Tommy Allison was now in his 6lh season with the club, and he became the first West Ham player to be granted a benefit match. The occasion chosen was a Western League fixture against Portsmouth at the Boleyn ground, but sadly this was a most unfortunate choice. The team's performances in this league were even worse than those in the Southern, which did not give supporters much of an incentive to attend, although had the weather been better it might have improved the size of the crowd. Unfortunately it was a wet and miserable Monday afternoon in mid December, and less than 2,000 hardy souls turned up. It was rumoured that the club were to approach the FA to allow them to make a grant to Allison for the player's loyalty. As a postscript, the result was as gloomy as the day - 4-2 to Pompey.