WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1901-02 Western League (Division One)
The 1901–02 season was the 10th in the history of the Western Football League. Like the previous season, Portsmouth were the champions of Division One, and along with all the other members of Division One, also competed in the Southern League during this season. Portsmouth ultimately won both leagues, achieving a double.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Latimer Road
4 - 1 (Hitchens 2, Corbett, Linward)
16 September 1901
Att: 1,000
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Hitchens
Linward
This is West Ham's first match in the Western League, and this splendid victory does them credit. The match was played at Rangers' new home at Latimer Road, Notting Hill. The West London club had been forced to move from Kensal Rise following a dispute with their landlords. When the Hammers arrived on the ground, there was no dressing room for them, and they had to make use of a neighbouring "pub". Fancy these staunch teetotal Hammers in a "pub". Spectators were not numerous, but most enthusiastic supporters of the Rangers. Rain fell from te very commencement of play, and would have damped the ardour of many spectators, but the home supporters stuck gamely to it, determined to see the match out at any costs.
READING
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Grassam)
7 October 1901
Att: 500
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Kyle
Linward
The strong wind was against good play. Reading won the toss, and played with the sun at their backs and the wind against them. For a while the play was even, but the home side were the first to score, Grassam notching the goal from a pass by Kyle. The visitors pulled themselves together and for a time almost penned their opponents. Monteith saved several dangerous shots. It was close upon half-time that Barnes succeeded in equalising from a capital pass by Evans. In the second half Reading had the best of the exchanges, but failed to increase their score, one or two good chances being spoilt. The result was a draw of a goal each.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
1 - 2 (Linward)
14 October 1901
Att: 7,000
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
READING
Elm Park
0 - 2
6 November 1901
Att:
Monteith
King
Pudan
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Allan
Corbett
Kyle
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
2 - 3 (Grassam 2)
25 November 1901
Att: 5,000
Monteith
Pudan
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
Jenkinson
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH
Memorial Grounds
2 - 4 (Allan, Grassam)
30 November 1901
Att: 1,500
Monteith
Pudan
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
BRISTOL ROVERS
Memorial Grounds
3 - 0 (Allan, Corbett, Grassam)
2 December 1901
Att: 1,000
Monteith
Pudan
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
Jenkinson
Allan
Grassam
Corbett
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
Memorial Grounds
1 - 0 (McDonald)
25 December 1901
Att: 5,000
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Allan
Grassam
McDonald
Jenkinson
Linward
Overnight morning rain made both pitch and approaches to the Memorial Grounds very muddy. Match started at 11:30 am. Ythere was no score at the 45 minute mark although Moger had beenkept very busy. Towards the end the pitch was a quagmire, McDonald notched the winner 4 minutes from the end.
SWINDON TOWN
City Ground
4 - 0 (McDonald 2, Grassam, Linward)
15 January 1902
Att: 500
Monteith
Pudan
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
Jenkinson
Allan
Grassam
McDonald
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Memorial Grounds
0 - 1
20 January 1902
Att: 4,000
Monteith
Pudan
Craig
Bigden
Kelly
McEachrane
Hunt
Grassam
McDonald
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
BRISTOL ROVERS
Eastville
4 - 1 (Jenkinson 2, Bigden, Hunt)
3 February 1902
Att: 300
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Grassam
Ratcliffe
Hunt
Jenkinson
Linward
Corbett ex-West Ham now Bristol Rovers gave the visitors the lead. Jenkinson equalised before half-time. In the second half, further goals by Hunt, Jenkinson and Bigden gave Hammers a 4-1 victory. The attendance was barely 300.
SWINDON TOWN
Memorial Grounds
6 - 0 (Jenkinson 3, Bigden, Hunt, LInward)
10 February 1902
Att: 500
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
McDonald
McEachrane
Grassam
Ratcliffe
Hunt
Jenkinson
Linward
West Ham gained a decisive victory over Swindon Town by six goals to nil. The opening goal came about a quarter of an hour from the start, Lewis running out to intercept Grassam and leaving Linward with an open goal. Encouraged by this success West Ham continued to press heavily, and a few minutes later Jenkinson, from a fine centre by Grassam, headed through. Just afterwards the same player added a third goal in an exactly similar manner, and five minutes afterwards put in a fourth. Shortly before the interval Hunt netted the ball with a very fine shot, and West Ham crossed over with a lead of five goals to nil.
The second half was somewhat more even in character, West Ham United, with the complete knowledge that they had the issue in safe keeping, relaxing their efforts to no small extent. At no time, however, did Swindon appear at all likely to score, Craig and King being more than equal to all the demands made upon them. West Ham's sixth goal was scored by Bigden, right-back, who got through with a particularly fine long shot.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Grassam)
10 March 1902
Att: 3,000
Monteith
King
Craig
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Grassam
Ratcliffe
Hunt
Jenkinson
Linward
In the first half there was little to choose between the teams, but West Ham had a shade the better of it in the closing stages. Five minutes before the interval a centre by Linward led to Grassam scoring with a rattling shot from twelve yards out, but before crossing over Brown equalised, the Spurs centre swinging round and cleverly hooking the ball into the net. The pace slackened in the second half, but the game was always interesting. Clawley had rather more to do than Monteith, but very few shots by either side had much sting. Once Copeland netted for the Spurs, but the result was disallowed, and the end of a capital match came with the result a draw of one goal each.
SOUTHAMPTON
The Dell
1 - 2 (Bowman [og])
31 March 1902
Att: 7,000
Monteith
King
Yenson
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Grassam
Ratcliffe
Hunt
Jenkinson
Linward
REPORT:
MILLWALL ATHLETIC
Memorial Grounds
0 - 1
5 April 1902
Att: 4,000
Monteith
Yenson
Craig
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Grassam
Ratcliffe
Hunt
Jenkinson
Linward
Both sides were representative and a good game was seen. West Ham getting the advantage of the wind, had much the best of the exchanges, but Joyce kept goal admirably and being well backed up by some resolute defence on the part of the visitors' backs the home team found scoring a matter of difficulty. At half-time neither side had scored. The second half saw Millwall to better advantage, and their combination soon led up to a goal, Hamilton beating Monteith with a shot some eight minutes after changing ends. This proved to be the only goal, as though both custodians were afterwards called upon to clear, they did their work effectively, and at the close Milllwall had won a capital game by one goal to love.
MILLWALL ATHLETIC
Memorial Grounds
0 - 1
26 April 1902
Att:
Monteith
Yenson
Craig
Bigden
Jones
McEachrane
Grassam
Jenkinson
Hunt
Ratcliffe
Linward
REPORT:
