Southend United come back from 3-1 down to beat Rochdale 4-3 in the National League playoffs and Kevin Maher gives a tearful interview.
Charley Kendall saw his extra-time header book Southend United’s place in the National League playoff semi-finals.
Rochdale took the lead through Devante Rodney, but Nathan Ralph equalised. Rochdale regained the lead before half time via Jay Bird, and Rodney’s penalty made it three for Rochdale after the break.
Southend fought back with goals from Tom Hopper and Leon Chambers-Parillon to force extra time. Kendall’s goal proved decisive, setting up a semi-final clash with Forest Green, despite Rochdale’s late attempt hitting the crossbar.
On the game, Southend boss Kevin Maher said, per Echo News: “This football club never knows when it’s done,” said Maher.
“A football club is its supporters, its staff and its people and it shouldn’t be unnoticed what they’ve done.
“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb but we did it and I’m delighted.
“I think we’ve gone through absolutely every emotion tonight.
“You’ve to give credit to the players for the way they kept going and what a game it must have been for the neutral.
“We’ve come out the right side in a game which had everything but Rochdale are a very good side and it could have gone either way.
“At 3-1 down you know the game can get away from you but we got the gaol and some momentum.
“The subs all played a part too and I’m just delighted for everyone at this club.”
The Southend boss was moved to tears as he recalled a brush with extinction. He said to BBC Sport: “You probably don’t realise how close it was, we sailed close to the wind a number of times.
“I remember the first few days at Boots and Laces [Southend’s training ground] where I started to realise what had gone on.
“The club had been suffering, and you could smell it around the place. You could smell the fear.
“It’s only when you’re talking about it openly that you realise what became normal wasn’t right.
“For staff not getting paid – players not getting paid – that was really difficult.
“I remember getting phone calls, half 11 on a Sunday night, and you’re talking to staff about the next day because the money’s not coming.
“I remember one day I had to drive away the kit van because it might’ve got repossessed.”
Becoming tearful, he said: “There’s times where you’re fed-up, you’re going ‘I can’t do this anymore’.
“Whether you’re tempted to move on or not, I don’t know. There were one or two offers, but I didn’t think it was right.
“You take things home with you and you put them to your family, it was tough.
“I’m grateful to have good family around me that dealt with that, because I probably wasn’t a great person to be around sometimes.
“You shouldn’t be dealing with stuff, but you do because you care about people. It was always about the people.
“I feel a loyalty for staff who went through periods not getting paid. That’s not just the football staff [but] the people at the ground who’ve done so much for the club.
“We always said adversity could be the building block of success if you do it right.”
LISTEN⚽#Southend head coach Kevin Maher after his side’s stunning comeback win, away at Rochdale. They will travel to Forest Green Rovers, next week, to play in the National League play-off semi finals. https://t.co/FpliXAbhxP pic.twitter.com/ELcB0Dg9Q9
— BBC Sport Essex (@BBCEssexSport) May 15, 2025
In the other playoff eliminator, Oldham stormed into a three-goal lead after just 12 minutes, with Joe Garner converting from a corner in the 3rd minute, Mark Kitching making it 2-0 on the 10th minute after Mike Fondop headed a free-kick back across goal, and then two minutes later Fondop got a third for the Latics.
It was 4-0 thanks to Joe Pritchard midway through the second half to book a semi-final against York next Tuesday.
“When you get into those kind of situations you just don’t want to let people down, you see the ground all full and you go ‘come on boys, let’s deliver’ and deliver they did. They were terrific, showed a lot of composure in what was a terrific atmosphere and executed all the things that we work on all the time and we’re really, really pleased to get to the next stage,” said Oldham boss Micky Mellon, per Oldham Times.
“We just seemed to get things right. I say all the time the players have to go out and play well and they did, and they showed the qualities needed to score those types of goals, from the decision making about when to do it and to knock it into those areas and go and attack it.
“I thought we looked full of energy, we looked full of desire and we played very well and deserved a really important result.
“I was really pleased with the way we came out of the traps and an unbelievable atmosphere created by our fantastic support.
“The whole squad, players that didn’t play, there was just an unbelievable unity, and that kind of connection with the supporters and the Rothwell family and Darren (Royle) was just brilliant to be a part of that. I loved it and that’s what we all crave.”
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Here’s how fans reacted as Southend come back from 3-1 down to beat Rochdale 4-3 and Kevin Maher gives a tearful interview…
@Royalparty1871: Get in Southend! Both fucked off over by dodgy owners now on our way back 🤝
@299Peter: Where are the anti-Maher boo boys now!!! In King Kev we trust
@bungle666ue: Oldham fan here…. watched the whole game, and seriously WELL DONE!! We’ll see you at Wembley in the final! 🤣🤣
@CC_2201: We don’t do things the easy way but bring on the fucking vegans ❤️❤️
@Sean99Wall: My fucking goodness me, cannot believe what I’ve just watched. What a club, what a team. Into those vegan just stop oil mongs
@BrodyStopher16: Never been prouder. The amount of shit we’ve been through and turning up like that when it matters, incredible
@mondazeo88: I still can’t believe this! What a night to remember! This is exactly why I love this club! We don’t do it the easy way without a doubt! 💙🦐
@SHRFCConnor: Did this actually fuckin happen last night. What a stupidly good football team. UO THEM BLUE BOYSSSS
@sibbons23: Crazy, a couple of weeks back, everyone was slating the club and wanting the gaffer out, even in the stands and now all of a sudden they love the club again, no matter what the club goes through support them no matter what, well done lads great performance, onto the Semis 💯👊🏼
@jmpschooley: Fuck, I love this club. Looks like we’re on the floor, then boom! Southend United never knows when it’s beaten.
@HarryConstabl13: ‘This football club just doesn’t know when it’s beaten!’
@FTY1906: No words ever describe the love for this club. My god
@TomRoss_: Grit and determination. I have such a love hate relationship with this club, hate the first half, love the end. Oh well on to FGR…….
@AndrewStyles5: What a fantastic comeback. You can never doubt the spirit and commitment of this group of players. Well done to all those involved, including the management who made some great substitutions. Let’s keep the momentum going for the next game. Up the Blues!
This club just doesn’t know when it’s beaten.
These legends have given us hope again.
Superb character, matched by the outstanding support 💙 pic.twitter.com/HCFbWsEys6
— Conor Sammon (@ConorSammon100) May 15, 2025
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