Sports reporter sickened as prized notepads stolen

A sports journalist said he "felt sick" after realising his notepads containing 20 years of handwritten statistics had been stolen.

They featured details of every Southend United game Chris Phillips, chief sports reporter at the Echo, had covered since 2006.

His laptop, phone and clothes were also in the bag swiped from his parents' car by a thief as they watched the Eastbourne Open in East Sussex on Saturday.

Sussex Police described the incident as "upsetting" and said it would be in touch with Phillips to "explore possible lines of inquiry".

Phillips, who joined the Echo in 2003, said of his notepads: "I'm a massive geek, so they're something I take with me and are sentimental.

"They've been everywhere - all around the country and to all the games."

The notes feature details regarding the Shrimpers' FA Vase triumph in May and their epic 1-0 victory over Manchester United in 2006.

Phillips would scribble down every detail of the fixtures, including goalscorers, substitutes and cards dished out by the referees.

Reliving the moment he realised the journals were gone, he said: "It was a horrible realisation. I felt sick.

"I was mortified about it all and really upset."

However, Phillips has been heartened by an outpouring of support since appealing for help on X, including from legendary football commentator Clive Tyldesley.

He is now considering writing all the statistics out again in a new set of notepads, even if it takes months.

"I just hope someone can find them discarded somewhere and reunite me with them," he said.

"In the meantime, I might get a repetitive strain injury from going back and doing all the stats again."

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