1930-31 Football League : First Division

Manager: Syd King

West Ham United

1930-31

The Hammers got off to a blistering start as nine goals were scored in home wins against Huddersfield Town and Liverpool. The Merseysiders crashed 7–0 to a rampant West Ham led by Vic Watson in sparkling form. After two goals against Huddersfield he scored four against Liverpool. The early promise was soon shattered as five days later the Hammers crashed 6–1 at Aston Villa and two days after that were beaten 3–0 at home by Middlesbrough. With Watson scoring in the next three games it was a huge blow when he got injured at Newcastle and missed the next four months of the season. In his absence Viv Gibbins did well and in October he was on hand to hit a hat-trick against Manchester United in a 5–1 home victory. Following that game there was a run of nine games unbeaten, ended by a 6–1 defeat at Sunderland. In early January Boleyn Ground customers were treated to ten goals as the Hammers and Aston Villa drew 5–5.

A week later the FA Cup hopes faded as Chelsea won 3–1 in a third-round tie at Upton Park. Flying winger Jimmy Ruffell scored a hat-trick against Grimsby Town but Grimsby went away with the points after winning 4–3.This was the start of a very poor run as the Hammers won only one game in the next ten fixtures; a disappointing final placing of eighteenth was achieved.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 1 (Watson 2) 30 August 1930 Att: 18,023

Dixon Earl Cox Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

WILF JAMES makes his Hammers debut against HUDDERSFIELD TOWN at Upton Park

LIVERPOOL : Football League First Division

Upton Park 7- 0 (Watson 4, Earle 2, James) 1 September 1930 Att: 11,682

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

West Ham United recorded an incredible 7-0 win over Liverpool. The Hammers defeated the Reds 4-1 at the Boleyn Ground the previous season, and they would go on to even better that result with a ruthless display. Vic Watson scored four of the goals and would go on to notch 14 in only 18 league games this season. Stan Earle also got in on the act with two goals, while Wilfred James' strike completed the Hammers' tally of seven.

ASTON VILLA : Football League First Division

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Villa Park 1 - 6 (Watson) 6 September 1930 Att: 35,897

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

MIDDLESBROUGH : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 3 8 September 1930 Att: 13,597

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

CHELSEA : Football League First Division

Upton Park 4 - 1 (Watson 2, Earle, James 13 September 1930 Att: 31,334

Hufton Earl Barrett Collins St Pier Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

MIDDLESBROUGH : Football League First Division

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Ayresome Park 2 - 2 (James, Watson) 17 September 1930 Att: 14,778

Hufton Earl Barrett Collins St Pier Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Football League First Division

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St James' Park 2 - 4 (Earle, Watson) 20 September 1930 Att: 18,971

Hufton Earl Cox Collins St Pier Cadwell Yews Earle Watson James Ruffell

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 3 - 3 (Gibbins, James, Watson) 27 September 1930 Att: 26,487

Hufton Earl Barrett Collins St Pier Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

GRIMSBY TOWN : Football League First Division

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Blundell Park 0 - 4 4 October 1930 Att: 14,423

Hufton Earl Barrett Collins St Pier Cadwell Evans Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

ARTHUR EVANS makes his Hammers debut against GRIMSBY TOWN at Blundell Park

MANCHESTER UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 5 - 1 (Gibbins 3, Barrett, Ruffell 11 October 1930 Att: 20,003

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Football League First Division

Upton Park 4 - 3 (Yews 2, Gibbins, Ruffell) 18 October 1930 Att: 22,114

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

Image courtesy of Tim Parish

ARSENAL : Football League First Division

Highbury 1 - 1 (Pollard) 25 October 1930 Att: 51,918

Dixon Earl Wade Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle James Pollard Ruffell

Image courtesy of Andrew Conway

SHEFFIELD UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 4 - 1 (Gibbins 2, Barrett, Earle) 1 November 1930 Att: 19,740

Dixon Earl Wade Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

5 November 1930

JIM BARRETT Jnr. (1949-1954) Born this day West Ham, London

James Guy “Jim” Barrett was the son of the the illustrious "Big" Jim Barrett. Junior made a good impression at the Boleyn in the early fifties, making his Hammers debut in the 0-2 defeat at the hands of Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on the 22nd April 1950. Sold for a substantial fee to Nottingham Forest at Christmas 1954, he was the Midlanders' top scorer in 1956-57 and played a big part in their rise to the First Division. After a short spell with Birmingham City he returned to the fold as a player-manager of Hammers "A" team until 1968, when he left again to serve under another ex-Hammer Ben Fenton at Millwall.

Died: 20 October 2014 (aged 83)

BIRMINGHAM : Football League First Division

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St Andrews 2 - 0 (Yews 2) 8 November 1930 Att: 20,171

Dixon Earl Wade Norris Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

LEEDS UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Norris 15 November 1930 Att: 16,612

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Norris James Ruffell

DERBY COUNTY : Football League First Division

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Baseball Ground 1 - 1 (Gibbins) 22 November 1930 Att: 12,092

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Norris Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

LEICESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Ruffell 2) 29 November 1930 Att: 17,670

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Norris Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

SHEFFIELD UNITED : Football League First Division

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Bramall Lane 3 - 1 (Earle, Gibbins, Ruffell) 6 December 1930 Att: 12,115

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

8 December 1930

GEOFF HALLAS (1954-1955) Born this day Lydgate, Oldham

Promising young full-back who had his career tragically terminated when he developed eye trouble. Signed from Warminster Town in March 1954, and made the first of his three appearances in the 2-1 victory over Leeds United at Upton Park on the 5 March 1955 along with Billy Dare. He was granted a joint testimonial by the club along with Brian Moore, who suffered a similar fate.

MANCHESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Ruffell 2) 13 December 1930 Att: 19,875

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Norris Cadwell Yews Earle Barrett James Ruffell

SUNDERLAND : Football League First Division

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Roker Park 1 - 6 (Gibbins) 20 December 1930 Att: 20,846

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins James Ruffell

PORTSMOUTH : Football League First Division

Upton Park 4 - 3 (Gibbins 2, James, Norris) 25 December 1930 Att: 27,718

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Gibbins James Harris Norris

JIM HARRIS makes his Hammers debut against PORTSMOUTH at Upton Park

PORTSMOUTH : Football League First Division

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Fratton Park 0 - 2 26 December 1930 Att: 25,442

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Robson Gibbins James Harris

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : Football League First Division

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Leeds Road 0 - 2 27 December 1930 Att: 13,830

Dixon Earl Wade Collins Barrett Cadwell Yews Earle Gibbins Norris Harris

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