WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
A Pictorial History
1958-59 Football League First Division
Manager : Ted Fenton
There were 40,740 inside Fratton Park as the Hammers kicked off the new season against Portsmouth. Roared on by 7,000 fans, goals from Dick and Keeble gave West Ham a 2–1 win. Two days later the gates were closed at Upton Park as the Hammers welcomed league champions Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was an exciting tussle, with the Hammers winning 2–0. Now enjoying life back in the First Division, Aston Villa were crushed 7–2 in the next home game. The euphoria was then forgotten with three away games ending in defeats at Luton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, the team conceding four goals in each match. The home game with Manchester United attracted great excitement as the Hammers raced into a three-goal lead before two goals from United made the contest more even. The 3–2 victory saw the debut of 17-year-old Bobby Moore, who was destined for greater achievements.
After Blackburn Rovers were beaten 6–3 at home there followed a period of six games without a win. This all changed during the Christmas period as Portsmouth were thrashed 6–0 at home and on Christmas Day rivals Tottenham were beaten 2–1. In the return with Tottenham on Boxing Day the Hammers triumphed again, winning 4–1.
West Ham were back at White Hart Lane to face Tottenham in the FA Cup, but on this occasion they lost 2–0. There were further away defeats but at home the goals were flowing, Johnny Dick scoring twice against Nottingham Forest in a 5–3 thriller and going one better to score a hat-trick in the 3–1 victory against West Bromwich Albion. As an experiment, full-back John Bond was moved to centre-forward and this brought success as he scored twice against Bolton Wanderers in the 4–3 home win. The final home game against Manchester City saw Dick and Grice score two apiece in a 5–1 win. It had been an excellent campaign and it was a fine achievement to finish in sixth place.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
2 - 1 (Keeble 37', Dick 50')
23 August 1958
Att: 40,470
Gregory
Bond
Cantwell
Malcolm
Brown
Lansdowne
Grice
Smith J.
Keeble
Dick
Musgrove
A momentous day in the history of the Club, having secured their place at the top table of English football with a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough four months earlier. West Ham United captain Noel Cantwell led the Hammers to First Division victory at Fratton Park against Portsmouth 2-1. In the 37th minute Andy Malcolm wrong-footed their defence with a perfect pass to John Dick. The lanky Scot’s shot was pushed onto an upright by Uprichard and through the confusion Vic Keeble stole in to stab the ball over the line. Five minutes into the second-half Musgrove and Grice combined for Dick to make it 2-0. Portsmouth did pull one back but the Hammers were worthy winners.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Dick 45', Smith 88')
25 August 1958
Att: 37,487
Gregory
Bond
Cantwell
Malcolm
Brown
Lansdowne
Grice
Smith J.
Keeble
Dick
Musgrove
The Hammers were also newly-promoted to the top flight when they welcomed champions Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Boleyn Ground. Ted Fenton's side had won at Portsmouth on the opening day of the season, but Wolves were expected to sweep West Ham aside on their visit to east London. A bumper crowd of 37,487 turned out to see a visiting XI that included England internationals Billy Wright, Ron Flowers, Peter Broadbent and Eddie Clamp. However, it was the home side who provided the star turns in the shape of John Smith and Scotland forward John Dick, who both scored in a deserved 2-0 victory.
ASTON VILLA
Upton Park
7 - 2 (Musgrove 15', 18', Lansdowne 30', Keeble 36', 73', Dick 75', 89')
30 August 1958
Att: 30,263
Gregory
Bond
Cantwell
Malcolm
Brown
Lansdowne
Grice
Smith J.
Keeble
Dick
Musgrove
When so many goals are scored in 90 minutes it is usually easy to pick out one or two and say they were the best, but on this occasion it is really difficult to select even a single tally from such an abundance of splendid efforts. Every one was a good one - and that is surely a compliment in itself - especially as all but one was netted with a shot from twenty yards or so." Inside-right Johnny Smith had already hit the upright when West Ham went ahead through Malcolm Musgrove, who beat four men before firing in from 20 yards.
Three minutes later Musgrove doubled his tally with another right-foot effort from outside of the area. The left winger brought a great save from goalkeeper Nigel Sims, then turned provider for Bill Lansdowne to volley in a magnificent third. The pounding continued and, ten minutes before half-time, John Dick slipped a pass to Vic Keeble, who raced on and easily beat Sims and make it 4-0 at the interval.
Smith hit the woodwork again before providing the pass for Keeble to net the fifth on 73 minutes. Two minutes later, the fans got the 'six' goals they had been demanding when Dick converted Keeble's cross. Villa finally snapped into life and netted two counter-attack goals of their own through Jackie Sewell and Les Smith, but West Ham had the final say when Dick smashed home a glorious left-foot shot that flew in just under the angle of crossbar and post.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
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LUTON TOWN
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MANCHESTER UNITED
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST
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MANCHESTER UNITED
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CHELSEA
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BLACKPOOL
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BLACKBURN ROVERS
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BIRMINGHAM CITY
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Southern Floodlight Cup (1st Rd)
Upton Park
13 October 1958
Postponed : Continual Rain
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
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BURNLEY
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Southern Floodlight Cup (1st Rd)
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BOLTON WANDERERS
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ARSENAL
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EVERTON
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LEICESTER CITY
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PRESTON NORTH END
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LEEDS UNITED
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MANCHESTER CITY
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FULHAM : Southern Floodlight Cup (Second Round)
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PORTSMOUTH
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
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ASTON VILLA
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : FA Cup (Third Round)
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LUTON TOWN
Upton Park
17 January 1959
Postponed : Bad weather - Pitch Unfit
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
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CHELSEA
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BLACKPOOL
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BLACKBURN ROVERS
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BIRMINGHAM CITY
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WEST BROMWICH ALBION
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BURNLEY
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BOLTON WANDERERS
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
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ARSENAL
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
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EVERTON
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ARSENAL : Southern Floodlight Cup (Semi-Final)
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COLCHESTER UNITED : Essex Pro Cup (Semi-Final)
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LEICESTER CITY
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LUTON TOWN
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PRESTON NORTH END
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MANCHESTER CITY
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LEEDS UNITED
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