WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1907-08 Western League (Division One)
Division One continued to be split into two sections of six clubs, reorganised from the previous season, with the winner of each section playing each other in a Championship decider. Southampton won Section A and Millwall won Section B, with Millwall winning the decider 1–0. Tottenham Hotspur left the league at the end of the season as they were elected to the Football League for 1908–09. All the member clubs of Division One also competed in the Southern League during this season.
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MILLWALL ATHLETIC
North Greenwich
0 - 3
9 September 1907
Att: 2,500
Kitchen
Gault
Hammond
Allison
Piercy
Young
Lindsay
Grassam
Harwood
Brown
Blackburn
As a consequence of the injuries and exertions on the previous Saturday against Spurs in the Southern League, West Ham did not field a full strength side for the opening match in the Western League campaign at Millwall and lost 0-3.
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MILLWALL ATHLETIC
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Harwood)
16 September 1907
Att: 5,000
Kitchen
Gault
Taylor
Young
Piercy
Jarvis
Lindsay
Grassam
Harwood
Watson
Blackburn
Whatever the competition, there was always a good attendance for any clash with old rivals Millwall. So it was for the return match in the 'not so important' Western League, when 5,000 turned up for a late Monday afternoon kick-off at the Boleyn. The 'Dockers' had assembled a strong eleven for the campaign and did not intend to pick up the 'wooden spoon' in this competition as they had done in 1906-07, whereas the Hammers, being the Western League holders appeared to more concerned with obtaining Southern League honours. As for the match, the visitors 'went like blazes' for a victory, but it ended all square at one goal each. Alf Harwood made his debut at centre-forward and scored the Irons' goal, but the former Fulham and Leeds City forward was later converted to a left back, but his first team appearances were to be few.
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LUTON TOWN
Kenilworth Road
0 - 1
21 September 1907
Att: 1.500
Kitchen
Gault
Taylor
Allison
Young
Horn
Featherstone
Randall
Read
Watson
Blackburn
West Ham's interest in the Western League, even at such an early stage, appeared to be on the wane already as they were defeated at Luton by a single goal scored by Pearson. This was emphasized by the fact that the home side were reduced to to ten men after Person retired injured shortly after his goal. Field later also retired from playing and the home side played with nine men for some of the first and the whole of the second period.
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
1 - 2 (Read)
7 October 1907
Att: 5,000
Clark
Gault
Taylor
Woodards
Young
Jarvis
Lindsay
Grassam
Read
Watson
Blackburn
The Hammers remained without a victory in the Western League after losing to 'Spurs 1-2 at White Hart Lane, with the only point of interest being that the proceeds of £116 from the match were to be set aside for John Watson, a long-serving full-back, who had been with Tottenham for six years.
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LUTON TOWN
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Young)
14 October 1907
Att: 1,000
Kitchen
Gault
Taylor
Allison
Young
Horn
Featherstone
Randall
Read
Watson
Blackburn
It was the 'same old story' however, in the Western League when Luton came to the Boleyn and recorded a 2-1 victory. The one consolation of the match was the display of Robert Young at centre half, who ventured as much up in attack in addition to performing his defensive duties, and capped his display with a real stinger of a goal smashed in from 30 yards.
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CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Lee)
28 October 1907
Att: 2,000
Clark
Gault
Taylor
Allison
Piercy
Jarvis
Lindsay
Brown
Young
Randall
Lee
West Ham entertained Crystal Palace in a Western League fixture and with this competition it was no surprise that the outcome was another defeat (1-2). It meant six games in this league, one draw, and five defeats.
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Watson)
4 November 1907 (Cover dated 2nd)
Att: 2,000
Kitchen
Gault
Harwood
Allison
Piercy
Jarvis
Featherstone
Randall
Watson
Kemp
Lee
The Western League competition was now becoming a nightmare. Due to poor results from the first few matches, the Hammers' executive, along with Syd King, did not always choose to put out the strongest eleven, which was a Western League requirement, but with injuries and loss of form it was not easy to prove that the club had acted otherwise. This of course appears hypocritical, considering their concern just two seasons earlier when they wrote an official letter to all clubs in the competition expressing their concern over the Western league becoming a league for reserve teams. For the visit to the Boleyn enclosure by 'Spurs, the home side had a forward line that read Featherstone, Randall, Watson, Kemp and Lee, hardly an explosive unit. With interest waning, home attendances were well down for this league, and it was no surprise when 'Spurs went away with both points in a 3-1 victory for them.
Reid 2 and Steel scored for Spurs, Lee was off the field for three-quarters of the game with cramp.
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READING
Upton Park
11 November 1907
Postponed : Fog
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CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal Palace
1 - 2 (Piercy)
20 November 1907
Att: 2,000
Kitchen
Gault
Simmonds
Allison
Piercy
Young
Grassam
Shea
Harwood
Brown
Blackburn
This game marked the first appearance in a West Ham shirt of Danny Shea. Hammers were beaten by two late goals after leading for a long spell.
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READING
Elm Park
2 - 4 (Grassam, Watson)
4 December 1907
Att: 1,000
Clark
Young
Taylor
Allison
Piercy
Jarvis
Lindsay
Shea
Grassam
Watson
Lee
REPORT:
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BRISTOL ROVERS
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Randall 2, Grassam)
9 December 1907
Att: 2,000
Kitchen
Gault
Young
Allison
Piercy
Horn
Featherstone
Kemp
Grassam
Randall
Lee
Randall gave the hoe side the lead shortly before half-time. Randall also got the second and Grassam the third.
This was Hammers first win in this years Western League competition which they won last season.
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BRISTOL ROVERS
Eastville
16 December 1907
Postponed : Pitch waterlogged
The Bristol Rovers match was postponed because the Eastville ground was under three-feet of water.
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BRISTOL ROVERS
Eastville
3 - 4 (Brown, Harwood, Randall)
18 December 190
Att: 300
Clark
Gault
Taylor
Allison
Young
Jarvis
Featherstone
Randall
Harwood
Brown
Lee
Roberts the Bristol Rovers centre forward dislocated his shoulder early on and was forced to retire. Harwood put West Ham in front but Savage equalised. Clarke made it 2-1 for Rovers and Gerrish 3-1 which was the half time score.
Savage increased it to 4-1 before Brown and Randall got further goals for the Londoners to make the final count 4-3 in favour of the West Country side. Rain fell throughout the match.
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READING
Upton Park
2 - 3 (Watson 2 [1 pen])
1 January 1908
Att: 400
Kitchen
Lindsay
Simmonds
Woodards
Chalkley G.
Allison
Randall
Brown
Watson
Kemp
Lee
West Ham United and Reading played the game postponed from November because of fog which prevailed at Upton Park. Reading showed good combination in attack, Beats scoring a smart goal after neat passing. From a penalty kick Watson equalised before change of ends, but afterwards Reading for a time were much the better side, Alp and Beats beating Kitchen, and time had almost expired when Watson reduced the severity of the home team's defeat. It is somewhat remarkable that West Ham United, champions of the League last season, should now be at the bottom of their section.