1961-62 Football Combination (Saturday Section)

At a meeting of the Football Combination it was agreed that the tournament should be divided into two Sections for the 1961-62 season. There will be a "Saturday" Section for those clubs who wish to normally play on Saturdays only, and a "Mid-week" Section for the remaining clubs who will play as and when they wish.

West Ham have entered for the Saturday Section, which will be comprised of the following clubs: Arsenal, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff City, Colchester United, Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Luton Town, Mansfield Town, Northampton Town, Norwich City, Notts County, Nottingham Forest, Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle, Shrewsbury Town, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination

White Hart Lane

2 - 4 (Crawford, Hurst)

19 August 1961

Rhodes

Bovington

Lyall

Peters

Lansdowne

Hurst

Woodley

Boyce

Beesley

Brett

Crawford

We were holding the Spurs comfortably for the first quarter-of-an-hour, but then lost the services of John Lyall for the rest of the game when he twisted his knee. Almost immediately Johnny Smith scored the Spurs' first goal, and they then added another rather against the run of the play, for Mick Beesley and Ron Brett had both hit the woodwork in the meantime. A well-taken goal by Ian Crawford in his first game for the Hammers reduced pur arrears, but Spurs netted again soon after the interval to make it 3-1. Geoff Hurst got our second direct from a free-kick to keep us well in the running, and we had the homesters really worried until they netted a rebound for a final 4-2 score.

One of our stars was Brian Rhodes, who made a number of fine saves ; but it is perhaps unfair to mention individuals in a display which brought praise for everyone in Ernie Gregory's report of the game.

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

5 - 2 (Crawford 2, Beesley, Brett, Woodley)

26 August 1961

Rhodes

Bovington

Burkett

Peters

Lansdowne

Hurst

Woodley

Boyce

Beesley

Brett

Crawford

CRYSTAL PALACE : Football Combination

Selhurst Park

2 - 2 (Boyce, Woodley)

2 September 1961

Rhodes

Bovington

Burkett

Peters

Bickles

Hurst

Woodley

Boyce

Beesley

Brett

Crawford

NORTHAMPTON TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park

2 - 0 (Beesley, Brett)

9 September 1961

Rhodes

Bovington

Burkett

Peters

Bickles

Lansdowne

Woodley

Boyce

Beesley

Brett

Dear

Our Reserves collected another couple of Football Combination points against Northampton Town Reserves at Upton Park but although they won by 2-0 our XI did not put on such a good show as on the previous Saturday when they drew 2-2 at Selhurst Park.

There appeared to be too much of a gap between the defenders and forwards for most of the time, but on the occasions when this was remedied we looked more dangerous. Both our goals came in the second half; the first, seven minutes after the interval, was netted by Ron Brett; the second, eight minutes from time was well taken by Mick Beesley, who headed home a good cross from Brian Dear. In defence Martin Peters caught the eye together with Brian Rhodes who made a couple of good saves; among the forwards Ron Boyce was most prominent.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football Combination

SORRY NO IMAGE

City Ground 3 - 1 (Beesley 2, Dear) 16 September 1961

Rhodes Bovington Burkett Peters Bickles Lansdowne Woodley Boyce Beesley Brett Dear

The Forest got a goal in the third minute, but after ten minutes the Hammers settled down and from then on dictated the terms. In the forward-line Brian Dear' caught the eye with clever play; he got our second goal with a 25-yard "screamer" after running on to a square ball from Ron Brett, and in the second half worked his way across the field to put through the pass from which Mick Beesley got our third. This was Mick's second goal of the game, as he netted with a Lawton-like header for our equaliser after Ron Brett and Dear had done the spade work.

BRISTOL ROVERS : Football Combination

Upton Park 2 - 3 (Brett, Crawford) 23 September 1961

Dickie Bovington Burkett Peters Bickles Lansdowne Woodley Hugo Beesley Brett Crawford

Bristol Rovers Reserves came to th Boleyn Ground with a 100 per cent record - and they retained it thanks to a 3-2 victory gained partly through greater experience and physical advantage against a Hammers' team which included several youngsters. Our side was, in fact: Dickie, Bovington, Burkett, Peters, Bickles, Lansdowne, Woodley, Hugo, Beesley, Brett, Crawford.

Ron Brett got the first goal six minutes after the start and we should have had another soon afterwards. However a penalty for the Rovers in the tenth minute seemed to take the heart out of our side and they got on top to lead fay 3-1 at the interval. Ian Crawford reduced the arrears 18 minutes after half-time, but thrown away chances still left us behind at the final whistle.

FULHAM : London Challenge Cup (First Round)

SORRY NO IMAGE

Craven Cottage 3 - 2 (Brett 2, Crawford) 2 October 1961

Rhodes Bovington Burkett Malcolm Lansdowne Peters Woodley Boyce Beesley Brett Crawford

We visited Craven Cottage last Monday to meet Fulham in the First Round of the London Challenge Cup, but as floodlights have not yet been installed at the West London ground were forced to play in the afternoon before a very sparse attendance.

The side we fielded was largely of Reserve Team strength, this being their only game over the week-end owing to there being no Combination fixture on the Saturday. The actual starting line-up comprised: Rhodes, Bovington, Burkett, Malcolm, Lansdowne, Peters, Woodley, Boyce. Beesley, Brett, Crawford.

We got right on top from the start and led by 2-0 after less than a quarter-of-an-hour's play. It seemed likely that we would keep adding to the lead, but Fulham took the chance to reduce their arrears when Jack Burkett was lying injured. Burkett was almost a passenger for the rest of the time as he could only hobble along, and we reshuffled so that Martin Peters took over in the No. 3 position and Ron Boyce dropped into the rearguard.

However, with about 20 minutes to go the Hammers went further ahead, and although the Cottagers got a late goal we were worthy winners by 3-2, Ron Brett (2) and Ian Crawford being our scorers.

IPSWICH TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park 6 - 3 (Beesley 2, Britt 2, Brett,Woodley) 7 October 1961

Rhodes Bovington Lyall Peters Lansdowne Malcolm Woodley Boyce Britt Beesley Brett

The stars of this 6-3 victory were Eddie Bovington and Martin Britt, Bovington was wearing the No. 2 shirt, but his upfield forays constantly had the visiting defence in a tangle and he had a hand in three of our goals as well as contributing to a fourth that was disallowed. Martin scored two goals on the occasion of his Combination debut, and this 15-year-old apprentice pro gave most encouraging hopes for the future against an experienced rearguard. We took the lead a quarter-of-an-hour after the start when Bovmgton's centre was headed back by Ron Brett for Mick Beesley to score, and five minutes later the same trio made the next tally - Beesley again being the scorer. A through ball from Andy Malcolm was converted by Derek Woodley to put us three up in 25 minutes, but Ipswich reduced the arrears within seven minutes. We went in at the interval 4-1 in the lead, Britt having beaten the goalkeeper and centre-half to head home another cross by Bovington five minutes beforehand. After half-time Brian Rhodes made an exceptionally good save, but with the Hammers going through a somewhat bad spell at this time he was unable to prevent a second Blues' goal five minutes after the resumption. However we came back into the game and in the 70th minute Ron Boyce started the move that led up to Brett heading a back-pass for Britt to notch his second. Five minutes from the end the visitors made it 5-3, but within a couple of minutes Woodley centred for Brett to round off a good afternoon with a goal.

LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination

Filbert Street 3 - 0 (Beesley 2, Dear) 14 October 1961

Rhodes Bovington Lyall Peters Lansdowne Hurst Dear Brett Beesley Hugo Scott

After our 3-0 Football Combination victory at Filbert Street on 14th October a Leicester City official expressed the opinion that our Reserve Team was the best seen there this season, and it is true to say that there wasn't a weak link, in our XI which comprised: Rhodes, Bovington, Lyall, Peters, Lansdowne, Hurst, Dear, Brett, Beesley, Hugo, Scott.

Brian Rhodes made a couple of brilliant saves early on before we had scored (and he afterwards stopped a penalty-kick when we were three ahead); it was also a long ball from our 'keeper which was headed on by Hugo to provide the opening for Mick Beesley to score our first goal ten minutes before half-time. A similarly-schemed move led to our third goal, Eddie Bovington's long throw also being headed forward for Beesley to hit the ball on the volley inside the far post in the 65th minute. Five minutes earlier a through pass from Tony Scott had been converted by Brian Dear

CHELSEA : London Challenge Cup (Second Round)

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Woodley) 16 October 1961 Att: 5,113

Rhodes Bovington Lyall Peters Lansdowne Hurst Dear Boyce Beesley Hugo Woodley

Almost the same team which had beaten Leicester City Reserves represented us in the Second Round of the London Challenge Cup at Upton Park on the following Monday, although Ron Boyce came in at inside-forward and Derek Wopdley replaced Tony Scott (who was not fit); but after a successful opening twenty minutes at the end of which Woodley scored from Ron Brett's centre they faded badly and went under by 2-1.

The Pensioners changed their original XI in three places to include Terry Venables, Peter Brabrook and Michael Block. Brabrook proved to be a big menace to our defence, and during the closing stages combined with Reg Matthews, John Sillett and Venables to play out time. The visitors could not be blamed for taking this action, as they had been reduced to ten men after 28 minutes' play when ex-Hammers' Colt Colin Shaw collided with Brian Rhodes and was carried off with a bruised collar-bone.

Despite having a one-man deficit, Chelsea seemed to play with greater confidence during the last hour, and Harrison (46 mins.) and Block (57 mins.) got the goals that put them into the Semi-Final. Frankly it was a disappointing ending for all Hammers* fans among the 5,113 attendance.

LUTON TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Brett) 21 October 1961

Rhodes Presland Lyall Peters Lansdowne Hurst Woodley Hugo Beesley Brett Scott

Luton Town were the visitors to Upton Park and five minutes after the start Ron Brett who did a lot of hard work throughout the 90 minutes put us ahead, and we held this advantage until after the interval. The Hatters succeeded in equalising during the second half and aided by splendid goalkeeping from Ron Baynham they held on to make a 1-1 draw. Tony Scott marked his return with a useful performance, and John Lyal! has gone a long way to regaining full fitness after sustaining a knee injury in the first game of the season.

NOTTS COUNTY : Football Combination

Meadow Lane 0 - 5 28 October 1961

Rhodes Bovington Lyall Peters Bickles Hurst Dear Brett Britt Beesley Scott

PETERBOROUGH UNITED : Football Combination

London Road 2 -1 (Brett, Beesley) 11 November 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Scott Boyce Tindall Beesley Brett

Visiting the London Road Ground at Peterborough on November 11th the Hammers' side comprised; Rhodes. Presland. Burkett, Bovington. l.ansdowne, Peters. Scott, Boyce, Tindall, Beesley, Brett.

From start to finish it was a very good game with plenty of action. The Posh scored just before half-time, but after the interval our forward-line went from strength to strength, and with Ron Tindall playing very usefully on his first appearance in our colours we began to get the upper hand. In the 63rd minute a through ball from Ron Boyce was laid back by Ron Brett and Mick Beesley hit it full on the volley for the equaliser. Two minutes from time Tony Scott cleverly feinted to move down the touchline, and diverted the attention of the home defence as Brett crossed the ball to Beesley fur the winning tally.

SHREWSBURY TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park 4 - 0 (Beesley 2, Tindall, [og]) 18 November 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Woodley Boyce Tindall Beesley Scott

The visitors are very low in the table, but at times rather belied their poor record by playing some good soccer. However, we did not have much bother to gain a 4-0 margin after scoring three times within the first half-hour. Ron Tindall opened our account in the 16th minute. heading home Tony Scott's cross to the far post, and three minutes later Eddie Presland moved downfield in an interchanging movement with several colleagues that ended with a fast centre being diverted into his own net by an opposing defender. A through ball from Eddie Bovington was taken well on the run by Mick Beesley in the 26th minute, and Beesley was again the scorer a quarter-of-an-hour from time when Bovington and Scott combined for the latter to centre the vital pass. We also missed a penalty two minutes from the end.

ARSENAL : Football Combination

Highbury 2 - 0 (Scott, Woodley) 25 November 1961

Rhodes Presland Bickles Bovington Lansdowne Peters Woodley Boyce Beesley Brett Scott

LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park 5 - 2 (Brett 2, Woodley 2, Beesley) 2 December 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Woodley Boyce Beesley Brett Scott

IPSWICH TOWN : Football Combination

Portman Road 8 - 2 (Hugo 3, Beesley, Brett, Peters, Rhodes [pen], Scott) 9 December 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Peters Lansdowne Charles Woodley Hugo Beesley Brett Scott

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination

Upton Park 2 - 1 (Beesley, Peters) 16 December 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Woodley Hugo Beesley Brett Scott

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Ninian Park 4 - 3 (Brett 2, Beesley, Boyce) 23 December 1961

Rhodes Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Woodley Boyce Beesley Brett Scott

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