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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:

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