. You couldn’t write it 😳 https://t.co/rBENUXDizA
— London Shrimper (@londonshrimper) September 17, 2024
It was Nick Haughton’s stoppage-time winner which earned AFC Fylde a vital victory over Southend.
The hosts had taken the lead in the first minute of first-half added time, Jon Ustabasi nodding home, only to then see the Shrimpers get level thanks to Gus Scott-Morriss in the 57th minute.
The result means that Fylde climb out of the National League drop zone and up the 19th with 8 points from 9 games, while Southend sit 17th with 10 points from 9 games.
Fylde: Winterbottom, Hosannah, Whelan, Long, Evans, Riley (Zanzala 73′), Mitchell, Ustabasi, Haughton (Obi 90+4′), Massey (Jolley 84′), Ormerod (O’Kane 73′)
Subs: Richardson, Gamble, Obi, Jolley, Zanzala, Hailwood, O’Kane
Southend: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Taylor, Crowther, Gubbins (Pepple 67′), Ralph, Husin, Morton (Appiah-Forson 82′), Moncur, Bonne, Bridge
Subs: Wind, Wood, Pepple, Appiah-Forson, Hillson, Faulkner, MacDonald
Referee: Dale Baines
Assistants: Joe Simpson and Oliver Nolan
Fourth Official: Ben Robinson
Scorers:
AFC Fylde: Ustabaşi 45+1’, Haughton 90+1’
Southend United: Scott-Morriss 57’
Yellow Cards:
AFC Fylde: None
Southend United: Taylor 54’, Ralph 87’
Attendance: 1,088
Southend boss Kevin Maher said post-match: “After going behind and coming back into the game in the second half, we went on to try and win the game but we’re caught with one at the end from a player we highlighted.
“We had plenty of bodies behind the ball, so it’s really frustrating. It’s on the edge of the box so we’ve got to get bodies out to stop the shot.
“You know it’s coming, he finds space, and give him credit, it’s a good finish. We looked like the team that were going to go on and win it, so to lose it is a real sickener.”
On the Coasters’ first-half opener, Maher added: “The first goal is a poor goal, it’s basics of where we’re playing and what areas we’re hitting.
“I was pleased that we came out second half and Gussy’s got a goal again. We need other people to chip in, but we changed it at 1-1 to try and win the game and we’ve been done with a sucker-punch.”
The gaffer was pleased with Macauley Bonne, who chalked up both his first start and his first 90 minutes as a Shrimper.
“He came through very well in the end. I played him up top with Bridgey because I thought he might blow up and I thought I might need Bim coming on, but I ended up putting them together which I think helped us.
“There are only two recognised fit strikers at the Club, so that tells you where we’re at.”
Here’s how fans reacted on a bizarre twist as Fylde v Southend gets stopped due to a drone, allegedly flown by a team’s coach driver…
Jackson Day: Warren Day it can’t be true 😂😂
Hayden Meyrick: Jackson Day it’s true our driver was in contact with them he then got released tried getting back on the coach and driver turned round and said for your safety not worth travelling Maher and few players piped up according to driver
Mick Poole: At least we got a bus this time
Paul Jarvis: Mick Poole looks like they had to get the train home. The club has to have a Netflix series surely 😂
Lara McSweeney: It’s like a scene out of Fools and Horses 😂
Dominic Bearcroft: Can GSM drive a bus? Seems he can do most other things at the moment 🤣
Richard Fry: Dominic Bearcroft. Kev can most certainly park it!
Aidan Pond New: How true actually is this
Andrew Watson: What!!!!!!!!!!!
@Davemallam: Seriously? This club is like a bad comedy club right now!
@S518253: Have to get the train home now. Oh hang on
@SimplyShrimpers: You gotta be joking 7‘4 ill 5.8K p
@alfie_andrewss: Good. Leave them up there
@JacckCFC: Please say this is a joke
@YCFC1972: Comedy gold
@stevejsmith1966: No way
@meatologist_: Fantastic
@hfitch121: This fucking club
@Simontimofish: Oh you are joking
@HarryConstabl13: Hahahaha this fucking club man
You must be logged in to post a comment Login