Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Southend United

Rubin Colwill in action for Cardiff City Football Club
The Bluebirds continue pre-season preperations by facing Southend United next on Saturday 12th July, kicking off at 6pm UK time. 

The fixture will take place in Murcia, Spain at the Pinatar Arena. 


TICKET INFORMATION

General admission tickets for this fixture cost €15, with €5 tickets available for children under 10.

Click here to purchase. 

Please note: Alcohol will not be available to purchase inside the Pinatar Arena. 

Cardiff City 2025/26 pre-season tour
CARDIFF CITY TV | HOW TO WATCH

Bluebirds fans can watch three First Team pre-season fixtures live on Cardiff City TV this summer. 

Match Passes are available to buy worldwide, costing £5 per fixture. Click here to buy your Match Pass. 

Our pre-season fixtures will be included in International Monthly and Seasonal Passes. Monthly Passes cost £25 per month, with a Seasonal Pass costing £140 at the Early Bird price - available until Saturday, August 2nd.

Ben Goodliffe
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | CLUB PROFILE

Founded in 1906, Southend are known as the Shrimpers, a nod to their fishing heritage that can be found on their club crest. Based in Southend-on-Sea in Essex, their club have played their home matches at Roots Hall since the mid-1950’s. 

Southend United play in the fifth division of English Football in the National League and finished the 2024/25 season in seventh place, claiming the final play-off spot ahead of Gateshead by one point. 

After defeating Rochdale in the quarter-finals and Forest Green Rovers in the semi-finals via penalties, they fell narrowly short of promotion by losing 3-2 to Oldham Athletic in extra time at Wembley. 

Kevin Maher
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | ON THE TOUCHLINE

In the dugout for Southend United is Kevin Maher, who made more than 400 appearances for the Shrimpers between 1998-2008, including twice captaining the club to promotion. 

In 2005, he led his team to the League Two play-off final victory at the Millennium Stadium, beating Lincoln City 2-0, and in the following season, was part of the squad that won the League One title to gain promotion to the Championship. 

He went on to represent teams such as Oldham Athletic, Gillingham and Dagenham & Redbridge before retiring with Chelmsford City in 2015 and was named manager the following year after a stint as caretaker manager. 

He returned to Southend United in 2021 as manager and guided the club to stability during a turbulent time and was awarded The Freedom of the City of Southend-on-Sea in March of 2024. 

Nathan Ralph
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT | KEY PLAYERS

Gus Scott-Morris was awarded the club’s Player of the Season during the 2024/25 campaign for the second season in a row after scoring 17 league goals, playing from right wing-back. 

Alongside him in defence is club captain Nathan Ralph (pictured), who has made over 150 appearances for the club since joining in 2019. 

In terms of summer signings, centre-back Ben Goodliffe has made his move permanent following a successful loan spell from Colchester United last season, along with acquiring Sam Austin, Harry Boyes and Slavi Spasov on free transfers to bolster the squad. 

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