WEST HAM BOYS v. HACKNEY BOYS
English Schools' Shield
5 - 0
4 December 1937

WEST HAM BOYS (Gibbs 3, Applebee, Porley)

Shirley, Green, Stratton, Smith, Lowman, Walker, Andrews, Gibbs, Applebee, Porley, Whyatt

HACKNEY BOYS

Turpin, Lovett, Nicholls, Noble, Gofford, Neve, Russell, Davis, Silverman, Baily, Ault

​Game to the end, Hackney Boys made a great fight in their 3rd round English Shield tie with West Ham's representatives on the Boleyn Ground. The muddy conditions hampered the Hackney contingent in no small manner, and although they held the local boys to one goal at half-time, their efforts to stop the lively Hammers' forwards were of no avail.  Gibbs was outstanding for West Ham; he wandered around the visitors' penalty area and besides hitting the rigging and woodwork on numerous occasions he put three "first-timers" past plucky Tucker.
Hackney were on top in the opening minutes and must have gone ahead but for some smart saves by Shirley. This stylish ‘keeper certainly had some claims to those representatives honours which are due shortly.
Although still a little goal-shy, Applebee has the makings of a scoring centre-forward – his goal, the second for West ham, was the result of clever anticipation. With the North London defence spread-eagled Gibbs picked up a loose ball and shot from the area to give West Ham the lead. Dogged defence work kept the Hammers’ forwards at bay and half-time came with only one goal between the teams.
From the resumption Tucker was subjected to a bombardment and Applebee netted the homesters’ second. Gibbs made the next goal for Porley. Taking a long ball he made way up field to pass squarely to the inside-left who made no mistake from five yards. Ten minutes from the end West Ham played well to upset the Hackney defence, and Gibbs completed his hat-trick