1905-06 Southern League : First Division

Manager: Syd King

West Ham United

1905-06

Once again there was an exodus of players and in their place arrived full-back Alex McCartney, forwards Lionel Watson and Fred Blackburn. Manager Syd King also signed Goalkeeper George Kitchen from Everton as a replacement for Matt Kingsley who had been sold to Queen's Park Rangers. An outstanding goalkeeper he was considered to be one of the best in England. He joined a defence that included Tommy Allison, Frank Piercy, David Gardner and Len Jarvis. The opening match of the season was against Swindon Town. West Ham won the game 1-0 in front of 10,000 supporters. George Kitchen became the first ever goalkeeper to score a goal on his debut. Kitchen was the team's penalty taker and would go on to add three more that season. Both Brentford and league leaders Plymouth were beaten at home but these were the only victories in the next nine games. By early December the team were third from bottom in the league, but there was an improvement after the purchase of two new forwards. Former player Billy Grassam returned, together with the promising amateur Harry Stapley. They rejuvenated the team, and there were 1–0 home wins against New Brompton, Portsmouth and Millwall. In the first round of the FA Cup West Ham travelled to First Division side Woolwich Arsenal. Goalkeeper George Kitchen again scored from the penalty spot and the game ended 1–1. In the replay there were 12,000 present to see the Hammers put up a gallant fight but eventually lose 3–2. The side were playing well at home, with victories over Norwich (6–1) and Southampton (3–0), but as usual it was the away form that was causing concern. Four goals were conceded at Plymouth and in early March there was a 6–1 defeat at Reading. Aside from beating Northampton 4–1, the remaining games of the season – with four goalless draws – were drab affairs. The mid-table finishing position of 11th was the same as the previous season, with the goalscoring being the problem.

31 July 1905

CHARLIE 'William' COX (1927-1932) Born this day West Ham, London

Played for the local Gilco works club and also for Ilford in the Isthmian League. A wing-half, he came as understudy to Albert Cadwell in 1927. Charlie ‘William’ Cox made the first team grade fairly quickly, his First Division debut was against Manchester United at Upton Park in a 1-2 defeat 29 October 1927. Played 26 times in his first campaign, and by the end of the 1931-32 season totalled 89 League appearances. He was then granted a free transfer and joined Southend United.

SWINDON TOWN : Southern League

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Kitchen [pen]) 2 September 1905 Att: 10,000

Kitchen, McCartney, Gardner, Hindle, Piercy, Jarvis, Bridgeman, Ford, Mackie, Watson, Blackburn

GEORGE KITCHEN, ALEX McCARTNEY, HARRY HINDLE, WILLIAM FORD, CHARLES MACKIE, LIONEL WATSON and FRED BLACKBURN all make their Hammers debut against SWINDON TOWN

MILLWALL ATHLETIC : Southern League

North Greenwich 0 - 1 9 September 1905 Att: 6,500

Kitchen, McCartney, Gardner, Hindle, Piercy, Jarvis, Ford, Mackie, Bridgeman, Watson, Blackburn

LUTON TOWN : Southern League

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Blackburn) 16 September 1905 Att: 10,000

Kitchen, Hammond, Gardner, Bush, Piercy, Jarvis, Winterhalder H., Mackie, Bridgeman, Wilkinson, Blackburn

HERBERT WINTERHALDER and HENRY WILKINSON both make their Hammers debut against LUTON TOWN

21 September 1905

DAVID MANGNALL (1935-1936) Born this day Wigan, Lancashire

A former coal-miner. After service with Leeds United (1929-30), Huddersfield Town (1930) and Birmingham City (1934-35), this bustling centre-forward was signed as a replacement for Vic Watson. Scoring on his League debut against Port Vale at Vale Park along with Dr. Jim Marshall who also made his debut on the 16th March 1935 in a 2-2 draw along with Dr. James Marshall. Dave set the Second Division alight in his second season at Upton Park when he scored 22 goals in 25 outings...and numbered two hat-tricks among his harvest of net-finding efforts. Somewhat surprisingly transferred to Millwall the following season, the lad from Wigan Pier territory continued his happy goalscoring trend with the Lions and later Queens Park Rangers whom he managed after the War. The highlight of his career came with Millwall in 1937, when he led the Third Division side's attack in the F.A. Cup Semi-Final against Sunderland at Leeds Road.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Southern League

White Hart Lane 0 - 2 23 September 1905 Att: 12,000

Kitchen, Hammond, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Winterhalder H., Mackie, Bridgeman, Wilkinson, Blackburn

27 September 1905

WILLIAM WILLIAMS (1921-1927) Born this day Leytonstone, London

William Dennis Williams became the youngest ever full professional when signed for Hammers in 1921 at the age of 15 from Fairbairn House Boy's Club. A former England Boys star, he made his Hammers debut in the concluding Second Division match at Blackpool in which he also scored in a 1-3 defeat on the 6 May 1922. In March 1925 he made another entry into the record books as a member of a party which embarked on the trip to Australia. Returning home in September after several Test Matches "down under," the experiment brought the following comment from the club's 1925-26 handbook: "Has had a unique experience for so young a player, having had a glorious time in Australia since April last, where he has been finding the net frequently. We hope that continuous football has not affected his efficiency," The writer's fears may not have been altogether groundless, the consistency of Watson and Moore as well as the presence of Vivian Gibbins, the amateur international centre forward only made a further 14 first team outings before his transfer to Chelsea in June 1927. After two years at Stamford Bridge he became a "free agent" in amateur football, and among others served Dagenham F.C. Eventually retiring at the age of 40.

28 September 1905

HARRY STAPLEY signs from WOODFORD TOWN

BRENTFORD : Southern League

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Blackburn, Wilkinson) 30 September 1905 Att: 8,000

Kitchen, Hammond, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Bush, Winterhalder H., Bridgeman, Hilsdon, Blackburn, Wilkinson

NORWICH CITY : Southern League

Newmarket Road 0- 1 7 October 1905 Att: 6,000

Kitchen, Hammond, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Bush, Winterhalder H., Bridgeman, Hilsdon, Blackburn, Wilkinson

9 October 1905

JAMES LOUGHLIN (1927-1928) Born this day Darlington, County Durham

Baptised James William Laughlin, later became known as Loughlin was a goalscoring centre - or inside-forward who was signed from Newcastle United along with fellow teammates Harold Smith and George Robson in May 1927. The prolific marksman was purchased from the Magpies to supplement the fire-power of Vic Watson and Vivian Gibbins. Loughlin scored in his first appearance in Hammers' colours against Huddersfield Town in a 4-2 victory at Upton Park on the 3 September 1927. After a pleasant introduction on West Ham's tour of Scandinavia during the close-season, Joe found it difficult to hold down a regular place in the First Team once League action got under way; so the former blacksmith made only 10 First Division outings before moving on to join Coventry City on the 2nd January 1929 in a double deal along with Danny Shone to the Midland club, transfer fee was £1,300 with Loughlin receiving £100. Later played for the Magpies from Darlington Railway Athletic. Transferred from Coventry City to Northwich Victoria in the close season 1931. James joined his home town club, Darlington in 1933.