WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Death of Queen Victoria
There are striking similarities between the death of Queen Victoria and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Both monarchs’ inherited the throne at a relatively early age, both celebrated unique accession anniversaries, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee’s respectively and both monarchs sadly passed away in their favoured residence, Victoria in Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Although there was no obligation to cancel or postpone sporting events during the period of National Mourning, there was a marked difference how sporting bodies of the times handle the delicate situation.
Following a custom she maintained throughout her widowhood, Queen Victoria spent the Christmas of 1900 on the Isle of Wight and passed away on 22 January 1901 at the age of 81. Her reign of 63 years and seven months was longer than any previous British monarch.
As might be expected, the press at the time was dominated by this event. Sporting papers, including the ‘Sportsman’ devoted five full pages to the occasion, with each page having heavy black lines dividing the column inches as did their subsequent issue on the day of the funeral.
The Emergency Committee of the Football Association immediately postponed the next round of the English Cup (F.A. Cup) – due to be played on 26 January, until after the funeral.
The reaction to that decision was instant, supported by the Secretary of the Southern League who declared that their fixtures would not be postponed, including Watford’s match against West Ham United, the President of the Football League objected angrily to the FA’s postponement directive, by asking ‘who are these men that have the authority to postpone other men’s livelihoods’ for two weeks’.
Although clubs were advised to play their Cup-ties, a sports writer on the Sunday Chronicle took the opposite view, suggesting ‘sportsman everywhere should respect the wishes of the majority, one must either approve or disapprove, like or dislike, postponement such a national tournament appeals as a very proper act on the part the Football Association. Of course, it is inconvenient, and equally of course it means a financial lose to many clubs, but death brings such trouble.’
The journalist concluded, ‘I very much regret indeed that sordid considerations of gate-money and wages should have been introduced into any public discussion at such a time. It is impossible to overlook the fact that the English Cup is a great national movement, and must inevitably remain in abeyance in the face of the death of Queen who has ever shared the sorrows of her subjects’.
Prior to the season kicking-off the fixture list reveals that West Ham were scheduled to play Watford at Cassio Road on 2 February 1901, as events unfolded that date would be the day of the Queens funeral. Between November and December, the Hammers had battled through 5 FA Cup matches before losing to Liverpool in the sixth match at the Supplementary Round stage on 5 January.
With both clubs knocked-out of the Cup competition, the Hammers and the Hornets agreed to bring their Southern League fixture forward to the 26 January as both teams had a free date. Apart from four Southern League games, there were 5 Football League fixtures completed during the period of mourning. However, the sixteen Cup-ties did not take place, including Everton’s trip to Southampton. The Toffees’ would later defeat the Saints’ by 3-1.
Rooted at the foot of the table, Watford supporters were hoping that their team would capture a couple of much needed points, but fate would rule otherwise.
On a windy afternoon, West Ham’s Fred Corbett kick-off at 2:50pm. Play was even for the opening spell but the windy conditions made the kick and rush game more preferable, half-time arrived with the game scoreless.
Mid-way through the second period West Ham scored through William Grassam. The Hertfordshire club tried desperately to get back on level terms but the visitors held out for both points. A week later on the 2 February, the day of the Queen’s funeral, no football of any kind was played.
One Hundred and twenty one years later on the afternoon of Thursday 8 September 2022, the world of sport reacted quickly to the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth with a raft of cancellations. A couple of hours later West Ham were due to host their UEFA Europa Conference League match with Romanian side FCSB.
There was some doubt as to whether the match would go ahead. In unprecedented circumstances and at such short notice the game commenced with a minute’s silence with the majority of the 39,536 fans singing a rousing rendition of “God Save the Queen”. In a sombre atmosphere the Hammers triumphed 3-1.
