theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
email: theyflysohigh@btinternet.com
West Ham United Club Historian : Welcome to the Private memorabilia collection of 'theyflysohigh'
Stephen Gill Trophy Cabinet
South East Counties League
Junior Division 1967-68
Runners-Up
West Ham’s Juniors finished their league campaign in second place with a total of 18 points from 14 matches behind champions Tottenham Hotspur with 23 points.
The Juniors saved their best performance of the campaign against top-of-the-table Spurs at Cheshunt.
The north Londoners had so far been unbeaten in twelve matches, conceding only eight goals in that dozen games. Tottenham fought courageously from 3-1 down at the interval, but finally went under when the young Hammers netted two minutes from time to record a 5-4 victory and the runners-up spot in Division II.
South East Counties League (Junior Division) Runners-Up
Crystal Palace were beaten 4-1 in the semi-final at the tailend of the 1967-68 season. However, due to the heavy fixture congestion the final was deferred until the following season. West Ham met Chelsea in the two-legged final, the delay it seemed did not worry the Hammers. The two sides battled out a 1-1 draw in the first-leg at Stamford Bridge.In the second leg at at Upton Park Stephen Gill scored thefirst West Ham goal with Carl Humphreys adding a second to win the trophy 3-1 on aggregate.
London Youth Junior Challenge Cup
1967-68
WEST HAM UNITED v. CHELSEA
London Youth Junior Challenge Cup Winners
The Colts got off to the perfect start in the SECL Cup competition by defeating Chelsea 3-2 in the first round at their Hendon training ground. A second round 2-1 win followed against Luton Town at Chadwell Heath. The semi-final tie with Orient at Upton Park was comfortably won 4-0 which set up an intriguing two-legged final against our south London fiercest rivals Millwall.
Stephen Gill was a member of the under-18s who put in a great performance to win by two clear goals in the April 2, first-leg at The Den. The second-leg at Upton Park on April 25, was a more even contest. A Clyde Best double and a Millwall own goal against two replies from the Lions settled the tie 3-2 and for West Ham to win the cup 5-2 on aggregate.
South East Counties League (Division One) Cup
1968-69
WEST HAM UNITED v. MILLWALL
South East Counties League (Division One) Cup
The cup final path victories included: first round Wellingbrough Town 1-0 at their Dog and Duck ground, second round Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Cheshunt and semi-final Romford 2-1 after extra-time. The Hammers thereby qualifying to meet Bletchley in the two-legged Final which due to fixture congestion was deferred until September and November 1969. A Peter Keary goal in the first-leg gave the “A” team a 1-0 lead going into the second-leg at Upton Park. Two goals by Stephen Gill plus one from Carl Humphreys and a Steven Knowles penalty wrapped up a 4-0 win and the winners trophy on a 5-0 aggregate score.
Metropolitan League Professional Cup Winners
1968-69
WEST HAM UNITED v. BLETCHLEY
Metropolitan Professional Cup Winners
West Ham United Under-19 Youth Tour to
ZAMBIA and MALAWI
Stephen joined West Ham United’s Under-19 squad for a nine game itinerary in Zambia and Malawi. The tour was made at the invitation of the Zambia and Malawi F.A.'s and part-sponsored by Rothmans, the tobacco company. Rothmans also presented the Peter Stuyvesant Trophy to the club and the young Hammers received medals for winning a three game aggregate series against Zambia Schools.
Zambia Schools
Having missed out on a place in the starting XI through injury in the Metropolitan League Cup first and second round games against Stevenage Athletic (2-1) and Bletchley (2-0). Stephen was recalled for the semi-final away clash with Wellingborough Town, a Clive Charles penalty and one from Ken Wallace settled the tie 2-0. The Hammers lost the final on the last day of the season to Braintree & Crittall Athletic at their Cressing Road ground 1-0.
Metropolitan League Challenge Cup Finalists
1969-70
BRAINTREE & CRITTALL ATHLETIC v. WEST HAM UNITED
Metropolitan League Challenge Cup Finalists
Metropolitan League Professional Cup Finalists
Metropolitan League Professional Cup Finalists
1970-71
WEST HAM UNITED v. BEDFORD TOWN
The Metropolitan League Pro Cup final first-leg against Bedford Town Reserves at The Eyrie ended in a 2-1 defeat, Joe Durrell scoring for the Hammers. The second-leg took place at Upton Park on April 28. For the second successive year Stephen lost out on a Metro winners medal, he's lone strike was not enough as the Hammers lost the tie 2-1 and 4-2 on aggregate.
