Southern League (Division One)
Team: Collins, Archer, Newlands, Bowman, Hitch, Cross (J), Cross (W), Ronaldson, Bevan, Blackwood, Stewart
Attendance: 14,000 (including around 2,000 Rangers fans)
On 10th September 1904, Rangers travelled to the Boleyn Ground to take on West Ham United. The following match report appeared in ‘The Referee’ the next day:
‘In changing their quarters from the Memorial Grounds to the Boleyn Castle enclosure at Upton Park, the West Ham United Club have made a good move.
The only drawback that can be urged is that the area is not quite large enough to accommodate the crowd, which is likely to assemble at a big cup-tie or an extra-attractive league game.
Yesterday, about 14,000 spectators assembled to see the United play the Queen’s Park Rangers in the Southern League competition, and another couple of thousand would have made matters somewhat uncomfortable for the majority.
As it was, the fencing at the entrance end was so severely tested by the pressure of the onlookers that it had to be shored up during the game.
As regards yesterday’s match, it may be said at once that the victory of 3 goals to 1, which the Queen’s Park Rangers achieved was well merited, and little excuse can be put forward by the United for their first defeat of the season.
There was no comparison between the two sides in the first-half; the Rangers were faster, cleverer, and smarter on the ball than the West Ham team, and, though the latter exhibited much improved form after change of ends, they never looked like drawing level.
The most prominent men in the field were Archer at full-back, Hitch at centre-half, and Bevan at centre-forward for the Rangers, while the backs and Bridgeman, at centre-forward did well for West Ham.
Time after time the visitors made sturdy attacks on United’s goal, but until after ten minutes from the start, Kingsley kept his charge intact.
Then, an irresistible rush by the Rangers’ forwards brushed aside all opposition; both West Ham backs were beaten, Bamlett falling in an attempt to stop the onward career of his opponents, and Bevan was left in possession within three yards of Kingsley.
The latter was powerless to save, Bevan sending the ball past him with accurate and powerful aim.
This put the West Ham forwards on their mettle, and within a minute Collins had to save from a combined rush. But the movement was not sustained, and the Rangers were soon attacking again.
Kingsley once saved brilliantly at full-length, and again from a high shot by Stewart. Then, W. Cross ran along the right-wing speedily, and centering nicely to Hitch the centre-half of the Rangers, headed through cleverly.
It was a fine goal, very prettily worked, and deserving of all the applause that followed it.
Again, the West Ham forwards made a burst, and a corner was forced off Newlands; but this came to nothing, and the visitors, showing capital concerted play, made several dangerous rushes which Gardner and Bamlett had great difficulty in staving off.
From one of the occasional bursts at the home forwards, Newlands mis-kicked and left Bridgeman with an open goal.
Several chances of getting through were thrown away by the United forwards, owing to dilatory movements or from lack of understanding, though once there was an exciting struggle in front of Collins, following a beautiful centre by Flynn.
Archer, however, cleared in brilliant style, and then the United goal was subjected to a regular fusillade.
First Blackwood hit the bar with a hot shot, and then Stewart forced Kingsley to save.
Within a few seconds Bevan also put in a powerful drive, which Gardner just got his foot to in time, and then Allison was forced to give a corner in trying to stop a dangerous movement by the visitors’ left-wing.
From the kick a melee took place in the mouth of the goal, and the ball was put through, but the whistle went simultaneously with the final kick, with Cross being adjudged offside.
The Rangers continued to have the better of the play up to half-time, when they were the deserved leaders by two goals to nil.
Immediately after resuming, the United forwards attacked in a body, but just when Bridgeman was looking certain to get through, he was pulled up for offside.
The relief was but temporary, for the West Ham forwards, displaying far more energy and a deal more combination than in the first-half, caused Collins much anxiety, the Rangers’ captain having to save twice in about a minute.
A speedy run by Ronaldson and Bevan transferred operations, the former being charged off the ball by Gardner, when within a few yards of goal.
Hereabouts play was very fast and even, several exciting incidents happening at either end.
If anything, West Ham had the better of the play, but they were doomed to lose another goal, and that by the unsatisfactory way of a penalty kick.
Bevan was running through and looked certain to score, when Bamlett dashed across and handled the ball inside the penalty-line.
Bevan took the kick and placed a third goal to the credit of the Rangers ten minutes from the restart.
Still undaunted by the run of misfortune, the West Ham forwards never lost their dash, and from a fierce attack by them, Bowman hit the ball down, and a penalty was promptly awarded to the home side.
Allison was deputed to take the kick, and amid enthusiastic cheering reduced the Rangers’ lead by easily scoring.
From a further attack, Collins was forced to tip the ball over the bar, but the corner that resulted came to nothing.
A foul against Newlands immediately after looked ominous for the Rangers, but the ball was got away after a scrimmage in front of goal.
Two corners fell to the home side without result, and then play opened out, both sides showing some excellent football.
A curious incident happened during one attack by the Rangers. Kingsley rushed out but failed to clear, and with two or three men surrounding him, he fell on the ball, hugging it to his body.
For a moment it looked as if he would be robbed of the ball, but a Ranger fouled him, and a free kick ended an exciting time.
Strenuous play followed, and several free kicks were given against both sides. From one to the Rangers, Ronaldson had a good opening, but he shot sky-high, to the intense amusement of the crowd.
Towards the end of the game West Ham made gallant efforts to get on terms, two corners being forced in rapid succession, and another three minutes from the end, but all came to naught, and the Rangers were left with a well-deserved victory by 3 goals to 1.’
On the Rangers’ travelling support that day, ‘The West Ham & South Essex Mail’ reported that: ‘It is estimated that quite a couple of thousand travelled over from West London.’
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for unearthing the match report. Shown above is John Stewart)