WEST HAM UNITED
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FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES
A Pictorial History
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Steve Marsh & Stuart Allen
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.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE : Southern League
Upton Park 2 - 1 (Blackburn, Mackie) 14 October 1905 Att: 5,000
Kitchen, McCartney, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Bush, Ford, Bridgeman, Mackie, Blackburn, Wilkinson
SOUTHAMPTON : Southern League
The Dell
0 - 1
21 October 1905
Att: 6,000
Kitchen
McCartney
Gardner
Allison
Piercy
Bush
Ford
Bridgeman
Mackie
Blackburn
Wilkinson
READING : Southern League
Upton Park 2 - 3 (Allison, Ford) 28 October 1905 Att: 7,000
Kitchen, McCartney, Gardner, Allison, Hindle, Bush, Ford, Bridgeman, Mackie, Blackburn, Wilkinson
WATFORD : Southern League
Cassio Road 1 - 3 (Bridgeman) 4 November 1905 Att: 4,000
Kitchen, McCartney, Gardner, Allison, Piercy, Jarvis, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Mackie, Blackburn, Wilkinson
ARTHUR FEATHERSTONE makes his Hammers debut against WATFORD
6 November 1905
CHARLES BICKNELL (1936-1947) Born this day Pye Bridge, Chesterfield
Bicknell began his early career in non-league football, playing for teams such as New Tupton Ivanhoe, among others. He began his Football League career in October 1927 with Chesterfield, where he made 79 appearances between 1928 and 1930. The strong powerful full-back joined Bradford City and made 244 consecutive appearances for the Valley Parade club when Hammers signed The Bantams capatin in March 1936. Bicknell made his West Ham debut in the claret-and-blue against Newcastle United in a 4-1 victory 21 March 1936 at the Boleyn Ground. Continued his ever-present record by playing in every possible match bar one until the outbreak of WW2 - by which time he had been appointed club captain. Served in the Police Specials during the War, and played many games in regional football. Skippered the Hammers in the 1940 War Cup Final at Wembley, when Hammers beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0. He managed a further 19 Second Division appearances after the resumption of normal League activities in 1946-47. Scored his one and only West Ham United goal in his last-ever match at home to Plymouth Argyle in a 4-1 victory on 28 December 1946. Given a free transfer at the end of that campaign, he then became manager of Southern League Bedford Town between 1948 and 1951.
9 November 1905
ARTHUR FEATHERSTONE signs from local club Barking St. Andrews five days after making his League debut against Watford
9 November 1905
JAMES JACKSON signs from LEYTON
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Southern League
Upton Park 2 - 0 (Mackie, Wilkinson) 11 November 1905 Att: 8,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Mackie, Blackburn, Wilkinson
JAMES JACKSON makes his Hammers debut against BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
NORTHAMPTON TOWN : Southern League
County Ground 1 - 2 (Mackie) 18 November 1905 Att: 5,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Mackie, Blackburn, Wilkinson
FULHAM : Southern League
Craven Cottage 0 - 1 25 November 1905 Att: 12,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Hilsdon, Watson, Blackburn
QUEENS PARK RANGERS : Southern League
Upton Park 2 - 0 (Hilsdon, Watson) 2 December 1905 Att: 7,500
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Hilsdon, Watson, Wilkinson
4 December 1905
GEORGE WATSON (1932-1935) Born this day Forest Gate, London
George William R. Watson began his football career as a bustling centre-forward with his local junior side, Whycliffe Albion F.C. scoring 69 goals for that club when they won the Forest Gate and District League Championship. Despite this success, it was when he joined his next club, Abbey Langthorne Works team, that he realised his true ambition - to be a goalkeeper! Proving to be as efficient at stopping goals as he had been at scoring them, he came to Hammers as an amateur during the 1929-30 season, and after being sent to Ilford F.C. to gain experience, was signed as a professional. Given the unenviable task of replacing Ted Hufton after the latter had transferred to Watford following Hammers' relegation to Division II in 1932, Watson made his Hammers debut in a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Bradford City at Upton Park on the 29th August 1932, he did well in his initial season as a First Team regular and was in the side which reached that year's F.A. Cup Semi-Finals.
8 December 1905
JOHN PAYNE (1926-1928) Born this day Kensington, London
John Frederick Payne was effective on either flank, this speedy winger progressed through junior amateur soccer with Botwell Mission F.C. and Lyons Athletic to senior amateur level with Southall F.C. He remained on the Athenians League club's books while he sampled First Division football with the Hammers and made his debut against Blackburn Rovers in a 1-5 thrashing at Upton Park on the 11 September 1926. Scoring against Manchester United at Upton Park in September 1928 and making two further appearances that season versus Portsmouth and Derby County respectively. Johnny transferred to Brentford in 1928 and afterwards had the 1930-31 season with Manchester City. He joined Brighton & Hove Albion in August 1934, Millwall July 1935 and finally Yeovil in May 1936.
BRISTOL ROVERS : Southern League
Eastville 1 - 2 (Hilsdon) 9 December 1905 Att: 5,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Bridgeman, Hilsdon, Watson, Wilkinson
NEW BROMPTON : Southern League
Upton Park 1 - 0 (Jarvis) 16 December 1905 Att: 6,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Wilkinson, Hilsdon, Watson, Blackburn
23 December 1905
WILLIAM GRASSAM rejoins the Hammers for a second spell from MANCHESTER UNITED
PORTSMOUTH : Southern League
Upton Park 1 - 0 (Stapley) 23 December 1905 Att: 8,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn
HARRY STAPLEY makes his Hammers debut and WILLIAM GRASSAM makes his second debut against PORTSMOUTH
SWINDON TOWN : Southern League
County Ground 3 - 2 (Blackburn, Jarvis, Watson) 30 December 1905 Att: 4,000
Kitchen, Jackson, Gardner, Allison, Jarvis, Bush, Featherstone, Grassam, Stapley, Watson, Blackburn
SECOND-HALF