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The Hammers adopted an all-white strip as their official alternative kit, they will no longer use the light blue shirts with claret bands and light blue shorts. The latter was first worn in a League fixture against Arsenal at Highbury on 14th November 1959, although they had earlier been used in Vienna during an international tournament organised by FC Austria.
NORWEGIAN PRE-SEASON TOUR
Departing for Norway
Keith Coleman, John McDowell, Kevin Lock, Mervyn Day, Tommy Taylor, Bobby Ferguson, Mick McGiven, Geoff Pike, Pat Holland, Bobby Gould, Graham Paddon, Frank Lampard, Clyde Best
The travelling party left London on Monday 22nd July. Their headquarters were at the Royal Atlantic Hotel, Stavanger, the matches being played in three coastal towns.
The opening game was against Norway's First Division champions - Viking of Stavanger. The Scandinavians scored a goal in each half to gain a deserved victory, although we were pressing for the equaliser when the opposition netted their second counter. The second fixture took place at Kristiansund, some fifty miles north of Stavnger against the Second Division club Start, who appear likely to be promoted next season. This was a much easier task, and we should have bee more than one ahead at the interval. However, the Hammers had a most convincing second-half to end 5-0 in front. For the final match of the tour we again met First Division opposition, the hosts being Vard F.C. at Haugesund (about 100 miles south-east of Stavanger). A single goal decided the ssue in our favor. The party returned to London on Friday 26th July.
VIKING (Norway)
Stavanger Stadion
0-2
25th July 1974
Day
Coleman
Lambpard
Holland
Taylor
McGiven
McDowell (Lock)
Paddon
Gould (Aris)
Brooking
Best
START (Norway)
Kristiansund
5-0 (Best 3, Gould, McDowell
29th July 1974
Day (Ferguson), Coleman, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, McGiven, McDowell (Pike), Paddon, Gould, Brooking, Best
SORRY NO IMAGE
VARD F.C. (Norway)
Haugesund
1-0 (McDowell)
1st August 1974
Day , Coleman, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, McGiven, McDowell, Paddon, Gould, Brooking, Best (Ayris)
SORRY NO IMAGE
TEXACO CUP : Southern Group
LUTON TOWN
SOUTHAMPTON
ORIENT
Upton Park
1-0 (Bonds)
3rd August 1974
The Dell
0-2
10th August 1974
Upton Park
1-2 (Bonds, pen)
7th August 1974
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Holland
McDowell
Paddon
Best
Brooking
Gould (Ayris)
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
McGiven
McDowell (Holland)
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Best
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
McDowell
Holland
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Best
LEYTONSTONE
MAIDSTONE UNITED
Maidstone
0-1
3rd August 1974
Granleigh
1-2 (Orhan)
6th August 1974
Grotier
Smith
Domfe
Pkie
White
Lock
Hill
Curbishley
Orhan
Proudlove
Brown
Ferguson
Smith
Domfe
Pike
White
Lock
Ayris
Curbishley
Orhan
Brown
Proudlove
Ferguson, Fraser, Domfe, Pook D., White, Stott I., Brown, Lynch (Hill), Orhan, Curbishley, Pike
SORRY NO IMAGE
SOUTH EAST COUNTIES LEAGUE
There are 16 teams in the First Division of this season's South East Counties Leagu tournament; Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion have dropped out, but there is one new entry - Portsmouth
The Division II competition has increased to six entries, the newcomers this season being Orient and Tottenam Hotspur. The teams open the schedule with a Cup competition, the preliminaries of which are on league basis.
LONDON CHALLEGE CUP
The London Football Association has terminated its Challenge Cup competition to which entry was compulsory for the profressional clubs affiliated to the County Association. It was customary for London member clubs of the Football League to field reserve-strength teams in the tournament, although in the early years it was a regognised First Team competition. In recent seasons, a number of amateur clubs were also invited to enter, and this was a keenly sought after honour.
The tournament is being replaced by a new one which will still include non-Football League clubs, plus others who are eligible under the amended rulings in which the "amateur" tag will disappear from such competitions as the Isthmian League and similar organisations.
MANCHESTER CITY : Football League
Maine Road
0-4
17th August
Referee : J. Taylor
Att: 30,240
Day
Coleman (Lock)
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
McDowell
Holland
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Best
BRISTOL ROVERS : Football Combination
Upton Park
1-2 (Brush)
17th August 1974
Ferguson
Pook
Domfe
Smith
Stott
Tuddenham
Orhan
Curbshley
White
Pike
Brush
Bristol Rovers Reserves took an early lead at Upton Park; the successful shot was from close range following a corner, an easy opportunity accepted with alacrity. The scores were levelled ten minutes befoe the interval. Our marksman was new apprentice Paul Brush, his shot from just inside the penalty-box giving the 'keeper no chance. Unfortunately our hopes of improvement were short-lived as Rovers regained their margin within two minutes; a misplaced back-pass was intercepted and we went 2-1 down. The second-half was evenly contested and both sides had their chances. One of our best efforts was a fine run by David Pook (an amateur triallist from Plymouth); it high-lighted a promising first appearance in our Reserve side. Incidentally, the XI which we fielded included only one player with First Division experience - Bobby Ferguson - and six are still eligible for our Youth XI. We also included a second amateur - Ian Stoot, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire
FULHAM Youth : South East Counties League Div I
Chadwell Heath
2-2 (Brown, Sharpe)
17th August 1974
Our under-18 Youth XI opened their schedule with a home game against Fulham at Chadwell Heath. Our XI consisted of five apprentices and six amateurs, the majority being newcomers to our colours this season. The Cottages were the first to score, but seven mintues before the interval Chester Brown put us level. Within four minutes of the resumption we were ahead, the scorer on this occasion being Terry Sharpe. However, the visitors fought back to equalise, and the game ended in a fair 2-2 draw.
LUTON TOWN : Football League
Upton Park
2-0 (Lampard, Bonds)
19th August 194
Referee: R. Kirkpatrick
Att: 23,182
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Ayris
Brooking
Best
LUTON TOWN : Football Combination
Kenilworth Road
1-3 (Gould)
21st August 1974
Ferguson
Coleman
Domfe
Pike
Stott
Tuddenham
Brush
Curbishley
Gould
White
Orhan
The Hatters asserted their superiority in the first half, and gained a two-goal lead before the interval. They added another after the resumption, and were comfortably ahead when we reduced the arrears with a breakaway goal. The chance was taken well by Bobby Gould, who collected the ball in the Hatters’ half beat his man and ran on to coolly place the ball past the ‘keeper. However, the scoring ended there, and the homsters desrvedly took the points by 3-1.
EVERTON : Football League
Upton Park
2-3 (Bonds. pen, McDowell)
24th August 1974
Referee: K. Burns
Att: 22,486
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Gould
McDowell
Best
NORWICH CITY : Football Combination
Carrow Road
1-1 (White)
24th August 1974
Ferguson
Pook
Domfe
Smith
Stott
Tuddenham
Hill
White
Orhan
Pike
Brown
We collected our first point of the season at Carrow Road. Tony White – in his new role as a striker – put us ahead before the interval and we were apparently set to take full spoils with an encouraging performance. However, we literally gave away the equaliser, and the Canaries held on for a 1-1 draw.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC Youth : South East Counties League Div I
The Addicks had nine apprentices in their XI which opposed our Under-18's at the Unilever Ground. In contrast the Hammers having just three, including recent signing Alvin Martin, and experience turned the tide during the second half when the South Londoners netted the goals which brought them a 2-0 victory
OREINT Juniors : South East Counties League Div II Cup
Spring Hill
2-1 (Findlay, Winter)
24th August 1974
The Juniors opened their schedule in the preliminary league toyrnament with a visit to Orient at Spring Hill. Stephen Finlay opened the scoring after half-an-hour but O's equalised before half-time; we regained our advantage ten minutes after the interval through Don Winter, and deservedly won a fairly even contest by 2-1
LUTON TOWN : Football Combination
Upton Park
1-3 (Egbuniwe)
27th August 1974
Ferguson
Smith
Domfe
Hill
Stott
Tuddenham
Pike
White
Lutton (Egbuniwe)
Brown
Orhan
Luton Town Reserves got off to a flying start in the return fixture at Upton Park, being two goals up in the first quarter-hour. The opening goal came from Alston with agood shot, and the second was a solo effort by Rodney Fern. A recurrence of Bertie Lutton’s back injury led to his substitution at half-time by Mannt Egbuniwe, and the youngster made the most of his opportunity by netting from the rebound after the Hatters’ ‘keeper had parried a shot by Yilmaz Orhan. However, Luton resumed the pressure, and Fern headed in from a corner to make it a 3-1 win for his team.
LUTON TOWN : Football League
Kenilworth Road
0-0
28th August 1974
Referee: C. Thomas
Att: 16,931
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Gould
McDowell
Best
NEWCASTLE UNITED : Football League
St James' Park
0-2
31st August 1974
Referee: H. Hackney
Att: 30,780
Day
Coleman
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Gould (Ayris)
McDowell
Best
SOUTHAMPTON : Football Combination
Upton Park
1-2 (Orhan)
31st August 1974
Ferguson
Pook
Domfe
Tuddenham
Stott
Wooler
Egbuniwe
Smith
Coker
Curbishley
Orhan
Although a goal down at the interval against the Saints’ our second-string rallied and netted an equaliser. From thence onwards it appeared likely that we were going to win – and deservedly so – but five mintures from the end Southampton broke away to scaore again and dash our hopes of securing a first victory of the season.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS Youth : South East Counties League Div I
Chadwell Heath
1-3 (Sharpe T.)
31st August 1974
Danson, Creasey, Simmonds, Fraser, Datson, Rochester, Hill, Hurlock, Sharpe T., Robinson (Browers), Sharpe C.
Queens Park Rangers Youth took the lead in home game played at Chadwell Heath, but we drew on level terms before half-time. However, experience again proved to be decisive in the second half, and Rangers netted twice to win confortably by 3-1
CHELSEA : Football Combination
Stamford Bridge
0-1
4th September 1974
Ferguson
Smith
Domfe
White (Egbuniwe)
Stott
Wooler
Curbishley
Tuddenham
Coker
Ayris
Orhan
The new stand at Stamford Bridge towered over a virtual non-event atmosphere for this Reserve encounter. The distance of the pitch from the spectators has always made it one of the "lonelier" arenas from the players' viewpoint, and a Wednesday afternoon is hardley the time to attract many fans for a Combination fixture!The exchanges appeared to have brought an almost inevitable goaless draw until five minutes from time, when the West Londoners broke away to score and gain full spoils.
SHEFFIELD UNITED : Football league
Upton Park
1-2 (Jennings)
7th September 1974
Referee: I. Jones
Att: 20,977
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Ayris
Paddon
Jennings
Holland
Best
Billy Jennings - Hammers Debut
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Juniors : South East Counties League Div II Cup
Chadwell Heath
2-1 (Findlay, Robinson)
7th September 1974
The Juniors secured another victory in their second match of the Div. II Cup preliminary tournament defeating the Spurs Junios at Chadwell Heath by 2-1. The visitors netted first but Stephen Findlay equalised three minutes before half time; the winner came from new apprentice Peter Robinson with 14 minutes left to play.
TRANMERE ROVERS : Football League Cup (Second Round)
Prenton Park:
0-0
11th September 1974
Referee: g. G+Flint
Att: 8,638
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Ayris
Paddon
Holland
Brooking
Best
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football League
White Hart Lane
1-2 (Lampard)
14th September 1974
Referee: R. Tinkler
Att: 27,959
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Best
SWINDON TOWN : Football Combination
Upton Park
5-0 (Gould 3, Coker, Robson)
14th September 1974
Ferguson
Coleman
Domfe
White
Stott
Wooler
Coker
Pike
Gould
Lutton
Robson K.
This was a foot-of-the-table game as Swindon Town has conceded 14 goals in their five previous fixtures without scoring once. The reasons for the Robins' lack of sucess soon became apparent on this occasion, and within a quarter-hour of the start they were already two down through well-taken goals by Bobby Gould and Ade Coker. cKeith Robson then netted his first in the Hammers' colours and the Wiltshire club's record was further dented when Gould added two more. However, despite the poor quality of the opposition, it was a most encouraging performance by a Reserve Team which was noticeably stronger than in its opening fixtures, and this first victory could well be the prelude to a successful run as confidence increases.
GILLINGHAM Youth : South East Counties League Div I
Garrison Ground
3-1 (Egbuniwe 2, Brush)
14th September 1974
Danson, Smith, Creasey, Fraser, Martin, Tuddenham, Sharpe T., Hill, Egbuniwe, Brush, Brown
Although Gillingham Youth were a goal up at the interval at Garrison Ground, they were unable to maintain the lead which would have brought them their first points of the season. Two goals from Manny Egbuniwe and another from Paul Brush put us well in frount and with their defence playing tightly the Hammers recorded a 3-1 victory.
SOUTHEND UNITED Juniors : South East Counties League Div II Cup
After winning both opening fixtures by 2-1, our Juniors were defeated in their third by the same score when they met Southend United Juniors at Chadwell Heath. Browers grabbing the Hammers only goal.
TRANMERE ROVERS : Football League Cup (Second Round Replay)
Upton Park
6-0 (Bonds 2, (pen), Gould 3, (pen), Ayris)
18th September 1974
Referee: A. Grey
Att: 15,854
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Ayris
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Robson
QUEENS PARK RANGERS Youth : South East Counties League Div I
The under-18's mid-week engagement at Ruislip ended in a 1-2 defeat for the Youth side. Rangers got a goal in the first half, but we missed three or four chances of drawing level. We obtained the long-awaited equaliser two minutes after the interval, but eventually lost by conceding a penalty.
LEICESTER CITY : Football League
Upton Park
6-2 (Jennings 2, Bonds, Gould 2, Robson
21st September 1974
Referee: R. Crabb
Att: 21,377
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor
Lock
Jennings (Holland)
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Robson
LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination
Filbert Street
0-3
21st September 1974
Ferguson
Coleman
Wooler
White
Stott
Tuddenham
Coker
Pike
Best
Lutton
Sussams (Smith)
Leicester City Reserves to some extent avenged the heavy defeat of their seniors by putting three goals into our net without reply at Filbert Street. They scored only one of these during the first half, and we were in with a chance until they got their second after about an hour's play; but from thence onwards the homesters were in for victory.
Paul Sassams made his first competitive appearance of the campaogn after undergoing a leg operation during the close season. He came successfully through the test, but we decided to substitute him with 20 minutes to go as he was naturally feeling a little tired after some unaccustomed activity.
ORIENT Youth : South East Counties League Div I
Chadwell Heath
1-1 (Sharpe)
21st September 1974
BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football League
Danson, Creasey, Elley, Fraser, Martin, Rochester, Sharpe, Hill, Egbuniwe, Brush, Brown
CHELSEA Juniors : South East Counties League Div II Cup
