1920-21 Football League : Division II

COVENTRY CITY : Football League Division II

Upton Park 7 - 0 (Puddefoot 4, Leafe 2, Bishop) 1 January 1921 Att: 8,000

Hufton Burton Cope Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot Leafe Young

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : FA Cup (Third Round)

SORRY NO IMAGE

Hillsborough 0 - 1 8 January 1921 Att: 49,125

Hufton Burton Cope Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot Leafe Young

CLAPTON ORIENT : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Millfields Road 1 - 0 (Bishop) 15 January 1921 Att: 20,000

Hampson Burton Cope Allen Kay Woodards Carter Bishop Puddefoot Leafe Young

TOMMY HAMPSON makes his Hammers debut against CLAPTON ORIENT at Millfields Road

15 January 1921

KEN BAINBRIDGE (1946-1949) Born this day Barking, Essex

A prominent member of Hammers senior side in the immediate post-war period, made his initial Hammers debut in the claret-and-blue in a 6-0 thrashing of Arsenal at Upton Park in an F.A. Cup match on the 5th January 1946. Ken's League debut was against Millwall at the Boleyn in a 3-1 victory, which was gained over the south of the river visitors on the 21st September 1946. This speedy winger was a handful for his opponents and not averse to having a crack at goal, he scored on nine seconds in a 2-1 win over Barnsley, the quickest recorded goal at Upton Park, in a Second Division game on August 29, 1949. His scoring exploits became even more pronounced when transferred to Reading and later Southend United, where he ended his League career.

CLAPTON ORIENT : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Upton Park 1 - 0 (James) 22 January 1921 Att: 27,000

Hufton Burton Cope Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot James Young

WILLIAM JAMES makes his Hammers debut against CLAPTON ORIENT at Upton Park

LEEDS UNITED : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Elland Road 2 - 1 (Carter, Puddefoot) 29 January 1921 Att: 15,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot James Young

LEEDS UNITED : Football League Division II

Image courtesy of Simon Lord

Upton Park 3 - 0 (Puddefoot 3 [1 pen]) 5 February 1921 Att: 23,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot James Young

BURY : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Can you help?

Gigg Lane 0 - 1 12 February 1921 Att: 10,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Woodards Carter Bishop Puddefoot James Young

BURY : Football League Division II

Upton Park 0 - 1 19 February 1921 Att: 20,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Tresadern Carter Bishop Puddefoot James Young

BRISTOL CITY : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Can you help?

Ashton Gate 0 - 1 26 February 1921 Att: 20,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Bishop Carter Bailey Puddefoot James Young

BRISTOL CITY : Football League Division II

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Puddefoot) 5 March 1921 Att: 20,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Bishop Simmons Bailey Puddefoot James Young

6 March 1921

FRANK NEARY (1946-1947) Born this day Aldershot, Hampshire

Neary began his footballing career with Finchley and was nicknamed "The Brown Bomber". Signed from Queens Park Rangers to replace Joe Payne, Scored two goals on his Hammers debut against Newport County at Upton Park in a 3-0 victory on the 8 February 1947, Frank scored 15 times in only 14 Second Division appearances in his first season. Possessor of a fearsome shot, he went on a tour of the London clubs after playing only three times for Hammers the following season, moving to Leyton Orient, 78 games 44 goals, Queens Park Rangers again, 18 games 5 goals, and finally Millwall 123 games, 50 goals.

BARNSLEY : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Can you help?

Oakwell 1 - 1 (Puddefoot) 12 March 1921 Att: 13,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Woodards Simmons Bishop Puddefoot James Young

BARNSLEY : Football League Division II

Upton Park 2 - 1 (James, Gittens [og]) 19 March 1921 Att: 18,000

Hufton Cope Burton Allen Kay Tresadern Simmons Bishop Watson James Young

NOTTS COUNTY : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Upton Park 0 - 2 29 March 1921 Att: 25,000

Hufton Burton Lee Bishop Kay Tresadern Allen Simmons Watson James Young

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football League Division II

Upton Park 3 - 0 (Puddefoot 2, Leafe) 26 March 1921 Att: 20,000

Hufton Burton Lee Allen Kay Woodards Carter Bishop Puddefoot Leafe James

NOTTS COUNTY : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Meadow Lane 1 - 1 (Puddefoot) 28 March 1921 Att: 22,000

Hufton Burton Lee Allen Kay Woodards Carter Bishop Puddefoot Leafe James

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

City Ground 0 - 1 2 April 1921 Att: 22,000

Hampson Lane Lee Allen Kay Woodards Carter Bishop Watson Leafe James

ROTHERHAM COUNTY : Football League Division II

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Leafe) 9 April 1921 Att: 20,000

Hufton Lane Lee Allen Kay Bishop Carter Cowell Puddefoot Leafe James

HERBERT COWELL makes his Hammers debut against ROTHERHAM COUNTY at Upton Park

ROTHERHAM COUNTY : Football League Division II

Millmoor 0 - 2 18 April 1921 Att: 10,000

Hufton Burton Lee Allen Kay Bishop Carter Robinson Puddefoot Leafe James

LESLIE ROBINSON makes his Hammers debut against ROTHERHAM COUNTY at Millmoor

PORT VALE : Football League Division II

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Robinson) 23 April 1921 Att: 15,000

Hufton Hart Cope Allen Woodards Tresadern Leafe Robinson Puddefoot Smith S. James

JOE HART makes his Hammers debut against PORT VALE at Upton Park

PORT VALE : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Recreation Ground 2 - 1 (James, Watson) 30 April 1921 Att: 12,000

Hufton Cope Lee Allen Bishop Tresadern Leafe Robinson Watson James Young

SOUTH SHIELDS : Football League Division II

Upton Park 2 - 1 (Puddefoot, Walker [og]) 2 May 1921 Att: 15,000

Hufton Cope Lee Allen Bishop Tresadern Gatland Robinson Puddefoot Watson James

WILLIAM GATLAND makes his Hammers debut against SOUTH SHIELDS at Upton Park

3 May 1921

HARRY KINSELL (1951-1956) Born this day Cannock, Staffordshire

Already an experienced England international defender when he arrived at the Boleyn from Reading for £5,250. Harry had also seen service with West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers, as well as guesting during war-time with Grimsby Town, Middlesbrough and Blackpool. His signing was another shrewd venture into the transfer market by manager Ted Fenton, who had been a colleague in the England Team. Harry made his West Ham debut in the 2-3 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park on the 13 January 1951. He gave Hammers five seasons yeoman service, often captaining the side, before being given a free transfer to Southern League Bedford Town.

SOUTH SHIELDS : Football League Division II

SORRY NO IMAGE

Horsley Hill 0 - 0 7 May 1921 Att: 15,000

Hampson Hebden Cope Allen Kay Palmer Calladine Robinson Puddefoot Brown Young

JACK HEBDEN, JOHN CALLADINE and WILLIAM BROWN all make their Hammers debut against SOUTH SHIELDS at Horsley Hill

25 May 1921

ERIC ARMSTRONG (1946-1953) Born this day Hebburn-on-Tyne, Northumberland

A Whole-hearted wing-half who was mostly a reserve team player, but inspired everyone with his devotion to the game. Signed from Cramlington Welfare F.C. after service in the Royal Navy in WW2, Armstrong had played for East Northumberland Boys before progressing to senior soccer. A member of the Combination Championship side of 1947-48, making his Football League debut against Doncaster Rovers at Upton Park which resulted in a victory by a 2-1 scoreline on the 24 January 1948. His one other appearance in the claret-and-blue came 5 years later in the Essex Professional Cup against Colchester United at Layer Road in which he scored in the 3-2 victory on the 13 November 1952. He turned his attention to coaching Hammers' junior sides and became coach of Harwich & Parkeston F.C. in 1954. Spent over a decade as the Essex club's manager until his untimely death in 1969.

12 June 1921

GEORGE DICK (1948-1949) Born this day Torphichen, Scotland

George White Dick was signed by Charlie Paynter from the then star-studded Blackpool in an attempt to solve a goalscoring problem. A member of the Tangerines' Cup Final side of 1948, making his first appearance in the claret-and-blue against Luton Town at Upton Park in a 0-1 defeat on the 30 October 1948. He went on to record another 14 outings that season, but the hoped-for goals didn't materialise, indeed it was against Leeds United on 27th December before he scored his only goal for West Ham in the 3-1 victory at Elland Road. He later regained his goalscoring touch on his travels with Carlisle United, 52 appearances and 23 goals, Stockport County 25 starts and 12 goals and finally Workington recording 16 strikes in 56 games. Dick also coached on the continent with Racing Club Ghent (1953-1955), Boldklubben and Galatasaray. George tragically died in a motor accident in Carlisle September 1960.

1919-20 First XI Season 1920-21 1921-22 First XI