1902-03 Southern League : First Division

WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 3 - 0 (Barnes, Davidson, Grassam) 10 January 1903 Att: 4,000

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam,Davidson, Wallace, Barnes

BRISTOL ROVERS : Southern League

Stapleton Road 1 - 1 (Wallace) 17 January 1903 Att: 4,000

Griffiths, King, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Davidson,Wallace, Barnes

19 January 1903 TOMMY HODGSON (1922-1929) Born this day Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham A former coalminer, this rugged full-back served West Ham United throughout the 1920's and would have totalled many more first team appearances had illness and injury not interrupted his career. Signed from Hetton Colliery in 1921; made his Hammers debut against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road in the final match of the 1921-22 campaign in a 1-2 defeat on the 6 May 1922; became one of the renowned Hammers' "5-H" quintet of defenders - Hufton, Hebden, Henderson, Hodgson and Horler. Transferred to Third Division South Luton Town in 1930, Tommy went on to create a unique record with the Bedfordshire club by becoming the only man in soccer to be player, captain, director, managing director, chairman and president of one Football League club. He also had the honour of leading out the Hatters at Wembley for the 1959 F.A. Cup Final against Nottingham Forest when Town were without a manager.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 3 - 2 (Davidson, Grassam, Wallace) 24 January 1903 Att: 4,000

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Davidson, Wallace, Barnes

WATFORD : Southern League

Cassio Road 1 - 2 (Campbell) 31 January 1903 Att: 5,000

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Davidson, Wallace, Barnes

BRENTFORD : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 2 - 0 (Grassam 2) 7 February 1903 Att: 3,000

Griffiths, Fair, Dow, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Davidson, Wallace, Barnes

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 1 - 0 (Wallace) 14 February 1903 Att: 8,000

Griffiths, Fair, Dow, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Davidson, Wallace, Barnes

NEW BROMPTON : Southern League

Priestfield Stadium 0 - 2 7 March 1903 Att: 7,000

Griffiths, Fair, Dow, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Miecznikowski, Grassam, Farrell, Wallace, Barnes

WALTER MIECZNIKOWSKI makes his West Ham debut against NEW BROMPTON at the Priestfield Stadium

SWINDON TOWN : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 1 - 1 (Farrell) 14 March 1903 Att: 4,000

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Grassam, Farrell, Wallace, Barnes

19 March 1903 ALFRED EARL (1925-1933) Born this day Earlesfield, London Alfred Thomas Earl was a tall, constructive defender who held the right-back position during his eight seasons at Upton Park, making close to 200 senior appearances in the process. Signed from Summerstown in 1925, making his debut in the 5-2 victory over Aston Villa at Upton Park on the 25 December 1925. He is remembered not only as a cool, thoughtful player but also for having ate four hot cross buns one Good Friday before a match and collapsing on the field. Later played for Streatham Town.

NEW BROMPTON : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 1 - 1 (Farrell) 11 March 1903 Att: 11,000

Griffiths, Dow, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Farrell, Grassam, Wallace, Barnes

LUTON TOWN : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 4 - 1 (Grassam 2, Bigden, Farrell) 28 March 1903 Att: 1,800

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Farrell, Grassam, Wallace, Barnes

SWINDON TOWN : Southern League

County Ground 1 - 1 (Grassam) 4 April 1903 Att: 2,500

Biggar, Eccles, King, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Grassam, Farrell, Wallace, Barnes

7 April 1903 GEORGE EASTMAN (1925-1926) Born this day Leyton, London A remarkable feature of George's two First Division outings for Hammers was that they were both against Everton in direct confrontation with the legendary Dixie Dean! He proved himself a more than capable understudy to George Kay and later Jim Barrett in the two Upton Park clashes with the Toffeemen, which incidentally took place almost a year to the day of each other with West Ham victorious on both occasions. The first, on 18 April 1925 ended 4-1 in favour of Irons, and the second, on 17th April the following year, 1-0. Baptised George Frederick Eastman and the brother of a well-known Essex cricketer he was no slouch at the bat-and-ball game himself (he also played for the County), George was somewhat surprisingly overlooked after that. He later joined Clapton Orient.

PORTSMOUTH : Southern League

Memorial Grounds 1 - 1 (Grassam) 10 April 1903 Att: 10,000

Griffiths, Fair, Eccles, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Farrell, Grassam, Wallace, Barnes

SOUTHAMPTON : Southern League

The Dell 0 - 6 13 April 1903 Att: 6,000

Biggar, Eccles, Dow, Bigden, Yenson, Blythe, McAteer, Farrell, Grassam, Wallace, Campbell

KETTERING TOWN : Southern League

Rockingham Road 1 - 1 (Bush) 15 April 1903 Att: 12,000

Biggar, Yenson, King, Bigden, Kelly, Parkinson, Bush, Farrell, Grassam, Wallace, Miecznikowski

HARRY PARKINSON and ROBERT BUSH both make their Hammers debut against KETTERING TOWN at Rockingham Road

LUTON TOWN : Southern League

Dunstable Road 0 - 4 18 April 1903 Att: 2,000

Griffiths, Eccles, Fair, Bigden, McAteer, Blythe, Miecznikowski, Bush, Evans, Wallace, Barnes

ROGER EVANS makes his Hammers debut against LUTON TOWN at Rockingham Road

MILLWALL ATHLETIC : Southern League

North Greenwich 1 - 2 (Grassam) 25 April 1903 Att: 3,000

Biggar, Eccles, Dow, Parkinson, Yenson, Blythe, Allan, Bigden, Grassam, Wallace, Barnes

Season 1901-02 Season 1902-03 Season 1903-04