theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1897-98 Friendlies
NORTHFLEET : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Reid)
2 September 1897
Att: 300
Furnell, Chalkley, Tranter, Chisholm, Dandridge, Bird, Hatton, Gresham, Reid, Mills, Edwards
Rain began to fall soon after the start and Mr Payne (TIW Sec) sent word that all spectators were to be allowed to occupy the grandstand. A linesman looked in vain for a Samaritan with an umbrella.
Northfleet:
Watts, Glen, Price, Cook, Marsh, Bailey, Bundock, Wolf, Nicholls, Hill, Campbell
NORTHFLEET : Friendly
Northfleet
0 - 1
4 September 1897
Furnell, Chalkley, East W., Morton, Dandridge, Bird, Denham, Gresham, Hatton, Reid, Edwards
Played in extremely cold weather before a 'fair' attendance. Home side lost the toss and were forced to face a strong wind. Despite this they proved far superior to 'Thames'. Soon after the start Northfleet attached and a cross by Marsh was netted by Nichols. It proved the only goal of the game but an inspired display by Funell in the Irons' goal prevented a further score.
Northfleet:
Clare, Price, Matthews, Harrison, Marsh, Bailey, Grieves, Nicholl, Neale, Moody, Campbell
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
0 - 2
23 September 1897
Att: 1,200
Furnell, Chalkley, Tranter, Dove, Dandridge, Chisholm, Denham, Gresham, Hatton, Reid, Edwards
REPORT:
Millwall Athletic:
Moore, Robson, Graham, Miller, Davis, King, Mitchell, Clavey, Pratt, Davies, Geddes
GLEBE ATHLETIC : Friendly
Away
12 - 0
25 September 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
Glebe Athletic:
Line-up Unknown
GROVE UNITED : Friendly
Away
1 - 0 (Ruffell)
2 October 1897
Barr, Trollope, Parr, Salt, Taylor, Pearson, Pile, Ruffell, Willacy, Loman, Southgate
REPORT:
Grove United:
Line-up Unknown
KETTERING TOWN : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 3 (Gresham)
9 October 1897
Att: 1,800
Furnell, Chalkley, Taylor, Dove, Dandridge, Gillies, Older, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Mills
REPORT:
Kettering Town:
Dixon, Draper, Wallis, Atherton, Green, Pell, Dixon, Miller, Lawrence, Winterhalder, Garfield
WEST HAM ST LUKE'S : Friendly
Custom House
4 - 1 (Loman, Ruffell, Taylor, Willacy)
16 October 1897
Barr, Trollope, Blellock, Taylor, Conduit, Pearson, Pile, Ruffell, Willacy, Loman, Southgate
REPORT:
West Ham St Luke's:
Line-up Unknown
WEST HAM GARFIELD : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
3 - 1 (Hounsell 2, Reid)
21 October 1897
Att; 200
Furnell, Taylor, Tranter, Dove, Gillies, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Cox
REPORT:
West Ham Garfield:
Heath, Clews, Ruffells, Townley, Heppell, Rundall, Coundon J., Robertson, Thompson, Coundon W., Barrett
LEYTONSTONE ALBION : Friendly
Leytonstone
6 - 0 (Ruffell 3, Trollope 2, Pile)
23 October 1897
Barr, Ballantyne J., Ballantyne D., Trollope, Blellock, Pearson, Pile, Ruffell, Willacy, Loman, Southgate
At Leytonstone. Both sides were fully represented. The Albion kicked off, but the Mechanics returned the opening kick, Loman and Southgate at once getting up on the left and into dangerously close quarters. In fact Bird, the Leytonstone goalkeeper, found it necessary to concede a corner within the first two minutes of play. Ruffell scored for the Juniors, and soon after the Thames forwards were very busy around the Leytonstone goal, Ruffell scoring again very shortly. The Albion got away at last, and Salter being brought up for offside. D. Ballantyne took the kick and sent right over to Trollope who scored a clinker. Half time, Thames Juniors 3, Leytonstone Albion 0. The second half promised at first to be more even, but Pile looked dangerous, and passing to Ruffell, the latter scored number four. The Albion, not to be denied, came away and gave Barr a stinger, which he cleared nicely. Give and take play ensued, and Trollope registered number five. Soon after Willacy started dribbling and centred right across, Pile bringing off a sixth goal.
Leytonstone Albion:
Line-up Unknown
2nd LIFEGUARDS: Friendly
Hermit Road Ground
6 - 0 (Gillies 2, Gresham 2 [1 pen], Hird 2)
6 November 1897
Furnell, Neil, Chalkley, Hird, Taylor, Bird, Nicholls, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies
REPORT:
2nd Lifeguards:
Line-up Unknown
ST ALBANS : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 1 (Gillies, Gresham [pen])
20 November 1897
Furnell, Neil, Tranter, Dove, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies
St Albans arrived late and start was delayed by 45 minutes. Played in a heavy fog the visitors scored first. Giddings missed a penalty before Gresham scored one for the homesters.
St Albans:
Dickenson, Sharp, Saunders, Sharpe E., Vinsen, Watkins, Dimmock, Allen, Groom, Giddings, Brown
YMCA: Friendly
Away
4 - 4 (Unknown)
20 November 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
YMCA:
Line-up Unknown
WOOLWICH ARSENAL : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 4 (Gillies)
27 November 1897
Duff, Chalkley, Hickman, Morton, Taylor, Bird, Nicholls, Hird, Hind, Reid, Gillies
REPORT:
Woolwich Arsenal:
Leather, Carver, Shrewsbury, Anderson, McAvoy, Hogbin, Duff, Stevens, Bone, Lamb, Gray
WOODGRANGE ATHLETIC : Friendly
Away
0 - 1
27 November 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
Woodgrange:
Line-up Unknown
WILLESDEN & METROPOLITAN RAILWAY : Friendly
White Hart Gardens
2 - 1 (Cooper, [1 unknown])
4 December 1897
Furnell, Neil, Tranter, Gillies, Dandridge, Bird, Edwards, Reid, Bone, Cooper, Morrison
MATCH ABANDONED
70 Minutes Fog
Ironworks arrived 25 minutes late due to the fog and the start was delayed. The ground was very slippery, Tranter 'put through' to give the home side the lead. Later the railwaymen missed a penalty awarded after Neil picked up the ball thinking it was out of play.
Willesden & Metropolitan Railway:
Royce G., Brooks, Humphreys, Pearce, Payne, Skeggs, Royce W., Logue, Merrifield, Jones A., Jones J.
SOUTH WEST HAM : Friendly
Tidal Basin, Canning Town
? - ?
4 December 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
South West Ham:
Line-up Unknown
MAYTHORPE : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 1 (Loman 2 [1 pen])
11 December 1897
Barr, Trollope, Ballantyne D., Humphreys, Willacy, Pearson, Ballantyne J., Day, Ruffell, Loman, Southhgate
REPORT:
Maythorpe:
Line-up Unknown
AYLESBURY UNITED : Friendly
Turnfurlong Lane
2 - 1 (Foss, Gillies)
18 December 1897
Ridges, Taylor J., Taylor W., Morton, Hickman, Hind, Foss, Nicholls, Bone, Hird, Gillies
REPORT:
Aylesbury United:
Brazell, Jones A., Turnham, Smith, Scott W., Panter, Scott H., Birtchnell, Cowley, Adams, Fellowes
SOUTH WEST HAM : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
4 - 0 (Gilles, Bone, Reid)
25 December 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
South West Ham:
Line-up Unknown
EAST HAM VICEROY : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 4 (Unknown)
25 December 1896
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
East Ham Viceroy:
Line-up Unknown
BARKING WOODVILLE : Friendly
Vicarage Field
0 - 1
27 December 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT
Barking Woodville:
Line-up Unknown
2nd GRENADIER GUARDS : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
4 - 0 (Unknown)
28 December 1897
Line-up Unknown
REPORT
2nd Grenadier Guards:
Line-up Unknown
ST STEPHEN'S : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
3 - 1 (Ruffell 2, Southgate)
1 January 1898
Barr, Trollope, Humphreys, Conjuite, Willacy, Pearson, Ballantyne J., Ballantyne D., Ruffell, Loman, Southgate
REPORT
St Stephen's:
Line-up Unknown
HANOVER ROVERS : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 2 (Unknown)
8 January 1898
Line-up Unknown
This return fixture was played on the Memorial Recreation Ground at Canning Town. The visitors at once attacked but were stopped by Trollope, who with D. Ballantyne, transferred play to the visitors' goal, but nothing came of it. Several corners fell to the visitors, but were all cleared, and Willacy obtained, and, running down, shot wide. From the goal-kick Ruffell's sent over the bar. The game was very evenly-contested, and at half-time the score-sheet was blank.
Re-starting the visitors attacked, and ten minutes later J. Ballantyne, who was playing as sub, scored for them from a scrimmage in goal. The Juniors then played up better, and after several corners D. Ballantyne obtained, and running down equalised with a ground shot. Re-starting, the Juniors again attacked, but owing to erratic shooting could not score. The visitors now woke up and Barr had a lively time in goal, but he was well beaten with a long shot which he could have saved.
The juniors now tried their hardest to draw level, but the visitors' goalkeeper was in good form and the Juniors had to acknowledge defeat by two to one.
Hanover Rovers:
Line-up Unknown
FERNCLIFFE : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
4 - 1 (Edwards 2, Hickman, Reid)
20 January 1898
Furnell, Taylor J., Tranter, Bird, Dandridge, Chisholm, Morrison, Hickman, Gillies, Reid J., Edwards
REPORT
Ferncliffe:
Chalkley, Sterling, McDowall, Morton, Davey, Slogger, Mitchell, Frazer, Dumfries, Maxwell, Stokes
COMMERCIAL ATHLETIC : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 2 (Unknown)
29 January 1898
Knight, Oxspring, McDougall, Morrison, Morton, Hickman, Rossiter, Mills, Ridges, Bone, Cox
REPORT
Commercial Athletic:
Line-up Unknown
UPTON PARK : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
3 - 1 (Unknown)
3 February 1898
Line-up Unknown
REPORT
Upton Park:
Line-up Unknown
GRAVESEND UNITED : Friendly
Overcliffe Ground
1 - 4 (Hounsell)
5 February 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Hind, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Gresham, Hounsell, Reid, Gillies
It took the Southern Leaguers 25 minutes to score a goal against their amateur visitors but within ten minutes they had doubled that score. Reynolds was responsible for both. Just on half time inside-left Andrews made it 3-0.
Irons were much more vigorous in the second half and should have been penalised on numerous occasions by Referee Johnson. Hounsell reduced the deficit by one in the 65th minute but McDonald soon restored the Kent sides 3-goal margin.
The "Gravesend and Northfleet Standard" reported that the Irons were late arriving and the start was delayed. The paper also commennted on the incessant noise made by the visiting supporters. "Their voices were not in the least melodious although they apparently thought so!"
Gravesend United:
Bignall, Buist, Cole, Innes, Bull, Slater, Reynolds, McDonald, Mobley, Andrews, Johnson
UPTON PARK : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 0 (Hird, Tranter [pen])
10 February 1898
Heath, Ratzer, Tranter, Gillies, Taylor, Chisholm, Woodcock, Gresham, Hird, Reid, Bone
In dull but pleasant weather, before a small gathering of spectators. Play was of a scrambling character in the first few minutes of the game. On settling down Thames Ironworks pressed, and the Upton Park backs were kept busy. The shooting was erratic, and thus the visiting goalkeeper was seldom troubled. The works fairly bombarded the Upton goal, and towards the interval the shooting improved. Still the custodian, Jones, used both hands and feet effectively, and it was not until within a couple of minutes of half-time that Herd succeeded in beating him, and scoring the home team's first point. Ends were changed with Thames Ironworks leading by one goal to nil.
The visitors were defending almost throughout the second period, during which it was practically only their own unsteadiness in front of goal that prevented the home side from running up a big score. Tranter scored from a penalty, but all other shots went wide, and the result was Thames Ironworks two goals; Upton Park, nil.
Upton Park:
Jones, Buckenham, Hook, Hagger, Howard, Mackie, Blois, Spackman F,, Spackman H., Ridges, Shingler
QUEENS PARK RANGERS : Friendly
Kensal Rise
1 - 1 (Reid)
12 February 1898
Att: 4,000
Heath
Neil
Tranter
Chisholm
Taylor
Hickman
Hird
Reid
Hounsell
Gresham
Gillies
The sturdy Ironworkers had the Rangers to fight on Saturday at Kilburn in friendly match, and the game proved a splendid draw. The Rangers won the toss and Brooks very soon awoke the Ironworkers’ goal-keeper, Wellington also putting in promptly, but misjudging an upward gust of wind. Fast and even play succeeded, Evans, however, getting in at last and cheating the goalkeeper, putting on the Rangers first point. This was soon balanced by Reid, who scored from scrimmage at the opposite end, and Tranter having fouled his little opponent Brooks, Smith took two free kicks, shooting through without scoring no one touched the ball. Wellington had a scratch on the eye from a nasty knock from the ball, and had play for the rest of the afternoon with a bandage round his head. A well contested half ended with one all, and no advance was made upon this in the second part. The forward lines attacked successively and went to pieces on the opposing halves. Wallington and Evans failing to get through in their determined work in the last few minutes.
Queens Park Rangers:
Hunt, Smith, Hughes, Walborn, Musselwhite, Mackenzie, Brooks, Evans, Ward, McDavid, Wallington
Note:
This friendly fixture at Kensal Rise was arranged to fill a gap in the calendar. Three-days earlier, Queens Park Rangers had resigned from the London League (Second Division).
The printed line-up inside the programme for the Thames Ironworks players, bears no resemblance to the Ironworks men. In fact the line-up stated relates to the Southall FC team. The mistake appears to be in connection with a decision to replay a Middlesex Cup tie played the previous week between Queens Park Rangers and Southall after the Rangers fielded an ineligible player. In the end the replay was held at Southall the following week but presumably the printers got caught up in the confusion.
FERNCLIFFE : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
6 - 0 (Unknown)
12 February 1898
Line-up Unknown
REPORT
Ferncliffe:
Line-up Unknown
NEW BROMPTON : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 2 (Chisholm, Gresham)
19 February 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Taylor, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Fitzjohn, Gresham, Gillies
REPORT
New Brompton:
Gentle, Roadley, Watson, Graham, Mesger, James, Gallacher, Fergusson, Ford, Hutchison, Gladwell
WOOLWICH ARSENAL : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
3 - 1 (Unknown)
5 March 1898
Line-up Unknown
REPORT
Woolwich Arsenal:
Line-up Unknown
CLAPTON : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 1 (Unknown)
12 March 1898
Knight, [ ? ], Chalkley, Morton, Barker, Furnell, Woodcock, Oxspring, Ridges, Cooper, Hare
REPORT
Clapton:
Line-up Unknown
STAR of ESSEX : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 0 (Cawcutt, Ruffell)
19 March 1898
Cawcutt, Trollope, Ballantyne D., Willacy, Conjuite A., Pearson, Ballantyne J., Humphreys, Ruffell, Loman, Southgate
REPORT
Star of Essex:
Line-up Unknown
WOOLWICH ARSENAL : Friendly
Woolwich
2 - 4 (Unknown)
26 March 1898
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
Woolwich Arsenal:
Line-up Unknown
LOWESTOFT TOWN : Friendly
Crown Meadow Athletics Ground
3 - 0 (Reid 2, Hounsell)
9 April 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Furnell, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Hounsell, Gresham, Woodcock
REPORT:
Lowestoft Town:
Ayres, Beatton, Chambers, Grieve, Maher, Mewse, Wilkins, Masson, Cole, Dixon, Crews
GRAVESEND UNITED : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Woodcock)
12 April 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Woodcock
REPORT:
Gravesend United:
Bignell, Buist, Cole, Slater, BullInnes, Johnson, Turner, Cowie, McDonald, Reynolds
UPTON PARK : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
3 - 0 (Hird 2, Woodcock)
18 April 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Woodcock
REPORT:
Upton Park:
Jones, Cumming, Hook, Lonserd, Mackie, Howard, Felps, Ploie, Payne, Spencer, Haggard
WOOLWICH ARSENAL : Friendly
Memorial Grounds
2 - 2 (Gresham, Reid)
26 April 1898
Heath, Neil, Tranter, Barker, Oxspring, Chisholm, Hird, Reid, Dove, Gresham, Foss
REPORT:
Woolwich Arsena:
Hamilton, Calder, McConnel, Crawford, Anderson, Farrell, Brock, White, McGeogh, Murphy, Hannah
