1962-63 Football Combination (Saturday Section)

West Ham United

1962-63

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination

Upton Park

5 - 1 (Dear 2, Hugo 2, [og])

18 August 1962

Rhodes

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Brown

Charles J.

Dear

Woosnam

Sealey

Sissons

Hugo

CRYSTAL PALACE : Football Combination

Selhurst Park

0 - 2

25 August 1962

Rhodes

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Dear

Boyce

Hugo

Sissons

Scott

After defeating the Spurs' Reserves by 5-1 in their opening Football Combination match our Reserves were seeking further points unfortunately the forwards could not press home the advantage of good approach work, and the Glaziers changed over one up. In the second half the Palace had more of the play, keeping our defence hard pressed and finally deserving their 2-0 victory

SHREWSBURY TOWN : Football Combination

Gay Meadow

1 - 4 (Scott)

1 September 1962

Dickie

Bond

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Scott

Boyce

Hugo

Sissons

Musgrove

A goal by Tony Scott was our main contribution to the first-half entertainment, but the home side deservedly netted twice before the interval to have a 2-1 lead. After the resumption there was really only one team in it, and the 4-1 defeat which we sustained was not so surprising are we never really looked like winning.

BRISTOL ROVERS : Football Combination

Upton Park

6 - 0 (Dear 2, Tindall 2, Boyce, Lyall)

8 September 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Bickles

Lansdowne

Dear

Boyce

Tindall

Sissons

Crawford

A goalless first half gave no indication of what was to follow after the interval, when the Hammers really got down to it and netted six good goals without reply. It is unfair to single out any particular players for mention in an all-round second-half team display, but we were pleased to see Ron Tindall net a couple in his first game this season, while Ian Crawford also had a hand in several of the moves that led to the half-dozen successes. Brian Dear also got two goals, with Ron Boyce and John Lyall being credited with the others.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED : Football Combination

London Road 1 - 2 (Sissons) 15 September 1962

Rhodes

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Dear

Boyce

Tindall

Sissons

Crawford

Their first Football Combination point to be gained on an opponent's ground this season still eludes our Reserves, but on the occasion of their visit to the London Road Ground of Peterborough United on September 15th they were most unfortunate in losing the services of goalkeeper Brian Rhodes soon after the interval, Brian again sustained a shoulder injury, and it was impossible for him to carry on for the remainder of the game.

This threw an additional strain on the remaining ten members of our line-up, but with Johnny Lyall making a useful deputy "between the sticks" they kept fighting away to reduce the 2-1 half-time lead which the opposition had built up. In general they had the better of the exchanges during this period, but the task proved a little too much for them and they had to admit defeat. Our goal had been scored by Johnny Sissons, who took a through pass on the run and shook off the challenge of two defenders to put the ball inside the far post.

LUTON TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park

1 - 2 (Hugo)

22 September 1962

Grainger

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Crawford

Dear

Boyce

Sealey

Sissons

Hugo

Our Reserves have not been able to strike their best form on many occasions this season, and last Saturday's home defeat by Luton Town Reserves came as something of an anti-climax after their display on the previous Saturday, when they were unfortunate to go under by 2-1 at Peterborough with a side reduced to ten men.

We got away to a good enough start thanks to a goal by Roger Hugo, but the Bedfordshire club came back to equalise before the interval and then notch the winner in the second half for a final 2-1 margin. There were not many things we could look back upon with pleasure in this game, but the debut of Derek Grainger in our colours was pleasing inasmuch that the young Walthamstow Avenue goalkeeper showed promise and he will merit further tests in the future.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS : London Challenge Cup (First Round)

Loftus Road

3 - 3 (Hugo, Sealey, Sissons)

26 September 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Lansdowne

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Sealey

Sissons

Crawford

Our second cup-tie on Wednesday last was against Queens Park Rangers in the First Round of the London Challenge Cup at their Loftus Road Ground; this had been advanced from the original date of October 1st owing to the fact that the Rangers are moving to their new White City Ground on that day. With our First XI on duty in the League Cup we fielded a second-string in this county cup-tie and the Hammers were well on top in the first-half, and went in at the interval with a 2-0 margin in their favour, but the West Londoners came back at us in the later stages and held us to a 3-3 draw. Our scorers were Roger Hugo, Alan Sealey and John Sissons.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football Combination

City Ground

3 - 3 (Crawford 2, Hugo)

29 September 1962

Ferrier

Kirkup

Lyall

Lansdowne

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Sealey

Sissons

Crawford

Ian Crawford got two of the the goals which enabled us to share six with Nottingham Forest Reserves at the City Ground. The first of these came shortly before the interval when we were three goals in arrears, after an opening period in which defensive errors gifted the Forest an advantage they had not earned entirely by their own efforts. lan's second counter came after the resumption and another goal by Hugo levelled it up.

The Hammers played extremely well during the second half and made a grand fight-back to secure their first away point of the season with a generally all-round display of team-work.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS : London Challenge Cup (First Round Replay)

Upton Park

7 - 1 (Hugo 4, Sissons 2, Dear)

2 October 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Lansdowne

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Sealey

Sissons

Crawford

For this First Round replay in the London Challenge Cup we fielded the same team which drew 3-3 with Queens Park Rangers on the previous Wednesday. Rangers included some First Teamers in their line-up, among who was ex-Hammer Jimmy Andrews. After a rainy afternoon the evening turned out quite clear, and conditions underfoot were good. They evidently suited our XI, as within ten minutes we were two up and the Rangers were rocking. A Brian Dear solo run on the left ended with the 'keeper parrying his shot out to Roger Hugo, who calmly nodded it home in the seventh minute. Three minutes later Alan Sealey put Ian Crawford away, and the left-winger slipped the ball back to Hugo who slammed it home with his left foot from the edge of the penalty-box. Midway through the half John Sissons had a solo run and a goal from 15 yards Within three minutes of the restart Hugo completed his hat-trick after a goalmouth melee and notched his fourth in the 68th minute by lobbing over the 'keeper's head after a visiting defender had presented him with an easy chance from a free-kick. Sissons got his second in the 65th minute when Joe Kirkup's cross pass found him on the 18-yard line, and with six minutes to go Dear earned his reward for a keen display with a goal to make it 7-0. Evans got Rangers' "consolation" goal two minutes from the end. We now meet Wealdstone in the Second Round under their new £4,000 floodlights on the evening of Monday 15th October. The Middlesex amateurs defeated the Millwall reserve line-up by 3-0.

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Ninian Park

5 - 2 (Dear 2, Hugo 2, Tindall)

6 October 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Bickles

Lansdowne

Dear

Boyce

Tindall

Hugo

Crawford

A through ball by Ron Tindall to Brian Dear on the 18-yard line was carried on by the right-winger who rounded the 'keeper to score; and our 2-0 half-time lead was then brought about following a corner, after which Ron Boyce back-kicked for Roger Hugo to head home near the far post.

The Bluebirds reduced their arrears right after the interval, but directly from the kick-off we made it 3-1; the ball went to Joe Kirkup on the left and his pass to Ian Crawford was chipped over to Boyce who headed it back for Hugo to score from 20 yards City had not touched the ball in tfie entire move. Another homesters' rally brought the score to 3-2, but we again went straight down and when Crawford's shot hit the bar it rebounded to Dear who made no mistake. The final tally was by Tindall, who netted in a scrimmage.

Brian Dear's two goals were a reward for a fine performance, but mention should also be made of Alan Dickie, who put on a most capable display and made four excellent saves.

MANSFIELD TOWN : Football Combination

Upton Park

6 - 1 (Crawford 2, Hugo 2, Dear, [og])

13 October 1962

Dickie

Presland

Lyall

Bovington

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Boyce

Sealey

Hugo

Crawford

Our home fixture against Mansfield Town Reserves on October 13th was marked by eleven changes in the official programme. The entire visiting XI was altered, owing to a misunderstanding when we telephoned Mansfield's offices on Friday morning for their team; a member of the Midlanders' staff gave us the First XI line-up hence the error for which we apologise on their behalf to pur patrons!

As the final score of 6-1 in our favour indicates, it would have perhaps helped the Stags if they could have fielded at least some of their senior side; indeed the margin of victory could have easily been greater, as there was no great opposition, and the Town did not get their lone goal until late in the game.

Brian Dear and Ian Crawford got the goals which put us two up at half-time; Dear volleyed the first from 20 yards and he laid back the ball for Crawford to perform a similar finish for the other. Roger Hugo was again on the mark twice after the interval to bring his total to eight in seven Combination games and another success by Crawford followed by an "own goal" set the seal on our display.

WEALDSTONE : London Challenge Cup (Second Round)

Long Mead 1 - 4 (Kirkup) 15 October 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Lansdowne

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Sealey

Sissons

Crawford

We visited Wealdstone F.C. at their Long Mead Ground last Monday evening in the Second Round of the London Challenge Cup.

The Athenian Leaguers had already accounted for Millwall by 3-0 in the First Round, and they added another scalp to their collection with an excellent 4-1 victory that put them into the Semi-Final. Our side was up'to full- Combination strength and actually contained six players who had been hi the First Team this season, but they were no match for the opposition. Centre-forward Phil West headed a fine goal before the interval and he got another from Hugh Lindsay's pass in the second half; Lindsay himself notched two goals after the interval, and our only response was from Joe Kirkup who went up to find the net. A rather disappointing show from the Hammers.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE : Football Combination

Home Park

1 - 0 (Sealey)

20 October 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Dear

Boyce

Sealey

Hugo

Crawford

The 1-0 victory over Plymouth at Home Park put us up to fourth place in the table. It was a hard game in which our defence played extremly well to stop a lively Plymouth attack, whilst our own vanguard maintained the pressure at the other end in 90 minutes of fluctuating fortunes. The only goal of the game came in the first half when Alan Sealey took through ball in fine fashion to beat the 'keeper.

LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

6 - 1 (Hugo 2, Bovington, Boyce, Crawford, Scott)

27 October 1962

Dickie

Kirkup

Presland

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Crawford

Boyce

Hugo

Sissons

Scott

The home game against Leicester City Reserves ended in a 6-1 win that took us into third place in the table. The victory was gained through a splendid all-round performance that had all the hallmarks of good team-work upon it.

One of the stars of our side was Eddie Bovington, who tackled hard, distributed the ball well and set the seal on his display with a rasping shot from 35 yards that went into the net off a post. Another who shone was Ian Crawford in one of his best games this season, and he likewise rounded off the afternoon with a goal. The other scorers were Ron Boyce, Tonv Scott and Roger Hugo whose two goals brought his total to ten in nine Combination appearances.

We led by 4-1 at half-time and remained comfortably ahead until the final whistle.

NORWICH CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

2 - 0 (Crawford, Dear)

10 November 1962

Grainger

Kirkup

Lyall

Bovington

Bickles

Lansdowne

Dear

Barry

Sealey

Hugo

Crawford

Returning to their Football Combination programme last Saturday at Upton Park our Reserves secured another win (their fifth in succession) to maintain their challenge to the leaders by moving back into third place.

In general we were in command throughout the game, although the Canaries showed some clever touches from time to time. However, it was the Hammers who proved the better side before the end, and goals by Ian Crawford and Brian Dear made the outcome in our favour by 2-0.

COLCHESTER UNITED : Football Combination

Layer Road

4 - 1 (Crawfprd 2, Dear, Hugo)

17 November 1962

Grainger

Bond

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Dear

Woosnam

Barry

Hugo

Crawford

We took the lead in the first half when Roger Hugo converted a cross-pass from Eddie Bovington, but the home side came back to make it 1-1 before half-time. However, there was no doubt who was going to prove the eventual winners once the second-half got under way, as we pounded the home defence to net three more goals (these being credited to Ian Crawford (2) and Brian Dear) to make the final score 4-1 in our favour.

John Bond caught the eye in the defence with Bovington also prominent in a link role, and in attack Crawford was good value for his brace of goals.

ARSENAL : Football Combination

Upton Park

3 - 5 (Byrne 2 [1 pen], Musgrove)

24 November 1962

Grainger Bond Lyall Bovington Lansdowne Charles J. Dear Sissons Byrne Musgrove Crawford

This was a game that we looked like winning until the start of the second-half, as we had gained a 3-1 lead at the interval thanks to two goals by Johnny Byrne (one from a penalty) and one from Malcolm Musgrove. However, the Gunners came back into the picture almost from the restart, and notched two goals from three corners; on each successful occasion the visitors got to the ball before our defence could clear its lines, and we could only blame ourselves for them drawing level. Inspired by this success Arsenal maintained their pressure, and two further goals made them 5-3 winners.

MANSFIELD TOWN : Football Combination

Field Mill 1 - 2 (Hugo) 1 December 1962)

Dickie

Bond

Lyall

Lansdowne

Bickles

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Britt

Sissons

Musgrove

There was too much rough play in this game, and it spoiled the Hammers' attempts to play some good soccer. With apparent ofiences going unchecked the standard deteriorated in the second half, and the Stags' goal which won the game had our players appealing for an offside decision. A goal by Roger Hugo in the first Half was equalised to make the score 1-1 at the interval, and the final tally ended at 2-1 in the homesters* favour.

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

3 - 2 (Crawford 2, Bovington)

8 December 1962

Dickie

Bond

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Britt

Sissons

Crawford

We built up a 3-1 half-time lead against theBluebirds, thanks to two individualitic goals by Ian Crawford and another by Eddie Bovington; the latter was the outcome of a good move, when a square pass by Roger Hugo to Brian Dear enabled our right-winger to put the ball through for Bovington to run on to. The City came back in the second-half to again reduce their arrears, but we were all-in-all good 3-2 winners despite a lack of finish "up front." Among our rearguard Alan Dickie distinguished himself with three good saves on a day when bad conditions underfoot did not lend themselves to a great deal of first-rate soccer.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination

White Hart Lane

2 - 5 (Charles, Hurst)

15 December 1962

Dickie

Bond

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Charles J.

Dear

Hugo

Crawford

Hurst

Musgrove

For a considerable portion of their match against Tottenham Hotspur Reserves at White Hart Lane on December 15th our second-string looked like gaining at least one point, but the wheel of fortune swung in favour of the home side during the second half.

We took the lead within a minute of the kick-off through John Charles, but Spurs came back to make it 2-1 before Geoff Hurst ewned it at 2-2 for the interval.

Midfield control passed to the North Londoners early in the second half and we went in arrears again although still very moch hi the game. Unfortunately what appeared to be an offside goal and another just before the end made the final tally 2-5 against us. This was rather flattering to Spurs, but we could in some ways only blame ourselves for missing opportunities that might have given us a better-looking result.

CRYSTAL PALACE : Football Combination

Upton Park

2 - 4 (Dear, [og])

22 December 1962

Dickie Presland Lyall Bovington Bickles Charles J. Dear Hurst Hugo Sissons Crawford

For the home game against Crystal Palace Reserves on the Saturday before Christmas our XI on a muddy surface our team gave a most disappointing show, and even though Palace were reduced to ten men for a large part of the game the Glaziers gained a 4-2 victory. The Hammers" goals came from Brian Dear and an "own goal."

SECOND-HALF