WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1948-49 Eastern Counties League
The Eastern Counties League's first season commenced on 31 August 1935 and by the end of the following season there were concerns about the league's viability. Essex clubs had left to join the newly-established Essex County League, however, four new members (Colchester United Reserves, Cromer, Newmarket Town and Norwich CEYMS) were recruited. The following season the league expanded to 13 clubs as two of the Essex clubs re-joined (the Essex County League had been a failure with only five members completing the season and was not continued).
The 1939-40 season started, but was abandoned after the outbreak of World War II. After the war ended in May 1945 a meeting was held in late June to see whether the league could be restarted. However, a further meeting on 28 July decided that too few clubs were ready to resume footballing activities as many were unable to sign players and some grounds remained under the control of the armed forces. The league finally resumed for the 1946-47 season with ten clubs.
Prior to the start of the 1948-49 season the league was expanded to 16 clubs, largely through the addition of the 'A' teams of four London clubs, West Ham United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
HARWICK & PARKESTON
Park Royal
2 - 3 (Jackman, Johnson)
21 August 1948
Chiswick
Hill T.
Denham C.
Clark
McGuinn
Wilson
Barrett
Petchey
Jackman
Johnson
Tucker
Our first experience of Eastern Counties League football revealed that keen and clever opposition can be expected in this competition; four of the five Football League clubs whose “A” teams played were defeated in the opening encounters, Chelsea alone registering a success. But our XI containing seven amateurs made a very good showing against a strong, robust side before 2,500 spectators, losing 3-2 though a late goal, after being one down at half-time
ARSENAL 'A'
Hendon FC
0 - 2
25 August 1948
Taylor
Chapman H.
Denham C.
Armstrong
McGuinn
Wilson
Barrett
Petchey
Dunn
Wade
Tucker
REPORT:
HARWICK & PARKESTON : Eastern Counties League Cup
Park Royal
1 - 10 (Wilson)
28 August 1948
Johnson F.
Dady P.
Spurling
Chapman H.
McQuinn
Wilson
Brown
French
Ball
Petchey
Noakes
We will not attempt to make excuses for a crushing defeat at Harwich, suffice it to say, greater experience was the decisive factor. Despite that set-back we are not disappointed with our newly-formed XI. Among them are several promising youngsters, who have youth very much on their side. During the week one of them – George Petchey – became the latest addition to the playing staff; George a 17.5 year-old inside-forward from Hornchurch, has been combining well with his younger partner – Jimmy Barrett (Junior) and we have great hopes of this pair as a future wing in our XI’s
CHELSEA 'A'
Upton Park
0 - 3
2 September 1948
Taylor
Ballantyne
Kearns
Wilson
McQuinn P.
White L.
Barrett
Carter E.
McCrystal J.
Petchey
Wade
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY 'A'
The Nest
1 - 0 (Jackman)
9 September 1948
Taylor
McGowan J.
Forde
Parker D.
McQuinn P.
Ballantyne D.
Barrett
Jackman
White L.
Wade D.
Dunn
REPORT:
BISHOP STRORTFORD : East Anglian Cup
Woodside Park
2 - 4 (Barrett, Jackman)
11 September 1948
Johnson F.
Ward P.
Streat C.
Carter
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Barrett
Jackman
Lowe P.
Petchey
Keeble
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN 'A'
Upton Park
6 - 2 (Jackman 3, Keable)
16 September 1948
Johnson F.
Ward P.
Streat C.
Wilson
McQuinn P.
White L.
Barrett
Jackman
Lowe P.
Petchey
Keable T.
REPORT:
NORWICH CITY 'A'
Upton Park
4 - 0 (Howe 2, Barrett, Dunn)
23 September 1948
Johnson F.
Kearns
Streat C.
Fenton T.
McQuinn P.
Ballantyne D.
Barrett
Dunn
Howe
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN
Wellesley Ground
0 - 4
25 September 1948
Osborne P.
Kearns
Dady P.
Armstrong
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Barrett
Dunn
Howe
Carter E.
Petchey
REPORT:
LOWESTOFT TOWN
Crown Meadow
3 - 4 (Howe 2, Petchey)
9 October 1948
Osborne P.
Kearns
Herald G.
Hill T.
Seabrook P.
Wilson
Barrett
Carroll
Howe
Petchey
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BURY TOWN
Ram Meadow
1 - 3 (Bainbridge)
16 October 1948
Johnson F.
McGowan J.
Herald G.
Kearns
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Barrett
Petchey
Carroll
Carter E.
Bainbridge
REPORT:
KINGS LYNN
The Walks
1 - 1 (Carroll)
23 October 1948
Johnson F.
Kearns
Herald G.
Ballantyne
McQuinn P.
Streat
Barrett
French
Carroll
Howe
Bainbridge
REPORT:
BURY TOWN
Ram Meadow
3 - 4 (Howe 2, Dunn)
6 November 1948
Johnson F.
McGowan J.
Lawers
Ballantyne
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Dunn
Harsley
Carroll
Howe
Tucker
REPORT:
NEWMARKET TOWN
Cricket Field Road
4 - 2 (Carroll 2, Barrett, Howe)
20 November 1948
Adams A.
Ballantyne
Kearns
Armstrong
McQuinn P.
Streat C.
Barrett
Turner
Carroll
Howe
Wood
REPORT:
LOWESTOFT TOWN
Crown Meadow
0 - 1
4 December 1948
Adams A.
Ballantyne
Kearns
Fenton R.
McQuinn P.
Streat C.
Barrett
Howe
Carroll
Carter E.
Petchey
REPORT:
GORLESTON
Recreation Ground
2 - 0 (Batchelor, Tucker)
8 January 1949
La Mare
McQuinn P.
Kearns
Wilson
Howe
Beckford N.
Barrett
Batchelor R.
Carroll
McGowan D.
Tucker
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 'A'
White Hart Lane
0 - 6
15 January 1949
La Mare
Ballantyne
Kearns
Malcolm
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Nottage
Batchelor R.
Howe
Turner
Tucker
REPORT:
CLACTON TOWN
The Rush Green Bowl
1 - 1 (Howe)
22 January 1949
Taylor
Kearns
Streat C.
Malcolm
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Gatward G.
Batchelor R.
Howe
Petchey
Tucker
The 'A' Team journeyed to Clacton and went ahead when Dennis Howe netted in the first half. An injury to George Petchey left our youngsters short-handed, but it was not until five minutes from time that the home side gained the equaliser.
CHELSEA 'A'
Stamford Bridge
0 - 6
12 February 1949
Peters
McGowan J.
Ballantyne
Malcolm
McQuinn P.
Wilson
Southren
Dunn
Howe
Batchelor R.
Noakes
REPORT:
CLACTON TOWN
The Rush Green Bowl
1 - 2 (Abercrombie)
26 February 1949
Limehouse K.
McGowan J.
Kearns
Malcolm
Wilson
Beckford N.
Southren
Daily R.
Abercrombie J.
Wright
Wade
REPORT:
KINGS LYNN
The Walks
2 - 4 (Batchelor, Wilson [pen])
5 March 1949
Peters
McGowan J.
Kearns
Malcolm
Wilson
Beckford D.
Beckford N.
Carter E.
Batchelor R.
Wade
Petchey
REPORT:
GORLESTON
Recreation Ground
3 - 1 (McGowan D. 2, Stephens)
12 March 1949
Limehouse K.
McGowan J.
Kearns
Malcolm
McQuinn P.
Noakes
Southren
Batchelor R.
Stephens
McGowan D.
Petchey
REPORT:
HARWICH & PARKESTON
Royal Oak
3 - 2 (McGowan D. 2, Petchey)
19 March 1949
Peters
McGowan J.
Ballantyne
Malcolm
Wilson
Moroney
Southren
Jackman
Stephens
McGowan D.
Petchey
REPORT:
NEWMARKET TOWN
Cricket Field Ground
3 - 3 (Dunn, Tucker, Wilson [pen])
2 April 1949
Limehouse K.
McGowan J.
Bush R.
Malcolm
Wilson
Noakes
Southren
Dunn
Kearns
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
COLCHESTER UNITED
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Chapman 2, Petchey)
4 April 1949
Bird E.
McGowan J.
Kearns
Malcolm
Ballantyne
Noakes
Barrett
Dunn
Chapman
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
ARSENAL 'A'
Upton Park
4 - 2 (Barrett, Jackman, Petchey, Tucker [pen])
6 April 1949
Peters
Yeomanson
Ballantyne
Malcolm
Evans E.
Noakes
Barrett
Jackman
Chapman
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
GREAT YARMOUTH TOWN
Wellesley Ground
3 - 4 (Kurn 2, Dunn)
9 April 1949
Limehouse K.
Kearns
Bush R.
Malcolm
Broom L.
Noakes
Southren
Dunn
Kurn J.
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
CHELMSFORD CITY Reserves
New Writtle Street
0 - 3
16 April 1949
Chiswick
McGowan J.
Bush R.
Malcolm
Wilson
Noakes
Beckford D.
Dunn
Howe
Petchey
Tucker
REPORT:
COLCHESTER UNITED
Layer Road
1 - 2 (Jackman)
18 April 1949
Chiswick
Chapman
Tucker
Malcolm
Howe
Kurn
Jackman
Petchey
Dunn
Noakes
Prowen
REPORT:
IPSWICH TOWN 'A'
Portman Road
2 - 1 (Howe 2)
20 April 1949
Chiswick
Ballantyne
Wajzner
Malcolm
Broom L.
Noakes
Jackman
Dunn
Howe
Knight D.
Tucker
REPORT:
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 'A'
Upton Park
3 - 3 (Chapman, Howe, Noakes)
4 May 1949
Peters
Armstrong
Ballantyne
Malcolm
Wilson
Parker B.
Southren
Chapman
Howe
Wood
Noakes
REPORT:
CHELMSFORD CITY Reserves
New Writtle Street
2 - 0 (Howe, jackman)
7 May 1949
Peters
Armstrong
Ballantyne
Parker D.
Wright
O'Farrell
Barrett
Jackman
Howe
Hall
Tucker
REPORT:
