theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
email: theyflysohigh@btinternet.com
West Ham United Club Historian : Welcome to the Private memorabilia collection of 'theyflysohigh'
POSTPONED & ABANDONED
Football League Rule 28 ...
Postponements and Abandonments - Procedures for
Re-Arrangement and Refunds
28.1 In the event of any League Match not being played owing to Football Association Cup Matches, weather or other causes over which neither Club has any control or being ordered to be replayed it shall be played on a date to be mutually arranged, but at the earliest reasonable opportunity. Both Clubs shall notify the Executive of such arrangements within seven days of the postponement being identified, for the approval of the Executive. Any League Match not so arranged shall have its date fixed by the Executive.
28.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of Regulation 28.1, the Executive reserves the right at any time to reschedule a League Match after consultation with and consideration of representations from the Clubs involved.
28.3 Every Club must have a publicly stated policy regarding ticket refunds or other arrangements for abandoned Matches.
28.4 When a League Match is postponed or abandoned the Visiting Club shall be entitled to receive from the Home Club out of the gate of either game, one set of travelling and/or hotel expenses (at the rate and as determined by the Executive from time to time) necessarily incurred by a party not exceeding twenty four and which in the opinion of the Executive are caused solely by the postponement or abandonment. This amount shall be a charge against the gate when calculating the 3% Pool under Article 67.2. A Club shall only be entitled to claim hotel expenses where it would be necessary or desirable for the Visiting Club to leave its headquarters before 9am on the day of the match, alternatively, not be possible to arrive back at its headquarters within five hours travelling time, including a stop of not more than 30 minutes, of the conclusion of the League Match.
Doubt if this Rule applied back in the 1946-47 season .....
West Ham United were due to make the long trip to play Newcastle United in a Division 2 fixture on the 8 March 1947. However the match was called off because of a frozen pitch but Newcastle officials forgot to tell the Hammers.
The Hammers' £77 travelling to St James' Park, and when they arrived at the ground the place was deserted and had to make the long trek back.
WEST HAM UNITED
Southern League
Memorial Grounds
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : First XI
Southern League
Memorial Grounds
22 December 1900
Match Abandoned : Fog 70 minutes (0-2)
Shortly after resuming for the second period, the ground became enveloped in a thick fog, it being impossible to discern the players from the stands, consequently the referee was compelled to abandoned the game 20 minutes into the second half with the half-time score unaltered.
Result: Millwall, two goals; West Ham United nil.
Rearranged 21 March 1901 (Won 1-0)
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN : First XI
Southern League
Memorial Grounds
2 September 1901
Match Abandoned : Bad light 78 minutes (1-1)
The visitors were twenty minutes late in getting to the Memorial Grounds for the 5.30 pm kick-off and the 2,000 attendance was kept waiting. The 20 minute delay proved critical for the game had to be abandoned through bad light 12 minutes from time.
Rearranged 30 September 1901 (Won 4-2)
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : First XI
London League (Premier Division)
North Greenwich
6 October 1902
Match Abandoned : Fog 15 minutes
The game against Millwall Athletic was originally a London League fixture which was abandoned after 15 minutes play due to fog, the fog subsequently cleared and a friendly took place of 30 minutes each half.
For the friendly game, Kelly took over the shirt from King. West ham were one-up when a shot by Grassam was diverted passed his own 'keeper by Easton. Morren quickly equalised and Astley got the winner for Millwall after 10 minutes of the second period.
Rearranged 29 November 1903 (Draw 2-2)
NEW BROMPTON : First XI
Southern League
Memorial Grounds
22 November 1902
Match Abandoned : Bad light 82 minutes (1-1)
It was evident soon after half-time, that this match would run into light problems. At the break it was failing fast. The referee twice consulted his linesmen before deciding to call a halt just 8 minutes from time.
At half-time Hammers were a goal down, a good shot by Bradbury was well stopped by Griffiths but he couldn't clear and Satterwaite following up put the Kent side one up. West Ham's equaliser came from a free kick for hands against McCurdy, an offence he committed more than once in this game. Linward's kick found Campbell who shot home.
Rearranged 23 March 1903 (Draw 1-1)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : First XI
Western League
Memorial Grounds
19 January 1903
Match Postponed : Fog
Canning Town, like most parts of London, was enveloped in a dense fog in the afternoon - both sides put in an appearance and a large crowd assembled outside the Memorial Grounds with the hope that providence might intervene and allow the Western League match take place. Such was not the case, for instead of the fog lifting, it thickened, the referee waited 45 minutes but the light did not improve and about 2:30 he declared the match off, and the spectators were compelled to disperse without the gates being opened.
Rearranged 19 March 1903 (Draw 0-0)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : First XI
Western League
Memorial Grounds
26 October 1903
Match Abandoned : Rain 45 minutes
Heavy rain fell all day Sunday and made the pitch very muddy. Further rain on Monday made it almost unplayable but a start was made. The rain got so bad that the referee suspended play for 7 minutes in the first half. At half-time West Ham had a goal-lead.
While the players were in the dressing room at half-time the rain was still coming down hard, referee J. Tillottson decided that further play was impossible and abandoned the match. Under Western League rules the match will have to be replayed in full.
Rearranged 18 April 1903 (Lost 0-1)
READING : First XI
Southern League
Elm Park
23 January 1903
Match Abandoned : Fog 55 minutes (1-1)
Fog was very thick and worsened during the interval. The match was subsequently abandoned 10 minutes into the second period.
Readings equaliser was a penalty given for handball, the crowd at the opposite end could only judge whether or not a score had been made by the noise of the crowd. Good scored from the spot.
Rearranged 2 March 1903 (Lost 0-1)
WEST HAM UNITED
Southern League
Boleyn Ground, Upton park
SOUTHAMPTON : First XI
Western League
Upton Park
11 December 1905
Match Abandoned : Fog
Rearranged 19 March 1905 (Draw 1-1)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS : First XI
Southern League
Upton Park
15 December 1906
Match Abandoned : Fog 83 minutes (0-1)
Snow fell just before the kick off but there was no trace as the game got underway.
West Ham were nearly always attacking in the first half and bad luck prevented them scoring on more than one occasion. The ball went everywhere bar into the Queens Park Rangers net. The second half started as the first had finished - strenuous. After fifteen minutes Rangers got a sensational breakaway. Sugden took off from near the halfway line and dashing through the West Ham defence at great pace was met first by Wildman who he outwitted and then by Kitchen who he beat easily to give Rangers the lead.
Play then quickened and the excitement was intense as Rangers gave away a penalty, Grassam shot straight at Howes.
At this point the fog descended and only a few yards of pitch could be seen. Play became farcical and the referee after consulting with his linesmen abandoned the match with 7 minutes left for play.
Rearranged 25 February 1907 (Won 2-1)
READING : First XI
Western League
Upton Park
11 November 1907
Match Postponed : Fog
Rearranged 1 January 1908 (Lost 2-3)
LEYTON : First XI
Southern League
Hare & Hounds
26 December 1911
Match Abandoned : Ground Unfit 55 mins (2-1)
Wretched weather and the pitch a quagmire. There was some doubt about the match even starting but start it did and produced some fast and exciting soccer.
Whitbourne dislocated a thumb in dealing with a hot shot and Newton went into goal. King scored but was given offside then Newton saved well from Kennedy. After 20 minutes the referee stopped play and held a consultation on whether to continue.
The pitch was by this time thoroughly churned up and the players were slithering about in all directions. It was decided to to proceed. After another 10 minutes Hughes turned a corner kick from Burrell into his own goal, 1-0 to Leyton.
Whitbourne returned to the Leyton goal but was immediately beaten by Shea's equaliser in the 40th minute. Half-time the score was 1-1.
Surprisingly the players appeared for the second spell. Early in this period Buchan scored for Leyton.
It was obvious however that play could not continue for much longer and in the 55th minute of the match the referee called a halt to the game.
Rearranged 9 April 1912 (Lost 1-3)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION : First XI
FA Cup First Round
The Hawthorns
11 January 1913
Match Postponed : Adverse weather conditions
Snow fell from 7am and was 3 inches deep all over the field by noon and still falling. West Brom officials abandoned all hope of playing very early on but a small bunch of Hammers supporters huddled around the entrance until the last moments.
Rearranged 13 January 1913 (1-1)
WATFORD : First XI
Southern League
Cassio Road
19 March 1914
Match Postponed : Rain 38 minutes (1-0)
Heavy showers before the game made the pitch sodden. Soon after the start a deluge came down, Referee Muir allowed play to continue to within 5 minutes of the break. In that time the visitors had gone ahead through Leafe who's shot was not held by Webster. The match was abandoned with West Ham leading 1-0 after 38 minutes.
Referee Muir did not hesitate to stop play following the deluge which did not let up until 5pm. The players thought he was justified although some spectators didn't agree.
Rearranged 1 April 1914 (Lost 0-6)
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : First XI
War Time - London Combination
Upton Park
16 December 1916
Match Abandoned : Fog 51 minutes (1-0)
Although a thick fog prevailed at Upton park, it was decided to proceed with the match. There was 6,000 people present, but little could be seen of the play. After half an hour McDougall scored for West Ham, who led at the interval by a goal to nine.
After six minutes' play in the second half the conditions were such that the game was abandoned with the Hammers leading by the only goal scored.
Rearranged 10 April 1917 (Lost 0-2)
WEST HAM UNITED
Football League
Boleyn Ground, Upton park
PORTSMOUTH : Reserves
London Combination
Upton Park
26 December 1930
Postponed : Playing pitch unfit
Rearranged: 2 March 1931
PORTSMOUTH : Reserves
London Combination
Upton Park
26 December 1932
Postponed : Fog 68 minutes (1-2)
Rearranged: 13 February 1933 (Won 6-0)
BURNLEY : First XI
Football League Second Division
Upton Park
7 December 1935
Postponed : Fog
Rearranged: 3 February 1936 (Draw 0-0)
SOUTHAMPTON : Reserves
London Combination
Upton Park
7 November 1936
Postponed :
On account of the Central League v London Combination match
MILLWALL ATHLETIC : First XI
London FA Professional Charity Fund
The Den
20 October 1919
Match Abandoned : Bad light 15 minutes into extra time (4-3)
When the referee blow his whistle at the end of 90 minutes' play each side had scored three goals. It was decided to play the extra half-hour ordered by the rules, but when 15 minutes had passed the referee sent the men off the field owing to bad light. As during that extra period of play Woodley, the Millwall back, had put through his own goal, West Ham were leading 4-3.
Rearranged 12 April 1920 (Won 3-1)
CRYSYAL PALACE : Reserves
London Combination
Upton Park
26 November 1920
Match postponed : Fog
Rearranged 27 March 1921 (Lost 0-2)
CHARLTON ATHLETIC : Reserves
London Combination
The Valley
13 September 1924
Match Abandoned: 30 minutes (0-0)
Referee Neale collapsed and died
The match between Charlton and West Ham at The Valley had been in progress about half an hour. The referee Mr. Albert G. Neale was seized by a sudden illness. A linesman, therefore took charge of the game.
However, it transpired that within a few minutes of the arrival of the doctor Mr. Neale had expired in the dressing room. The match, in which both sides failed to score, was immediately abandoned.
Mr. Neale had been refereeing for about 25 years. He was however, once responsible for a most controversial decision in a FA Amateur Cup semi-Final. After blowing for a penalty he allowed play to continue. Farnfield scored for Clapton and Ilford were out of the cup.
He was also in charge of the match on April 6, 1918 in which West Ham recorded 11 goals against Crystal Palace, Syd Puddefoot scored 7 of them.
Rearranged 3 January 1925 (Won 1-0)
ARSENAL : First XI
FA Cup (First Round)
Upton Park
10 January 1925
Match Postponed : Dense Fog
The West Ham - Arsenal First Round FA Cuptie was twice postponed because of fog. First on the original date 10 January and again on Monday 12 Jan.
The Upton Park First Round tie was originally scheduled for 10 January 1925, on the day Mr. Russell the referee from Swindon was delayed getting to the ground by thick fog and arrived shortly before the scheduled kick-off time of 2:30pm. With an estimated 20,000 congregated outside and the ground still shrouded by the murkiness the official had no option but to postponed the match. It was difficult to communicate the official decision to the waiting thousands, and it was left to a police inspector to announce the postponement until Monday from the windows of the club offices.
Rearranged 14 January 1925 (Draw 0-0)
CRYSTAL PALACE : First XI
London Professional Charity Fund
Upton Park
16 November 1925
Match Abandoned : Bad light - Extra time (2-2)
Crystal Palace could feel satisfied with dividing four goals at Upton Park. An attempt was made to play extra time, according to the rules governing these matches, but, though an interval had been dispensed with, the referee was compelled to stop the match when 18 minutes of the half-hour had expired.
Rearranged 30 November 1925 (Won 3-0)
ROYAL AIR FORCE : Reserves
Friendly
Uxbridge Stadium
5 March 1927
Abandoned : Heavy rain 70 minutes (1-1)
MILLWALL : ReservesLondon Challenge Cup (Semi-Final)
The Den
18 November 1929
Match Abandoned : Fog 71 minutes (1-2)
The match between Millwall and West Ham United was completely ruined by a heavy fog, which became so dense that, 15 minutes before the end, the referee was compelled to apply the closure when the home team were leading by two goals to one.
Rearranged 25 November 1929 (Won 4-2)
ASTON VILLA : First XI
Football League Second Division
Upton Park
12 December 1936
Abandoned : Fog 83 minutes (2-0)
Rearranged: 26 April 1937 (Won 2-1)
CRYSTAL PALACE : Reserves
London Combination
Upton Park
16 January 1937
Postponed : Owing to our FA cup tie with Bolton Wanderers
Rearranged: 5 April 1937 (Lost 1-3)
