WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1902-03 Western League (Division One)
The 1902–03 season was the 11th in the history of the Western Football League. Like the previous two seasons, 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. The Division Two champions were Bristol Rovers Reserves
SOUTHAMPTON
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Linward)
20 September 1902
Att: 6,000
Biggar
Eccles
Dow
Bigden
McAteer
Blythe
Campbell
Grassam
Farrell
Barnes
Linward
REPORT:
BRISTOL ROVERS
Eastville
2 - 5 (Grassam, Linward)
22 September 1902
Att: 1,500
Biggar
Yenson
Dow
Bigden
Kelly
Blythe
Allan
Grassam
McAteer
Jenkinson
Linward
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Memorial Grounds
4 - 0 (Farrell 2, Grassam, Linward)
13 October 1902
Att: 1,500
Biggar
Dow
Eccles
Bigden
McAteer
Kelly
Allan
Grassam
Farrell
Barnes
Linward
A crowd of about 1,500 spectators gathered on the West Ham enclosure on Monday afternoon to witness this match. The ground was in good condition, but the game was not so interesting as could be wished, due probably, to the fact that the players had not quite recovered from their serve exertions of two days ago. Still the United won very decisively by four goals to love, and proved successful on their merits.
READING
Elm Park
0 - 1
5 November 1902
Att: 1,000
Biggar
King
Fair
Bigden
Kelly
Blythe
McDonald J.
Carr
Farrell
Barnes
Campbell
Both teams were representative, but the game on the slippery turf was slow. Still, the exchanges were of an interesting character, and so sound was the defence on each side that when half-time arrived nothing had been scored. The second half was well contested, and eventually as the result of some capital work, Davidson scored for Reading who won by one goal to nil.
PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
0 - 2
15 November 1902
Att: 7,000
Biggar
King
Eccles
Bigden
McAteer
Blythe
McDonald J.
Grassam
Farrell
Barnes
Linward
REPORT:
MILLWALL ATHLETIC
North Greenwich
1 - 2 (Linward)
24 November 1902
Att: ?
Griffiths
Fair
Dow
Bigden
Kelly
Blythe
Allan
Grassam
Wallace
Barnes
Linward
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
The Dell
0 - 4
3 January 1903
Att: ?
Griffiths
Fair
Eccles
Kelly
Yenson
Blythe
Campbell
Grassam
Davidson
Farrell
Barnes
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Memorial Grounds
19 January 1903
MATCH POSTPONED
Canning Town, like most parts of London, was enveloped in a dense fog in the afternoon - both sides put in an appearance and a large crowd assembled outside the Memorial Grounds with the hope that providence might intervene and allow the Western League match take place. Such was not the case, for instead of the fog lifting, it thickened, the referee waited 45 minutes but the light did not improve and about 2:30 he declared the match off, and the spectators were compelled to disperse without the gates being opened.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Kensal Rise Athletic Ground
1 - 2 (Campbell)
9 February 1903
Att: 4,000
Griffiths
Milnes H.
Dow
Bigden
Yenson
Blythe
Campbell
Grassam
Davidson
Wallace
Barnes
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
0 - 1
16 February 1903
Att: 3,000
Griffiths
Fair
Dow
Bigden
Yenson
Kelly
Grassam
Campbell
Wallace
Bush
Barnes
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH
Memorial Grounds
0 - 2
28 February 1903
Att: 5,500
Griffiths
Fair
Eccles
Yenson
Bigden
Blythe
Grassam
Bush
Miecznikowski
Wallace
Barnes
Miecznikowski the Clapton amateur made an appearance for Hammers, called 'Mickey' for short, he was not a success in this match at first but after swapping places with Grassam his effectiveness was soon apparent. Cunliffe after 30 minutes and Wheldon on 80 minutes got the visitors goals.
BRENTFORD
Boston Park Cricket Ground
3 - 6 (Barnes 2, McAteer)
2 March 1903
Att: ?
Griffiths
Dow
Yenson
Bigden
Kelly
Blythe
Allan
Bush
McAteer
Wallace
Barnes
REPORT:
MILLWALL ATHLETIC
Memorial Grounds
1 - 1 (Farrell)
9 March 1903
Att: 3,000
Griffiths
McAteer
Dow
Bigden
Yenson
Blythe
Allan
Grassam
Farrell
Wallace
Barnes
The Millwall team, against West Ham included six of the men who played in the Cup-tie against Everton. Morris turned out for the Lions but retired before the game actually started. The opening half was of a decidely tame character. Blythe left the field after 20 minutes of the first half after a nasty kick in the shin. Only one goal was scored, this being placed to the credit of West Ham by Farrell, who shot the ball into the net from Grassam's centre. About half way through the second half - which, by the way, was much more interesting to witness - a penalty kick was awarded to Millwall, and from this Bell easily scored. No more points were obtained, and so the game ended in a draw of one goal each.
BRENTFORD
Memorial Grounds
0 - 0
16 March 1903
Att: 1,000
Biggar
Dow
Eccles
McAteer
Yenson
Blythe
Allan
Grassam
Smith
Farrell
Campbell
Midway through the second half Blythe had to leave the field after being elbowed in the eye by an opponent, West Ham tried new boy Smith at centre-forward.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Memorial Grounds
0 - 0
19 March 1903
Att: 2,000
Griffiths
Dow
Eccles
Bigden
Yenson
Parkinson
Allan
Farrell
Sugden
Wallace
Barnes
Dull and cheerless affair. A certain section of crowd made themselves most objectionable to the occupants of the stand by the free use of abominable language.
READING
Memorial Grounds
0 - 1
11 April 1903
Att: ?
Biggar
Fair (King)*
Eccles
Bigden
Yenson
Blythe
Campbell
Farrell
Grassam
Wallace
Barnes
* Reading allowed Sid King to replace Fair after 2 mins
BRISTOL ROVERS
Memorial Grounds
2 - 1 (Grassam 2)
14 April 1903
Att: 2,000
Biggar
Yenson
King
McAteer
Kelly
Parkinson
Campbell
Bush
Grassam
Smith
Miecznikowski
REPORT: