1929-30 Football League : First Division

Manager: Syd King

West Ham United

1929-30

Ten goals were scored in the first two home games as both Middlesbrough and Newcastle United conceded five. New signing inside-left John Ball came from Bury and scored twice in both matches. He was on form and went on to score eight goals in his first ten games. Centre-forward Vic Watson was also prolific as he scored twice in the 3–1 victory at Leeds United and grabbed a hat-trick in a 5–2 home win against Aston Villa in early December. Huddersfield Town won both games over the Christmas period and these came in a run of five successive defeats.

There was a comfortable 4–0 home win against Notts County in the FA Cup, and the next round saw another win, 4–1 against Leeds United, Vic Watson scoring all four goals. Round five brought another home tie, with local rivals Millwall the visitors. The in-form Watson scored twice in a 4–1 victory. Sadly the cup run ended in the quarter-finals again as Arsenal won 3–0 at the Boleyn Ground. A week later at the same venue Arsenal were beaten 3–2, with that man Watson again scoring twice. To add to his goal tally he scored another hat-trick in the 3–0 home win against Leeds. How the Leeds defenders must have feared Vic Watson. Last season he scored seven league goals against them and this season he netted five league goals and four in the FA Cup.

The campaign ended with three home victories and a good 3–2 win at Aston Villa, where Watson yet again claimed a hat-trick. A position of seventh in the table was a vast improvement and was due to the amazing scoring of Vic Watson, who scored 42 league goals and eight in the FA Cup.

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Football League First Division

Ewood Park 3 - 3 (Ball, Watson, Jones [og]) 31 August 1929 Att: 21,817

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Hufton Wade W. Earl Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

West Ham United displayed excellent form in their opening League- match with the Rovers at Blackburn, and but for some defensive weakness towards the end of the game they would have extracted the full points from the home team instead of drawing at three goals each. During three parts of the game they played such good football that with about 20 minutes left, they led by three goals to one, but the Rovers rallied fiercely, and the Hammers' defenders wavered, allowing the home team to draw level. Nevertheless, it was an excellent performance to gain a point on a ground where they have invariably been defeated.

WILLIAM WADE and JOHN BALL both make their Hammers debut against BLACKBURN ROVERS at Ewood Park

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football League First Division

St Andrews 2 - 4 (Watson 2) 4 September 1929 Att: 13,301

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Hufton

Wade W.

Earl

Collins

Barrett

Cadwell

Yews

Earle

Watson

Ball

Ruffell

West Ham, although beaten by Birmingham 4-2 at St. Andrew's, played excellent football and provided the home side with a keen struggle. The football throughout was of high quality, and West Ham held their own for three parts of the game. Bradford headed a fine goal for Birmingham ten minutes from the commencement, but five minutes later West Ham drew level, when a quick passing movement caught the home defence napping, and Watson shot the ball over the goalkeeper's head. Bradford, however, restored the lead for Birmingham after Hufton had repelled a shot from Bond, but once again Watson brought the scores level, when he beat the defence and scored almost from the goal line. Bradford, who was in good form for Birmingham, scored a third goal for them, and Barkas converted a penalty kick given against Wade to give the home side the victory in a capital game

MIDDLESBROUGH : Football League First Division

Upton Park

5 - 3 (Ball 2, Ruffell 2 [1 pen], Watson)

7 September 1929

Att: 22,760

Hufton

Wade W.

Earl

Collins

Barrett

Cadwel

lYews

Earle

Watson

Ball

Ruffell

Jim Barrett making an interception

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 5 - 1 (Ball 2, Yews 2, Watson) 9 September 1929 Att: 15,536

Hufton Wade W. Earl Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

LIVERPOOL : Football League First Division

Anfield 1 - 3 (Watson) 14 September 1929 Att: 29,087

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Hufton Wade W. Earl Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Pollard Ruffell

WALTER POLLARD makes his Hammers debut against LIVERPOOL at Anfield

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 1 16 September 1929 Att: 13,265

Hufton Wade W. Earl Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

19 September 1929

PETER CHISWICK (1954-1956) Born this day Plaistow, Essex

This fine goalkeeper signed professional forms for West Ham United in July 1947 after he had appeared as an amateur with Colchester United as well as the Hammers. Peter Chiswick his initial debut against Leyton Orient in the Essex Professional Cup at Upton Park which ended 1-1 on the 23 April 1953. He had to wait until the 6 February 1954 before making his League baptism at home to Leeds United in a 5-2 victory. His ten-years at the Boleyn were partially interrupted by National Service. Gillingham made an offer to us when he was placed on the transfer-list, and he joined the Third Division (South) club down in Kent in July 1956. He later joined the ever-growing colony of ex-Hammers under Almer Hall at Southern League Margate, before being appointed manager-coach to Barking F.C. where his experience as a P.T. teacher (in the R.A.F.) and a fully-qualified F.A. coach stood him in good stead.

20 September 1929

BILL NELSON (1950-1955) Born this day Silvertown, London

Bill Nelson made his initial Hammers debut along with Tommy Southren, Victor Niblett and Frank O'Farrell in the 2-1 victory over Colchester United at Upton Park in the Essex Professional Cup 28 September 1950. Although he made only two Second Division appearances for Hammers, the first in which he was a member of the team which recorded a rare 2-1 victory against Liverpool in their Anfield fortress on the 4th September 1954, and the other a 1-1 draw, two days later at Upton Park against Hull City. Transferred to London rivals Queens Park Rangers in 1955 for an initially agreed fee of £700, reduced to £600. Nelson later moved to Southern League outfit Guildford City.

DERBY COUNTY : Football League First Division

Upton Park

2 - 0 (Barrett, Ruffell)

21 September 1929

Att: 26,601

Hufton

Hodgson

Earl

Collins

Barrett

Cadwell

Wood

Earle

Watson

Ball

Ruffell

JIM WOOD makes his Hammers debut against DERBY COUNTY at Upton Park

25 September 1929

JOHN CAMPBELL joins CLAPTON ORIENT

West Ham United career: (1923-1929), Appearances: 29, Goals: 11

MANCHESTER UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 1 (Ball, Watson) 28 September 1929 Att: 20,695

Hufton Hodgson Earl Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

GRIMSBY TOWN : Football League First Division

Blundell Park 2 - 2 (Ball, Watson) 5 October 1929 Att: 15,542

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Hufton Hodgson Earl Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

LEICESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Watson) 12 October 1929 Att: 23,525

Hufton Wade W. Earl St Pier Barrett Cox Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

WALLY ST PIER makes his Hammers debut against LEICESTER CITY at Upton Park

CRYSTAL PALACE : London Challenge Cup (First Round)

Selhurst Park 2 - 2 (Ruffell, Watson) 14 October 1929

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Hufton Hodgson Earl St Pier Barrett Norrington Yews Robson Watson Pollard Ruffell

MANCHESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Maine Road 3 - 4 (Ball, Ruffell, Yews) 19 October 1929 Att: 34,568

Hufton Earl Cox St Pier Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

CRYSTAL PALACE : London Challenge Cup (First Round Replay)

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Ball, Watson) 21 October 1929

Hufton Earl Cox St Pier Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

PORTSMOUTH : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 1 26 October 1929 Att: 20,493

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

ARSENAL : Football League First Division

Highbury 1 - 0 (Watson) 2 November 1929 Att: 44,828

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

Image courtesy of Andrew Conway

THAMES : London Challenge Cup (Second Round)

Upton Park 6 - 1 (Watson 4, Ball, Ruffell) 4 November 1929

Hufton Cox Earl Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Ball Ruffell

EVERTON : Football League First Division

Upton Park 3 - 1 (Ruffell 2, Watson) 9 November 1929 Att: 24,801

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

LEEDS UNITED : Football League First Division

Elland Road 3 - 1 (Watson 2, Milburn [og]) 16 November 1929 Att: 18,582

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Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

MILLWALL : London Challenge Cup (Third Round)

The Den 1 - 2 (Barrett) 18 November 1929

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Dixon Earl Cox Norris St Pier Cadwell Yews Barrett Barter Robson Wood

MATCH ABANDONED

Fog 71mins : rearranged for 25 November 1929

20 November 1929

JAMES RUFFELL 6th ENGLAND cap

WALES Home Championship Stamford Bridge, London 6-0

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Watson) 23 November 1929 Att: 18,753

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

MILLWALL : London Challenge Cup (Third Round)

The Den 4 - 2 (Yews 2, Barter, Norris) 25 November 1929

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Dixon Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Barter Robson Watson

BURNLEY : Football League First Division

Turf Moor 1 - 1 (Barrett) 30 November 1929 Att: 16,640

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Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Wood

SUNDERLAND : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Watson) 7 December 1929 Att: 16,456

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

BOLTON WANDERERS : Football League First Division

Burnden Park 1 - 4 (Watson) 14 December 1929 Att: 16,456

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Hufton Earl Cox Norris St Pier Barrett Yews Earle Watson Gibbins Ruffell

ASTON VILLA : Football League First Division

Upton Park 5 - 2 (Watson 3, Gibbins, Ruffell) 21 December 1929 Att: 14,624

Hufton Earl Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Robson Watson Gibbins Ruffell

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 3 (Gibbins, Watson) 25 December 1929 Att: 28,390

Hufton Wade W. Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Robson Watson Gibbins Ruffell

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : Football League First Division

Leeds Road 0 - 3 26 December 1929 Att: 21,657

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Hufton Wade W. Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Robson Watson Gibbins Ruffell

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 3 (Ruffell, Watson) 28 December 1929 Att: 23,901

Hufton Hodgson Cox Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Robson Watson Ball Ruffell

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