WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Syd Bishop
Sydney MacDonald Bishop began his football career as a forward with Isthmian League Ilford FC and had a spell with Crystal Palace reserves. Bishop rose to the pinnacle of his profession after signing for West Ham United in 1920. Born on 10 February 1900, just a few short months before the formation of the Club as West Ham United from their predecessors the Thames Ironworks. Bishop kick-started his Hammers career on Christmas Day 1920 by scoring on his debut against Birmingham in the 1-1 draw at the Boleyn Ground.
Affectionately nicknamed "Sticks" by the Boleyn crowds in recognition of his slender frame and was a member of the side which gained near immortality by appearing in the first Wembley Cup Final of 1923. Bishop was one of the few "utility" players of his generation; playing in nearly every position for Hammers - including goal when Ted Hufton was injured on one occasion! It has been often said that the best half-backs are those who have had experience in the forward positions, gaining first-hand knowledge of the type of service the men up front need in the process and his career certainly benefited from this drill.
Well-known as a big-occasion player, he was named as reserve for England versus Ireland at Liverpool in 1924, but was destined to wait until after he'd left Upton Park before gaining full international recognition. He spent seven seasons with the Hammers playing in 172 games and scoring ten goals before leaving on 5 November 1926 to join Leicester City for a £4,000 fee.
Born: 10 February 1900, Stepney, London, England - Died: 4 May 1949, Chelsea, London (aged 49)
West Ham United Career: (1920-1926) Appearances: 172, Goals: 10
1923 FA Cup Runners-up
Bolton Wanderers v. West Ham United
Wembley Stadium
29 April 1923
Syd's personal copy of the Cup Final programme
1923 FA Cup Final Runners-up
Football Association Charity Shield
Professionals v. Amateurs
Stamford Bridge
8 October 1923
The traditional curtain raiser to the new football season brings together the current Premier League champions against the winners of the F.A. Cup to vie for the F.A. Community Shield, but that has not always the case. This one-off match evolved from the Sheriff of London Charity Shield that had been introduced in 1898-99 as a professionals versus amateurs cup with the proceeds distributed to charities' around the country.
In 1908 the name changed to the Football Association Charity Shield after the leading amateur clubs of the time fell out with the FA. The competition format varied over the years from First Division champions versus Southern League champions to Amateurs v. Professionals. In 1921 the Shield was contested between the Football League and FA Cup Winners for the first time, with a few exceptions, this format has remained to the present day.
On the 8th October 1923 West Ham United's Syd Bishop won this Charity Shield medal guesting for the Professionals in the 2-0 victory over the Amateurs at Stamford Bridge.
PROFESSIONALS
Taylor, Cresswell, Wadsworth, Bishop, Wilson, Meehan, Osborne, Jack, Bradford, Chambers, Tunstall
Charity Shield
Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup
The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup was a Charity invitation match organised by Norwich City and founded by public subscription in 1903. This annual end of season event raised money for charity and local communities.
Local side CEYMS F.C. (Church of England Young Men’s Society) having competed against Norwich City for the first three years decided to ‘retire’ from the competition in 1907 which led to the Hospital committee deciding to invite various first division teams to compete for the trophy against Norwich City, Everton being the chosen team to face the Canaries at their Newmarket Road enclosure in 1907. The Toffee’s were prize opposition for City, having won the FA Cup the previous season, a 1-1 draw resulted with the charity fund the winner as 9,500 were in attendance.
The precedent had been set to invite the country's very best to this challenge and thereby giving the Canaries’ supporters the opportunity to see the very best sides of the day.
West Ham United were F.A. Cup finalists in the first Wembley final and clinched promotion to the Football League First Division in the same 1922-23 season, the Hammers would have been a top attraction at that time and were invited to compete at ‘The Nest’ on 5 May 1924. A hat-trick by West Ham’s top marksman Vic Watson and another by Campbell secured a 4-3 victory. Having won the Cup in 1924 the Hammers were invited back to ‘The Nest’ on 30 April 1925 to defend the trophy.
Norwich City v. West Ham United
The Nest, Norwich
5 May 1924
4 - 3
Norwich City v. West Ham United
The Nest, Norwich
30 April 1925
1 - 6
Kaine, Henderson, Young, Bishop, Kay, Cadwell, Edwards,
Watson, Campbell, Moore, Ruffell
Hufton, Henderson, Horler, Bishop, Eastman, Cadwell,
Yews, Earle, Watson, Moore, Ruffell
Hospital Cup
Representative Match
London Combination v. London League
Venue Unknown
1926
Representative Match
LEICESTER CITY
At Filbert Street his form blossomed and he gained four England caps after making his international debut against Scotland in April 1927. In his two seasons with the Foxes he played in 49 league games scoring seven goals. The popular half-back returned to London in June 1928 and signed for Chelsea for a fee of £4,500. With the Blues he played a crucial part in them gaining promotion from the Second Division in 1930. He finished his playing career in May 1933 after appearing in 109 games and scoring six goals for the Pensioners before retiring in May 1933.
FRANCE
(Scotland 1 - 2 England)
(Belgium 1 - 9 England)
International Friendly
Stade Olympique Yves-du-ManoirColombes, Paris
26 May 1927
Home Championship
Hampden Park, Glasgow
2 April 1927
SCOTLAND
BELGIUM
International Friendly
Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Brussels 11 May 1927
(France 0 - 6 England)
ENGLAND TRIAL CAPS
England trial caps were awarded to footballers who played in specially arranged matches where their ability could be assessed by international selectors.Typically such a match may have been billed as ‘Probables v. Possibles’.The trial caps were designed with eight alternating purple and white panels, with the white embroidered FA monogram.
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich
23 January 1928
The Rest XI
Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough
8 February 1928
The Rest XI
Football League Representative
Football League v. Scottish League
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
10 March 1928
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Hacking, Godall, Kean, Jones, Edwards, Bishop, Smith,
Hulme, Dean, Bradford, Jack
