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

London League Premier Division Play-off Winners

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)

12_04_29 WHU v. Crystal Palace LL Play-off 01

1911-12 LONDON LEAGUE WINNERS

West Ham United (Section A) v. Crystal Palace (Section B)

Play-off Final at The Den, Millwall

29 April 1912 (3 - 2)

Winners of the Dewar Shield

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.