Imps 6-0 West Ham, 8th October 1932
In 1931/32, The Imps were in the Second Division, having been promoted the season before. It meant visits to places such as Manchester United, West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur, and Bradford Park Avenue (!). It was a time for optimism, a time when the people of Lincoln genuinely felt there was a chance for the club to climb into the First Division. Manager Harry Parkes thought so – he signed Jackie Wilkinson from Newcastle for £600, a player dropping out of the First Division. All in, the club spent £1500 on players, a sum close to £86,000 in today’s money.
Even the ground got an overhaul – the old St Andrews Stand was demolished, and a new 2,250-capacity stand was built. Local pub landlords wanted to get in on the good feeling, requesting extended opening hours beyond the 4 p.m. afternoon cut-off. The application was rejected.
West Ham had dropped out of the First Division, and they arrived on October 8th with the Imps in superb form, having taken five points from six in their last three games. The weekend prior to the game, Grimsby were beaten 6-3 in front of 14102 – but the fans didn’t turn out as expected for the Hammers; just 9887 were in the ground.
The big news was West Ham’s collection of internationals, none more distinguished than Syd Puddefoot. He had played twice for England and later manager Galatasaray. Others included Vic Watson and Jimmy Ruffell, big names. Much like the cup game tomorrow, it felt like a big club were coming to town.
Instead of surrendering to their illustrious opponents, City went on the rampage. Three goals before half time blew the Hammers away, with Joe Cooper opening the scoring early doors. Jackie Wilkinson, who bagged a brace the weekend prior against Grimsby on his debut, added a second, with Alan Hall snatching a third. The evening Echo, printed before the results were finalised, shouted that the Imps were in form.
They weren’t wrong, as just three minutes after the break, Cooper added a second. West Ham’s forward line couldn’t find a way through, and Cooper scored his third on 70 minutes – he had bagged the winner at home against Southampton earlier in the season and looked to be in red hot form. Sadly, he only scored once more for the Imps in a season ravaged by injury.
The rout was completed close to the end when Wilkinson popped up with a second. The local paper suggesting ‘doubting Thomas’s’ who didn’t think the Imps could hold their own in the Second Division were being proven wrong. One week later, we lost 3-2 at Fulham, then 5-2 at Oldham. We finished 18th out of 22 in the end, two points and two places above the Hammers.
