Southend United FC has secured a place at Wembley Stadium after a 3-1 victory against Southport in the FA Trophy semi-final on 28 March 2026. The win at Haig Avenue, which came after a strong second-half performance, sets up a final appearance against Wealdstone on 17 May 2026.
The match saw Southend fight back from an early deficit. Southport forward Chris Sze opened the scoring in the 30th minute, but the momentum shifted after half-time. Charley Kendall equalised in the 53rd minute, and Jack Bridge gave the team the lead just two minutes later. Kendall added his second goal in the 75th minute to secure the win. In the closing stages of the game, Southport goalkeeper Chris Renshaw was sent off for a foul on Andrew Dallas.
The achievement marks a second consecutive trip to Wembley for the club, following their appearance in the National League play-off final in June 2025. Head coach Kevin Maher expressed his delight for everyone connected to the club, noting that the team is driven by a desire to bring home a trophy. He also acknowledged the efforts of the ownership group led by Justin Rees, whose consortium took control in July 2024 to save the club from liquidation.
Fans in Southend-on-Sea showed significant support for the team during the semi-final. While 800 supporters travelled to Merseyside, more than 850 fans gathered at Roots Hall to watch a live screening of the match. To reach this stage of the competition, the team successfully navigated earlier rounds with wins against Truro City, Bath City, Chatham Town, and Horsham.
As the club prepares for the upcoming final, the squad also remains focused on league duties. Southend United is currently seventh in the National League, holding the final play-off spot with eight games remaining in the season.
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