WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1956-57 London Mid-Week League
Manager : Harry Butler
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CRYSTAL PALACE
Spotted Dog Ground
6 - 0 (Smith 4, O'Connell, Sheridan)
15 October 1956
Goymer
Kirkup J.
Pitt R.
Pyke
Walker
Morley
Adams W.
Smith R.
O'Connell R.
Sheridan P.
McDonald
On Monday afternoon at the Spotted Dog Ground. Forest Gate, it was almost an entirely different XI that met Crystal Palace "A", than the XI that played against Dartford two days earlier in the Metroplitan League.
The Palace had quite an experienced team on show but we ran them into the ground. Although only two up at half-time we piled on the pressure in the second half to win 60, Smith scoring four goals and Irish triallists O'Connell and Sheridan one each. A pleasing feature was the storming game played by young Joe Kirkup at full-back.
ARSENAL
Highbury
4 - 2 (Pyke 2, McDonald, [og])
24 October 1956
Goymer
Kirkup J.
Hayward T.
Harvey
Walker
Morley
Rowlands C.
Newman M.
Pyke
Duggan P.
McDonald
This was distinctly a match of contrasts. In the first half our XI gave a very poor display and were deservedly 0-2 in arrears at the interval, but after the resumption the "boot was on the other foot." The Gunners assisted the ball into the net once and then presented us with another easy goal before we made two more to win an undistinguished game by 4-2. The Hammers" scorers were Pyke (2), McDonald and the one "own goal".
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PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
1 - 0 (Smith)
31 October 1956
Reader
Wright
Cooper
Morley
Walker
O'Farrell
Norcott C.
Smith R.
Pyke
Myers A.
Gibson D.
The two newcomers were Myers and Gibson (both from Dagenham F.C.) and Frank O'Farrell was making his first appearance for some weeks following injury and carne through the test satisfactorily.
Playing the first half against the wind we took the lead after about ten minutes; good work by Morley led up to Pyke making a shot that the 'keeper parried, and Smith netted the rebound. An injury to the Sailors' custodian meant a re-shuffle of their side with the goalie moving to the wing, and we should actually have ended further in front. However, the one goal proved sufficient for us to retain our 100' record in the competition.
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spotted Dog Ground
1 - 1 (Smith)
5 November 1956
Rhodes
Pyke
Cooper
Morley
Brown
Matthews
Smith R.
Neville W.
Banfield T.
Small E.
Hughes C.
There was not a great deal to enthuse over in the whole of the 90 minutes, and the 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of the play between two evenly-matched sides in which defences predominated. The Spurs were in the lead at half-time, but Smith levelled the scores after the interval,
This was actually the first point we have dropped in our four matches in the competition so far.
CHELSEA
Stamford Bridge
1 - 1 (Smith)
14 November 1956
Goymer
Marshall A.
Lyall J.
Pyke
Walker
Schofield W.
Smith R.
Neville W.
Fenn
Greenhill A.
McDonald
We had the better of the first-half exchanges, and Smith scored to give us an interval lead of 1-0 that could well have been more. The Blues came back after the resumption to equalise when Cliss notched a great goal after beating half-a-dozen men, and although the game finished with no further score we felt that we actually deserved more than one point.
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Spotted Dog Ground
1 - 0 (Pyke)
19 November 1956
Rhodes
Hayward T.
Young J.
Pyke
Walker
Morley
Wallis A.
Neville W.
Harvey
Newman M.
Cameron D.
Among the amateurs in our side were Jimmy Young (a youngster from Heanor Town, at present in the Forces). Mick Newman of Dagenham F.C. (to whom Dick Walker is coach) and Arthur Wallis of Maidstone United. The Athletic included Jimmy Fletcher of Maidstone United in their XI so the Kent amateur club's right-wing pair were on opposing sides!
The only goal of the match gave us a close 1-0 victory. Pyke being the scorer after he switched to centre-forward to round off a good show.
This success means that we have now won four drawn two of the half-a-dozen games played in this competition.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
3 - 2 (Fenn, McDonald, Neville)
16 January 1957
Goymer, Kirkup J., Hayward T., Matthews, Walker, Morley
Fenn, Neville W., Greenfield A., Cartwright J., McDonald
After a break of several weeks we resumed our London Mid-Week League fixtures meeting Charlton Athletic "A" at The Valley. We had the better of the first-half to lead by 2-0 at the interval, Neville and McDonald being the scorers. The Babes came more into the picture after the resumption and got on top to equalise, but the Hammers proved to have the better stamina and a last-minute goal by Fenn gave us a narrow but deserved success by 3-2.
We therefore maintained our unbeaten record in the competition, and with twelve points from seven games are well-established at the head of the table - four points in front of the Spurs who have played two games less.
ARSENAL
Spotted Dog Ground
3 - 0 (Beales, Greenhill, Neville)
11 February 1957
Goymer
Hayward T.
Young J.
Pyke
Walker
Morley
Fenn
Neville W.
Greenhill A.
Beales J.
McDonald
Neville, Greenhill and Beales each scored once to give us a 3-0 interval lead, and we retained that advantage until the final whistle to make our record in the competition:
played 8, won 6, drawn 2, lost 0, goals 20 - 6.
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Cheshunt
1 - 2 (Neville)
21 February 1957
Rhodes
Hayward T.
Young J.
Mears J.
Walker
Morley
Fenn
Neville W.
Banfield T.
Smillie A.
McDonald
Neville put us in the lead, but the Spurs fought back to lead by 2-1 at the interval. The Lilywhites continued to have the edge during the second half and the skill of coach Bill Nicholson playing at centre-half had much to do with their gaining of the points.
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PORTSMOUTH
Spotted Dog Ground
4 - 4 (Smith 2, Greenhill, Matthews)
4 March 1957
Farrell P.
Hayward T.
Young J.
Pyke
Walker
Morley
Wragg
Matthews
Greenhill A.
Smith R.
Milton D.
REPORT:
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CRYSTAL PALCE
Selhurst Park
1 - 0 (Banfield)
13 March 1957
Wyllie
Kirkup J.
Young J.
Obeney
Walker
Lyall J.
Norcott C.
Neville W.
Banfield T.
Smillie A.
Rowlands C.
It was not a very exciting game, and the wind and poor surface were not conducive to first-rate soccer. Nevertheless the Hammers deserved their win. Banfield scoring the only goal about ten minutes from time. However it was most encouraging to us to see the form of our young players, for no less than six of the Colts' team were on view; of these Kirkup was outstanding, whilst Smillie again showed that he has a most promising future by prompting threatening attacks.
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CHELSEA
Spotted Dog Ground
1 - 2 (Smith [pen])
18 March 1957
Rhodes
Kirkup J.
Lyall J.
Obeney
Nelson
Morley
Matthews
Smillie
Greenhill A.
Smith R.
McDonald
The second reverse of the week-end came at the Spotted Dog Ground, where we met Chelsea "A" in our final London Mid-Week League game of the season. A 1-2 defeat virtually finished our chances of regaining the trophy awarded for this competition, for although we still retain our place at the head of the table both the Pensioners and the Spurs may well overhaul us in the remainder of their programme.
We held an interval lead through a penalty on the stroke of time. Smith being the scorer. This advantage remained in our favour until a quarter-of-an-hour from the end when a cross-shot went in off the far post, and about ten minutes later full-back Sillett came upfield to settle the issue with a long drive that just crossed the line.
