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1921-22 Friendlies

Practice Match
REDS v. BLUES

Upton Park
2 - 0
20 August 1921

REDS (James, Robinson)

Hufton

Hebden

Cope

Allen

Gurkin

Bishop

Thirlaway

Robinson

Puddefoot

James

Young

BLUES

Hampson

Waugh

Lee

Bradshaw

Carter

Mackesy

Brown

Jackson

Watson

Williams

Ruffell

A company of 12,000 people £420 receipts at West Ham to see the probable first team (Reds) beat the Reserves (Blues) by 2-0 will convey some faint impression of public enthusiasm at the eastern end of the town. The goal-scorers were James and Robinson, but success only came after the opposition had lost Lee. This was the left-back, who hurt his right eye, and had to seek medical aid. Carter, who at centre-half faced Puddefoot. Robinson and James, played like a master of the craft; he is better known as a forward, but a good footballer can play anywhere.

Williams the ex-schoolboy international, has grown into a big hefty lad, and all he lacks is experience. Then we had Brown and Williams, the right-wing of the beaten team; this pair, although working hard, failed to make much headway against Bishop and Cope. Watson is Puddefoot's understudy, and this player, well known at West Ham, needs no introduction; merit is stamped all over him. Thirlaway, an outside-right from the North, appeared on the winning side, and this young player, who has plenty of speed, created a good impression. 

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DARTFORD : Opening of New Ground
Summers Meadow
1 - 0 (Hodges)
31 August 1921

Fay

Waugh

Turner

Palmer

Collins

Gurkin

Smith

Williams

Hodges

Page

Bradshaw

The Hammers' sent along a Reserve strength team to inaugurate Dartford's new stadium.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
London Professional Charity Fund

Upton Park
1 - 0 (James)
12 September 1921
Att: 11,000

Hampson

Hebden

Cope

Allen

Kay

Bishop

Thirlaway

Robinson

Puddefoot

Watson

James

REPORT:

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RAMSGATE : Reserves
Away
1 - 1 (Hodges)
22 October 1921

Leafe

Waugh

Turner

Palmer

Gurkin

Woodwards

Bradshaw

Jackson

Hodges

Brown

Carter

REPORT:

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SWINDON TOWN
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Watson)
3 December 1921
Att: 10,000

Line-up Unknown

West Ham and Swindon Draw at Upton Park A clever and interesting game between West Ham United and Swindon Town was seen at Upton Park by 10,000 people who thoroughly enjoyed a capital display, which ended in a draw  of 1 goal all. In the first half West Ham showed excellent advantage, their combination being especially good, but many well-conceived attacks were spoiled by poor shooting. Following a fierce onslaught the visitors' goal, West Ham scored in 20 minutes, Watson finishing a clever run by shooting low into the corner the net. Swindon improved, and Batty equalised as the outcome of a fine individual effort. On resuming after the interval both sides attacked in turn, but found the defence in such splendid form that more goals were scored.

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LUTON TOWN
Kenilworth Road
0 - 3
3 December 1921

Fay

Turner

Waugh

Bradshaw

Brown

Palmer

Smith

Collins

Hodges

Jackson

Williams

By three clear goals Luton Town Reserves manifested superiority over West Ham United Reserves in an interesting game on the Town ground. Experiments with the home team could hardly be said to have improved the quality the play, but the young Hammers, while showing a good deal of cleverness in the open, found it very difficult to get in a decent shot, so well did the home defenders play. The only goal of the first half came from Dormer, who was at inside-left, and it was a fine shot. The second was initiated by Bassett and Butcher, and the ball was put in for Jenkins to apply the finishing touch at close quarters, while Bassett himself got the third with a tremendous shot. The home defence was very sound, and Graham played a great game. The middle line comprised Brodie, of Luton Amateurs. Millar, and Jephson. The first-named was a trier, but has a lot to learn; Jephson did well in an unaccustomed position, and Millar put up a strong game without being as good as he is on the flank. Bassett and Butcher were the best wing on the field, although taking things rather easily. Jenkins was a bit slow, but was clever in manipulation. Dormer played splendidly at inside-left, but Sidney was not in his best mood. 

Luton Town:

Gibbon, Hull, Graham, Brodie, Millar, Jephson, Bassett, Butcher, Jenkins, Dormer, Sidne

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LUTON TOWN : Reserves
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Hodges 2)
7 January 1922

Line-up Unknown

REPORT:

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GUILDFORD UNITED : Reserves
Away
2 - 0 (Gurkin, Hodges)
15 March 1922

Fay

Turner

Young

Bradshaw

Bailey

Mackrill

Hallows

Brown

Hodges

Gurkin

Palmer

REPORT:

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BOSCOMBE : Reserves
Away
? - ?
6 May 1922

Line-up Unknown

REPORT:

OTHER MATCHES at UPTON PARK

LESLIE HENSON (Team of Actors) v. LONDON MEAT TRADES
Charity Match
? - ? 
26 September 1921

LESLIE HENSON (?) 

Unknown Line-up

LONDON MEAT TRADE ?) 

Unknown Line-up

ACTORS V. BUTCHERS. In aid of the funds of the Butchers' Charitable Institution, a football match between Mr. Leslie Henson’s team of actors and a team representative of the London meat trade will be played on the ground of West Ham United, Upton Park. Mr. Leslie Henson’s team will include; Tom Webster, Basil Rathbone. Godfrey Tearle, Jack Hobbs, Jack Esmond Matin Lewis, Leslie Henson, and four "dark horses".

LESLIE HENSON 

Wikipedia

Leslie Lincoln Henson (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comedian who enjoyed a long stage career. He was famous for his bulging eyes, malleable face and raspy voice and helped to form the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) during the Second World War.

 

Born in Notting Hill, London, Henson became interested in the theatre from an early age, writing and producing theatrical pieces while at school. He studied with "the Cairns–James School of Musical and Dramatic Art as a child, making his professional stage début at the age of 19. His first West End role was in Nicely, Thanks! (1912) and he later starred in several hit West End Edwardian musical comedies, including To-Night's the Night (1915) and Yes, Uncle! (1917). After briefly serving with the Royal Flying Corps, he was released from active service by the British government to help run a concert party called "The Gaieties", which provided entertainment for the troops during World War I. After the war, he returned to the West End, playing in Kissing Time (1919) and a series of musical comedies and farces throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

 

At the start of World War II, together with Basil Dean, he helped to form ENSA, with which he entertained British troops abroad. Henson's post war stage success continued in revues, musicals and plays, including a West End adaptation of The Diary of a Nobody in 1955. Henson's film career was intermittent, and he made 14 films from 1916 to 1956. The most notable of these was Tons of Money in 1924, which introduced the popular Aldwych farces to British cinema audiences for the first time. In 1956, Henson's friend Bobbie Hullett died under circumstances that struck him as suspicious. Henson anonymously notified the police that her doctor, John Bodkin Adams, should be investigated. Adams was subsequently tried for murder but acquitted.

WEST HAM BOYS v. EBBW VALE BOYS
English Schools Shield 5th Round
1 - 0 
18 March 1922
Att: 12,000

WEST HAM BOYS (Barton) 

Unknown Line-up

EBBW VALE BOYS 

Unknown Line-up

West Ham Boys beat Ebbw Vale boys in the fifth round of the English Schools' Shield by the only goal of the match. Although Barton, the schoolboy International centre-half, scored his customary goal, the outstanding player in the winning team was undoubtedly Murray, who played a brilliant game at right-half. He did not lose his head, but placed his passes to his wing and centre with fine judgment, whilst his marking and anticipation of the moves of Ashman and Cross, the Ebbw Vale left wing, stamped him as a player who should make a name for himself.
After a goalless first half, the second period started in much the same fashion a s the first. Rees was called upon in the Ebbw Vale goal, and was forced to concede a corner. This was well cleared, and then followed a spell of mid-field play. Powell was a tower of strength in the visitor's defence, his spoiling movements being well carried out. Smart work by Powell then placed Ashman in position, but he was robbed by the ever-watchful Murray when about to shoot. With less than ten minutes to go Burton received the ball when unmarked, and with a low drive from 30 yards out he scored the only goal of the match. Rees, although reaching the ball, misjudged the pace and let the ball slip through his hands. Ebbw Vale tried hard to equalise, but the home defence was too good for them.

WEST HAM BOYS v. EDMONTON BOYS
English Schools Shield 6th Round
1 - 0 
8 April 1922
Att: 10,000

WEST HAM BOYS (Clark) 

Unknown Line-up

EDMONTON BOYS 

Unknown Line-up

By beating Edmonton Schoolboys, before upwards of 10,000 people at the West Ham United ground, by the only goal of a capital match, the West Ham Schoolboys reached the semi-final of the English Schools Shield. Both teams excelled in defence, but after a fairly even first half West Ham were the aggressors and Clark scored for them, putting the ball into an empty goal after shaw, the Edonton goalkeeper, had partially cleared a good shot from Weeks. Edmonton played a plucky game, but the West Ham defence in which Barton, at centre-half, and Siegenberg, at back, were prominent, was too sound for them. Both sides missed chances in the first half, Clark failing to seize the opportunity presented by a mis-kick by an Edmonton defender, while at the other end too much short passing in front of goal prevented Edmonton forwards from seriously testing Misen.

LONDON BOYS v. YORKSHIRE BOYS
Inter-County Schools Match
1 - 2 
22 April 1922

LONDON BOYS (?) 

Unknown Line-up

YORKSHIRE BOYS 

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

BRAMPTON ROAD (East Ham) v. SMALLWOOD ROAD (South London)
Dewar Shield Final
? - ? 
2 May 1922

BRAMPTON ROAD (?) 

Unknown Line-up

SMALLWOOD ROAD (?) 

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

ST BARNABAS (Silvertown) v. SILVERTOWN ATHLETIC
Dockland Settlement - Prince Arthur Cup
? - ? 
4 May 1922

ST BARNABAS (?) 

Unknown Line-up

SILVERTOWN ATHLETIC (?) 

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

ILFORD v. NUNHEAD
London Senior Cup Final
3 - 1 
6 May 1922

ILFORD (?) 

Unknown Line-up

NUNHEAD (?) 

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

WEST HAM BOYS v. SOUTH LONDON BOYS)
English Schools Shield Semi-Final Replay
0 - 2 
8 May 1922

WEST HAM BOYS 

Unknown Line-up

SOUTH LONDON BOYS (?) 

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

WEST HAM BOYS v. EAST HAM BOYS
West Ham Hospital Festival
3 - 1 
13 May 1922

WEST HAM BOYS (?) 

Unknown Line-up

EAST HAM BOYS (?)

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

LEYTONSTONE v. GREAT EASTERN RAILWAYS (Romford)
Queen Mary Hospital Fund
? - ? 
13 May 1922

LEYTONSTONE (?) 

Unknown Line-up

GREAT EASTERN RAILWAYS (?)

Unknown Line-up

REPORT:

Programme contribution

Thanks to Nigel Turner

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