Top Story | Olympic Stadium | News Archive

Premium Members | General Discussion | News up Mother Brown | The Snug | Music, Film & TV | On The Road | Olympic Stadium | Tickets | Tradesman's Entrance | Memorabilia | Matchday Travel | Supporters Worldwide | Gaming | Retro Gaming | WHUiFC | 2010 World Cup Finals | Helpdesk | KUMB FAQ | Hall of Fame | Match Threads | News Digests

Latest Article | Articles Archive

Latest Reports | Match Report Archive

Club Information | Kits 1900-2012 | WHUFC Statistics | 100 Greatest Moments | Ask The Expert | Upton Park Tour

Robert Green | Winston Reid | George McCartney | Kevin Nolan | James Tomkins | Sam Baldock | Nicky Maynard | Carlton Cole | Jack Collison | John Carew | Ricardo Vaz Te | Pablo Barrera | Stephen Henderson | Matthew Taylor | Abdoulaye Faye | Mark Noble | Joey O Brien | Julien Faubert | Fred Sears | Guy Demel | Papa Bouba Diop | Henri Lansbury | Ravel Morrison | Frank Nouble | Danny Collins | Brian Montenegro | Jordan Spence | Peter Kurucz | Marek Stech | Frederic Piquionne | Ruud Boffin | Gary O Neil | Robert Hall | Danny Potts |

Latest Q&A | Q&A Archive

Latest Review | Reviews Archive

Be a KUMB.com writer | KUMB Annual Awards | Premium Membership | Contact Us

 

 

Dear John...

Something you'd like to know about WHUFC? John Northcutt's your man.

Ask John A Question

Please note that your IP address will be logged, and that any abuse of this facility (including obscene or offensive language) will be reported to your ISP.

Previous Questions

The latest questions answered by John Northcutt.

by Nick Claydon
08:24AM 16th Apr 2012
Q: Hi John. Can you settle a discussion between two 60+ West Ham fans? We both think John Bond and Noel Cantwell played together as a strike partnership on at least one occasion. Can you confirm?
A: Hi Nick. I have found only one pairing as forwards which was away to Nottingham Forest on the 27th February, 1960. The full backs on that day were Kirkup and Lyall.

by Steve
11:48AM 26th Mar 2012
Q: Hi John. Did we play a pre-season game against Spurs around 1989/90 and include a player called Matsu Yama? I've tried Googling it etc but no joy. I was still at school, but memory tells me this happened. I think we lost 3-1?
A: Hi Steve. The game was played on August 17th 1990 in respect of the Ray Clemence Testimonial. The Hammers lost 4-1; Matsuyama came on as a substitute to replace Julian Dicks. I assume he was a Japanese trialist.

by david garrod
10:59AM 7th Mar 2012
Q: Hello john. Can you remember the West Ham v Newcastle fixture when Peter Beardsley was in an offside position, stepped off the pitch so as not to interfere with play and Newcastle scored? Newcastle fans ran onto the pitch to celebrate and half the Chicken Run ran on to challenge them! This must have been about 20 years ago, but I would love to know the date. Also, the match when Bobby Moore knocked out the ref then blew the whistle to stop the game?
A: Hi David. Bobby Moore knocked out the ref in the home game with Wolves on the 14th November 1970 but I cannot remember the Beardsley incident. He had two spells with Newcastle, it may have been on the 2nd Feb 1985 when Waddle scored or later in 1993 to 1995. I would have seen those games but cannot recall a pitch invasion.

by David Allman
04:53PM 20th Feb 2012
Q: Hi John. In season 1969/70 West Ham beat Newcastle Utd 1-0. Which player scored the West Ham goal?
A: Hello David. The scorer against Newcastle in 1969 was Geoff Hurst.

by peter morris
10:59AM 16th Feb 2012
Q: John - re:Geoff Hurst's testimonial. I was at the game and I remember that, at the final whistle (quite why I do not know) the referee (who I think might have been Jack Taylor) took a penalty at the North Bank end and scored - past John Jackson. This is what Keith Baxter is referring to.
A: Hi Peter. Thank you for letting me know about the ref taking a penalty at the end of the game. I expect it was all pre-arranged! I will let Keith Baxter know about that.

by Greg Penn
10:34PM 15th Feb 2012
Q: Hi John. I'm trying to remember my first game watching the Irons, I think it was the 81-82 season against the Gooners at Highbury. All I can remember was the players being withdrawn from the pitch, I think due to crowd trouble. Can you confirm my hazy memory?
A: Hi Greg. The Arsenal game was on 1st May 1982 where the Hammers lost 2-0. As you say, the players were taken off the pitch and a 10 minute delay followed. This was due to smoke bombs and a crowd disturbance. For your interest, the Hammers team was Parkes Stewart, La Ronde, Allen Orr, Devonshire, Van Der Elst, Cowie (Houghton), Cross, Brooking, Pike.

by john
08:59PM 4th Feb 2012
Q: I am a football fan living in a small village in North Devon and wish to make enquires about a Raymond MacTaggart who has claimed that he was on the playing staff of WHU before his career was cut short through injury. This is a genuine enquiry(!) and I would be grateful if you could share any information you have on him ? Many thanks in anticipation.
A: Hello John, I can confirm that he never played for the first team. He may have played for the reserves or youth team but before I can make further enquiries I would need to have an indication as to what years he was at the club.

by charles brownless
09:12PM 30th Jan 2012
Q: Do you know what happened to Tommy Taylor and of his whereabouts?
A: Hi Charles, Tommy certainly gets about as he has been manager of about 10 clubs now! The last I heard was that he had left Belper Town in September 2011, but at present I do not know of his whereabouts or whether he is working.

by Keith Baxter
10:05PM 26th Jan 2012
Q: Hi John, I was at the Geoff Hurst testomonial but who were the World 11 team? All I can remember was Eusabio. And did the referee convert a penalty? Many thanks.
A: Hello Keith, The European X1 (with subs was): Jackson, Docherty, Gemmell, Eusebio, Greaves, Schultz, Mackay, Johnstone, McDougall, Spiegler, Seeler, Marsh and Simoes. The referee did not convert a penalty, it was a 4-4 draw; goalscorers (for WHU) were Hurst, Robson (2), Best and (for the Eoru XI) McDougall, Marsh (2) and Greaves.

by ashley deans
12:28AM 23rd Jan 2012
Q: I attended the historic game in 1958 at Upton Park the week before we beat Middlesborough away 3-1. I was only nine years old but will never forget the cheer when John Bond(?) scored a penalty and we beat Liverpool(?). Any other things you could tell me about that game?
A: Hello Ashley, The game with Liverpool ended 1-1 with Bond getting a penalty. The Hammers team was Gregory, Bond, Cantwell, Malcolm, Brown, Pyke, Grice, Lewis, Keeble, Dick and Musgrove. A great side with sadly six of them no longer alive.

by Sutts07
03:21PM 22nd Jan 2012
Q: Hi John, How far away is Mark Noble from being our all-time top goalscorer from the penalty spot? I am assuming Stewart and Dicks are still above him? Do you know the top ten of all time and what their percentage rate of success is?
A: Hi Tony, Mark Noble has scored a total of 22 goals and I believe 14 of those were penalties. He still has a long way to go to catch Ray Stewart and Julian Dicks! Top penalty scorers: Stewart 76; Dicks 35; Hurst 18; Bond 18; Byrne 16.

by Paul Caulfield
05:57PM 6th Jan 2012
Q: Dear John, Please could you tell me if John Dear, who scored for Bishop's Stortford v Ilford in the 1974 Amateur Cup Final is related to West Ham stalwart, Brian Dear?
A: Hi Paul, I do not know if Brian is related to John Dear of Bishops Stortford. I have not heard it mentioned. I often see Brian going into games at West Ham so perhaps I might get a chance to ask him.

by Michael Symons
11:56PM 3rd Jan 2012
Q: Hi John, I've noticed it has been mentioned in more than one place that Mark Noble had never captained West Ham before, prior to wearing the armband against Derby County recently. I've tried to verify this but have had no success thus far. He definitely captained the club in a preseason fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge but I can't find any competitive fixture in which he was captain. Is this the case?
A: Hello Michael, As far as I am aware, when Mark captained the side at Derby this was his first competitive game as captain.

by jim collins
08:49PM 21st Dec 2011
Q: Hello John. Wondering if you can help me out with any details and infomation you can give me about a game played against Preston North End on Saturday 19 January 1980. It was the last game I went to with my dad and I found the ticket stub the other day but have no recollection of the match facts or the line-up etc. We had a seat near the front of the Upper West Stand and it cost the princely sum of £2.70 Those were the days! Thanks for any help you can give me, John. All the best.
A: Hello Jim, The game with Preston in 1980 ended 2-0 to the Hammers with goals from Allen and Stewart. The line up was Parkes, Lampard, Brush, Bonds, (Banton ) Martin, Devonshire, Allen, Pearson, Pike, Stewart and Neighbour.

by chris radford
04:57PM 2nd Dec 2011
Q: Do you know where I can get the records of all West Ham goalscorers for every season? I started saving all the fixtures a few years back, including pre-season friendlies, and I even went on Soccerbase to download all West Ham's fixtures since 1905 (although there seems to be massive gaps in their records). So far I have not been able to find any of the info I am looking for; can you help?
A: Hi Chris, I have written three books detailing full appearance and goalscoring records. 'A Complete Record', published by Breedon Books of Derby in 1987 and updated in 1993. You will see these on eBay and other book shops that deal in old football books. My other book which was published in 2003 was 'The Definitive West Ham'. It is still available from Soccer Data publications. Their web site is www.soccer.mistral.co.uk.

by mick heyburn
01:55PM 2nd Dec 2011
Q: Hello John, Can you tell me the opposition for Johnny Byrne's last game for us? And am I right in thinking he scored a goal?
A: Hello Mick, Johnny Byrne's last game was on 11th February 1967, a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at home. As you say Johnny scored in that game with the other goal coming from Geoff Hurst.

by Peter Williams aka The Old Man of Storr
08:59PM 1st Dec 2011
Q: Hi John, I became a West Ham fan when I was eight years old and I saw them win the FA Cup in 1964. I'm originally from Anglesey and my first ever game I saw was away to Man Utd in 1971; we lost 4-2 with Hurst scoring both our goals. My memory from that game was the sight of Clyde Best shoving Ian Ure aside then crossing for Hurst to score (that is if my memory serves me right!) Ure was a hard case in those days, but Clyde was nobody's push over! My question is - and maybe nobody apart from Terry Brown and Harry Redknapp will know the answer to it - why was Harry Redknapp sacked as manager of West Ham when we seemed to be doing ok? I realise this might be a tricky question, but I can't think of another one off the top of my head!
A: Hi Peter, Re: the Man Utd game, it was on the 18th September 1971. Best and Brooking were the scorers, not Hurst. Also, Ian Ure did not play in that game as he had been transferred to St Mirren a few months before. The only bust up concerning Ure that I can remember was in 1964, when playing for Arsenal he bundled Johnny Byrne over a barrier. Re: Redknapp's sacking, as you say we may never know the real reason. It was rumoured that Terry Brown was not happy with the amount that Harry had spent on players after the sale of Rio Ferdinand. The chairman was also none too pleased with the quality of those bought and the wages that they cost the club. Bassila cost some £700,000 and played only 86 minutes whereas Gary Charles cost the club £4.4million in salary and transfer fees and only made two starts in two years.

by Richard
07:45PM 1st Dec 2011
Q: Hi John, many years ago I was going to be running the West Ham quiz in Barking and yours was one of the four teams booked to come along but I had to cancel due to lack of interest. Anyway, this is not a question as such but I was just wondering if you have ever met or heard of this. The game was v Dinamo Tblisi at home 2-0 down at half time. Our goal came soon into the second half but and i have always wondered if I remember right. I was right behind the goal leaning on the wall in the North Bank and I don't think the ball crossed the line. I think it was credited to Bonzo but I am adamant it never crossed. Have you ever heard of this from anyone over the years? (maybe even Bonzo!) Also my Grandad (RIP) from Canning Town used to tell the story of our goalkeeper (Harry Medhurst?) being drunk between the sticks during a home defeat one Christmas Day. Staggering everywhere etc. What a great story that would be today. It would certainly explain some of our defeats over the years. Nice to have you on board and you can certainly look forward to your mailbox from our knoweledgable fans. All the best.
A: Hi Richard, Re: the Dinamo Tblisi game in 1981. I too was at the game but cannot remember the events of the goal. It was David Cross who scored, not Bonds. Re: Harry Medhurst and your Grandad's claim that he was drunk on Christmas Day. Well I have traced two home games on Christmas Day when he played and we lost them both! In 1942 we lost 3-1 to Charlton and in 1945, 4-3 to Luton. We can forgive him having a drink to get him through the dark days of war.

by Nigel Bailey
05:54PM 1st Dec 2011
Q: Dear John can you tell me the number of games that west ham played in the white away strip with the claret and blue bands during the fifties and where I might get photograph of the team in the kit ? Thanks .
A: I regret I do not know how many games were played by the team wearing the white away strip. Also, I have never seen a team photo with them wearing it.

by Chris Arnott
03:33PM 30th Nov 2011
Q: Dear John, You are doing a great job. This one might be tough but I hope you can help. I love West Ham but I also love playing football myself and wearing the number 7 shirt. I can't remember anybody consistently wearing it for us though really except for bizarrely Christian Dailly, sadly infrequently Kieron Dyer and an old favourite of mine Ian Bishop occasionally. Who has made the most appearances for the club wearing it? Who is your favourite number 7 for the club? Thanks in advance, Chris
A: The number sevens that played the most were both before our time. Tommy Yews would have played some 300 games in the '20s and in the '50s, Harry Hooper played 100 or so games in that number. We have had Brabrook, Redknapp and Holland who all played well on the wing. The first player who I saw in that number was Mike Grice, a favourite of mine.

by Thomas Kern
01:42PM 28th Nov 2011
Q: Dear John, do you know when "Helliar & Sons", the long-standing former printer of the WHU programme, started with their "End of Season Summary" booklet of results and tables of all WHU teams? These "EoSS" were laid out programme style and were not named like this in the early issues from the late 60ies and very early 70ies. My oldest one is from the end of season '67/'68 but were there any before? Thanks and All the Best, Thomas Kern
A: Hello Thomas. The earliest I have is the end 1968-69. I have not seen any earlier. So if you have the 1967-68 edition, I expect that was the earliest.

by jack pringle
08:25AM 25th Nov 2011
Q: I'm a Man Utd fan but the hammers are my other favourite team. Do you think the new signings are good? How good do you think Guy Demel is and how much do you think Winston Reid has improved? Finally, how do you think you will cope in the Premier League if you get promoted (oh, and how much better is Big Sam than Avram Grant?)
A: Hi Jack. I usually answer statistical questions so it makes a change to get asked about the team! All the new signings have been good, with Taylor, Faye, Nolan and O'Brien already being well known to Sam. He also watched Baldock on a number of occasions and his signing has turned out well too. Guy Demel only made his debut for the first team last night but has had a great deal of experience playing with Hamburg so he is another who should be a very useful addition to the side. Winston Reid has been playing very well this season and it was a blow when he got injured but hopefully he will be back soon. He has been a revelation playing in the Championship and this should bode well if the Hammers are promoted. When Sam was appointed there was rumblings of discontent amongst the Hammers support but this has now changed as they see a confident, experienced, tactically aware manager able to instil some discipline to the team which was sadly lacking under Grant. I used to despair listening to Grant at his press conferences as following yet another defeat he always used to say there was plenty of positives in their display. The only positive came when he was sacked. If we are promoted, I would expect that we would need at least five good signings to hold our own in the Premier League.

by Liam Tyrell
09:26AM 23rd Nov 2011
Q: Hi John, Great to see you at The' Ex' Fair the other weekend, really enjoyed that, look forward to next year. Got a question which I wonder if you can help with? A friend up here has just got a programme on e-bay from a home game versus Dukla Prague 9th November 1959. He can't find any trace of the result of indeed game. I've also had a quick look through your books and other history books and can't solve it. All I can establish is a gap in the league fixtures suggesting the game could have taken place on the listed date. Any help appreciated. Thanks and regards Liam
A: Hi Lee. Yes, it was good to see you at the fair, another good afternoon listening to the players recounting their days at the club. The game you mention with Dukla ended 1-1 with Noel Cantwell scoring our goal. The Hammers team was Dwyer, Bond, Cantwell, Malcolm, Brown, Moore, Grice, Woosnam, Obeney, Dick, Musgrove. All the best, John.

by Keith Matthews
12:54PM 7th Nov 2011
Q: On our way to Hull on Saturday we were talking about seeing clubs at different grounds ie Wimbledon, Brighton etc. We had a somewhat heated debate on Bristol Rovers; I am confident I have seen them at three different grounds, the debate revolved around seeing them at Eastville. Could you confirm whether we played them there since 1978?
A: We played at Eastville for three successive seasons on 20th Jan 1979 (1-0), 3rd May 1980 (2-0) and 1st November 1980 (1-0). We then played two league games and a League Cup tie at Twerton Park and finally a league Cup tie at the Memorial Ground in August 2007.

by Christopher Wood
06:07PM 4th Oct 2011
Q: After spending months trying to find attendances for all the competitive and non-competive matches I have attended since 1964, I am missing only four, three of which involve West Ham. Are you able to help with any of the following, please ? Tuesday 23rd November 1971 : Geoff Hurst Testimonial : West Ham United v a European X1 Wednesday 4th April 1973 : Paul Heffer Testimonial : West Ham United v an Israeli X1 Monday 6th August 2001 : Pre-season Friendly : Rushden & Diamonds v West Ham United Thank you.
A: Hi Chris. I can supply two of the attendances but I regret I do not have the Rushden figure. As follows: European XI - 29,250; Israel X1 - 7,465.

by Paul Furth
03:47PM 4th Oct 2011
Q: What's the most goals scored in a single game by a West Ham player?
A: Individual scoring records are as follows. 7 Goals: Syd Puddefoot v Crystal Palace 11-0 (April 1918). 6 goals: Geoff Hurst v Sunderland 8-0 (October 1968); Vic Watson v Leeds 8-2 (February 1929).

by Alex
03:38PM 3rd Oct 2011
Q: Why do we play in Claret and Blue?
A: I have read stories that a shirt was brought back from Aston Villa for us to adopt their colour but I have not been able to verify that fact. I believe they first played in the claret and blue for the 1903-04 season; more info may be found here: http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=116934

by William Kay
02:17PM 28th Sep 2011
Q: I wonder if you can help me solve this West Ham shirt mystery: http://www.truecoloursfootballkits.com/truecolours/mystery-west-ham-shirt. I picked up a second hand copy of a great book published by The National Football Museum entitled ‘The Football Hall of Fame’. It includes pics of numerous matchworn shirts but this one really caught my eye. Judging by the short sleeves, V-neck and badge it looks like a Bukta-produced 1957-60 home shirt but with a big difference – the sleeves appear to be white and not the usual light blue. Whether the colour appears much paler due to the photograph (unlikely) or the blue has faded through the years (again unlikely going by the colour of the badge) is up for debate, but to me it looks like it definitely has white sleeves. Could it be a rare third strip perhaps? I’ve not heard of the Hammers donning this particular style in the past, and can’t really imagine a situation where such a strip could be called for. Its a real mystery.
A: Hi William. This does not look like an original shirt to me, the badge looks wrong. It looks similar to the attached shirt that Woosnam is wearing here: http://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=107113&p=3152327#p3152327. I would date it as around 1955-56 to 1959-60; it is probably one that has been sold in a sports shop. Hope this helps.

by Nigel Kahn (mywhufc)
06:46PM 26th Sep 2011
Q: When was West Ham United formed, 1895 or 1900? As a kid it was always 1900 then around the time just before the centenary, it changed to 1895 which the club use at the moment (which is when TIW started). Did TIW shut down and then West Ham was formed, or did the Hammers continue on just as a name change which, if was the case, why say 1900 in the first place?
A: Although West Ham was formed in 1900 the club decided in 1995 to make that their Centenary year as they could not ignore the part that Thames Ironworks had played in their history. In 1900 Thames were running into financial difficulties so it was decided to form a limited liability company to carry on as a professional football club, and to call the new club West Ham United.

by Gerard Daly
04:52PM 26th Sep 2011
Q: Here's one for you John. FA Cup fifth round, 1968. We lost at home to Sheffield United but I think I'm right in saying we wore our away strip. Any idea why?
A: Hi Gerry. You are right in saying that the Hammers played in their away strip for the home Cup tie, but I do not know the reason. As they had previously played in that strip in two earlier rounds they may have looked upon it as being lucky. It wasn’t a late decision, as the colours were printed in the match programme.

by richard miller
07:27PM 25th Sep 2011
Q: Dear John, could you please send me West Ham players' league apperance totals for the seasons 2003/04 & 2004/05?
A: Appearances as requested. 2003-04: James 27; Ferdinand 9 (11); Brevett 2; Hutchison 10 (14); Repka 40; Dailly 43; Garcia 2 (5); Lee 12 (4); Mellor 8 (8); Defoe 19; Etherington 34 (1); Sofiane 0 (1); Connolly 37 (2); Pearce 24; Horlock 23 (4); Noble D 0 (3); Carrick 34 (1); Kilgallon 1 (2); Quinn 22; Alexandersson 5 (3); Mullins 27; Stockdale 5 (2); Deane 9 (17); Harewood 28; Cohen 1 (6); Bywater 17; Harley 15; Melville 11 (3); Reo-Coker 13 (2); Nowland 2 (9); McAnuff 4 (8); Zamora 15 (2); Carole 0 (1); Srnicek 2 (1); Lomas 5. 2004-05: Bywater 36; Repka 42; Brevett 10; Mullins 32 (5); Melville 3; Dailly 2 (1); Rebrov 12 (14); Reo-Coker 34 (5); Harewood 45; Sheringham 26 (7); Etherington 37 (2); Cohen 1 (10); McAnuff 0 (1); Zamora 15 (19); Ferdinand 25 (5); Chadwick 22 (10); McClenahan 0 (2); Nowland 3 (1); Lomas 18 (5); Garcia 0 (1); Fletcher 26 (6); Davenport 10; Mackay 17 (1); Powell C 35 (1); Hutchison 2 (3); Taricco 1; Powell D 5; Williams 7 (3); Walker 10; Noble M 10 (3); Newton 11; Ward 10 (1).

by John Bastock
06:49AM 22nd Sep 2011
Q: What was Nestor El Maestro's role at West Ham United, I believe in the 2001/02 season?
A: I had no idea that he was with West Ham in some capacity. Back in 2001 he would only have been about 18, so he may have been invited to study our coaching methods.

by Kris
12:31PM 21st Sep 2011
Q: I'm a West Ham fan from north east England in Gateshead. My friend's Grandad used to play for West Ham in the late 1940s/early '50s. His name was Ernie Devlin and he was signed from Gateshead. Do you have much information about him such as stats, achievements? Any well-known players he played alongside etc while he was at West Ham?
A: Ernie Devlin was a popular player at all the clubs he played for. He joined West Ham from Gateshead in 1946 and made his debut away to Tottenham on the 17th May 1947. He then went on to make 70 league appearances and played in three FA Cup ties with his final game for the Hammers being in the home game with Hull City on the 29th December 1952. Ernie then returned to the North East to sign for Darlington. He made his debut on the 20th February 1954 strangely enough away to his old club Gateshead. Over the next three seasons he was a regular in the team and he clocked up a total of 115 league games and seven FA Cup ties. Ernie’s last game was at Bradford on the 2nd February 1957. A very dependable full back who was affectionately known as ‘Joe’ by the fans. While at West Ham he played alongside two players who were to become famous managers; Frank O’Farrell, who managed Manchester United and Malcolm Allison, who became manager at Manchester City. He died in 1976, aged 56.

by John
09:40PM 20th Sep 2011
Q: What do you know about a 1969 apprentice called Ray Fulton? Did he ever play for the first team?
A: In the 1969-70 season Ray was playing for the Youth team in the South East Counties League Division 2. He was the regular left back and played in the London Youth Cup Final against Chelsea, losing 4-3 on aggregate. For 1970-71 he was a member of the Metropolitan League side that reached their final against Bedford but lost 4-2 on aggregate. He also played in the London Youth Cup side that played Spurs in the final but lost 3-1. In 1971-72 he played in the South East Counties League Division 1 and also made 11 reserve appearances. Ray was given a free transfer at the end of the season. He never got to play for the first team but played with many players that did such as Ronnie Boyce, Mervyn Day, Kevil Lock, Ade Coker and Johnny Ayris.

by Mike
06:02PM 20th Sep 2011
Q: Dear John, First of all welcome to KUMB. Secondly, my question is that on the programme of the Bobby Moore Memorial Match, Moore is seen wearing a Bolton shirt. As far as I am aware, Moore never played for Bolton, so when did he wear the kit on the programme and why?
A: Hello Michael. I have been in contact with the Bolton secretary who tells me that Bobby played in that shirt for a team of celebrities against the Press the day before their Sherpa Van Trophy Final with Torquay in 1989.

by scott swallow
05:46PM 20th Sep 2011
Q: Did West Ham play and beat a Rest of the World team in the late '80s after England had lost to the World team? I think it may have been about '87.
A: I do not know of the Hammers playing a World team in the late '80s. You mention 1987; well in August 1987 West Ham played an International XI for Eddie Chapman's testimonial, beating them 4-3. It wasn't really a World team as some of the players came from Scotland and Eire, but is this the game you may be thinking about?

by Dave
02:08PM 20th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John, I am from Australia; how many Australians have played for West Ham? Plus, can you list them and number of appearances?
A: Hi Dave. I've listed the Australians who have played for West Ham together with their league appearances. We have also got Dylan Tombides who is a promising youngster in our youth team and hopefully he will make the grade. League Lucas Neill (79); Stan Lazaridis (69); Robbie Slater (25); Richard Garcia (16); Hayden Foxe (11); Trent McClenahan (2); Steve Mautone, Sasa Ilic (1).

by Kevin
08:23AM 20th Sep 2011
Q: I'm afraid my question is going to be more difficult than any others although I know a lot of the answer already! What was my first game that I ever attended? I know I went to see WHU beat Arsenal 2-1 in March, but unfortunately WHU beat them in 1965 and 1966 by that score and both were in March. The thing I remember about that game was that Joe Baker scored from a free kick for Arsenal following a bit of gamesmanship [according to my childish mind] by them. Jim Furnell was in goal for them. Otherwise I remember nothing else. Would you be able to help?
A: The Hammers beat Arsenal 2-1 in March 1965 with Joe Baker scoring. However Furnell was not in goal, it was Burns. The following season the game was played in April; Furnell played in goal for that one with Baldwin scoring.

by Tony Goodwin
05:39AM 20th Sep 2011
Q: Hello John. Could you tell me he scored our goals against Cambridge on the last day of the season in 1993? I know Clive Allen scored a tap in but I can't recall who got the first. My friend thinks it was David Speedie but I'm sure his loan had ended against Leicester?
A: Hello Tony. Your friend is correct, as it was David Speedie who scored the other goal.

by Ben Pahl
11:00PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John. I am an Australian Hammers fan who by chance chose West Ham completely randomly when I started watching the Premier League, it appeared to be faet when after the passing of my Grandfather (immigrated from Southend) and speaking with one of his relatives I was told his father or grandfather had played with West Ham. I am not 100 per cent on his full name but I was told it was Harold Bertie or Harold Bertie Osbourne. I would love to explore this further and if you had any information it would be greatly appreciated.
A: Hi Ben, I can confirm that he never played for the first team. He may have played for the reserve team or youth side but for me to research further I would need an approximate year that he may have played.

by mick heyburn
10:43PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hello John. I couldn't get to the Swindon cup match in 1963/64 so went to the reserve game at the Boleyn and remember well the excitement among players and crowd as the score was updated through the match, but for the life of me I can't remember the opposition. Can you help? I have got a couple of other questions as well but won't hog your time just yet!
A: Well as I was getting excited at Swindon you were watching the reserves beating Peterborough 2-1, Hugo and Dear scoring.

by barry johnson
09:30PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John. I'm trying to remember the first game I went to and hope you can help with the line up and match facts etc. It was at home and we played Sheffield Weds in 1988. I think the score was 0-0 and I think we were in Divison 2. I recall I couldn't see much only being seven at the time and seem to remember sitting in the west stand and somebody hitting the crossbar?
A: Hi Barry. The game you mention was played on 10th December 1988 finishing 0-0. The Hammers team was McKnight, Potts, Parris, gale, Martin, Devonshire, Brady, Kelly, Rosenior, Dickens, Ince. The attendance was 16,676.

by Calum
08:58PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John, Genuinely interested to know if you still have the same emotional attachment to the team as you did in the beginning?
A: Hello Calum. I can say that over the years it has strengthened and the club are now a huge part of my life. I have been more involved in writing books, providing articles and stats for the programme and now answering questions through the West Ham web site and KUMB.com. I miss the old days when everything was not governed by money and players stayed loyal to the club for many years but as they say, once a supporter always a supporter.

by pete white
07:09PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Could you please let me know why both sides wore their away strips in the West Ham v Arsenal FA Cup final in 1980?
A: I am not sure why they both played in away strips. This question has arisen before (a year ago) and I read somewhere that the FA relaxed their rule that year so as both teams could choose their choice of shirt as long as it did not clash. If you look back to August in the KUMB.com forum you will see there is a thread on this with some similar answers.

by Mark
06:49PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John. Being greedy I know, but could you answer the following? 1. What has been West Ham's best attended match at the Boleyn? 2. My first hammers match was in 1980 against Watford which we won I believe 3-2 can you give me attendance, scrores and line-ups please. 3. What is your most memorable match and why?
A: Hello Mark. 1). The record attendance at Upton Park was on 17th October 1970 against Tottenham with a figure of 42,322. 2). Attendance 24,288. Scorers were Barnes, Brooking, Cross. Team: Parkes, Stewart, Lampard, Bonds, Martin, Devonshire, Barnes, Goddard, Cross, Brooking, Pike. 3). My most memorable match was the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1965 against TSV Munich. A brilliant football spectacle from both sides with hardly a bad foul. With few tickets going to corporate fans it was a real footballing occasion with a great atmosphere. One of Wembley’s finest.

by John Cumming
06:46PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John. Do your records go as far back as the days before WHU when it was the works team of the Thames Iron Works? If so are you able to substantiate a tradition in our family that great uncle Jack (John Bannon) played for the Thames Iron Works football team? His brother, my grandfather Hugh, was one of the first 'Hammers Pals' to volunteer in 1915 and was one of only two men to survive his Company. You probably know about the research Elliott Taylor is doing on the 13th Essex Service Regiment that was wiped out in the First World War. Fourteen members of our family turned out to attend the unveiling of the memorial plaque at the main entrance a couplee of years ago. Is that one for the record? Very glad to hear that KUMB have got you on board.
A: Hello John. I do have line ups for their first team games but cannot trace him as playing. A friend of mine has written an excellent book on the Ironworks so I have asked him if he can help. If he comes up with anything I will let you know.

by Daniel
06:02PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hello John. What were our transfer records (spent and recieved) before the Premiership era?
A: Hi Daniel. Our records at that time were £2million received for Tony Cottee from Everton, and £1.25million spent on Frank McAvennie from Celtic.

by chris wicks
05:33PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Who was the last player to score twenty league goals in a season for West Ham Utd?
A: The last person to score 20 goals in the league was Trevor Morley who scored exactly that amount in season 1992-93.

by Nick
04:55PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John and welcome. My first game was in 1958 against Arsenal after promotion. Am I right in thinking it was Phil Woosnam's debut for West Ham? Thanks.
A: You are right: Phil Woosnam did indeed make his debut in that match (which finished 0-0).

by Howard Neil
04:46PM 19th Sep 2011
Q: Hi John. I would just like to find out anything you know about my grandfather, Percy Inward, who played for the Thames Ironworks. I understand that he played up until they became West Ham United.
A: Hi Howard. I do have first team line-ups for the Thames Ironworks' games but his name does not appear. I have asked a friend of mine, John Powles, if he can help as he has written an excellent book on the Ironworks. If I hear from John I will get back to you.