Collymore team talk inspires Southend comeback as ex-star lends hand to in-crisis club

And it appeared to do the job, too, as the in-crisis Essex club came back from a goal down against opposition from the seventh tier of English football to win their FA Cup qualifier and bring a timely boost.

Collymore, in Southend? It's not as random as it seems. In fact, he's a legend at the club and a firm favourite with supporters.

While the former striker might be famed for his spells at Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, the 50-year-old is a huge Shrimpers fan, having basically got his top flight career rolling at Roots Hall.

Having struggled for regular football at boyhood club Crystal Palace, who he joined at 19, Collymore moved to then-First Division Southend in 1992 for the sum total of £150,000, and he was an instant hit.

Not only did his 15 goals in 30 games help Southend avoid relegation from the second tier that season, his exploits attracted Forest, who he joined for just over £2million only one year later.

There, he helped the fallen former European Cup winners back into the Premier League, and a move to Liverpool and call-up to the England squad soon followed.

Collymore has never forgotten what that spell at Roots Hall did for his career. In fact, he has on numerous occasions said that he counts keeping Southend in the First Division in his only season with the club as one of the finest achievements.

Now, Collymore is helping unpopular club owner Ron Martin in his search for a new manager, having recently sacked Phil Brown following a disastrous start to life in non-league football, and apparently helping player/interim head coach Jason Demetriou in the dugout.

Southend were relegated from the Football League last season after more than 100 years in the top four tiers of the England game, and a bleak situation has only got bleaker with just two wins from their first ten games in the National League, where they sit 20th in a table of 23 teams.

A cup boost is exactly what the Shrimpers needed, and that's exactly what came - with a little help from a certain Mr Stanley Victor Collymore.

Welcomed back by fans for the second time this season, Collymore was a guest in the directors box having aided the club with their interview process for their next manager. He didn't stay there for long.

With barely 30 minutes play of the first-half, he was spotted down on the touchline speaking to the entire team during a break in play, after watching them concede to Chertsey Town of the Isthmian League South Central Division - the seventh tier of English football - with just five minutes gone.

Drastic times call for drastic measures, and Collymore decided it was time to give the players a boost.

It was quite a sight, as a man who holds no coaching role at the club spoke to players on the touchline, barked out encouragement and generally tried to improve the mood within the stadium.

Would it have been allowed in any other level of the game? Probably not. Did Southend care? Not one bit.

And it apparently did the trick, as the Seasiders were level with 14 minutes on the clock and led 2-1 at the break.

At half-time Collymore was spotted heading down the tunnel and, presumably, into the dressing room. His presence appeared vital, as Southend ended up 4-1 winners, marching on in their quest to qualify for the FA Cup proper.

Collymore seemed to enjoy it too, with reports he was 'jumping up and applauding' every time Southend surged forward to attack.

He even had time to talk to fans, too, who will no doubt be hoping their lucky charm returns for their next game, as they try to get their league campaign back on track.