1960-61 Friendlies

From the late 1920s right through to the 1963-64 season the Hammers held Public Practice Matches at Upton Park before the start of each season. The 'Pipe-opener' served a two-fold purpose. First and foremost it gave the opportunity to raise funds for local and other deserving charities. The second so that fans can see the preliminaries to the upcoming campaign. The occasion was also used to run the rule over players who are "on trial" for possible places in the senior team.

Although the accent on "practice without injury" during these games it is always a natural thing for the players to "take it easy" when going into tackles, but this is usually compensated for by more goals scored.

The games are normally billed as REDS v. BLUES, or CLUB COLOURS v. WHITES and CLUB COLOURS v. BLUES. ALL of these Practice Match programmes from the period are considered RARE. The one above is particularly hard to obtain, due to the fact the match was due to be played on a Thursday evening and was Cancelled at the last moment.

FIRST PRACTICE MATCH

Club Colours v. Whites

Upton Park

11 August 1960

MATCH CANCELLED

Rain : not rearranged

SECOND PRACTICE MATCH

Club Colours v. Whites

Upton Park

6 - 1

13 August 1960

CLUB COLOURS:

(Musgrove 2, Dick, Dunmore, [og] 2)

Rhodes, Bond, Cantwell, Malcolm, Brown, Moore, Grice, Woosnam, Dunmore, Dick, Musgrove

WHITES:

(Smillie)

Shearing, Kirkup, Lyall, Bovington, Lansdowne, Hurst, Woodley, Cartwright (Boyce), Beesley, Smillie, Dear

BEXLEYHEATH & WELLING COLTS : Ted Fenton Trophy

Bexleyheath

5 - 2 (Starkey 3, Hugo, Patten)

20 August 1960

Dickie, Lesurf, Busby, Presland, Bickles, Smith T., Gray, Starkey, Patten, Hugo, Lugg

John Starkey made a good start by netting a hat-trick, Roger Hugo and John Patten being our other scorers.

BASILDON TOWN

Burnt Mills Road 1 - 6 (Griffin) 3 September 1960

Cole, Butler, Sandlin, Giles, Trentham, Wooding, Faning, Lee, Griffin, White, Blakeney

SORRY NO IMAGE

LIGA DEPORTIVA ALAJEULENSE : Ernie Gregory Testimonial

Upton Park

3 - 2 (Dick, Dunmore, [og])

10 October 1960

Att: 13,500

Rhodes

Bond

Lyall

Malcolm

Brown

Moore

Grice

Woosnam

Dunmore

Dick

Musgrove

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

The opening 20 minutes saw the Hammers give a display that threatened a score of about 10-0. John Dick banged in our first goal four minutes after the kick-off, and a panicky goalkeeper's clearance rebounded from a defender into his own net for the second tally after 17 minutes' play. However, the Central Americans had by then adjusted themselves to somewhat unfamiliar conditions, and seven minutes from half-time Pearson reduced their arrears. They equalised through a clever goal by Jiminez (64 mins.), but eleven minutes later Dave Dunmore made it 3-2 for the final score.

However, the most pleasant moment of the evening's ceremonies was the appearance of Ernie Gregory on the pitch to receive an ovation from the 13,500 spectators. It was a very impressive occasion, and the Hammers' fans gave Ernie a real "Upton Park Roar" as a tribute to a grand club man. Another pleasing gesture came immediately prior to the kick-off, when each visiting player presented his "opposite number" with an L.D.A. badge as a memento of their visit to Upton Park.

FULHAM

Craven Cottage

1 - 2 (Musgrove [pen])

18 February 1961

Rhodes

Kirkup

Lyall

Malcolm

Brown

Moore

Scott

Woosnam

Obeney

Dick

Musgrove

This unfortunately proved to be a dull 90 minutes, and the 7,510 spectators saw a sedate game that had few bright patches. Mike Johnson scored twice for Fulham (6 and 48 minutes) and Malcolm Musgrove got our only counter from a penalty in the 20th minute.

ENGLAND XI PRACTICE (Played behind Closed Doors)

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Hurst) 13 March 1961

Rhodes, Kirkup, Bond, Malcolm, Brown, Hurst, Brett, Woosnam, Obeney, Dick, Musgrove

The England team visited Upton Park on the evening of 13 March to meet our First XI in a 30-minutes-each-way training game in preparation for their next series of international games. On a dry surface both teams wore lightweight footwear, and the exchanges were at a brisk rate, neither side indulging in heavy tackling or taking undue risks. It was an interesting hour and there were several shots at goal; only one of these found the mark, Geoff Hurst netting from about 25 yards with a drive through the retreating opposing defence in the 40th minute. The game was played behind locked doors, only representatives of the press being admitted apart from the England and Hammers' officials. England XI Springett (Sheffield Wednesday), Armfield (Blackpool) McNeil (Middlesbrough), Robson (West Bromwich Albion). Swan (Sheffield Wednesday), Kay (Sheffield Wednesday), Brabrook (Chelsea), Greaves (Chelsea), Baker (Hibernian), Haynes (Fulham), Charlton (Manchester United,. Wilson (Huddersfield Town), Eastham (Arsenal) and Kitchens (Aston Villa) replaced McNeil, Greaves and Baker respectively at half-time Greaves returning in place of Haynes midway through the second half.

EX - WEST HAM UNITED XI v. T.V. ENTERTAINERS XI : Charity Football Match

Upton Park 4 - 4 (Goulden 2, Tucker 2) 17 April 1961

Gregory Tucker McGowan Taylor G. Kinsell Walker A. Woodgate Goulden Foxall Barrett Foan

Ex-West Ham United XI

Vic Keeble (Referee), Jim Barrett, George Taylor, Albert Walker, Ernie Gregory, Harry Kinsell (Linesman), Albert Foan, Danny McGowan

Fred Cooper, Stan Foxall, Ken Tucker, Len Goulden, Terry Woodgate

The Charity Match between an Ex-West Ham United XI and the TV Entertainers XI which took place at the Boleyn Ground on April 17th brought nostalgic memories to the 8,000 fans present, for they saw our "old timers" bring out plenty of clever soccer in a most entertaining evening. The result of the game was 4-4, but the main result of the occasion was the fact that about £1,000 was raised for the Greater London Fund for the Blind.

WESSEX YOUTH LEAGUE XI : Representative Match

County Ground : Swindon Town

? - ?

17 April 1961

Playing Line-up unknown

Printed team:

Dickie

Presland

Busby

Peters

Bickles

Charles

Starkey

Harris

Wedge

Hugo

Dear

EAST HAM UNITED : Woolwich Memorial Cup

Manorway 3 - 0 (Barrett 2, Bleanch) 25 April 1961

Shearing, Cripps, Burkett, Bovington, Lansdowne, Peters, Woodley, Barrett, Bleanch, Robertson, Dear

SORRY NO IMAGE

RAINHAM TOWN

Image courtesy of Chas Sturton

Deri Park 6 - 1 (Moore 2, Smillie 2, Bond, Brett) 26 April 1961

Reader Kirkup Moore Malcolm Brown Obeney Smillie Boyce Bond Brett Grice

IPSWICH TOWN : Peter Berry Testimonial

Portman Road

3 - 3 (Sealey 2, Musgrove)

2 May 1961

Rhodes

Kirkup

Bond

Malcolm

Brown

Hurst

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Brett

Musgrove

WALTHAMSTOW AVENUE

Green Pond Road

3 - 1 (Unknown)

6 May 1961

Playing Line-up unknown

Printed team:

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Malcolm

Obeney

Scott

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Musgrove

BATA SPORTS : Annual Charity Match

Image courtesy of Mark Waight

Bata Sports Ground, East Tilbury

10 - 6 (Brett 3, Woosnam 3, Musgrove 2, Scott 2)

8 May 1961

Rhodes

Kirkup

Bond

Malcolm

Brown

Moore

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Brett

Musgrove

T.S.V. Marl Huls (Germany) Youth Tournament

9 - 18 June 1961

Albert Walker (Trainer), Wally St Pier (Chief Representative), John Charles, Derek Woodley, Dave Bickles, Alan Dickie,

Eddie Presland, Reg Lesurf, Eddie Chapman (Secretary)

John Starkey, Ron Boyce, Mick Beesley, Martin Peters (Captain), Roger Hugo, Brian Dear

Player tour arrangements