WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1902-03 Friendlies
BOLEYN CASTLE
Boleyn Castle Ground
1 - 0 (Unknown)
4 September 1902
Line-up Unknown
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Southern Professional Charity Cup (Final)
Plumstead
1 - 2 (Campbell)
8 September 1902
Biggar
Eccles
Dow
Bigden
McAteer
Blythe
Campbell
Grassam
Farrell
Barnes
Linward
Final deferred from last season
Tottenham Hotspur defeated Arsenal other semi-final, and in consequence Tottenham being engaged on the last day of the season with Portsmouth, for Bedingfield’s benefit, it has been found necessary to postpone the final tie till September 1902.
Campbell scored for West Ham, but Houston levelled the scores before half-time. Gilhooy decided the issue with what looked like an off-side goal. Eccles and Dow both played a fine game.
LEYTONSTONE
Granleigh Road
4 - 2 (Axcell, Bush, Corbett, Wallace)
4 October 1902
Biggar
Yenson
Fair
Parkinson
Kelly
Brunton
Paynter
Corbett
Wallace
Bush
Axcell
REPORT:
MILLWALL ATHLETIC
North Greenwich
1 - 2 (Grassam)
6 October 1902
Griffiths
Kelly
Eccles
Bigden
McAteer
Blythe
Allan
Grassam
Sugden
Farrell
Barnes
The game against Millwall Athletic was originally a London League fixture which was abandoned after 16 minutes play due to fog, the fog subsequently cleared and a friendly took place of 30 minutes each half.
For the friendly game, Kelly took over the shirt from King. West ham were one-up when a shot by Grassam was diverted passed his own 'keeper by easton. Morren quickly equalised. Astley got the winner after 10 minutes of the second period.
SOUTHAMPTON : Southern Professional Charity Cup (First Round)
The Dell
2 - 1 (Campbell, Farrell)
27 October 1902
Griffiths, Dow, Eccles, Bigden, McAteer, Blythe, Campbell, Grassam, Farrell, Barnes, Linward
This was a fine victory by the Hammers over a side that contained the great amateur C.B. Fry. A Farrell goal goal separated the sides at half-time and West Ham began the second period resigned to a long siege of their goal.
But Frazer the Saints centre-forward was injured and the forwards were re-arranged with 'C.B.' taking over the No.9's duties. He was ably equipped for this because he had a splendid turn of speed. However, the visitors employed the off-side trap and Fry effective speed was neutralised.
Ten minutes into the second half a Campbell shot went through Robinson's legs and West Ham were two goals ahead. Barlow reduced the defecit to 1-2 and the visitors then became under severe pressure. Amid the desperate tactics of the West Ham defenders, Wood was brought down and the referee at first awarded a penalty, but on consulting his linesman he reversed his decision much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
WEST NORWOOD
Away
7 - 2 (Linward 4, Barnes, Grassam, McDonald)
12 November 1902
Biggar
King
Eccles
Dow
McAteer
Kelly
Campbell
McDonald J.
Grassam
Barnes
Linward
REPORT:
NEW BROMPTON
Memorial Grounds
1 - 0 (Smith)
15 November 1902
Griffiths
Fair
Dow
Yenson
Holmes
Parkinson
Hill
Bush
Smith
Cash
Hornsey
REPORT:
OXFORD CITY
White Horse Ground
2 - 1 (McAteer, Wallace)
26 February 1902
Hart
Allan
Dow
Yenson
Kelly
Blythe
Grassam
Bush
McAteer
Wallace
Barnes
REPORT:
CLAPTON
Millfields
3 - 1 (Bigden, Grassam, Wallace)
21 March 1902
Griffiths
Fair
Eccles
Bigden
Yenson
Parkinson
Grassam
Farrell
Smith
Wallace
Barnes
The professionals were just that bit cleverer and won comfortabley. Fair had another good game. Grassam opened the scoring after a Barnes effort had struck the bar. Wallace got No2 and Farnfield reduced the difference before Bigden scored West Ham's 3rd goal with 15 minutes remaining.
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : Southern Professional Charity Cup (Semi-Final)
Memorial Grounds
1 - 7 (Grassam)
2 April 1902
Griffiths
Fair
Dow
Bigden
Yenson
Blythe
Allen
Farrell
Grassam
Wallace
Barnes
Griffiths dislocated a finger in the first half but this was no excuse for the defeat. The backs were very poor, Dow being altogether off colour. Hammers took the lead after 5 minutes when Grassam scored from an Allan pass. Seven minutes later Gettins levelled and the score stayed at 1-1 to half-time. In the tenth minute of the second period Griffiths let a soft shot from Bell get by him. Hulse added a 3rd as Griffiths came out to him and Hulse got Millwall's 4th of the match and 100th goal of the season as the visitors went into a 4-1 lead. The West Ham defence stood and watched as the ball went in and did likewise as Hulse made it 5-1. Watkins and Hulse brought the Millwall total to seven with the latters personal tally being 4.
OTHER MATCHES at UPTON PARK
PORTSMOUTH v. MILLWALL : Southern Professional Charity Cup Final
2 - 0
20 April 1903
Att: 5,000
PORTSMOUTH (Cuncliffe, Smith)
Reilly, Wilkie, Burgess, Houlker, Chadwick, Stringfellow, Smith S., Smith W., Burnett, Cuncliffe, Marshall
MILLWALL
Sutcliffe, Easton, Storrier, Riley, Bell, Jones J., Moran, Astley, Devine, Jones R., Watkins
Millwall's emphatic semi-final win on this same ground did little for their confidence in this final tie. Smith S. Gave Pompey the lead in the 20th minute and clever play by the same player led to Cunliffe's score six minutes later.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION v. WATFORD : Southern League Test Match
5 - 3
27 April 1903
Att: 300
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (Garfield 2, Thair 2, Scott)
Whitehurst, Hulme, Caldwell, Farrell, Lamb, Hardman, Taylor, Smith, Scott, Thair, Garfield
WATFORD (Cottrell, Murray, Tennant)
Higgine, Cother, Dackere, Munn, McAvoy, Matthews, Brown, Cottrell, Morgan, Murray, Tennant
At Canning Town, before three hundred spectators. Watford had reserve backs, and were over-played in the first half. Garfield, Scott, and Thair scored for Brighton, Tennant responding for Watford, who played better afterwards, and equalised through Cottrell and Murray to make it 3-3 at half-time. Brighton took the lead through Thair and Garfield scored again, Brighton thus qualifying for the First Division.
Thanks to Nigel Turner