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WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1949-50 Football League Second Division
Manager : Charlie Paynter
An excellent start to the campaign elevated West Ham to second in the table. In the 2–1 home win against Barnsley winger Ken Bainbridge scored after only nine seconds. Up until the end of September there had only been one defeat but this all changed after Preston won 3–0 at the Boleyn Ground. A run of six games without a win pushed the team down to 10th spot. Early in the season wingers Bainbridge and Parsons were scoring, but now the team relied on centre-forward Bill Robinson to score. Inside-forward Don Wade stepped up and scored in both the home wins over Hull City and Swansea Town.
In January the home FA Cup tie with Ipswich brought a 5–1 victory. Everton in the next round proved more formidable opponents as they won 2–1 at Goodison Park. On their way by train to Chesterfield in February, a freight train blocked the line and the Hammers did not arrive until 4.25 pm; by that time it was snowing and most of the spectators had gone home. The dispirited West Ham team lost 1–0 before a meagre crowd of 3,036.
Two more home wins followed, including a decent 4–0 victory against Bury in March. However, this proved to be the last win of the season as the team slumped, without a victory in the remaining nine games. It had been a disappointing campaign and by finishing in nineteenth place the side had narrowly missed relegation.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
LUTON TOWN
Kenilworth Road
2 - 2 (Parsons, Robinson)
20 August 1949
Att: 17,003
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
GERRY GAZZARD
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
Luton came perilously close to defeat and had it not been for 21-year-old Jack Taylor West Ham would have got away with two points. A minute after Robinson had taken advantage of a slip by Watkins to put West Ham ahead for the first time, Taylor nipped in to score the goal that saved the point. Taylor looks like a star in the making, but apart from him and Arnison, who tried tremendously hard, Luton's attack was not at all impressive. There were weaknesses on the wings, but much of this could be traced to the keen marking of the Hammers' defence. Luton's rearguard too, played a good game, and the two centre halves, Owen and Walker, were outstanding in a battle in which defences always had the whip hand. Owen went up to help out in the attack and put Luton ahead after 27 minutes. Then came the best goal of the game, Parsons, probably the best outside right in the Second Division, was the scorer. He led Luton a rare dance in the first half, until Ahere, the Irish international, began to get his measure. Altogether it was a game of missed chances, and neither team had the necessary punch in front of goal.
LEEDS UNITED
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Robinson 2, McGowan)
22 August 1949
Att: 24,728
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BARNSLEY
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Bainbridge, Gazzard)
27 August 1949
Att: 27,541
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/413a13_3f386118388745aebc10c20221e56321~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_371,h_399,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/413a13_3f386118388745aebc10c20221e56321~mv2.jpg)
Although West Ham secured a good grip on this League game by a goal in the first ten seconds, and another in 16 minutes. They came very near to losing one at the points in the second half when they faded out and allowed the Initiative to pass to Barnsley.
If the latter's forwards had had the ability to finish they could not have lost, but time, after time they worked the ball cleverly within range only to fritter away their chances by indifferent marksmanship.
The game did not live up to Its early promise so far as the Hammers were concerned. They got a sensational goal straight from the kick-off, and within ten seconds the ball was in the Barnsley net. Robinson tapped the bill to Bainbridge, who in turn swung it out to Bainbridge on the left. The winger gathered it, took deliberate aim and fired in a shot which 'keeper Kelly got his right hand to near the foot of the upright, but could not stop the ball's progress into the net.
For most of the next quarter of an hour West Ham did the attacking, and after 16 minutes Bainbridge sent over a centre. A defender turned the ball towards his own goal, where Pallister, standing on the goal line, headed it out, but only far enough to reach Gazzard’s head and, standing close in, he steered the ball into the net to register his first goal for West Ham. Barnsley had a great chance to reduce the arrears when a penalty was awarded them for a foul on Smith, but Baxter, who took the kick, did not get enough pace on his shot, and Gregory brought off a good save. That was a bad lapse on the part of the visitors, and in the end they paid for it. Another shot by Griffiths was saved by Gregory, and later on in the game the West Ham 'keeper just managed to stop a shot from Wright on the goal line, although the Barnsley players claimed that the ball had cross it.
It was poor fare for a long time in the second half, Gazzard tried two long range shots which were just off the mark, but, apart from them, the home forwards did little shooting. Gradually, Barnsley got a better hold on the game and, in just under half an hour, following a corner kick. Whyte gathered the ball just inside the penalty area and scored with a shot which went in off Devlin's leg. Barnsley cut out the work in attack after that and Wright seemed a possible scorer when he raced through, but was challenged in time by Devlin, and his shot went over. Nearing the end. Kelly J. put in two great; runs on the left, the second of which nearly brought a goal. In the end, West Ham were fortunate to take both the points. There was some uncertainty about the defence under pressure, and the forwards and wing-halves failed to keep up their earlier liaison. Taken by and large, it was a poor match. Gazzard continued to show much promise with some neat work. Outstanding player for Barnsley was centre-half Whyte.
LEEDS UNITED
Elland Road
2 - 2 (Bainbridge, Robinson)
31 August 1949
Att: 29,732
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Home Park
3 - 0 (Gazzard, Parsons, Robinson)
Att: 22,401
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
Upton Park
1 - 2 (Robinson [pen])
5 September 1949
Att: 25,498
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Bramall Lane
0 - 0
10 September 1949
Att: 21,901
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Corbett N.
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
GRIMSBY TOWN
Upton Park
4 - 3 (Bainbridge 2, Robinson 2)
17 September 1949
Att: 28,194
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Loftus Road
1 - 0 (Robinson)
24 September 1949
Att: 24,578
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
PRESTON NORTH END
Upton Park
0 - 3
1 October 1949
Att: 36,653
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
CHESTERFIELD
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Parsons)
8 October 1949
Att: 25,869
Gregory
Devlin
FRED KEARNS
Parker
Walker
Corbett
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BRADFORD PARK AVENUE
Park Avenue
1 - 2 (Robinson [pen])
15 October 1949
Att: 13,863
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
LEICESTER CITY
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Bainbridge, Parsons)
22 October 1949
Att: 22,466
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BURY
Gigg Lane
1 - 3 (Gazzard)
29 October 1949
Att: 16,399
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
Corbett
Woodgate
Parsons
McGowan
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
0 - 1
5 November 1949
Att: 31,734
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
Gazzard
Wright
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
CARDIFF CITY
Ninian Park
1 - 0 (Robinson)
12 November 1949
Att: 21,644
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Jackman
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Upton Park
0 - 2
19 November 1949
Att: 19,687
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Jackman
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BRENTFORD
Griffin Park
2 - 0 (Robinson 2)
26 November 1949
Att: 21,887
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Jackman
Woodgate
REPORT:
HULL CITY
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Robinson, Wade)
3 December 1949
Att: 29,421
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Hillsborough
1 - 2 (Wade)
10 December 1949
Att: 26,415
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Wright
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
LUTON TOWN
Upton Park
0 - 0
17 December 1949
Att: 16,445
Gregory
Devlin
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
BARNSLEY
Oakwell
1 - 1 (Parsons)
24 December 1949
Att: 17,377
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
SWANSEA TOWN
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Parsons, Wade, Weston [og])
26 December 1949
Att: 24,398
Gregory
Devlin
Carter
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
SWANSEA TOWN
Vetch Field
0 - 1
27 December 1949
Att: 25,721
Gregory
Devlin
Kearns
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Robinson [pen], Wade)
31 December 1949
Att: 18,602
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN : FA Cup (Third Round)
Upton park
5 - 1 (Woodgate 2, Gazzard, Robinson, Wade)
7 January 1950
Att: 25,000
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGown
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Upton park
0 - 0
14 January 1950
Att: 22,389
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGown
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Wade
Woodgate
REPORT:
GRIMSBY TOWN
Blundell Park
0 - 2
21 January 1950
Att: 17,067
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
Cater
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Woodgate
REPORT:
EVERTON : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
Upton park
1 - 2 (McGowan)
28 January 1950
Att: 26,800
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Parsons
Gazzard
Robinson
Cater
Woodgate
REPORT:
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Upton park
1 - 0 (Robinson [pen])
4 February 1950
Att: 25,440
Gregory
Devlin
Yeomanson
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Gazzard
Robinson
Parsons
Wade
REPORT:
PRESTON NORTH END
deepdale
1 - 2 (Wathers [og])
18 February 1950
Att: 26,381
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Wade
REPORT:
CHESTERFIELD
Saltergate
0 - 1
25 February 1950
Att: 3,036
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Wade
REPORT:
BRADFORD PARK AVENUE
Upton Par
1 - 0 (Parker)
4 March 1950
Att; 17,587
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
Cater
Woodgate
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Wade
REPORT:
LEICESTER CITY
Filbert Street
1 - 2 (Robinson)
11 March 1950
Att: 29,705
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Corbett
Moroney
Woodgate
Gazzard
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BURY
Upton park
4 - 0 (Gazzard, Parker, Parsons, Woodgate)
18 March 1950
Att; 15,835
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
1 - 4 (Robinson)
25 March 1950
Att: 51,124
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BRENTFORD
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Robinson 2 [2 pens])
1 April 1950
Att: 18,826
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
McGowan
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
HULL CITY
Boothferry Park
2 - 2 (McGowan, Robinson)
8 April 1950
Att: 31,049
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
COVENTRY CITY
Upton Park
0 - 1
10 April 1950
Att; 11,110
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
COVENTRY CITY
Highfield Road
1 - 5 (Woodgate)
11 April 1950
Att: 26,645
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
McGowan
Corbett
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
Gazzard
Bainbridge
REPORT:
CARDIFF CITY
Upton park
0 - 1
15 April 1950
Att: 14,109
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Corbett
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Parsons
Robinson
McGowan
Tucker
REPORT:
BLACKBURN ROVERS
Ewood Park
0 - 2
22 April 1950
Att; 17,375
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Parsons
JIM BARRETT Jnr.
Robinson
Gazzard
Woodgate
REPORT:
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Upton Park
2 - 2 (Woodgate 2)
Att: 10,361
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Cater
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Barrett
Robinson
McGowan
Bainbridge
REPORT:
SOUTHAMPTON
The Dell
2 - 3 (Robinson 2)
6 May 1950
Att: 24,778
Gregory
Yeomanson
Forde
Parker
Walker
Moroney
Woodgate
Barrett
Robinson
Gazzard
Tucker
REPORT: