
WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1939-40 Regional League South 'A'
Football resumed in a modified format, with West Ham competing in the regional League South, where they performed well, finishing second in both League A (which ended in February 1940) and League C (which ran until June 1940).
The Hammers also participated in the Football League War Cup, a knockout competition introduced to replace the FA Cup. They defeated Chelsea, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, and Birmingham before securing a thrilling 4-3 semi-final victory over Fulham. In the final, played at Wembley Stadium on 8 June 1940, Sam Small scored the only goal of the match, leading West Ham to a 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers and their first major silverware. The victory was a morale booster for East Londoners, who were already facing the threat of Nazi air raids.
Despite the challenges of wartime football, West Ham continued to perform well in subsequent seasons, adapting to the ever-changing league structures and player availability. It was a turbulent but historic period for the club.

CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
2 - 6 (Foxall 2
21 October 1939
Att: 6,700
Medhurst
Bicknell
Forde
Fenton
Walker R.
Cockroft
Small
Macaulay
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Crystal Palace:
Toothill, Gregory F., Dawes, Collins, Millbanks, Hudgell, Robson, Smith, Blackman, Bark, Wilson
Goals: Blackman 3, Barker, Gregory, Robson
Sorry No Image
NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
3 - 5 (Foreman 2, Foxall)
28 October 1939
Att: 2,000
Medhurst
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Barrett
Corbett N.
Foxall
Macaulay
Foreman
Goulden
Wood
REPORT:
Norwich City:
Hall, Taylor, Milburn, Robinson, Reilly, Proctor, Plunkett, Acquroff, Ware, Manders, Furness
Goals: Acquroff, Manders, Plunkett, Robinson, Ware

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Goulden, Macaulay)
4 November 1939)
Att: 7,800
Gregory
Bicknell
Chalkley
Fenton
Barrett
Cockroft
Small
Macaulay
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Hooper, Dorling, Whatley, Burgess, Hitchins, Spelman, Sargent, Hall, Ludford, Duncan, Medley
Goal: Hall

MILLWALL
The Den
2 - 2 (Dunn, Macaulay)
11 November 1939
Att: 8,000
Gregory
Bicknell
Chalkley
Harris (Guest)
Barrett
Corbett N.
Small
Macaulay
Foreman
Dunn
Wood
REPORT:
Millwall:
Burke, Smith E., Williams, Sykes, Chiverton, Brolly, Fisher, Richardson, Jinks, Barker, Thorogood
Goals: Brolly, Jinks

SOUTHEND UNITED
Roots Hall
2 - 3 (Dunn, Wood)
18 November 1939
Att: 3,000
Taylor
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Walker R.
Attwell
Foxall
Dunn
Foreman
Goulden
Wood
REPORT:
Southend United:
Hillam, Harris, Robinson, Leighton, Joues, Reeve, Sibley, Smirk, Bolan, Bell, Ormandy
Goals: Bolan, Leighton, Ormandy

WATFORD
Upton Park
5 - 0 (Walker R. 2, Foxall, Goulden, Lewis [og])
25 November 1939
Att: 5,400
Pearson (Guest)
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Sidey (Guest)
Barrett
Small
Foreman
Walker R.
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Watford:
McHugh, HarrisLewis D., O'Brien, Armstrong, Woodward, Jones, Barnett, Lewis G., Fitzgerald, Davies

ARSENAL
Highbury
0 - 3
2 December 1939
Att: 10,000
Cann (Guest)
Bicknell
Walker C.
Brown W. (Guest)
Barrett
Fenton
Small
Foreman
Walker R.
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Arsenal:
Marks, Male, Scott, Crayston, Joy, Collett, Nelson, Lewis,
Compton L., Jones L., Compton D.
Goals: Compton D., Crayston, Lewis

CLAPTON ORIENT
Leyton Stadium
6 - 1 (Foreman 2, Curtis, Fenton, Foxall, Small)
16 December 1939
Att: 8,000
Cann (Guest)
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Barrett
Corbett N.
Small
Curtis (Guest)
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Clapton Orient:
Hall, Rumbold, Bungay, Rist, Bartlett, Black, Tully, Smith, Shankley, Willshaw, Fletcher
Goal: Shankley

NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
4 - 1 (Wood 2, Barrett [pen], Foreman)
25 December 1939
Att: 6,800
Cann (Guest)
Bicknell
Chalkley
Fenton
Barrett
Cater
Foxall
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Wood
REPORT:
Norwich City:
Burns, Dale, Taylor, Robinson, Reilly, Proctor, Plunkett, Acquroff, Chadwick, Manders, Furness
Goal: Acquroff

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
1 - 0 (Foreman)
26 December 1939
Att: 4,276
Flack (Guest)
Bicknell
Chalkley
Fenton
Barrett
Walker C.
Small
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Line-up Unknown

MILLWALL
Upton Park
6 - 2 (Foreman 3, Small 2, Foxall)
30 December 1939
Att: 7,200
Flack (Guest)
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Walker R.
Barrett
Small
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Millwall:
Burke, Smith E., Williams, Sykes, Brolly, Forsyth, Fisher, McLeod, Jinks, Barker, Smith J.
Goals: Jinks 2

SOUTHEND UNITED
Upton Park
4 - 0 (Foreman 2, Small 2)
6 January 1940
Att: 5,200
Medhurst
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Barrett
Cockroft
Small
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Southend United:
Hillam, Milne, Robinson, Leighton, Jones, Walton, Sibley, Smirk, Bell, Reeve, Ormandy
Sorry No Image
WATFORD
Vicarage Road
1 - 3 (Foreman)
13 January 1940
Att: 4,000
Conway
Bicknell
Walker C.
Fenton
Barrett
Cockroft
Small
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall

REPORT:
Watford:
McHugh, HarrisLewis J., O'Brien, Armstrong, Woodward, Jones, Barnett, Lewis G., Walters, Davies
Goals: Barnett, Jones, Lewis
Sorry No Image
CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
3 - 0 (Foxall 2, Curtis)
17 January 1940
Att: 896
Conway
Bicknell
Chalkley
Fenton
Walker R.
Barrett
McLeod (Guest)
Curtis
Foreman
Goulden
Foxall
REPORT:
Crystal Palace:
Toothill, Gregory F.HudgellGregory M., Millbanks, Collins, Wilson, Smith, Robson, Bark, James

ARSENAL
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Barrett, Fenton, Foreman)
20 January 1940
Att: 8,000
Conway
Bicknell
Walker C.
Barrett
Walker R.
Cockroft
Foxall
Fenton
Foreman
Curtis
Wood

West Ham became the first side to beat Arsenal in the Football League Regional Competition, and at Upton Park on Saturday they did it with complete justification. From back to front they were the stronger team, and especially in attack they showed far more purpose and punch than an Arsenal side that never adapted to the frozen turf. The visitors tried to “fiddle” their way through, over‑elaborating until their moves broke down against a home defence in commanding form. C. Walker, R. Walker and Bicknell were rock‑solid throughout, leaving Conway with a surprisingly quiet afternoon in goal.
The Hammers’ forwards, by contrast, were direct, lively and always ready to pull the trigger. They squandered a few chances - understandable on a pitch where the ball bounced awkwardly - but their intent never wavered. Foreman led the line with real menace, yet it was the drive and intelligence of Fenton at inside‑right that gave the attack its edge. His surging runs and crisp distribution repeatedly unsettled Arsenal, while Curtis, on loan from the visitors, worked tirelessly on the opposite flank.
That extra burst of speed in the final third made all the difference. After just six minutes Foreman darted through, back‑heeling cleverly into the path of Barrett, who thundered a shot into the net. Twenty minutes after the interval West Ham struck again, a sweeping move involving all five forwards ending with the ball tucked away. And three minutes from time the crowd were treated to another slick passage of play, capped by a well‑taken third goal that sealed a fully deserved victory.
Arsenal:
Marks, Male, Scott, Pryde, Joy, Collett, Kirchen, Lewis, Compton L., Jones L., Bastin
Sorry No Image
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
5 - 2 (Fenton 3, Foreman, Foxall)
8 February 1940
Att: 1,200
Conway
Bicknell
Walker C.
Barrett
Walker R.
Cockroft
Foxall
Curtis
Foreman
Fenton
Wood
REPORT:
Charlton Athletic:
Line-up Unknown
Goals: Hobbis, Thomas

CLAPTON ORIENT
Upton Park
4 - 1 (Foreman 2, Fenton, Foxall)
22 February 1940
Att: 2,300
Gregory
Bicknell
Chalkley
Barrett
Walker R.
Cockroft
Chapman
Fenton
Foreman
Curtis
Foxall
REPORT:
Clapton Orient:
Hall, Jobling, Toser,, Taylor, Rist, Smith, Tully, Astley, Thomas, Willshaw, Fletcher
Goal: Thomas

Regional Tournament South 'A' ended in February 1940)
The season continued with South 'C' (which ran until June 1940)

