top of page

1906-07 Friendlies

FIRST XI v. RESERVES : First Public Practice Match
Upton Park
4 - 4
18 August 1906
Att: 5,000

FIRST XI: 4 (Unknown)

Line-up Unknown

RESERVES: 4 (Unknown)

Line-up Unknown

Eight Goals for Twopence
Five thousand spectators turned up at the public practice game to see how the players, ld and new, principally new, would shape after their summer holiday. The familiar figure of James Jackson was, of course, missing, but the display given by both sides was considered very satisfactory by the officials of the club. Lindsay makes a capital partner for Grassam on the right wing, and Watson and Blackburn on the left wing, the former especially, have started the season with a capital understanding between them; and when we get our famous centre forward playing himself into form, it would appear to me that the forward line of the Hammers will be very strong indeed. Harry Stapley, being in Cornwall on his holidays, was unable to participate in the opening practice game, but I am assured that he will return on Friday, August 24, and the public will have a chance of seeing him play on Saturday next.

FIRST XI v. RESERVES : Second Public Practice Match
Upton Park
3 - 0
25 August 1906
Att: 4,000

FIRST XI: 3 (Blythe, Jarvis, Watson)

Line-up Unknown

RESERVES: 0

Line-up Unknown

REPORT:

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Southern Charity Cup (First Round)
White Hart Lane
0 - 2
22 October 1906
Att: 10,000

Kitchen

Wildman

Taylor

Allison

Piercy

Horn

Featherstone

Lindsay

Grassam

Kemp

Winterhalder A.

Neither club was able to place a full strength in the field at Tottenham, and in the absence of V.J. Woodward the Spurs tried Whtman at cente forward with only fair success. West Ham, who had five of their best men absent, gave a very uneven display, and were well beaten by two goals to love - a score that scatcely represents the superiority of the winners. The play began in startling fashion, the Spurs scoring in a rush down from the kick off through the agency of Reid, whose shot was a fine one from the left foot. The second goal was most skilfuly obtained by Stansfield close on half time, and the remainder of the play was a rather scrambling nature, although Walton showed fine form at outside right for the home team. The best for West Ham were Wildman, Piecey and Lindsay.
The weather was pleasantly fine, and 10,00 spectators assembled. The sum of £230 was taken at the gate.

Tottenham Hotspur:
Reilly, Chaplin, Tait, Morris, Hughes, McDiarmid, Walton, Stansfield, Whyman, Reid, Dow

WOOLWICH ARSENAL : Charlie Paynter Benefit
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Randall 2)
12 November 1906
Att: 1,500

Clark

Bourne

Taylor

Woodards

Blythe

Horn

Featherstone

Randall

Bridgeman

Kemp

Winterhalder A.

The match played for the benefit of Charlie Paynter, West Ham's groundsman, was decided at Upton Park, when the home team won an evenly contested game by two goals to one. Both sides were strongly represented, most of the players having figured in the senior elevens. As a result, the play was of a high standard all through, and fully deserved a bigger attendance than the 1,500 spectators present. The opening play was even and twenty five minutes elapsed before West Ham took the lead, Randall scoring with a good shot. They only retained this advantage for a short period, for prior to the interval Blair crowned a fine passing movement by the whole of the Woolwich forwards by equalising. The second half opened in favour of the visitors, who were distinctly unlucky in not scoring on two or three occasions, but as the game progressed West Ham gradually assumed the aggressive, and ten minutes from the close Featherstone gave Randall an opening, which the latter turned to account, and West Ham won by two goals to one.

Woolwich Arsenal Reserves:
Batcup, Sutherland, Cross, Low, Bassett, Dick, Fergusson, Blair, Freeman, Ducat, Bellamy.

SOUTHEND UNITED : Reserves
Roots Hall
1 - 5 (Unknown)
26 December 1906

Line-up Unknown

REPORT:

WANSTEAD : Reserves
Upton Park
9 - 0 (Unknown)
9 February 1907

Clark

Hammond

Bourne

Woodards

Blythe

Horn

Featherstone

King

Parsons C.

Kemp

Randall

The Boleyn Castle enclosure presented a sorry spectacle - as did the players, for that matter - after the match between West Ham United Reserves and Wanstead had been in progress a few minutes. Unfortunately, the amateurs were weakly represented, Lovett, Hardy, Porter and Little being notable absentees. Nevertheless, a nine-goal defeat wants a lot of explaining, Mr. Davis; and knowing what a capable goalkeeper you have in Fry, I dread to think what the consequences might have been had a less reliable custodian been on the premises! From the score it would appear that the professionals (there are, I believe, an amateur or two in the team, Mr. King?) had all the game. As a matter of fact, however, Clarke was frequently called upon, and probably the two finest "saves" of the match were made by him in clearing hot shots by H.J. Pearce and Allerton. Me thinks the defeat will leave "a nasty taste in the mouth" for some time to come. Still better luck next time, Wanstead.

Wanstead:
Fry, Pearce W., Scott, Hardy, Adams, Barclay, Halse, Pearce H., Allerton, Grimster, Wood

MIDDLESBROUGH
Upton Park
4 - 1 (Kemp 3, Watson)
9 March 1907

Clark

Wildman

Hammond

Allison

Piercy

Woodards

Featherstone

Lindsay

Watson

Kemp

Blackburn

If there was tendency towards gallery play on occasions, the “friendly’’ match between West Ham United and Middlesbrough, at Upton Park, was thoroughly interesting. The first goal was secured about seven minute from the kick-off, Cail steering the ball past Clark. Within three minutes, however, Watson had equalised with an admirable shot, and from then West Ham had the better of the play for quite a quarter of an hour. Griffiths, however, had not many shots to negotiate, and it was twenty-seven minutes after the start before another goal came.

Then Kemp snapped up a pass, and,  after dodging Aitken, deceived Tyldesley by feinting to pass to Blackburn, and finished by beating Griffiths with low shot into the corner the net. Middlesbrough were put their mettle by this, but they could not draw level, though Common had point disallowed for offside before the interval. Play ran fairly level in the second half, corners falling to each side without result. Splendid play by the visitors' right wing merited success, but twice the ball was directed a few inches wide, and two other shots were well stopped Clark.

There was an element of lock about West Ham’s third goal, which came half hour after the Interval. From a centre by Featherstone, a melee occurred in front of Griffiths. Blackbum should easily have scored, but hit the post, and from the rebound Kemp sent the ball at Griffiths, off whom it cannoned into the net. But the last goal of the game, which was also scored Kemp, was a very fine point, Griffiths having no chance of saving. Watson missed two chances after this, and right at the end Clark had to save from Cail, but there was more scoring, and West Ham won by four goals to one.

Middlesbrough:
Griffiths, Campbell, Tyldsley, Aitken S., Atkin A., Harkins, Brawn, Common, Cail, Wilcox, Thackeray

CHELSEA : Bridgeman transfer
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Watson [pen])
11 March 1907

Clark

Blythe

Horn

Woodards

Stapley W.

Randall

Featherstone

Grassam

Watson

Kemp

Blackburn

Chelsea arranged to play a friendly match at Upton Park in consideration of part of the transfer fee when William Bridgeman moved from Hammers to Stamford Bridge. 
Chelsea played their full League team, with the exception of Birnie, Harris taking the latter's position at left half. On the other hand, the United had out partically a reserve team. West Ham had to act on the defensive, and though the goalkeeper saved from both Bridgeman and Frost, a pass from Hilsdon enabled Windridge to open the scoring for the visitors, Chelsea should have increased their lead in the first half but for erratic shooting.
Early in the second half a penalty was given against McRoberts, and Watson equalised. From this point West Ham improved and gave the Chelsea backs an opportunity of displaying their ability. Twice Featherstone missed the net whilst at the other end Bridgeman sent over the bar. The last-named, however, made amends later, and gave Chelsea the lead. Two minutes later, Grassam almost brought the score level, his shot striking the crossbar. Neither side scored again and Chelsea won a tame game by two goals to one.

Chelsea:
Whiting, Miller, Walton, Harris, McRoberts, Henderson, Kirwan, Windridge, Hilsdon, Bridgeman, Frost

SOUTHEND UNITED : Reserves
Roots Hall
1 - 1 (King)
24 April 1907
Att: 2,000

Line-up Unknown

REPORT:

OTHER MATCHES at UPTON PARK
MANOR PARK ALBION v. SOUTH EAST HAM : East Ham Hospital Cup Final
3 - 1
13 April 1907
Att: 1,000

MANOR PARK ALBION 3 (Shea 3)

Line-up Unknown

SOUTH EAST HAM (Unknown)

Line-up Unknown

MANOR PARK WINS THE FINAL.

A very interesting game took place on the Sports Ground, Boleyn Castle, where Manor Park Albion proved victorious over South East Ham, both teams being well represented.

Albion were soon in their opponents' quarters and the goalie was called on early to handle. The South East Ham right wing was set going, play being quickly transferred to the Albion's End, but the defence were quite prepared and midfield play was the order for a few minutes, when Shea received a pass from Morrison and nipping through put Albion one up with a beautiful shot front twenty yards out.

The Hammers now set about pulling level with all their might and their outside left beating Stapley, centred, the inside right taking the ball in the air in an awkward position, equalising with a splendid shot. Just before the interval Shea got well placed and beating his man put the Albion again ahead, half-time arriving with the score 2-1 in favour of Albion.

Immediately after the restart. the Hammers attacked and several times when the forwards were well-placed they shot badly. The Albion gradually wore their opponents down and after some pretty footwork by the three inside men, Shea, still full of sting, obtained and working towards the left corner, drew the defence, who quite expected him to centre, he, however, shot at a very difficult angle, the ball rising under the bar, giving the goalie no chance whatever.

The game was now over, bar the shouting, Albion doing all the pressing till the end. The cup was presented after the game, by Dr. McKettrick, the donor of the trophy, who remarked on the clever exhibition given by both teams. It is some twelve years since a Football Cup found a resting plane at Manor Park.

bottom of page