WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1905-06 Southern League (Division Two)
SWINDON TOWN RESERVES
County Ground
1 - 2 (Winterhalder A.)
2 September 1905
Cotton
Frisby
Platt
Smith
Bush
Bacton
Winterhalder H.
McAllister
Winterhalder A.
Griffiths
Wilkinson
West Ham United reserves journeyed to Swindon to play the Railwaymen who have a very capable reserve side, and they managed to defeat their opponents by two goals to one. The loss was chiefly due to the fact that suddenly their team had to be re-arranged. Hammond, who is employed by the G.E. Railway, could not leave his business owing to the railway smash at Witham, and consequently his place had been taken by Frisby, a half-back, and in the latter position Sis Smith, a forward, played.
Swindon were first to score through Oakley, but Arthur Winterhalder soon equalised, and half-time arrived with no further goals registered. On the resumption the Hammers worked hard, but although they attacked strongly they could not get through. Ultimately the Swindon men notched another goal by Abbott and ran out winners by two goals to one.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Loakes Park
0 - 2
16 September 1905
Cotton
McCartney
Platt
Maydell
Hindle
Allison
Winterhalder H.
Frewdin
McAllister
Smith
Ford
These teams met at Wycombe on Saturday in the second division of the Southem League. The Wanderers started the season in none too promising fashion, but on this occasion they surpassed themselves, and the visitors were well-beaten by two goals to nil. The Wanderers, by the way, are the only amateur club in the competition. At the end of forty minutes' play, Hawes scored for the Wanderers, who led at the interval by one goal to nil. In the second half, the locals set up a series of dashing attacks, and, after Cotton had saved on several occasions, a fast drive from Finch proved too much for him, and the Wanderers were two goals up. The Hammers' forwards displayed pretty tactics, but they were sadly lacking in shooting power and in the end the Wanderers won by two goals to nil.
Wycombe Wanderers:
Vickers, Bushey, Minimums, Ray, Hooper, Tilbury, Pheby, Finch, Roberts, Langley, Hawes.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
0 - 0
18 September 1905
Cotton
McCartney
Platt
Bush
Hindle
Allison
Ford
Smith
Hilsdon
McAllister
Winterhalder A.
There were a few hundred spectators to witness the West Ham Reserves play Crystal Palace and the game ended in a goalless draw. It was pleasing to not that Tom Allison, who turned out, was in good form, and and now that his injured foot is better we may expect him to play with the first eleven at no distant date. The play was not of a very brilliant character, although Palace deserved a victory. The chief and a disagreeable feature of the match was the frequency of the whistle-blowing by the referee. Much of this was quite unnecessary.
LEYTON
Upton park
1 - 3 (McAllister)
25 September 1905
Cotton
McCartney
Platt
Allison
Hindle
Jarvis
Ford
Smith
Hilsdon
McAllister
Wilkinson
West Ham led by a goal scored by McAllister at half-time, but 3 goals in a seven minute second half spell by Featherstone 2 and Brand gained the points for Leyton.
ST LEONARDS UNITED
The Catholic Ground
4 - 2 (Hilsdon 2, Watson, Winterhaler A.)
14 October 1905
Line-up Unknown
West Ham United played a fine game againal St. Leonards United, and bagged both points in the Southern League Division 2. A large crowd witnessed the match, which was played on the Catholic ground. The visiting attack was very good, and scored four goals in the first half, in spite of a very creditable defence. Hilsdon (two), Winterhalder and Watson were the successful marksmen for the Hammers, and Kent for the home side, while after the interval W. Perkins alone beat the "goalie," making the total — West Ham United Reserves, 4; St Leonards United, 2.
SOUTHAMPTON RESERVES
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Hilsdon 2, Smith)
21 October 1905
Cotton
Hammond
Platt
Jarvis
Hindle
Maydell
Featherstone
Smith
Hilsdon
Watson
McAllister
Arthur Featherstone made a plucky forst appearance in a West Ham shirt in the Southern League Division Two match against Southampton Reserves. Hammers won 3-1 before and attendance of 1,000.
READING RESERVES
Elm Park
1 - 4 (Hilsdon)
28 October 1905
Cotton
Hammond
Platt
Jarvis
Piercy
Maydell
Featherstone
Smith
Hilsdon
Watson
McAllister
REPORT:
LEYTON
Hare & Hounds
1 - 1 (Featherstone)
30 October 1905
Cotton
Mapley
Platt
Jarvis
Piercy
Bush
Featherstone
Smith
Winterhalder A.
Watson
McAllister
The heavy rain which fell Monday morning left the Leyton ground soft, especially near goal. Leyton won the toss, and in the first half had the best of the game, but Cotton kept goal remarkably well, and saved many difficult shots sent in by Neave, Grassam, Featherston and Brand. The Reserves attacked at times, but Draper was safe, and the interval arrived without any score. Change of ends saw the visitors to the front, Smith, Featherstone and McAllister testing Draper, who saved. There was no score until within eight minutes of time, and then Grassam scored for the home club. This reverse caused the visitors to play up, and Featherstone equalised within two minutes of time, the result being a draw of one goal each.
Leyton:
Draper, Ramsay, Meredith, McLean, Gray, Massey, Neave, Grassam, Featherstone, Brand, Hesham.
WATFORD RESERVES
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Watson)
4 November 1905
Cotton
Mapley
Platt
Maydell
Hindle
Bush
Ford
Smith
Griffiths
Watson
McAlister
REPORT:
SOUTHERN UNITED
Roots Hall
3 - 4 (Griffiths, Watson, Winterhalder)
11 November 1905
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Some 1,500 people witnessed Southern United collect a brace of Southern League points at Nunhead, at the expense of West Ham reserves. It was a peculiar game, as the Hammers displayed marked superiority in the hrst half, but were outplayed after the interval. The first 2 goals fell to West Ham, and then Sprules opened the scoring for the United. Again West Ham forged ahead, and Coggins replied for the home side. The United showed great improvement on the resumption. Sanderson soon equalising. It was not until the close of the struggle that Sprules got through and made the final scores 4-3.
FULHAM
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Unknown)
25 November 1905
Cotton
Hammond
McCartney
Hindle
Piercy
Platt
Ford
Smith
Mackie
Randall
McAlister
Report:
PORTSMOUTH RESERVES
Fratton Park
1 - 2 (Hilsdon)
23 December 1905
Cotton
Ford
McCartney
Woodards
Hindle
Horn
Newlands
Smith
Hilsdon
Randall
Griffiths
Report:
GRAYS UNITED
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Newlands)
26 December 1905
Cotton
Hammond
McCartney
Hindle
Piercy
Horn
Newlands
Ford
Smith
Hilsdon
Randall
West Ham tried a new goalkeeper for the home game against United, but he cannot be described as a success. Both the visitors’ goals were secured from weak clearances on his part. Perhaps we ought to put this down to nervousness, as he has a good local reputation McCartney operated at back. Grays were the first to open the scoring. J. Axcell shot in on the run from the left wing; Ellis partly cleared and Axcell, keeping on, secured, and easily netted. Just before half time the home right winger, Newlands, drew Moore out of his goal and equalised. the second half both teams worked hard to secure the lead. Grays last attained their object. G. Axcell sent in a shot from near the half-way line which Ellis just managed to stop from going into the net. Before he could clear, however, Rose dashed up and scored, giving his side the victory.
SWINDON TOWN RESERVES
Upton Park
5 - 0 (Winterhalder A. 4, Hindle)
30 December 1905
Cotton
Hammond
McCartney
Woodward
Hindle
Maydell
Ford
Bush
Winterhalder A.
Horn
Joynes
In this Southern League Division Two match at Upton Park, Swindon played with only nine men throughout. The visitors decided to use only 3 forwards and in consequence their attack could do little about relieving the pressure on their goal. The goalkeeper was kept busy either fisting or kicking out for most of the afternoon.
From the beginning to the end Cotton was never seriously tried, and for nearly half of the game he was a spectator from the half-way line. Walker tried hard to score for the Railwaymen, and made many dashes towards the home goal, and once Cotton conceded a corner, and on another occasion Bowell shot, but it went wide.
Winterhalder opened the scoring for West Ham eight minutes from the start, and but for the sound play of Swindon's backs, and the really fine goalkeeping displayed by Hemmings, the score would have been added to before the interval. Changing over with West Ham leading by one goal to none, the second moiety was too one-sided to bear description. Winterhalder put on four more goals, so the final saw the Wiltshiremen beaten by five goals to nil with Winterhalder the former Wanstead player scoring 4 times. Hindle got the other goal. West Ham gave a trial in this match to Joynes a young Barking player.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace
1 - 3 (Featherstone)
10 February 1906
Cotton
Hammond
McCartney
Bush
Hindle
Horn
Featherstone
Ford
Hilsdon
Smith
Randall
On the cycle track enclosure on Saturday, the Crystal Palace team defeated West Ham Reserves, who in the previous match last September drew with the Palace after a goalless match. A strong wind blew from end to end of the ground, and the home team having the advantage of this in the first half when they were fresh, succeeded in putting three goals to the visitors' one, and as nothing was scored in the second half they won by that total. Needham scored for the Palace within the first five minutes, and Woodger, who repeatedly beat Hammond, addedd two more as the result of some pretty work. Before half-time Featherstone had reduced the lead by getting through for the visitors. The second half was mainly one of pressure by the visitors, who constantly tested Hewitson's defence. The Palace custodian was in good form, in fact he has not shaped better, and some prodigious saves on his part enabled the Palace to run through victorious. Some idea of the strength of the wind at times may gathered from the fact that the visiting goalkeeper was able to kick right past the Palace goal, while, when the home team were attacking, the ball was often kicked over the line, and was returned far into the field of play by the wind before touching the ground. The Palace tried a new centre forward this match. Brydon, who did some good work.
Crystal Palace:
Hewitson, Grant, Edwards, Innerd, Birnie, Walker, Wallace, Needham, Brydon, Woodger, Roberts
SOUTHAMPTON RESERVES
The Dell
1 - 3 (Unknown)
24 February 1906
Line-up Unknown
Report:
READING
Upton Park
5 - 0 (Unknown)
3 March 1906
Cotton
Hammond
Platt
Horn
Hilsdon
Piercy
Ford
Smith
Webb
Randall
Winterhalder A.
About 2,000 people witnessed this match at Upton Park on Saturday, when the home team won by five goals to love. Both sides were fully representative, the Hammers giving a trial to an amateur, G.W. Webb, of Ilford Alliance, at centre-forward. Webb is young and fast, but at present he lacks the initiative for the position he occupied on Saturday.
Reading:
Bonnington, Egby, Bartholomew, Mitchell, Brown, Fulker, Devine, Stanley, Stillman, Comerford, Leonard
WATFORD RESERVES
Cassio Road
1 - 2 (Webb)
10 March 1906
Cotton
Hammond
Platt
Woodards
Bush
Horn
Roberts
Smith
Webb
Randall
Joynes
Report:
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Unknown)
17 March 1906
Cotton
Hammond
Platt
Bush
Hindle
Hilsdon
Featherstone
Smith
Webb
Randall
Horn
Report:
FULHAM
Craven Cottage
0 - 5
31 March 1906
Line-up Unknown
Report:
GRAYS UNITED
Away
3 - 4 (Unknown)
16 April 1906
Line-up Unknown
Report:
ST LEONARDS UNITED
Upton Park
4 - 2 (Unknown)
21 April 1906
Line-up Unknown
Report:
SOUTHERN UNITED
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Unknown)
25 April 1906
Line-up Unknown
After two postponments this match was to have been decided at Upton Park. Southern, however, could only muster seven players. Under the circumstances they declined to play a League game. In order not to dissapoint the few spectators present a friendly was staged with West Ham supplying the substitutes. Play started half an hour late and in a game of 40 minutes each way Hammers won 3-1.
PORTSMOUTH RESERVES
Upron Park
3 - 3 (Unknown)
28 April 1906
Bullock
Hammond
Platt
Woodards
Hindle
Horn
Featherstone
Smith
Hilsdon
Randall
Frewdin
Report:
