1961-62 Metropolitan League "A"

The Metropolitan League is now in its thirteenth season. Three new clubs joined the league prior to the start of the season Bexleyheath & Welling Reserves, Rainham Town and Woodford Town. Four clubs resigned Luton Town 'A', Hastings United Reserves, Dunstable Town and Haywards Heath who joined the Sussex County League, the league now has a membership of seventeen clubs for this campaign.

No programmes issued for West Ham's Home League games at Spotted Dog Ground and Chadwell Heath

ARSENAL "A" : Metropolitan League

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London Colney 4 - 4 (Barrett 2, Gray, Hugo) 19 August 1961

Herbert Presland Smith A. Dawkins Bickles Charles Gray Barrett Britt Harris Hugo

The "A" Team had already gained their Metropolitan League point before the First Team and Reserves had started, for they had travelled to London Colney to meet Arsenal "A" in a morning game.

Three goals down in eight minutes, the Hammers looked like being swamped, but made a great rally to level the scores before half-time through Jimmy Barrett (2) and Roger Hugo. The Gunners regained the lead in the second half, but Peter Gray got another equaliser near the end for the game to end in a 4-4 draw and a well-merited point for our youngsters.

Two of our new apprentices, Trevor Dawkins and Martin Britt, made their debut in this game, and we had good reason to be pleased with their display, Dawkins in particular catching the eye with his keen defensive play and prompting of attacks.

TONBRIDGE RESERVES : Metropolitan Professional Cup (First Round 1st leg)

Angel Ground 2 - 9 (Dear, Wedge) 2 September 1961

Jonscher Presland Smith T. Dawkins Waddington Charles Lloyd Starkey Wedge Hugo Dear

West Ham played with 10 men after 5 minutes as goalkeeper Jonscher went off injured

WOODFORD TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Snakes Lane

4 - 0 (Gray 2, Peters, Wedge)

6 September 1961

Dickie

Davis

Smith

Peters

Bickles

Charles

Gray

Coulter

Wedge

Hugo

Dear

Our "A" Team met with mixed fortunes in two of their recent Metropolitan League games, beating Woodford Town at Snakes Lane by 4-0 on September 6th, but losing 2-8 to Oxford United Reserves at Headington three days later.

Against Woodford play went practically all one way - towards the Woodford goal - and in general our defence had little to do. This gave our half-backs the opportunity to put on pressure, and Martin Peters rounded off a splendid show with one goal; Peter Gray got two of the others and Graham Wedge the fourth. Inside-left Coulter, from Ireland, gave a useful performance.

OXFORD UNITED RESERVES : Metropolitan League

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Manor Ground

2 - 8 (Starkey, Wedge)

9 September 1961

Herbert

Presland

Davis

Dawkins

Waddington

Charles

Gray

Starkey

Wedge

Hugo

Dryden

For the visit to the Oxford ground we did not have a great deal of luck coming our way, for after hitting the woodwork three times before the homesters scored their first goal, the Hammers lost the services of Peter Gray in the 20th minute through a twisted knee and ankle. This handicap, added to the fact that we were conceding a vast amount of weight and experience, gave the opposition a big advantage, and they cashed in to the full. John Starkey and Graham Wedge were our scorers, but the best of our XI was 15-year-old John Dryden

ST NEOTS TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Shortlands

0 - 1

16 September 1961

Dickie

Davis

Smith T.

Ford

Presland

Charles

Bennett

Barrett

Wedge

Hugo

Dryden

DIDCOT TOWN : Metropolitan League

Station Road Ground

3 - 2 (Lloyd 2, Dear)

23 September 1961

Herbert

Davis

Smith T.

Malcolm

Presland

Charles

Gray

Barrett

Lloyd

Starkey

Dear

TONBRIDGE RESERVES : Metropolitan Professional Cup (First Round 2nd leg)

Angel Ground

6 - 1 (Barrett 3, Lloyd, Hugo, Dear) lost 8-10 agg

25 September 1961

Dickie

Presland

Burkett

Malcolm

Bickles

Peters

Starkey

Barrett

Lloyd

Hugo

Dear

GUILDFORD CITY RESERVES : Metropolitan League

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Joseph's Road

3 - 4 (Barrett 2, Hugo)

30 September 1961

Dickie

Presland

Davis

Malcolm

Bickles

Charles

Starkey

Barrett

Lloyd

Hugo

Dear

TONBRIDGE RESERVES : Metropolitan League Challenge Cup (Second Round)

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Angel Ground

2 - 3 (Hugo, Starkey)

7 October 1961

Dickie

Presland

Davis

Ford

Bickles

Charles

Starkey

Barrett

Lloyd

Hugo

Dear

Our "A" Team had a disappointing second half against Tonbridge Reserves in the Second Round of the Metropolitan League Challenge Cup at the Angel Ground last Saturday. They were two up at the interval through goals by John Starkey and Roger Hugo, but ended with a 2-3 score against them. Defensive blunders accounted for the homesters' goals, and although there was a semblance of offside about two of them this cannot be given as an excuse for letting slip such a good first-half advantage.

BEDFORD TOWN RESERVES : Metropolitan League

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The Eyrie

1 - 1 (Britt)

21 October 1961

Dickie

Davis

Burkett

Ford

Bickles

Charles

Starkey

Barrett

Britt

Sissons

Dear

We visited Bedford Town Reserves at The Eyrie, the Hammers' defence looked very good in this game, and we were pleased to see Jack Burkett again in our colours after an injury which has kept him inactive for some time. The exchanges were interesting from start to finish, but after a goalless first half Martin Britt gave us the lead - only for the home side to gain the equaliser for a final 1-1 draw.

ARSENAL "A" : Metropolitan League

Spotted Dog Ground

3 - 2 (Dear 2, Sissons)

23 October 1961

Dellow, Presland, Burkett, Peters, Bickles, Charles, Starkey, Barrett, Britt, Sissons, Dear

Arsenal "A" provided the opposition at the Spotted Dog Ground. After being level at 2-2 at the interval we went on to gain a deserved 3-2 victory, Brian Dear (2) and John Sissons getting our goals.

ST NEOTS TOWN : Metropolitan League

Shortlands

0 - 2

28 October 1961

Dickie

Davis

Smith T.

Ford

Presland

Charles

Woodley

Boyce

Barrett

Sissons

Hugo

The non-acceptance of good chances against St Neots Town has cost our "A" Team the chance of Metropolitan League points, for although our approach-work was excellent the lack of a final punch has given opposing defences an easier time than they were entitled to.

The Bedfordshire club had an easy task in retaining their leadership against a Hammers' team. The Saints netted in the 30th and 62nd minutes of a game that lacked thrills and incidents.

NEWBURY TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Town Ground

1 - 3 (Starkey)

4 November 1961

Dickie

Davis

Smith T.

Ford

Bickles

Charles

Starkey

Barrett

Britt

Sissons

Hugo

Our visit to Newbury Town last brought no better a result, for we went under by 3-1, having 75 per cent of the game and 25 per cent of the goals. It is true that John Sissons was unfortunate with some efforts and only some useful saves and desperate defence by the Berkshire amateurs in the later stages kept us at bay, but we should have scored more than the one goal which John Starkey netted after Sissons' good work.

BEXLEYHEATH & WELLING : Metropolitan League

Town Ground 4 - 4 (Dear 2, Starkey, Britt) 11 November 1961

Howlett Davis Smith T. Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Starkey Britt Sissons Barrett

Although the ground was very heavy there was plenty of excellent football when we opposed Bexleyheath & Welling Reserves on November 11th. Individually our defence played quite well, but loose marking on occasions plus a penalty-kick led to the Heath getting some easy goals. However, at the other end our forwards were making the most of good approach-work; Brian Dear was always dangerous and finished off with two good goals whilst Martin Britt's hard work was rewarded with a last-minute goal that made it a 4-4 draw; John Starkey was our other scorer.

BEDFORD TOWN RESERVES : Metropolitan League

The Eyrie 1 - 4 (Dear) 18 November 1961

Dickie Davis Smith T. Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Starkey Britt Sissons Hugo

At The Eyrrie the Eagles took a two-goal lead midway through the first half which was reduced by Brian Dear before the interval. The second half again found the homesters having more of the play and they piled on pressure to gain a 4-1 margin before the finish.

TONBRIDGE RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Angel Ground

4 - 0 (Hugo, Lyall, Starkey, [og])

2 December 1961

Dickie

Davis

Lyall

Dawkins

Bickles

Charles

Dear

Starkey

Britt

Sissons

Hugo

For three-quarters of the game Tonbridge had only ten men, but aided by splendid goalkeeping they kept us down to a 1-0 margin at half-time (this was an "own goal"). However we netted three times in ten minutes to settle the issue soon after the second-half started, John Lyall, Roger Hugo and John Starkey being our scorers; John LyaU's goal was a splendid " solo," and it was good to see him fit again after his second absence this season through injury. Tonbridge fought well to the end, and Alan Dickie had to make several good saves in order to retain a "clean sheet."

DIDCOT TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Station Road Ground

3 - 3 (Dear 2, Britt)

9 December 1961

Dickie

Davis

Lyall

Dawkins

Bickles

Smith

Dear

Starkey

Britt

Sissons

Barrett

We were well on top in the opening stages and took a well-deserved lead in the 20th minute when Brian Dear opened the score after good work by John Sissons. Robust and resolute tackling brought the Town back into the game and aided by bad defensive lapses they led by 3-2 at half-time, Martin Britt having netted our second. We were under handicap throughout the second-half owing to an injury to Trevor Dawkins, but a tightened defence plus determination in the forward-line enabled Dear to equalise five minutes from the end after more good work by Sissons.

NEWBURY TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Town Ground 4 - 3 (Britt 2, Dear, Starkey) 16 December 1961

Dickie Davis Smith T. Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Starkey Britt Sissons Barrett

Martin Britt got our first goal, and although Newbury equalised against the run of the play the same player put us into a 2-1 lead before the interval. Soon after the resumption John Starkey made it 3-1 but was injured at the same time; he was out of the game from then on and for a time the "ten men" were hard pressed, the homesters quickly drawing level. However Alan Dickie and his fellow-defenders put up a stalwart rearguard effort, and were rewarded when Brian Dear broke away to net a deserved winner.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION "A" : Metropolitan League

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Hove Stadium 4 - 3 (Hugo 2, Dryden, Sissons) 23 December 1961

Howlett Smith T. Lyall Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Hugo Britt Sissons Dryden

In a game of seven goals we emerged as winners by the odd one, Roger Hugo netting two and John Dryden and John Sissons getting one

apiece for a 4-3 win.

RAINHAM TOWN : Metropolitan League

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Deri Park 0 - 1 26 December 1961

Howlett Davis Lyall Barrett Bickles Charles Dear Hugo Britt Sissons Dryden

An enthusiastic crowd saw this "local derby" against newcomers to the Metropolitan League, the homesters gaining the spoils by the only

goal.

EASTBOURNE UNITED : Metropolitan League

Princes Park 8 - 5 (Hugo 5, Dear 2, Lyall) 30 December 1961

Dickie Davis Lyall Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Hugo Britt Sissons Dryden

The score in this game looked more like a rugger result, as we won by 8-5. It is impossible to describe all the exchanges, but the Hammers' "hero of the game" was Roger Hugo, who scored five times; two other goals came from Brian Dear and John Lyall got the odd one.

METROPOLITAN POLICE : Metropolitan League

Imber Court 3 - 0 (Britt, Charles, Sissons) 6 January 1962

Dickie Davis Lyall Dawkins Bickles Charles Starkey Hugo Britt Sissons Dryden

Against the bottom-of-the-Ieaguers we had things very much our own way, and with Martin Britt, John Charles and John Sissons each scoring

once we had an easy 3-0 victory.

EASTBOURNE UNITED : Metropolitan League

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Princes Park 5 - 1 (Dear 3, Hugo, Britt) 13 January 1962

Dickie Davis Lyall Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Hugo Britt Sissons Dryden

A hat-trick for Brian Dear and a goal each to Roger Hugo and Martin Britt brought us our second win in a fortnight at Eastbourne, the score this time being 5-1.

CRAWLEY TOWN RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Town Meadow 3 - 2 (Barry 2, Dear) 20 January 1962

Dickie Presland Davis Dawkins Bickles Charles Dear Barry Britt Sissons Dryden

Although Crawley made a good fight of this, the Hammers gained a 3-2 victory, Peter Barry (2) and Brian Dear scoring our goals. Crawley are having quite a successful season, and are now in the Semi-Final of the League Challenge Cup (thanks to a 4-2 win at Tonbridge), so our young side's performance was most creditable.

OXFORD UNITED RESERVES : Metropolitan League

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Manor GRound 2 - 2 (Britt, Dryden) 27 January 1962

Howlett Presland Davis Dawkins Bickles Barrett Dear Barry Britt Sissons Dryden

Although a draw was a fair result it took a last-minute penalty for Oxford to level the scores. A combination of good defensive work by the Hammers and indifferent finishing by the homesters kept the first-half scoreless, but each side got two goals after the interval, Martin Britt and John Dryden netting for the Hammers. This was a great improvement on our 2-8 defeat on the same ground earlier this season.

One of our stars was Dave Howlett, an Army apprentice whose goal-keeping led to him being recommended to us by Maurice Edelston.

WOODFORD TOWN : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath 7 - 1 (Dear 4, Barry, Britt, Dryden) 3 February 1962

Howlett, Presland, Davis, Dawkins, Bickles, Barrett, Dear, Barry, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

This was our first game at our new Chadwell Heath Ground and it was marked by a splendid 7-1 victory. Brian Dear hit the headlines with another four goals to bring his Metropolitan League total to 19, and Peter Barry, Martin Britt and John Dryden got one each in an easy win.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION "A" : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath 5 - 0 (Barry 3, Sisssons, [og]) 10 February 1962

Herbert, Dawkins, Davis, Starekey, Bickles, Charles, Dear, Barry, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

This game was played in the morning at the request of the Seasiders. It resulted in a very easy win for our youngsters, the 5-0 margin being gained through a hat-trick by Peter Barry, one goal from John Sissons and an "own goal" by a visiting defender.

GUILDFORD CITY RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath

5 - 5 (Barry 2, Britt, Dryden, Sissons)

17 February 1962

Howlett, Presland, Davis, Dawkins, Bickles, Charles, Dear, Barry, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

This was a real " thriller " against the third-place club, and both sides in turn contributed a fair share to the excitement of a high-scoring duel that finally ended in a 5-5 draw. The Hammers* goals came from Peter Barry (2), Martin Britt, John Dryden and John Sissons.

TONBRIDGE RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath

3 - 3 (Hugo 3)

24 February 1962

Rhodes, Jones, Presland, Dawkins, Bickles, Charles, Dryden, Corfield, Britt, Sissons, Hugo

Included in our XI was Brian Rhodes (making his first appearance since being injured whilst playing for our Reserves at Northampton on January 20th) and two young "triallists." Our third-stringers met with some surprisingly strong opposition from a team near the foot of the table, and had to fight hard for a 3-3 draw. Roger Hugo got another hat-trick to bring his Metropolitan League tally to 17 goals for this season, and he was naturally the "star of the game" in which several more of our very young side distinguished themselves against experienced opposition.

CRAWLEY TOWN RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath

0 - 3

17 March 1962

Dickie, Presland, Smith, Dawkins, Bickles, Charles, Dear, Starkey, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

The XI which we fielded comprised our Colts' side which was due to play Portsmouth Colts on the following Monday. However, they were not able to make a lot of impression on the opposition, and the Crawley side (which hopes to enter the Southern League next season) proved to be comfortable 3-0 winners.

METROPOLITAN POLICE : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath

5 - 1 (Bennett, Dawkins, Dryden, Sissons, Starkey)

24 March 1962

Dickie, Long, Smith T., Dawkins, Lansdowne, Barrett, Bennett, Starkey, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

In a comfortable 5-1 win. Trevor Dawkins, Peter Bennett, John Starkey, John Sissons and John Dryden each scored a goal.

BEXLEYHEATH & WELLING : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath 1 - 2 (Britt) 31 March 1962

Dickie, Long, Smith T., Dawkins, White, Howe, Bennett, Starkey, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

The more experienced visitors took advantage of a young defence to gain a 2-1 success, Martin Britt getting our only goal.

RAINHAM TOWN : Metropolitan League

Upton Park 0 - 2 14 April 1962

Dickie Presland Davis Dawkins Bickles Charles Bennett Starkey Britt Barker Dryden

With no League or Combination fixture arranged for the Boleyn Ground we took the opportunity of staging a Metropolitan League game at Upton Park against Rainham Town.

Having beaten us on their Deri Park ground by 1-0 on Boxing Day our Essex rivals were eager to secure the "double." They did so by a 2-0 margin, a success brought about by keenness which overcame the somewhat indecisive efforts of our own XI.

DARTFORD RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Watling Street 2 - 3 (Barrett, Woodley 20 April 1962

Dickie Presland Burkett Dawkins Bickles Charles Woodley Barrett Britt Hugo Dear

Our "A" Team concluded its Metropolitan League fixtures during the Easter week-end with two games against championship-contending Dartford Reserves.

The first of these took place on Good Friday at the Watling Street Ground.

Jim Barrett and Derek Woodley each got a goal for the Hammers, but the home side just edged home by a 3-2 margin.

DARTFORD RESERVES : Metropolitan League

Chadwell Heath 1 - 3 (Barrett) 21 April 1962

Dickie, Barrett, Burkett, Dawkins, Presland, Charles, Dear, Hugo, Britt, Sissons, Dryden

For the return at our Saville Road Ground on the following day we made changes in our line-up, which comprised: Dickie, Barrett, Burkett, Dawkins, Presland, Charles, Dear, Hugo, Britt, Sissons, Dryden.

Once more the greater experience of the Kent club proved the decisive factor, and although Jim Barrett again got a goal the score this time was 3-1 in favour of the opposition. Our final position in the Metropolitan League table is eighth out of the 17 clubs — a creditable place taking into consideration that the majority of the teams we have fielded have consisted mainly of teenagers who were still available for our Youth Team.

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