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1906-07 Southern League : First Division

Manager: Syd King

1906-07

West Ham United

1906-07

Syd King managed to bring in some useful looking players for the 1906-07 season. This included the Scottish international, David Lindsay, an outside right from from Heart of Midlothian. King also signed two defenders, Archie Taylor (Brentford) and William Wildman (Everton).

It was a good start to the season as the Hammers came away from Tottenham after a 2-1 triumph. At home the Hammers were again in command, beating Swindon 2-0 and Luton Town 5-1 with Lionel Watson claiming a hat-trick. In September there were two goals from Billy Grassam in a 3-0 home win over Leyton. A week later he scored a hat-trick at Portsmouth – but unfortunately the home side scored four. The away form improved, with creditable draws at Plymouth, Reading and Gillingham. During November there was an excellent 4-1 victory at Fulham in which Lionel Watson grabbed a hat-trick to inflict Fulham’s first home defeat of the season. The Christmas period brought two further wins at home: Southampton were beaten 1-0, followed by a satisfying 4-2 triumph against London rivals Tottenham. Young Arthur Winterhalder scored a hat-trick, with Harry Stapley adding the other goal.

In the FA Cup, First Division side Blackpool were the visitors and went away beaten 2-1. In the next round Everton, another First Division side, proved too strong for the Hammers as they won 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground. There was a big crowd of 16,000 for the visit of Millwall. It was a disappointing day as the visitors won 1-0, which left the Hammers in sixth place in the table. After this there was a five-match unbeaten run including home victories over Queens Park Rangers (2-1), and Portsmouth (3–0). Now up to third in the league, the Easter period brought further wins against Reading at home (2-0), and a 3-2 win at Southampton. The final home game of the season was against Fulham, who had already been crowned champions. The home faithful ended the season on a high as the Hammers won 4-1 to finish fifth in the table.

8 July 1906

ALBERT “ARTHUR” EVANS (1930-31) Born this day Barking, London

Evans started his career as an amateur with Middlesex Wanderers before signing for local side Barking Town in 1921. He spent four seasons with the Athenian League club’s reserves before making the outside-right position his own, winning an F.A. Amateur Cup Final medal, London Senior cap and badge and an Athenian League cap and badge. Described by the distinguished football reporter Norman Ackland as: “Tremendously fast, at ball control he has few masters. He centres splendidly, anticipates the run of play like a veteran, and converges in on goal from the outside-left.” From the mid-1920s onwards, honours were bestowed thick and fast on this lead-burner by trade, including in 1925, picked on two occasions for the Athenian League in memorable victories over the Isthmian League. After an impressive 9-1 victory in a trail for England on 2 February 1929 at the County Ground, Northampton versus The Rest, Evans then became the first Barking Town player to be capped for England when he was selected for the match against Wales two-weeks later at Brighton’s Goldstone Ground  which resulted in a 1-1 draw. Said to have had an almost angelic choir-boy type appearance, West Ham United invited this speedy right-winger for a trial against Metropolitan Police ‘J’ Division in the London Mid-Week League on 22 April 1929, Evans scored  in the 5-1 victory and signed professional forms on 8 May 1929 primarly as understudy to Tommy Yews. Although he only made one First Division appearance in a disastrous 0-4 defeat at Grimsby Town 4 October 1930. In May 1933 Arthur had retired and was working for the Gas Light and Coke Co. In a newspaper article of that time he said: “Professional football is a full-time job if you have the ambition to progress and become a star player. My choice went to my job because I was married, but I had some great times touring the Continent and Europe with Middlesex Wanderers.

10 July 1906

DAVID CLARKE signs from BRISTOL ROVERS

31 July 1906

ISAAC TATE (1927-1929) Born this day Gateshead, Tyne & Wear

Yet another signing from Newcastle United, Isaac Holliday Tate had impressed the West Ham management with his safe handling while keeping goal for the Magpies against Hammers. Known as "Ike" to his colleagues, Tate joined the Geordies at the age of 18 and had three years at St. James's Park before arriving at the Boleyn as understudy to the great Ted Hufton. Made his Hammers debut against Bolton Wanderers in a 2-0 victory at Upton Park on the 10 December 1927. His quest for regular First Team football led to his transfer to Doncaster Rovers.

16 August 1906

GEORGE HORN signs from TUNBRIDGE WELLS RANGERS

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR :

Southern League

White Hart Lane

2 - 1 (Stapley, Watson)

1 September 1906

Att: 17,000

Kitchen

Wildman

Gardner

Allison

Piercy

Jarvis

Lindsay

Grassam

Stapley

Watson

Blackburn

WILLIAM WILDMAN and DAVID LINDSAY

both make their Hammers debut against

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

1200 Tottenham Hotspur 02 (A) 06-07

SWINDON TOWN : Southern League

Upton Park

2 - 0 (Stapley, Watson)

8 September 1906

Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

NORWICH CITY : Southern League

Newmarket Road

2 - 3 (Blackburn, Stapley)

15 September 1906

Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Blyth, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

JAMES BLYTH makes his Hammers debut against NORWICH CITY at Newmarket Road

LUTON TOWN : Southern League

Upton Park

5 - 1 (Watson 3, Lindsay, Stapley)

22 September 1906

Att: 13,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

BRISTOL ROVERS : Southern League

Eastville

0 - 3

24 September 1906

Att: 3,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Winterhalder A., Watson, Blackburn

26 September 1906

WALTER POLLARD (1929-1933) Born this day Burnley, Lancashire

Signed as a full professional by First Division Burnley at the age of 17, Pollard formed a memorable right-wing partnership with the Claret's famous England international Bob Kelly while at Turf Moor. Switching his allegiance (but not his colours) when he joined Hammers in the summer of 1929, Walter made his West Ham debut against Liverpool at Anfield in a 1-3 defeat on the 14 September 1929, he made his Upton Park debut later the same season against his former club in a 1-0 victory. A member of the West Ham team which reached the F.A. Cup Semi-Final in 1933, he left the club to take up the appointment of player-coach with Soucaux in France during the 1933-34 season, but did not find the Gallic temperament of some of the players to his liking. Returning to England he played out the remainder of his career with Fulham, Southampton and Brighton; the latter of whom he was serving when WW2 called an abrupt halt to League football. Walter died 17 January 1942 in Egypt on war service.

CRYSTAL PALACE : Southern League

Crystal Palace

1 - 1 (Winterhalder)

29 September 1906

Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Blyth, Piercy, Allison, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Winterhalder A.

BRENTFORD : Southern League

Upton Park

3 - 1 (Allison, Grassam, Stapley)

6 October 1906

Att: 12,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Kemp

FRED KEMP makes his Hammers debut against BRENTFORD

MILLWALL ATHLETIC :

Southern League

North Greenwich

1 - 1 (Stapley)

13 October 1906

Att: 15,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Kemp

BRISTL ROVERS : Southern League

Upton Park

0 - 1

15 October 1906

Att: 4,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

WILLIAM TAYLOR makes his Hammers debut against BRISTOL ROVERS at Upton Park

LEYTON : Southern League

Upton Park

3 - 0 (Grassam 2, Stapley)

20 October 1906

Att: 12,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

PORTSMOUTH : Southern League

Fratton Park

3 - 4 (Grassam 3)

27 October 1906

Att: 12,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Taylor, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Kemp

NEW BROMPTON : Southern League

Upton Park

1 - 1 (Stapley)

3 November 1906

Att: 7,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Blyth, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Kemp, Blackburn

1 November 1906

REG WADE (1930-1932) Born this day Stoke Newington, London

Reginald Arthur Wade signed professional for Hammers in 1929, after gaining an F.A. Amateur Cup winners medal with Ilford F.C. in that year's Final against Leyton at Highbury. Taking the step up the professionalism  in his stride, he made his First Division debut in the left-back position in a 4-1 victory over Liverpool at Upton Park on the 18 January 1930. His best run  in the First Team was in 1930-31 season when he made 28 appearances. He transferred to Aldershot in 1932. Also had a spell with Millwall whom he joined from Barking in 1925, but failed to make the first team.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE :

Southern League

Home Park

0 - 0

10 November 1906

Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Horn, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

GEORGE HORN makes his Hammers debut against PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Southern League

Upton Park

0 - 0

17 November 1906

Att: 5,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

26 November 1906

 

WILLIAM BRIDGEMAN joins CHELSEA for £170

West Ham United career: (1903-1906) Appearances: 75, Goals 20)

READING : Southern League

Elm Park

2 - 2 (Grassam, Lindsay)

27 November 1906

Att: 4,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Horn, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Kemp, Blackburn

30 November 1906

 

STANLEY BOURNE signs amateur forms for the Hammers

WATFORD : Southern League

Upton Park

1 - 1 (Stapley)

1 December 1906

Att: 7,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Bourne, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Kemp, Blackburn

STANLEY BOURNE makes his Hammers debut against WATFORD

4 December 1906

 

CHARLES COTTON joins LIVERPOOL

West Ham United Career: (1903-1906) Appearances: 19, Goals: 0

NEW BROMPTON : Southern League

Priestfield Stadium

2 - 2 (Stapley, Watson)

8 December 1906

Att: 5,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Horn, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

QUEENS PARK RANGERS : Southern League

Upton Park

0 - 1

15 December 1906

Att: 5,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

MATCH ABANDONED

Fog 83 mins : rearranged for 25 February 1907

FULHAM : Southern League

Craven Cottage

4 - 1 (Watson 3, Blackburn)

22 December 1906

Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

SOUTHAMPTON : Southern League

Upton Park

1 - 0 (Stapley)

25 December 1906

Att: 20,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Southern League

Upton Park

4 - 2 (Winterhalder 3, Stapley)

29 December 1906

Att: 14,000

Clark, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Winterhalder A.

DAVID CLARK makes his Hammers debut against TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

SWINDON TOWN : Southern League

County Ground

0 - 2 

5 January 1907

Att: 5,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Featherstone, Lindsay, Grassam, Watson, Winterhalder A.

BLACKPOOL : FA Cup (First Round)

Upton Park

2 - 1 (Stapley, Winterhalder A.)

12 January 1907

Att: 13,000

Kitchen, Wildman, Hammond,Allison,Piercy, Jarvis, Lindsay, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Winterhalder A.

NORWICH CITY : Southern League

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LUTON TOWN : Southern League

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EVERTON : FA Cup (Second Round)

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