theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
email: theyflysohigh@btinternet.com
West Ham United Club Historian : Welcome to the Private memorabilia collection of 'theyflysohigh'
1910 - 1919 Trophy Cabinet ...
1910-11
GEORGE KITCHEN
George Kitchen was an outstanding sportsman and became a professional golfer at the age of 14. The youngster also played cricket and for a time worked as a coach at Dulwich College. He eventually decided to concentrate on football and began his career with local side Buxton and then Stockport County, then playing in the Lancashire League in 1897 and also won a Manchester Cup Winners’ medal with them. After a season at Stockport, he moved up to the Football League joining Everton as second-choice keeper in 1898. After a year spent in the reserves, Kitchen collected his share of a benefit and in the summer of 1905 joined West Ham United of the Southern League as replacement for Matthew Kingsley, who had transferred to Queens Park Rangers.
Kitchen marked his Hammers debut with a goal against Swindon Town in the 1-0 Upton Park victory on 2 September 1905. His late penalty ensured that West Ham, fielding seven new faces, started off the season on a right note. His services at the Boleyn Ground were recognised when he was given joint-share of the match receipts along with Fred Blackburn against Coventry City on 7 January 1911.
After making 205 Southern League and cup appearances and scoring 6 goals for West Ham he transferred to Southampton in 1912, he served the Saints for two years and made 39 appearances before retiring from football to become a golf professional.
INTER-LEAGUE MATCH
Southern League v. Irish League
Upton Park, London
2 March 1911 (4 - 0)
Kitchen (West Ham United), Britton (Northampton Town), Jeffreys (Millwall), Booth (Brighton & Hove Albion), Wilcox (Plymouth Argyle),
Trueman (Southampton), Jefferson (Swindon Town), Shea and Webb (West Ham United), Moody (Luton Town), Lipsham (Millwall)
Goals: Moody 2, Wilcox, Andrews [og]
Inter-League Football
1911-12
JOE MEILLEAR
Christened John Francis Meillear this outside-right signed from leading amateur club Bromley prior to the start of the 1910-11 season. Joe made his reserve team debut playing in the South Eastern League fixture against Chelsea at Upton Park in a 4-1 victory on 1 September 1910.
Joe was listed under the heading of "Promising youngster" in that season's club handbook. Sadly Meillear didn't live up to that expectation and made the first of only 3 first team Southern League appearances in a claret-and-blue shirt against Northampton Town resulting in a 1-2 defeat at Upton Park on 4 March 1911.
A year on in February 1912 he tasted his first victory in the 3-0 away fixture against New Brompton followed a week later with a 3-2 home win over Exeter City. His last first-team appearance came in an FA Cup third round replay tie on 28 February 1912 against Swindon Town at the County Ground which resulted in a 4-0 defeat for the Hammers.
However, over Meillear’s two-season stint at the Boleyn Ground, he featured regularly for West Ham’s reserves second-string fixtures, playing in both the South Eastern League and the London League Premier Division.
In the 1911-12 London League (Premier Division) campaign, West Ham United finished the season as (Section A) winners, Crystal Palace on the other-hand were competing in (Section B) where they too, finished top of their section.
Joe Meillear won this play-off medal against (Section B) winners Crystal Palace in a game which resulted in a 3-2 victory for West Ham United played at neutral The Den, home of London rivals Millwall on 29 April 1912.
Southern Lge apps: 3 (gls 0) Cup: 1 (gls 0)
1911-12 LONDON LEAGUE WINNERS
West Ham United v. Crystal Palace
Play-off Final at The Den, Millwall
29 April 1912 (3 - 2)
London League Premier Division Play-off Winners
1911-12
GEORGE WEBB
George Webb was born in Poplar on 4 May 1887, the stepson of George Hone, one of the early administrators of Thames Ironworks and a director of West Ham United. In August 1905 aged 18, Webb had a pre-season trial with the Hammers and made an occasional appearance for the reserve side whilst still playing for various amateur sides including Ilford Alliance and Wanstead.
He scored for West Ham United on his Southern League debut against local rivals Leyton on 9 April 1909. During his time with the club he remained an amateur, who also worked for the family toy manufacturing business which restricted his appearances for the Hammers, prompting the comment from fellow West Ham forward Danny Shea that he “led too crowded a life”.
Webb had the distinction of being the first West Ham player to play for England and scored on his debut against Wales on 13 March 1911 at The Den 3-0, his second international came two-weeks later against Scotland at Goodison Park 1-1.
In his time at the Boleyn Ground he made 52 League and 10 Cup appearances and scored 32 goals, he also played seven England Amateur Internationals scoring 10 goals. Indeed, he scored in each of those seven internationals, and notched a goal in the 3-0 win at the Park Royal Ground on 21 October 1911 when winning this England amateur cap against Denmark.
England v. Denmark
Park Royal Ground, London
21 October 1911
England Amateur Cap
1913-14
INTER CITY FOOTBALL MATCH
The Birmingham XI beat the London XI 2-0. West Ham United’s Tommy Randall played for the London side.
INTER CITY FOOTBALL MATCH 1913
LONDON v. BIRMINGHAM, PLAYED AT LONDON,
13 OCTOBER 1913
A 9ct. Gold 1913 Inter-City football match medal, inscribed
Inter City Football Match
1913-14
LONDON PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL CHARITY FUND
West Ham United v. Arsenal
Boleyn Ground, London
27 October 1913
Medal awarded to Charlie Paynter
West Ham United trainer
Hughes, Rothwell, Irvine, Woodards, Askew, Randall,
Ashton, Hilsdon, Leafe, Denyer A., Casey
(3 - 2) Hilsdon 2, Ashton
London Professional Football Charity Fund
PLAYER
South Essex League (Division One)
Championship Decider
Right-back Fred had the unusual distinction of scoring on his Hammers' debut from that position, although as a known penalty-taker, his goal which helped to secure a 2-1 win over Northampton Town at Upton Park on the 24th October 1908. Formerly with Millwall, he went on to form a regular full-back partnership with Bill Taylor that season, ending up with 19 Southern League appearances to his credit. The following term saw him with a new partner in Bob Fairman, and he missed only one match to complete his most successful season at Upton Park. Began his career at Burton United and joined Doncaster Rovers for 1911-12.
Southern Lge apps: 65 (gls 4) Cup: 10 (gls 0).