theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Ernie Gregory
Born in Stratford on 10 November 1921, Gregory played for West Ham Boys and was noticed by manager Charlie Paynter while playing in an English Trophy final against Preston North End at Upton Park, joining the Irons in 1936.
After spending time with Leytonstone as an amateur player, winning the Isthmian League in 1938, Gregory made his first Hammers appearance for the ‘A’ team in 1938. While serving with the Essex Regiment and the Royal Air Force during World War II, Gregory made more than 50 war-time appearances for the Club before making his Football League debut in a 4-1 home win over Plymouth Argyle on 28 December 1946, aged 25.
Despite the relatively late start, in all, Gregory played for West Ham for two decades, making a total of 481 appearances. He was an ever-present during the 1947/48, 1949/50 and 1952/53 seasons and also totalled 37 league appearances during the Division Two title-winning season of 1957/58 at the age of 36.
Gregory’s goalkeeping prowess also saw him produce an outstanding England B performance against France in 1952. After hanging up his gloves in 1959, he was awarded a Testimonial game the following year against LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica at the Boleyn Ground.
The loyal east Londoner stayed with the Club and went on to coach the ‘A’ Team and reserves – nurturing the early development of Moore, Hurst, Peters and their fellow homegrown Hammers who came through the ranks following the creation of the famed Academy of Football. He later worked under John Lyall as a first team coach before finally retiring in May 1987, more than half a century after originally joining the Club.
Born: 10 November 1921, Stratford, London - Died: 21 January 2012, Basildon, Essex (aged 90)
West Ham United Career: (1946-1959) Appearances: 422
Schoolboy Football
East Ham Schools
Essex Schools Inter-District Championship
1935-36
West Ham Schools
1936 West Ham J.O.C.
Juvenile Organisations Committee
The Juvenile Organisations Committee was one of the biggest national welfare movements; their aim was to cater for social and recreational activities necessary for the welfare of working boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 years. For the boys it meant bridging the gap between schoolboy and senior football.
The football section of the West Ham J.O.C. was exceedingly strong between the mid-1920s and up to the outbreak of the Second World War, eligible players being under 18 years of age at the commencement of the season.
W.H.J.O.C
19??-55
Evening Standard 5-A-Side Championship (Runners-up)
13 April 1955
19??-55
Evening Standard 5-A-Side Championship (Runners-up)
13 April 1955
1954-55
Evening Standard 5-A-Side Championship (Runners-up)
13 April 1955
Information on the 1955 Evening Standard London 5-a-side tournament held at the Harringay Arena is sparse. A Fleet Street strike at the time suspended all newspaper publications; as a result, the news blackout ran from March 14 to April 20 1955 which unfortunately straddled the 13 April 1955 tournament. Following the end of the maintenance workers’ strike on Thursday April 21, a week after the competition, London’s Evening Standard ran a summary of their championships. This summary covered the semi-final and final but did not disclose the results of the earlier rounds.
West Ham would have gained some satisfaction from beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at the semi-final stage after losing to them in the first round the previous year. The Hammers met their match in the final with Fulham running out winners by a three goal margin, inside-right Jimmy Hill scored an early goal, Derek Parker equalised for West Ham. Bobby Robson then scored two goals in quick succession with inside-forward Johnny Haynes wrapping things up for the west London side by adding a fourth to take the trophy home to Craven Cottage.
West Ham United: Ernie Gregory, Derek Parker, Albert Foan, Harry Hooper, Malcolm Musgrove, Reserve: Billy Dare
Evening Standard London 5-A-Side Championship
1956-57
Evening Standard 5-A-Side Championship (Runners-up)
3 April 1957
Two-years after their first appearance in the Harringay Arena final, the Hammers progressed to their second final, and once again they faced their west London rivals Fulham. Though this time the final result was much closer, the Hammers losing 3-2. West Ham's goals scordd by Noel Cantwell and John Smith
In reaching the tournament climax, West Ham first overcame Leyton Orient 2-1 courtesy of two strikes from Noel Cantwell. Ex-Hammer Jimmy Andrews replied for Leyton Orient. In the semi-final West Ham repeated the 2-1 score line in their victory over Crystal Palace. Again Cantwell was on the score sheet.
In the other semi-final Fulham thrashed Chelsea 6-0. The Craven Cottage side fielded a very strong quintet with goals coming from Johnny Haynes 3, Jimmy Hill 2 and a single from Roy Bentley. Future Hammer, Jimmy Greaves failed to find the net for Chelsea.
West Ham United: Ernie Gregory, John Smith, Noel Cantwell, Malcolm Allison, Billy Dare
Reserve: Malcolm Musgrove
Evening Standard London 5-A-Side Championship