1961-62 Friendlies

PUBLIC PRACTICE MATCH :

Club Colours v. Whites

Upton Park

9 - 4

10 August 1961

Club Colors:

(Britt 3, Barrett 2, Harris 2, Harvey, Lyall)

Whites:

(Brett 2, Bovington [og], Woodley)

CLUB COLOURS:

Rhodes

Bovington

Lyall

Peters

Lansdowne

Hurst

Bennett

Barrett

Britt

Harris A.

Harvey

WHITES:

Herbert

Wilson W. (Ford)

Smith T.

Dawkins (Charles)

Bickles

Charles (Howe)

Woodley

Boyce

Beesley

Brett

Dear

CHARLTON ATHLETIC :

Public Practice Match

Upton Park

4 - 3 (Woosnam 2, Dick, Sealey)

14 August 1961

Att: 7,711

Leslie

Kirkup

Bond

Malcolm

Brown

Moore

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Dick

Musgrove

West Ham United and Charlton took advantage of the new Football Association ruling which allows clubs to play each in these games as a variation from the previous "Club Colours v. Whites" contests.

The public practice match attracted a 7,711 attendance to Upton Park. We fielded our prospective First XI and Charlton Athletic made three changes at half-time in their provisional League line-up.

The Athletic equalised through White in the tenth minute after John Dick had put the Hammers in front (five minutes), but Phil Woosnam (15 mins) and Alan Sealey (42 mins) made it 3-1 before Kinsey scored Charlton's second (43 mins). Andy Malcolm equalised for the visitors with an "own goal" seven minutes after the restart, but with six minutes to go Phil Woosnam hit a hard shot with his left foot on the turn to bring us a 4-3 victory.

BEXLEYHEATH & WELLING COLTS : Ted Fenton

Image courtesy of Nigel Turner

Bexleyheath

4 - 2 (Dear 2, Dryden, [og])

21 August 1961

Peters

Wilson W.

Smith T.

Dawkins

Bickles

Charles

Dear

Starkey

Britt

Bennett

Dryden

BEDFORD TOWN : Official Switching on Floodlit Match

The Eyrie

2 - 1 (Sealey 2)

18 October 1961

Att: 3,658

Leslie

Kirkup

Bond

Malcolm

Brown

Moore

Crawford

Brett

Sealey

Dick

Musgrove

At the invitation of Bedford Town F.C. we visited The Eyrie to provide the opposition on the occasion of the inauguration of their new floodlights. Unfortunately support for te game was much lower than anticipated, and only 3,658 were present to see our First XI win by 2-1

WEST HAM UNITED v. ENGLAND (Behind Closed Doors)

Ardent West Ham fans found that cracks in the wooden stand provided excellent peep holes

Upton Park

0 - 2

23 October 1961

Leslie, Kirkup, Bond, Malcolm, Brown, Moore, Crawford, Woosnam, Sealey, Hurst, Musgrove

England team manager Walter Winterbottom had taken unusually strict precautions to keep their practice game private but Portuguese manager Fernandes Peyroteo implanted himself in the West Ham directors' box to watch what was to have been a top-secret England tactics session ahead of their World Cup Qualifier at Wembley Stadium two days later.

West Ham had their full first team out, with the exception of Geoff Hurst who was deputising at inside-left for the injured John Dick.

England practised tactical switches as the England manager shouted instructions from the side-lines.

But the attack made little impression against an excellent the excellent covering of a West Ham defence that rates with the best in the First Division.

World Cup Qualifier (World Cup 62 Qualifying Group 6)

Wembley Stadium, London 25th October 1961

England 2 - 0 Portugal

MALMO F.F. (Sweden)

Upton Park

4 - 0 (Dick 2, Scott, Sealey)

30 October 1961

Leslie

Kirkup

Bond

Moore

Brown

Hurst

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Dick

Crawford

The Fog hinders Malmo

The intervention of fog spoiled our friendly match against Malmo F.F. which was played at Upton Park on October 30th. It was not foggy during the actual game, but the mist which stopped air travel from the Continent kept away several visiting players (and referee Ken Aston who had been with the Swedish international party in Switzerland for an international match on the Sunday.

Some arrived about ten minutes before the kick-off, but it was a somewhat depleted team which faced us with several players out of ths positions in which they were appearing on the programme. We regret the fact that the advertised line-up could not take the field, but nevertheless there were still six internationals in the team which opposed us.

Of the game there is little to be said except that we got three goals between the 37th and 40th minutes, and another midway through the second half for a 4-0 victory which we were not greatly extended to gain.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (SEC League Friendly)

(Away) 3 - 1 (Bennett, Dryden, Gray) 18 November 1961

Herbert, Waddington, Burnett, Lee, White, Howe, Dryden, Bennett, Gray, Harris, Murphy

NO PROGRAMME ISSUED

There was no League game arranged for our Under-18's last Saturday, so we fixed a friendly with Brighton & Hove Albion Colts away from home. The Seasiders fielded their full Youth Team and it was generally expected that our XI might find it hard going, especially as there were newcomers in the side; however both Paddy Murphy and Don Burnett made encouraging debuts, and but for some excellent goalkeeping we would have won by a bigger margin than 3-1. A cleverly-taken free-kick by Peter Bennett opened the scoring after 27 minutes and the elusive John Dryden scored an opportunist goal from about 20 yards five minutes after the interval; Peter Gray got our third.

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

(Away)

3 - 0 (Sealey 2, Woosnam)

6 December 1961

Rhodes, Presland, Burkett, Hugo, Lansdowne, Lyall, Woodley, Sealey, Woosnam, Brett, Scott

SORRY NO IMAGE

A Visit to the 'Varsity We were invited to provide the opposition to Cambridge University at the University Ground on Wednesday 6th December, three days prior to the University Match at Wembley Stadium. A pleasant but not-too-strenuous game ended in a 3-0 win for the Hammers with goals by Alan Sealey (2) and Phil Woosnam. The Cantabs were very pleased with their " tune up," which evidently proved of some use to them, for they beat the Dark Blues by 2-0 in their big match of the season. We certainly enjoyed the trip as well.

SOUTHAMPTON

The Dell

6 - 2 (Tindall 3, Musgrove 2, Scott)

26 January 1962

Leslie

Kirkup

Bond

Bovington

Brown

Moore

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Tindall

Musgrove

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

Goldstone Ground

1 - 3 (Woosnam)

27 January 1962

Leslie

Kirkup

Bond

Bovington

Brown

Moore

Scott

Woosnam

Sealey

Tindall

Musgrove

READING

Elm Park

2 - 4 (Crawford 2)

5 March 1962

Leslie

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Moore

Sealey

Woosnam

Tindall

Dick

Crawford

At the invitation of Reading F.C. we visited their Elm Park Ground for a friendly fixture on Monday 5th March. Unfortunately the evening was foggy and the gate was kept down to a mere 3,172.

There was a goalless first half, but scoring started soon after the resumption. Two goals by Ian Crawford gave us what seemed to be a commanding lead, but the home side came back in great style to equalise through Wesley Maugham and Dennis Allen; the 22-year-old Maugham (a recent acquisition from Southampton) gave a splendid performance in the late stages and went on to complete his hat-trick for the Biscuitmen to win by 4-2.

GUILDFORD CITY

Josephs Road

1 - 1 (Hugo)

14th April 1962

Rhodes

Burkett

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Dear

Boyce

Beesley

Sissons

Hugo

Reserves' Friendly at Guildford

As they were without a Football Combination fixture last Saturday we arranged a friendly match for our Reserve Team against Guildford City's Southern League line-up at the Josephs Road ground.

After a goalless first half Roger Hugo put us in the lead, but although Brian Rhodes saved a penalty the City got an equaliser before the finish. On the balance of play we looked far superior, but a lack of finish frittered away our chance of securing a success.

TSV MARL-HULS (West Germany)

Upton Park

4 - 2

27 April 1962

West German Youth Club at Upton Park

During the after-match celebrations of last season's International Youth Tournament in West Germany {which our Colts succeeded in winning) we agreed to make every effort to arrange to play a match in England against the Marl-Huls club who made an excellent job of organising the Tournament. A party from Marl-Huls has visited England on a number of previous occasions, and has played against the Youth Teams of Brighton & Hove Albion and other South Coast clubs. They are making a similar tour this season, so we are able to fulfil our promise. Prices of admission will be as for Reserve Team games and the "all pay" rule will operate. The usual seats of Season Ticket Holders will be retained far their use up till a quarter-of-an-hour before kick-oft time.

BOURNEMOUTH & BOSCOMBE ATHLETIC : Tommy Godwin Testimonial

Dean Court

5 - 2 (Musgrove 2, Crawford, Woosnam, Byrne)

1 May 1962

Grainger

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Brown

Moore

Crawford

Woosnam

Sealey

Bryne

Musgrove

ILFORD : 80th Anniversay Good Neighbours Match

Lynn Road Ground

1 - 3 (Peters)

3 May 1962

Att: 3,500

Dickie (Grainger)

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Brown

Peters

Crawford

Beesley

Sealey

Musgrove

Scott

RAINHAM TOWN : Deri Stephens Memorial Trophy

Deri Park

8 - 1 (Scott 2, Beesley 2, Boyce, Peters, Bovington, Musgrove)

9 May 1962

Dickie

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Brown

Peters

Scott

Boyce

Beesley

Sealey

Musgrove

Blauw-Wit Youth Tournament

Netherlands 9 - 11 June

A.S.V. Blauw-Wit Youth Tournament

Olympisch Stadion

Eddie Chapman gives the trophy a polish

Our Colts were invited to participate in an International Youth Tournament during the Whitsun period ; this is organised by the well-known Dutch club Blau-Wit of Amsterdam, and several Continental sides will compete. The party leaves for Amsterdam on 6th June, arrives on 7th June and returns on 12th June.

Sheffield United, Kobenhavn, Duisburg, Dusseldorf B.V.04, Patro Eijsden, Feijenooed, PSV, Ajax and Blauw-Wit.

Summer Tour of Africa

Recorded by Mr Eddie Chapman (Secretary)

At 9.30 a.m. on the morning of Monday, June 4th a party of 4 Officials and 16 players fastened their seat belts, extinguished their cigarettes and sat poised ready for an adventurous flight to Africa.

After leaving London Airport in what appeared no time at all, the English coast was far behind and we were soon looking down on Paris, the Swiss Alps, along the West coast of Italy right across the Mediterranean to Libya and the Comet touched down at Benghazi. The heat was matched only by the humidity, we were experiencing a taste of winter-time in North Africa - a temperature of 93 degrees. After a forty-five minute spell we were on our way again and for some five hours we were looking down on the Sudan, two and a half thousand miles of barren waste, endless miles of sand. The thought raced across my mind and instantly dismissed - just supposition, but there were such things as forced landings!

The equator - the imaginary line around the earth equidistant from the Poles - that was my school teaching, and our next call was to be metaphorically speaking, one that gave us the opportunity to stand on that line - Entebbe, in Uganda. It was 7.30 p.m. and dark, very dark, for summer or winter in Africa it does not stay light after about 7 p.m. The plane refuelled again, in fact, we all refuelled and we were on our way again. We now took advantage of the opportunity of a "nap" and we climbed to 34,000 feet and travelling at 600 m.p.h. witnessed the spectacle of a couple of thunderstorms below us. We sped on truly into darkest Africa but in an atmosphere of serenity until 2 hours later we descended on to Nairobi. We were scheduled to spend the night in Kenya and after the normal formalities were subsequently escorted to the Norfolk Hotel some 10 miles from Nairobi Airport. Our party were now experiencing some of Africa's " creepy" things and flying insects but soon settled to a reasonably good night's sleep. At 10 am. on the morning of 5th June we were airborne again on a Canadair Aircraft to call in at Mombassa in Tanganyika and in Dar-es-Salaam in Somaliland From there we were on our way to our first main Headquarters in Blan-tyre (Nyasaland) where our first match was to be played. There was an intense scrutiny of our emigration papers and passports and eventually we were through Customs and greeted by a European contingent of representatives of the Nyasaland Football Association. The warmth of the reception will not be forgotten and we were very soon on our way to our Hotel where we were to spend a couple of days.

NYASALAND

Image courtesy of Simon Lord

Blantyre 4 - 0 (Dick 2, Byrne, Sealey) 6 June 1962

Leslie Bond Lyall Bovington Lansdowne Peters Scott Byrne Sealey Dick Crawford (Musgrove)

On Wednesday the sixth of June we played our first match in Africa and after a goal-less first half, found our land legs and romped home comfortable winners by 4 goals to nil. An enjoyable evening was spent afterwards and the next day we were on our way again.

We arrived at Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia at 2.15 p.m. on 7th June and again the welcome was heartwarming. The temperature was 75 degrees - quite cool by African standards. After an evening get-together we retired early. The following day our players did some training and afterwards visited the Rhodesian and Nyasaland Tobacco factory having previously been to the tobacco sales. In the afternoon we were taken, to a private swimming pool as all public swimming pools are closed during the winter time.

The evening's entertainment provided a get-together and I met someone you supporters might remember, Mr. John Fraser a Season Ticket holder 5 years ago in "C" Block. The next hour was spent reminiscing. Saturday was not particularly eventful - apart from some of our party's Television baptism on the Rhodesian T.V.

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Glamis Ground, Salisbury 5 - 0 (Musgrove 4, Byrne) 10 June 1962

Leslie Bond Burkett Bovington Brown Peters Crawford Boyce Byrne Dick Musgrove

Our second match was against Southern Rhodesia in Salisbury and the team hit top form to win a grand 5-0 victory. We were introduced before the match to the High Commissioner of South Africa, the Governor General of Southern Rhodesia, Lord Alport and Sir Roy Walenski.

EVENING STANDARD NEWSPAPER : RHODESIA

Match report and photograph images courtesy of Paul Ford

Bulawayo shield image courtesy of Paul Ford

On Monday, 11th June we boarded a Viscount and journeyed to Bulawayo. After the welcome ceremony we prepared ourselves for our visit to the famous Victoria Falls. We boarded the night train to the Falls which were so named after Queen Victoria and discovered by David Livingstone in the middle of the nineteenth century. It was a very warm day and the view was magnificent.

Our return journey was again by night and through the Game country. We arrived back at Bulawayo and prepared for our third match of the Tour against Southern Rhodesia. The temperature was 75 and our performance was not so good as our previous meeting but we emerged winners by 3 clear goals.

SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Queens Ground, Bulawayo 3 - 0 (Sealey 2, Musgrove) 13 June 1962

Rhodes Bond Lyall Bovington Lansdowne Peters Scott Byrne Sealey Dick Musgrove

We were on the plane again early next morning — destination Johannesburg where we were to board a Pan American Aircraft to Ghana. We were surprised on touch down in Johannesburg to experience a temperature of 40 degrees. We stayed for a couple of hours, had a meal at the Airport and were then on our way to Ghana.

The route surprised us for due to some V.I.P.'s at Nigerian Ministerial level we were on our way back to Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia. There was to be an important conference there and the pilot's route was diverted. On leaving Salisbury our next stop was Leopoldville. We left the plane for what we thought a scheduled 45 minutes. We had difficulty in getting on the plane again, the Airport was guarded and passengers alighting at Leopoldville were searched. As we were in transit we escaped the interrogation. When we eventually reached the plane there was a further hold up while the interior was sprayed as mosquitoes swarmed the aircraft. We ultimately took off 3 hours later.

At 1.30 a.m. we arrived in Accra via Lagos and we were soon to learn that the 10 days arranged for our stay seemed an eternity. I do not intend to dwell on the unfortunate experiences which we encountered in Ghana in this article but suffice to say that the reception left much to be desired. The first notable feature when we reached the Hotel was the size of the lizards we were to live with, at least they would apparently be very much in evidence, these fellows were a foot long, a mass of colours and initially very unpopular with our party but we soon acclimatized ourselves to them and the other forms of tropical creatures.

Our evenings in Ghana were spent in the precincts of the Hotel in the main watching the Ghanian dances and seeing how the other half of the world lives. We were in the rainy season of West Africa—there was little sun but the climate was "sticky," the rain incessant and falling in " buckets,"

HEARTS of OAKS

Accra 4 - 1 (Dick 2, Byrne, Crawford) 17 June 1962

Leslie, Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown, Peters, Crawford, Boyce, Byrne, Dick, Musgrove

SORRY NO IMAGE

Our first game was against the League Champions, Hearts of Oak. We conceded our first goal of the Tour - a penalty but we were not flattered by our 4-1 victory.

John Dick 2, Johnny Byrne and Ian Crawford were our scorers.

The following morning was overcast and rain threatened again but it was not until the late afternoon that the " heavens opened." Our evening was spent at the Sergeants' Mess of the R.A.F. and Royal Engineers and a most enjoyable evening was spent, I particularly reminisced having spent a number of war time years in the Royal Engineers.

The next day we left by road to Kumasi in the Northern Region of Ghana and the 5 hour journey was probably the most uncomfortable we had spent. We passed through some thirty villages and captured a glimpse of the African life in the remote areas of Ghana. Our ultimate destination was located and our Hotel was reasonably comfortable but it was situated amongst poverty. We retired early.

Our second day in Kumasi commenced with a visit to a local school and the Headmaster entertained us later in his home. We were introduced In turn to the boys and our players talked to groups and answered their football questions.

ASHANTI KOTOKO

Kumasi 3 - 0 (Dick 2, Boyce) 20 June 1962

Leslie, Bond, Lyall, Bovington, Lansdowne, Peters, Scott (Sealey), Sealey (Boyce), Byrne, Dick, Crawford

SORRY NO IMAGE

Our opponents in the afternoon were Ashanti Kotoko—in early days the Ashanti tribe were probably the most feared of all on the West coast of Africa. At half-time no goals were scored and at the start of the second half the whole of the Kotoko team released handkerchiefs which were tied around their necks and waved them in the air to the accompaniment of a tribal war cry which was well received by the mass of African spectators and to the amusement of the sprinkling of Europeans who counter attacked with a chorus of "Bubbles." This was encouragement indeed and our lads - ran out victors by 3-0, two from John Dick and one from Ronnie Boyce.

Our evening was the brightest spent in this part of the world — the European Kumasi Club were our hosts and a successful climax to our busy day was reached.

Our return to Accra on Thursday, 21st June took another 5 hours and over bumpy roads and through a very long stretch of the dense forests in humid conditions. We arrived at our Hotel tired and hungry. At this stage of the tour, Mel Musgrove, John Lyall and Bill Lansdowne had all had a bout of Gastro Enteritis - it was now my turn and I spent most of a day in bed feeling very sorry for myself. The next day was uneventful and the boys snatched a little sun bathing on the beach of Accra amid the endless stretch of coconut trees. In, the evening we were entertained at the High Commissioners residence.

We were now in the twilight of our Tour of the African continent and our last match was to be played against the unofficial National team known as Real Rubublikans.

REAL REPUBLIKANS

Accra 1 - 1 (Musgrove) 24 June 1962

Leslie, Brown, Peters, Bovington (Sealey), Lansdowne, Sealey, Crawford (Scott), Boyce, Byrne, Dick, Musgrove

SORRY NO IMAGE

It was a very hot day, condition much more suited to the Ghanians. We were more extended than hitherto in this match and drew 1-1. Mal Musgrove being our scorer. Full marks to the referee in this match, he handled the game expertly.

The farewell dinner was held at the Ambassador Hotel - a fine building - and we were now looking forward to our return journey the following day which was not to be without incidents. After spending nearly 12 hours in Lagos we finally boarded a plane. We felt all was well again until engine trouble was detected after a short cruising up the run-way. A further hour was lost amidst the night air and the opportunity to experience the weird flying and creeping insects was extended not that this is anything to be admired in this hot, sticky atmosphere.

The announcement at last re-echoed through the Airport - passengers for London via Lisbon were called for and a sigh of relief was evidence enough that we were again airborne and on our way home.

We slept quite well throughout the night and at 6 a.m. landed at Lisbon. Within the hour the last lap of our journey had commenced and at 9.45 a.m. on Tuesday, 26th June we touched down at London Airport and were very appreciative indeed of the opportunity that had been given to us to gain a wealth of experience during our three weeks tour of that vast continent of Africa.

Other Matches Played at the Boleyn Ground

ESSEX SCHOOLS XI v. ENGLISH SCHOOLS FA XI : 40th

Image courtesy of Nigel Turner

Upton Park

4 - 3 (Bowen 2 [1 pen], Storrar, Huke)

12 March 1962

Essex Schools XI Team:

G. Gevaux (Ho),

B. James (Sd),

T. Leaver (Sd),

M. Bowen (Co),

J. Edwards (Co),

A. Watson (EH),

D. BOND (Ww),

A. Herbage (L),

R. Storrar (Tk),

K. West (WH),

R. Huke (F).

Reserves:

J. Bellett (EH),

M. Loach (Ww),

A. Neal (I)

WEST HAM BOYS v. EAST HAM BOYS : Directors Cup

Upton Park

? - ?

25 April 1962

1960-61 Friendlies Season 1961-62 1962-63 Friendlies