WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1947-48 London Combination (Section A)
Butler (Trainer), Devlin, Armstrong, Bradley, Taylor, O'Farrell, Sadler, Wilson
Chapman, Parker, Travis, Proudlock, Foxall
SWINDON TOWN
Upton Park
4 - 3 (Wood 3, Travis)
23 August 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Armstrong
Sadler
Moroney
Parker
Wilson
Travis
Proudlock
Wood
REPORT:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Home Park
0 - 3
27 August 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Moroney
Parker
Hall
Travis
Proudlock
Wright
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN
Portman Road
5 - 1 (Travis 2, Neary, Proudlock, Wright)
30 August 1947
Chiswick
Bicknell
McGowan
Armstrong
Wilson
Moroney
Neary
Parker
Travis
Proudlock
Wright
REPORT:
MILLWALL
Upton Park
4 - 0 (Neary 2 [1 pen], Travis, Wright)
1 September 1947
Chiswick
Bicknell
Banner
Parker
Bradly
Wilson
Dunn
Neary
Travis
Wright
Tucker
REPORT:
READING
Upton Park
6 - 0 (Travis 3, Neary, Parker, Wright)
6 September 1947
Taylor
Devlin
Sadler
Cater
Bradly
Parker
Dowers J.
Neary
Travis
Wright
Tucker
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Loftus Road
1 - 1 (Travis)
8 September 1947
Taylor
Devlin
Sadler
Cater
Banner
Armstrong
Dunn
Parker
Travis
Wilson
Tucker
REPORT:
BIRMINGHAM CITY
St Andrews
1 - 2 (Travis)
13 September 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Banner
Armstrong
Bradly
Wilson
Dowers J.
Dunn
Travis
Parker
Tucker
REPORT:
CARDIFF CITY
Upton Park
5 - 2 (Chapman 2, Tucker 2 [1 pen], Dunn)
15 September 1947
Taylor
Devlin
Banner
Armstrong
Bradly
Wilson
Dunn
Wright
Chapman
Card R.
Tucker
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Upton Park
4 - 1 (Wright 3, Tucker [pen])
20 September 1947
Chiswick
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Dowers J.
Parker
Travis
Wright
Tucker
REPORT:
MILLWALL
The Den
2 - 1 (Travis, Wood)
22 September 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Banner
Cater
Woodgate
Wood
Travis
Wright
Tucker
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY
The Nest
2 - 2 (Neary, Tucker)
29 September 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Banner
Cater
Neary
Wood
Travis
Wright
Tucker
We came flying out of the traps at The Nest, carving out a string of chances in the opening ten minutes that should have put the game to bed. Norwich City Reserves somehow rode out that early storm-and they needed every ounce of luck going as we rattled the bar twice and struck the uprights four more times. Even so, our wide men, Frank Neary and Ken Tucker, both found the target to match the Canaries blow for blow.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
2 - 1 (Chapman 2)
4 October 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Cater
Neary
Hall
Travis
Wright
Chapman
REPORT:
NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Upton Park
5 - 1 (Chapman 2, Wright 2, Travis)
6 October 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Parker
Banner
Cater
Woodgate
Hall
Travis
Wright
Chapman
REPORT:
FULHAM
Upton Park
5 - 0 (Travis 3, Dunn, Wood)
11 October 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Chapman
Dunn
Travis
Wright
Wood
REPORT:
KINGSTONIAN : London Challenge Cup (First Round)
Upton Park
6 - 1 (Wood 2, Hall, Neary, Travis, Tucker)
13 October 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Armstrong
Banner
Sadler
Neary
Hall
Travis
Wood
Tucker
REPORT:
LEYTON ORIENT
Upton Park
9 - 0 (Wood 3, Dunn 2, Neary 2, Proudlock, Travis)
25 October 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Neary
Dunn
Travis
Proudlock
Wood
REPORT:
MILLWALL : London Challenge Cup (Second Round)
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Dunn)
27 October 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Banner
Armstrong
Dunn
Hall
Neary
Proudlock
Wood
This London Challenge Cup game never really caught fire, spoiled by a stream of petty infringements and some decidedly low‑grade football. Midway through the second half we finally edged ahead, Dunn finishing smartly to put us in front. We held that lead until two minutes from time, when the Lions snatched an equaliser with a header from a free‑kick. Extra time followed, and just before the end of the first quarter‑hour the Blues struck again, sealing a hard‑earned 2–1 victory.
Millwall:
Bumstead, Fisher, Hardy, Gordon, Morton, Brolly, Anderson, Hurrell, Sutcliffe, Woodward, Mansfield.
READING
Elm Park
1 - 0 (Travis)
1 November 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Brownlow
Wood
Travis
Proudlock
Parker
At Elm Park our Reserves faced a far stronger Reading side than the one we swept aside 6–0 back in September. The home team had the better of the first half, but our defence stood firm and kept them out with some superb covering work. Fifteen minutes into the second half Don Travis finally broke the deadlock, putting us ahead. Two minutes from time Jack Wood appeared to have sealed it with a second, only for the referee - after consulting a linesman- to rule it out. No matter. Travis’s strike proved enough to secure our seventeenth point from the last nine games, and with Crystal Palace unexpectedly dropping a point at Luton, our lead over our nearest challengers stretched further.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Small, Tucker)
8 November 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Brownlow
Parker
Small
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
SOUTHEND UNITED
The Stadium, Kursaal
1 - 0 (Proudlock [pen])
15 November 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Banner
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Brownlow
Small
Devlin
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
Sorry No Image
CARDIFF CITY
Ninian Park
0 - 1
19 November 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Banner
Armstrong
Brownlow
Hall
Travis
Proudlock
Parker
REPORT:
BIRMINGHAM CITY
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Dunn)
22 November 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Parker
Dunn
Wilson
Foxall
Wright
REPORT:
SWINDON TOWN
County Ground
2 - 1 (Dunn, Foxall)
3 December 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
McGowan
Banner
Armstrong
Butler J.
Dunn
Hall
Parker
Foxall
REPORT:
SOUTHEND UNITED
Upton Park
7 - 0 (Travis 4, Dunn 2, Foxall)
6 December 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Dunn
Travis
Small
Wade D.
REPORT:
LUTON TOWN
Town Ground
0 - 0
13 December 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Hall
Wilson
Small
Wood
REPORT:
LEYTON ORIENT
Brisbane Road
2 - 1 (Small, Tucker)
20 December 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Hall
Wilson
Small
Tucker
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Foxall, Wilson)
25 December 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Parker
Hall
Wilson
Wood
Foxall
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN
Upton Park
4 - 1 (Parker 2, Chapman, Foxall)
26 December 1947
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Wilson
Armstrong
Foxall
Chapman
Travis
Parker
Tucker
REPORT:
FULHAM
Craven Cottage
1 - 3 (Travis)
27 December 1947
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Wilson
Armstrong
Foxall
Chapman
Travis
Wood
Parker
REPORT:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
4 - 4 (Travis 2, Bicknell, Wright)
3 January 1948
Taylor
Bicknell
Sadler
Parker
Wilson
Armstrong
Foxall
Dunn
Travis
Wright
Tucker
West Ham looked dead and buried at half‑time in their opening Combination Cup tie, trailing 3–1 and hampered by an injury to Tucker. Yet they mounted a stirring second‑half fightback. Two minutes from the end they even snatched the lead for the first time at 4–3, only for Charlton to level with virtually the last kick.
It was still a commendable result from a breathless contest, especially with regular backs McGowan and Devlin absent. Veteran Charles Bicknell rolled back the years with an outstanding display - and the satisfaction of scoring West Ham’s fourth. Charlton’s forwards had caused plenty of trouble before the interval, Hurst grabbing an early goal before Travis equalised. The visitors pressed on, Lancelotte finishing a neat passing move and Hurst adding another with Taylor stranded.
West Ham hit back straight after the restart when Hobbins, the Charlton keeper, spilled the ball and Travis pounced from a tight angle. Half an hour in, Wright levelled it from a Travis pass. The finale was frantic: Bicknell surged forward to force home a corner and put West Ham ahead, but just as the comeback looked complete, Hurst struck again from a late corner to make it 4–4.
SOUTHAMPTON : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Foxall, Travis)
10 January 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Chapman
Travis
Dunn
Wood
REPORT:
SOUTHEND UNITED : Football Combination Cup
The Stadium, Kursaal
3 - 1 (Travis 2, Chapman)
31 January 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Chapman
Travis
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Football Combination Cup
The Valley
0 - 1
7 February 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Parker
Travis
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH : Football Combination Cup
Fratton Park
0 - 2
14 February 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Banner
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Parker
Chapman
Travis
Proudlock
Wood
REPORT:
BRENTFORD : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
6 - 1 (Dunn 3, Foxall, Proudlock, Tucker)
21 February 1948
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Hall
Dunn
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
BRENTFORD : Football Combination Cup
Griffin Park
2 - 2 (Dunn, Hall)
28 February 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Armstrong
Bradly
Farrell
Foxall
Hall
Travis
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
SOUTHEND UNITED : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
5 - 0 (Chapman 2, Hall, Proudlock, Wright)
6 March 1948
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Hall
Travis
Proudlock
Wright
REPORT:
READING : Football Combination Cup
Elm Park
2 - 0 (Chapman, Wright)
13 March 1948)
Taylor
Cater
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Farrell
Foxall
Hall
Chapman
Wood
Wright
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Chapman)
15 March 1948
Taylor
Cater
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Armstrong
Chapman
Wood
Wright
Proudlock
Tucker
REPORT:
READING : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
0 - 1
20 March 1948
Taylor
Ballantyne
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Dunn
Travis
Proudlock
Wood
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination Cup
White Hart Lane
1 - 3 (Parker)
22 March 1948
Taylor
Bicknell
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Dunn
Wilson
Parker
Wright
REPORT:
PORTSMOUTH : Football Combination Cup
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Foxall, Proudlock, Wright)
26 March 1948
Taylor
Devlin
Sadler
Armstrong
Bradly
Farrell
Foxall
Chapman
Wilson
Proudlock
Wright
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON : Football Combination Cup
The Dell
0 - 0
29 March 1948
Taylor
Devlin
Sadler
Armstrong
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Dunn
Wilson
Proudlock
Foxall
REPORT:
LUTON TOWN
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Chapman, Travis)
3 April 1948
Taylor
Devlin
Sadler
Armstrong
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Parker
Travis
Proudlock
Foxall
REPORT:
Sorry No Image
NORTHAMPTON TOWN
County Ground
3 - 2 (Chapman, Parker, [og])
15 April 1948
Taylor
Cater
Devlin
Armstrong
Bradly
Farrell
Chapman
Parker
Dunn
Proudlock
English
REPORT:
CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
5 - 1 (Chapman 2, Foxall 2, Dunn)
17 April 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Parker
Bradly
Farrell
Foxall
Chapman
Dunn
Proudlock
Bainbridge
REPORT:
ARSENAL :
League Championship Final
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Chapman, Wright)
1 May 1948
Taylor
McGowan
Devlin
Cater
Bradly
Armstrong
Foxall
Chapman
Dunn
Proudlock
Wright
From the 1946/47 season onwards, the competition outgrew its London roots. With most member clubs now drawn from outside the capital, the old ‘London Combination’ was re‑christened the ‘Football Combination’.
The league was reorganised into two sections, with the season culminating in a Championship Play‑off between the respective winners. This year the prize - a gleaming Championship Play‑off medal - contested by Section A champions West Ham United and Section B champions Arsenal.
Arsenal had set the early pace, leading Section B almost from the outset and going unbeaten in their first 23 matches. West Ham, by contrast, began more steadily, but hit their stride by mid‑September. They saw off a dual challenge from Birmingham City and Luton Town and had the title wrapped up by Christmas.
The Play‑off Final was staged at the Boleyn Ground, where West Ham rose to the occasion. Goals from Chapman and Wright secured a 2–0 victory and with it the honour of becoming the first champions of the newly‑styled Football Combination.
