WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Billy Bonds
#598
SIMON LIVETT
Born: 8 January 1969, Plaistow, London
Apprentice: 1 July 1985
Pro forms: 19 January 1987
Debut: Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 15 September 1990
Last game: Aldershot (A) 5 January 1991
Appearances:
Goals:
Transferred: Leyton Orient
Date: August 1992
A product of Hammers' successful youth policy, a local East End lad who supported West Ham as a schoolboy. Livett made his League debut for West Ham against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 15 September 1990, after being injured in the first 45 minutes the youngster was replaced by George Parris. The midfielders first team appearances were restricted to just the Wolves game and a further two cup games, the 1-5 thrashing by Luton Town in the Zenith Data Systems Cup and the 0-0 draw at home to Aldershot in the F.A. Cup.
For the 1991-92 campaign he was on a weekly contract, and was free to negotiate his own move in the summer of 1992. Leyton Orient gave him the chance to continue his career at Brisbane Road and between 1993 and 2002 Livett trawled the lower leagues with Cambridge United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Dover Athletic, Romford, Billericay Town, Grays Athletic, Southend United, Boston United, taking in San Diego Flash in California before ending his playing career with Ford United.
#599
MATTHEW RUSH
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Powerful and pacy wide man who progressed through the Upton Park youth ranks to make his Football League debut as a 75th minute substitute in the Second Division clash against Hull City at Upton Park in the 7-1 thrashing of the Tigers on 6 October 1990.
The youngster showed encouraging signs, so-much-so that the Republic of Ireland boss Jack Charlton put his faith in the strong, pacy right-winger by capping him twice in the European Under-21 Championships.
Rush hit the headlines with two stunning first half goals, both with his head from identical positions against Norwich City in April 1992. However, the wingers’ fortunes changed after he was placed on the transfer list in September 1993 and a subsequent loan spell took him to Swansea City.
West Ham recalled him towards the end of the 1993-94 campaign, scoring on his return. "Rushey" went on to make 55 first team appearances before signing for Norwich City for a £330,000 fee on 18 August, just a day before the start of the new 1995-96 season.
The deal also included an additional sum after a certain number of appearances for the Canaries, however, soon after sustained serious knee ligament damage. After trying to resurrect his waning career with Oldham Athletic, he sadly called it a day and retired aged just 27.
#600
TIM BREACKER
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#601
CHRIS HUGHTON
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#602
SIMON CLARKE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#603
FRANZ CARR
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#604
IAIN DOWIE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#605 =
KENNY BROWN
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#605 =
MITCHELL THOMAS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#605 =
MIKE SMALL
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#608
TONY PARKS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#609
DEAN MARTIN
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#610
RAY ATTEVELD
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#611
CLIVE ALLEN
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#612
PETER BUTLER
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#613
MARK ROBSON
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#614
MATT HOLMES
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#615
STEVEN BANKS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#616
STEVE JONES
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#617
ALEX BUNBURY
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#618
DAVID SPEEDIE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#619
DALE GORDON
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#620
KEITH ROWLAND
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#621 =
DAVID BURROWS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#621
MIKE MARSH
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#621
LEE CHAPMAN
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#624
JEROEN BOERE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#625
PAUL MARQUIS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#626
PAUL MITCHELL
Born: 20 October 1971, Bournemouth
Signed: AFC Bournemouth
Fee: £40,000
Date: 1 August 1993
Debut: Blackburn Rovers (H) 27 April 1994
Appearances: 1
Goals: 0
Transferred: AFC Bournemouth
Date: 1 March 1996
Fee: Free transfer
Mitchell first signed for Harry Redknapp at AFC Bournemouth before following him to Upton Park for a fee of £40,000 on 1 August 1993 along with Keith Rowlands. Mitchell can play either full-back or in the midfield position, however, Mitch’s Hammers' career was plagued with hamstring problems soon after arriving in east London.
He made his Premiership debut some eight months later as substitute - six minutes from time in the 1-2 defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park on the 27 April 1994. The youngster was eventually handed a free transfer that enabled him to return to Dean Court then subsequently moved to Torquay United and later Ilkeston Town.
#627
DANNY WILLIAMSON
Born: 5 December 1973, West Ham, London
Apprentice: 1 July 1990
Debut: Arsenal (A) 30 April 1994
Last game: Chelsea (H) 12 March 1997
Appearances: 52/6
Goals: 5
Transferred: Everton
Date: 15 August 1997
Fee: £1m + David Unsworth
Danny Williamson was the perfect Academy star, a keen West Ham supporter and played locally for Newham and Essex boys before committing his future to the Hammers when he signed apprentice forms on 1 July 1990.
The youngster gained experience earlier in the 1993/94 season during a 13-match loan spell with Third Division Doncaster Rovers making his Football League debut against Lincoln City on the 9 October 1993.
At the end of the 1993/94 season, 20-year-old Williamson was given his West Ham United debut by manager Billy Bonds as a late substitute in a surprising 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Highbury on 30 April 1994.
Having retained his place for the following two games, away at Queens Park Rangers and at home to Southampton, Williamson got his Upton Park career off to a flying start, his excellent close control and an eye for goal put West Ham ahead after just eleven minutes against the Saints.
The appointment of Harry Redknapp and the arrivals of John Moncur and Don Hutchison, together with an unfortunate ankle injury, limited Williamson’s game time, but took his chance to become a regular starter in the first team in 1995/96 and made a total of 33 appearances, scoring four goals.
Unfortunately, Williamson failed to kick on and properly establish himself in Claret and Blue and Everton were quick to snap him up for a £1m fee plus David Unsworth joining the east London side as part of the deal. After enduring an injury-plagued three-year spell at Goodison Park, he retired due to injury in 2000, aged just 26.