theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Joe Kirkup
A proficient and talented rugby player and footballer who represented Northumberland Schools at rugby, the youngster concentrated on football after his family moved south.
Kirkup was a member of the West Ham Youth team that lost to Manchester United in the 1956/57 FA Youth Cup Final His disappointed was eased days later when the 16-year-old received a £10 signing on fee to join the Hammers. The resourceful full-back made his initial first team debut on 10 March 1958 at Upton Park against Southend United in a 2-1 win in the Semi-Final of the Essex Professional Cup. Proficient with tackling and passing skills, the defender made his Football League against Manchester City at Maine Road in a 1-3 reverse on 13 December 1958.
Capped for England at Youth and Under 23 level and established himself as West Ham’s first choice right back by the end of 1960. Although missing out on the Hammers 1964 F.A. Cup triumph the highlight of his Claret and Blue career was in the triumphant West Ham team that returned to Wembley a year later to win the European Cup Winners Cup defeating TSV Munich 1860 by a 2-0 scoreline in a classic display of attacking free flowing football by both teams in front of 100,000 fans on 19 May 1965.
That European victory was the first and last time an English team won a major European club trophy using solely English players throughout the tournament. Incredibly, Joe was one of the 9 players in the eleven man team to have been produced through the club youth ranks.
After making 192 first team appearances for West Ham and scoring six goals, on 11 March 1966 he signed for Chelsea for £35,000. At Stamford Bridge he made 69 first team appearances for the west London club, and joined Southampton in 1967. He made 193 appearances for the Saints, scoring four goals.
In 1975, he immigrated to Durban, South Africa to take over the post of player / manager from his old teammate Johnny Byrne at Durban City FC. It was not an enjoyable time, made untenable by the Club Chairman meddling in team affairs and Kirkup and his family returned to England in the summer of 1976 to embark on a life away from football by joining Byfleet Machine & Tool Company, he later ran a newsagent in Ewell, Surrey.
Born: 17 December 1939, Hexham, Northumberland, England
Debut: 13 December 1958, Manchester City (A)
Last game: 8 January 1966, Newcastle United (A)
Appearances: 192, Goals: 6
International: England Under-23 (3 caps), England Youth (1 cap), Representative (1 cap)
Individual honours: Essex Professional Cup (1959), European Cup Winners Cup (1965)
London Mid-Week League
(Runners-Up)
The Hammers played their home London Mid-Week League matches at Clapton’s ‘Spotted Dog Ground’. On the last week-end Harry Butler’s Hammers faced Chelsea "A" in our final league game of the season. A 1-2 defeat to the Pensioners ended our chances of regaining the trophy awarded for this competition. Tottenham Hotspur overhauled us in the remainder of their programme to clinch the title with 19 points, two ahead of the Hammers ‘A’ team. The squad members were all awarded this ‘Runners-up’ plaque.
London Mid-Week League
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup Final
Chelsea v. West Ham United
Stamford Bridge
16 April 1957
The final produced some good soccer, but most of it came from the Hammers who scored a merited victory. George Fenn's 25-yard-drive put us in front after five minutes' play, but at the end of half-an-hour Cliss for Chelsea had made the scores level. Eight minutes of the second half had passed when Charles Rowlands scored from close in following a corner and from thence onwards it was a really hard tussle with the Hammers fighting strongly to retain their lead.
Goymer, Kirkup, Howe, Lewis C., Walker R., Lyall,
Rowlands, Smith J., Fenn, Smillie, McDonald
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup
Pearson Charity Cup
Colchester United v. West Ham United
Layer Road
1 May 1957
Gregory, Bond, Cantwell, Pyke, Brown, Allison,
Grice, Smith, Lewis, Dick, Musgrove.
Reserve: Kirkup
Pearson Charity Cup
FA Youth Challenge Cup Final
(Runners-Up)
Manchester United v. West Ham United
Upton Park / Old Trafford
May 1957
West Ham United’s youth side fell to an aggregate 2-8 defeat in the two-legged final against Manchester United. In the first-leg the Red Devils held out during a storming last five minutes by West Ham but deserved their victory. The Hammers’ led after 25 minutes through John Cartwright. Dawson, United’s centre forward levelled after 38 minutes. United scored twice the fifth and seventh minutes of the second half through Hunter and Lawton, but in the 62nd minutes West Ham scored from a penalty taken by George Fenn. The Hammers’ were overwhelmed in the second-leg, losing 5-0.
Goymer, Kirkup, Howe, Lewis C., Walker R., Lyall,
Rowlands, Smith J., Fenn, Cartwright, McDonald
FA Youth Challenge Cup
Amateur Youth Championship for the British Association
England v. Ireland
Leyton Stadium
11 May 1957
Gaskell, Kirkup, Wright, Caldwell, Walker, Houghton,
Chadburn, Greaves, Jacobs, Cartwright, Connolly
England youth, having previously defeated Wales (7-1) and Scotland (3-1) the match against Ireland would decide the championship. Chelsea's 16-year-old Jimmy Greaves, with four goals, was England's hero when they defeated the Irish 6-2 to win the Football Youth International championship at Leyton Orient's ground in London. Ireland scored first when outside-left Joe Elwood got the first of his two goals. England's other goals were scored by Mike Connolly and David Jacobs.
England Youth Cap and Medal
London Football Association
Challenge Cup Runners-up
West Ham United v. Arsenal
Upton Park
17 March 1958
Despite the biting wind there was an attendance of 8,000 at the Boleyn Ground and they were rewarded with a game of fast exchanges in which each side in turn had their full share of the play.
The first goal came after six minutes; Arsenal's Ray Swallow fastened on to a clearance and banged home a shot along the ground from the edge of the penalty-box. Just under half-an-hour's play had passed when we drew level, Doug Wragg finding the top corner of the net with a left-foot shot on the turn from the comer of the area.
The second half opened with the teams level at 1-1, but indications were that the Hammers looked like gaining the ascendancy. However, a freak goal once more put the Gunners ahead in the 60th minute; Swallow punted down the middle, and although Rhodes had it covered all the way the ball struck Derek Tapscott in the back and diverted itself into the corner of our net. With eleven minutes left for play the issue was decided through another mishap; two of our defenders collided about 25 yards out and the ball rolled to Swallow to run on and make it 3-1.
Against a wealth of international class experience the Hammers' more than held their own, and a slight sway of luck in our direction might well have found the Cup remaining on our board-room sideboard.
London Challenge Cup Runners Up
Pearson Charity Cup
Colchester United v. West Ham United
Layer Road
23 April 1959
Pearson Charity Cup
Evening Standard
London 5-A-Side Football Championship
Empire Pool Wembley
10 May 1960
In their opening game the Hammers faced London neighbours Leyton Orient, a single goal settled the match. In the semi-final West Ham convincingly beat Brentford 4-1. In the other semi-final Tottenham Hotspur overcame Charlton Athletic 3-1. Unfortunately, in the final the free scoring Hammers succumbed 3-1 to Spurs. John Cartwright scored West Ham’s solitary goal.
Evening Standard 5-A-Side
Under-23 International
England v. Israel
Elland Road, Leeds
9 November 1961
For the Under-23 international friendly against Israel at Elland Road, home of Leeds United, Hammers' full-back Joe Kirkup took to the field wearing this number 2 shirt, winning the first of three Under-23 caps for his country. England won the match by seven goals to one.
West,
Kirkup, Jones, Moore, Labone, Deakin, Hill S.,
Byrne, Farmer, Hill F., Harris
England Under-23 Shirt
Under-23 International
Netherlands v. England
Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam
29 November 1961
Joe Kirkup wore this number 2 shirt, winning his second cap against the Dutch side in Holland. The England team came away from the Stadion Feijenoord in Rotterdam with a 5-2 victory.
Grummitt,
Kirkup, Jones, Mullery, Labone, Moore, Hill S.,
Byrne, Farmer, Hill F., Le Flem
England Under-23 Shirt
Under-23 International
England v. Turkey
The Dell, Southampton
22 March 1962
Joe Kirkup wore the number 2 shirt for England in the 4-1 victory in Southampton. Kirkup decided to swap his England shirt for that of the Turkish No11.
P. Bonetti,
J. Kirkup, G.Jones, B. Moore, M.Hinton, A.Deakin, S.Hill (T. Paine),
F. Hill, J. Byrne, D.Burnside, M.Harrison
Turkey Under-23 Shirt
Pewter Tankard
West Ham United F.C.
F.A. Cup Winners
Wembley 1964
Standen,
Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown, Moore,
Brabrook, Boyce, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons
Joe Kirkup squad member
Presented to
J. KIRKUP
By the
East Ham and West Ham
Councils
Pewter Tankard
The Central Council of Physical Recreation
Crystal Palace National Recreation Centre
Inaugural Football Match
Crystal Palace v. West Ham United
August 1964
West Ham United were invited to play Crystal Palace F.C. to celebrate the opening of this new venture, the fixture was organised by the Central Council of Physical Recreation for the benefit of the National Sports Development Fund.
Standen, Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown, Moore, Brabrook (Sealey), Boyce, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons
European Cup Winners’ Cup Gifts
Spanish silver circular dish, inscribed Real Zaragoza. Given as a gift to members of the West Ham United squad for the European Cup Winners Cup 2nd leg match at the hosts Estadio de la Romareda venue.
Zinnigiesser pottery stein, inscribed In Freundschaft Finals, Europa-Pokal-Spiel, West Ham United-TSV Munchen von 1860, 19.5.1965. Given as a gift to each member of the West Ham United squad by their German opponents.
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
TSV Munchen 1860 v. West Ham United
Wembley Stadium, London 19 May 1965
After winning the previous season's FA Cup, manager Ron Greenwood led West Ham into their first European campaign. The Hammers started the competition against La Gantoise, winning 2-1 on aggregate, followed by aggregate wins against Sparta Prague (3-2) and Lausanne (6-4).
In the semi-final Spanish side Real Zaragoza were beaten 3-2 to put them into the final against West German side TSV Munchen 1860. Two goals from Alan Sealey saw West Ham win the competition and their first major European trophy before a crowd of 97,974.
Standen, Kirkup, Burkett, Peters, Brown, Moore, Sealey, Boyce, Hurst, Dear, Sissons
No.2 Cup Final Shirt
Winners Medal
OMEGA AUTOMATIC
Wristwatch
Omega gentleman's wristwatch with leather strap. Presented to Joe Kirkup by the Directors of West Ham United to honour his part in winning the European Cup Winners Cup. Inscribed to reverse J. Kirkup, West Ham U.F.C., Winners E.C.W.C. 1965
Presentation Watch
Images courtesy of Joe Kirkup and Graham Budd