WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
John Lyall
Schoolboy Football
Born in Ilford, Essex, John Lyall had a promising start as a schoolboy footballer. He played for Ilford Boys and Essex Schools, showcasing his talent at a young age.
His skills caught the attention of West Ham United, and joined the club ground-staff as a youth player in 1955. Lyall's early footballing journey laid the foundation for his long and illustrious career at the Boleyn Ground, both as a player and later as a manager
J.T. CLARK CUP FINAL
(Runners-up)
Essex Schools U14 Competition
The J.T. Clark Cup was presented in 1948 by the affiliated Inter-District Association in Essex as a tribute to the President of the Essex Schools FA and for his untiring work for the Schools Association before an since its inception.
Walthamstow Avenue 3:
T. Rhodes (Coppermill), D. Davis (S.W. Essex Tech),
D. Winn (W. E. Whittingham), D. Neale (S.W. Essex Tech),
B. Legg (William Morris Tech), L. Black (Monoux),
A. Stripling (S.W. Essex Tech), W. Evans (Heathcote),
R. Saberi (Coppermill), A. Bird (Chingford),
J. Pittuck (S.W. Essex Tech).
Ilford 0:
Bass (Mayfield), Wright (Beal), Aylott (Beal),
Smillie (Loxford), Reed (Mayfield),
Mitchell (County H), Algie (Beal), Day (Beal),
Shrimpton (Mayfield), John Lyall (County),
Harrison (Downshall).
Referee: G. B. Butcher
Linesmen: G. D. Evans and B. F. Stallard.
J.T. Clark Cup Final
ESSEX SCHOOLS INTER-DISTRICT
U15 Robert Johnson Cup Competition
Ilford v. Thurrock
Grays Athletic FC
1954-55
(6 - 2)
Essex Schools Inter-District Championship
THE ROBERT JOHNSON
TROPHY
The Robert Johnson Trophy carries with it the senior championship of Essex and is undoubtedly the most highly prized of all the county awards.
Ilford 6:
Bush (County High), Wright (Beal),
Aylott (Beal), Mitchell (County High),
J. Reed (Mayfield), A. Reed (County High),
Algie (Beal), Smillie (Loxford),
Shrimpton (Mayfield), Lyall (County High),
Harrison (Downshall).
Thurrock 2:
Referee: W. Coley
Linesmen: C. Corroyer and E.T. Dixon
Ilford v. Thurrock
Grays Athletic FC
1954-55
(6 - 2)
London Schools Corinthian Shield and Essex Schools Robert Johnson Cup
John Lyall
West Ham United Youth Player
England Youth Cap
Luxembourg
Upton Park, London
2 February 1957
(7 - 1)
Millions of TV viewers tuned in to see 16-year-old inside right Jimmy Greaves grab the headlines as he plundered four of England’s goals in a 7-1 victory at Upton Park. Although it was Greaves’ night, John Lyall, one of eight new caps, was a forceful left half playing alongside his West Ham United club-mate John Cartwright who both had an excellent game. England recovered well after going a goal behind after two minutes, and found themselves leading 5-1 at the interval. Barry Bridges (2) and Stratton scored the other goals.
Gaskell, Wright, Sanchez, Colton, Holmes, Lyall, Connolly, Greaves, Bridges, Cartwright, Stratton
England Youth International Cap
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup
Winners
A left-foot drive by George Fenn from 25 yards in the fifth minute put the Hammers ahead. Cliss equalised this at the end of half-an-hour's play, but Charles Rowlands slammed in from close range following Terry McDonald's corner eight minutes after the restart. John Smith receiving the trophy from Mr. F. G. Reekie, Sports Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mail who sponsored the competition.
Chelsea v. West Ham United
Stamford Bridge, London
16 April 1957
(2 - 1)
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup
FA Youth Cup
Runners Up
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.
West Ham United v. Manchester United Upton Park / Old Trafford
May 1957
Goymer, Kirkup, Howe, Lewis C., Walker R., Lyall, Rowlands, Smith J., Fenn, Cartwright, McDonald
FA Youth Cup
Token of Appreciation
As a mark of their appreciation, the West Ham United Board of Directors gave each of the 1956-57 Youth squad members an individually inscribed commemorative plaque.
The Hammers Youth team won the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup, were losing finalists in the FA youth Cup, and semi-finalists in both the London Minor Cup and South East Counties League Cup. Some Junior players also participated in two other Cup finals the Winchester Cup and Andrews Cup.
Token of Appreciation
London Football Association Challenge Cup
Runners-up
The London FA Challenge Cup was a football tournament formerly organised by the London FA. The competition was first contested in 1908, and other than during the World Wars, was contested every season until 1974, when it was disbanded.
West Ham United v. Arsenal
Upton Park, London
17 March 1958
(1 - 3)
Rhodes, Kirkup, Cooper, Pyke, Moore, Lyall,
Wragg, Smith, Lewis, Newman, Scott
London Football Association Challenge Cup
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup
Winners
West Ham United's Colts retained their hold on the Southern Junior Floodlight Cup trophy with a 5-1 win over Arsenal at Upton Park. An attendance of 4,500 saw a fast game in which the young Hammers produced their best form of the season against a team which reached the semi-final of the national youth tournament.
The defence was extremely capable, making only one real error from which the Gunners scored. Bobby Moore opened our scoring, and two tallies by Andy Smillie put us three up at the interval. Arsenal reduced the margin after half-time, but firstly Tony Scott made it 4-1 from the inside-right position and then Smillie completed his hat-trick to round off an excellent personal display.
West Ham United v. Arsenal
Upton Park, London
22 April 1958
(5 - 1)
Southern Junior Floodlight Cup
Internationaal Voetbaltornooi (Belguim)
1 - 3 May 1958
West Ham United youth players were invited to the Internationaal Voetbaltornooi in Belguim. The tournament was split in to two sections. The Hammers' in Section B along with Duisburg S.V. (Germany) 1-0, Racing Club de Gent (Belgium) 1-0, Stade de Reims (France) 3-1 and Beerschot A.C. (Netherlands) 2-0. As group winners the Colts faced the Russian side Torpedo Moscow in the final. With the match ending 0-0 after the allotted 20 minutes each way. The young Colts lost the game 3-1 on corner kicks.
Alongside the tournament the Belgium club were also hosting the Internationaal Sportfestival 1958. A commemorative plaque was given to each member of the Hammers squad.
Internationaal Sportfestival
Testimonial
West Ham United v. All Star XI
John Lyall
West Ham United Youth Coach
Zambia / Malawi Youth Tour (April - May 1969)
The visit to Africa started on the evening of Cup Final Day, the following players leaving London Airport for the flight to Lusaka: Stephen Aylott, Dave Bedford, Phillip Bonetti, Tony Carr, Clive Charles, Joe Durrell, Malcolm Filby. Stephen Gill, Peter Grotier, Pat Holland, Carl Humphreys, Peter Keary, Steven Knowles, John McDowell, Keith Pointer and Terry Scales.
The officials with these 16 players were Wally St. Pier, John Lyall, Bill Lansdowne and Albert Walker.
The tour was made at the invitation of the Zambia and Malawi F.A.'s with the co-operation of Messrs. Rothmans, the tobacco company. Accommodation was mainly in private houses, and our hosts filled in the days between the nine exhibition games with a series of visits to places of interest.
Bobby Moore Testimonial
Upton Park : 16 November 1970
West Ham United honored their legendary captain Bobby Moore with a testimonial match at the Boleyn Ground. The game featured Scottish giants Celtic, a fitting opponent for the West Ham captain. The match was played at full intensity, rather than the usual relaxed pace of testimonial matches, making it a memorable occasion for the 24,448 fans in attendance.
A thrilling contest between the sides, ending in a 3-3 draw. Celtic took the lead three times, with goals from Bobby Lennox, Jimmy Johnstone, and George Connelly, but West Ham responded each time through Geoff Hurst, Johnny Ayris, and Clyde Best.
Bobby Moore Testimonial
