Eddie Chapman (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Eddie Chapman was a football (soccer)
player and chaiman, closely associated with West Ham United
.
At schoolboy level, he won honours with Ilford
and London, and also had a trial for England Schools. In 1937, his last season as a schoolboy, he scored 102 goals for his school team Loxford
, and 128 in total, including a game that saw him score 12 goals, three games where he scored 9 goals, and 8 in another.
He first joined West Ham on 3 August 1937 as an office junior, earning 25 shilling
s a week plus 2/6d expenses. He trained with the team two or three afternoons a week, and went on to join Romford
on loan to gain more experience. In an interview with Colin Benson, Chapman recalls one of his first experiences in the West Ham first team, in a war-time game against London rivals Arsenal
. "I played outside right against Arsenal and it was truly a marvellous thing to be on the same field as the likes of George Swindin
, Eddie Hapgood
, the Compton brothers and the rest. I was 16 and scored in a convincing 6-0 win. What a day that was for me".
Chapman appeared in the second round second leg of the Football League War Cup
in 1940, a 3-0 win over Leicester
, and earned a 30/-
(£1.50) match fee for the game. He was also in the squad for the final against Blackburn Rovers
, but did not play.
He won a winners medal with the junior side in the London Junior Combination at the age of 19.
He was given a professional contract in September 1942 but, due to the war and his involvement with the Royal Engineers
, he was not available to play for West Ham on a full-time basis until January 1947, although he competed in the Kent League
for Gillingham
while he was stationed at Chatham
. While at Gillingham, he scored 9 goals in one week against Chelsea
, and then 7 the next against the RAF
. He made a total of 26 war-time appearances for West Ham, scoring 8 goals. He also played for the Royal Engineers All-England XI.
After the war, his opportunities in the West Ham first team were limited by the presence of players such as Eric Parsons
, Terry Woodgate
, Kenny Bainbridge and Harry Hooper, and were not helped by a persistent back injury. He scored his first league goal during his debut, a home game against Coventry City
during the 1948-49
season. He made 1 FA Cup appearance against Luton
on 8 January 1949. He played his last of 7 senior league games for West Ham the same season, having scored 3 goals for the club.
After leaving the playing staff, Chapman continued his involvement with the club's administrative affairs, and became West Ham's club secretary in 1956, following Frank Cearns' retirement. He was promoted to Chief Executive in 1980. In 1974 he was a recipient of the Football League Secretaries and Managers Association Long Service Award, and also the Canon League
Loyalty Award in August 1984. He retired in the summer of 1986 after 49 years of service for the east London club. He returned to Gillingham in an advisory capacity less than a month after retiring, and made a dozen trips to the Priestfield Stadium
to help advance the clubs administrative systems and matchday organisation. His testimonial match
between West Ham and Terry Venables
' International IX took place on 9 August 1987. He died in 2002.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and chaiman, closely associated with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
.
At schoolboy level, he won honours with Ilford
Ilford
Ilford is a large cosmopolitan town in East London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Redbridge. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It forms a significant commercial and retail...
and London, and also had a trial for England Schools. In 1937, his last season as a schoolboy, he scored 102 goals for his school team Loxford
Loxford
Loxford is a district of Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge in north-east London, UK. It is a densely built-up, multi-ethnic locality.-History:...
, and 128 in total, including a game that saw him score 12 goals, three games where he scored 9 goals, and 8 in another.
He first joined West Ham on 3 August 1937 as an office junior, earning 25 shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s a week plus 2/6d expenses. He trained with the team two or three afternoons a week, and went on to join Romford
Romford F.C.
Romford F.C. is an English football club based in Romford, Greater London. The club are currently members of Division One North of the Isthmian League, and play at Mill Field in Aveley.-History:...
on loan to gain more experience. In an interview with Colin Benson, Chapman recalls one of his first experiences in the West Ham first team, in a war-time game against London rivals Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. "I played outside right against Arsenal and it was truly a marvellous thing to be on the same field as the likes of George Swindin
George Swindin
George Hedley Swindin was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:A goalkeeper, Swindin was born in Campsall, Doncaster, Yorkshire. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, including Rotherham United, before turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City...
, Eddie Hapgood
Eddie Hapgood
Edris Albert "Eddie" Hapgood was an English footballer, who captained both Arsenal and England during the 1930s....
, the Compton brothers and the rest. I was 16 and scored in a convincing 6-0 win. What a day that was for me".
Chapman appeared in the second round second leg of the Football League War Cup
Football League War Cup
The Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945 which aimed to fill the gaping hole left in English Football by the cancellation of the FA Cup.- Background:...
in 1940, a 3-0 win over Leicester
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, and earned a 30/-
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
(£1.50) match fee for the game. He was also in the squad for the final against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, but did not play.
He won a winners medal with the junior side in the London Junior Combination at the age of 19.
He was given a professional contract in September 1942 but, due to the war and his involvement with the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, he was not available to play for West Ham on a full-time basis until January 1947, although he competed in the Kent League
Kent League
The Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
while he was stationed at Chatham
Chatham, Medway
Chatham is one of the Medway towns located within the Medway unitary authority, in North Kent, in South East England.Although the dockyard has long been closed and is now being redeveloped into a business and residential community as well as a museum featuring the famous submarine, HMS Ocelot,...
. While at Gillingham, he scored 9 goals in one week against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, and then 7 the next against the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He made a total of 26 war-time appearances for West Ham, scoring 8 goals. He also played for the Royal Engineers All-England XI.
After the war, his opportunities in the West Ham first team were limited by the presence of players such as Eric Parsons
Eric Parsons
Eric "Rabbit" Parsons was a footballer who played for West Ham United, Chelsea and Brentford.A winger and crowd favourite whose blistering pace earned him the nickname "the Rabbit", Parsons started his career with West Ham United, spotted by the club during a game against West Ham Boys at Upton...
, Terry Woodgate
Terry Woodgate
John Terence Woodgate was an English footballer who played for West Ham United and Peterborough United.Terry was born in East Ham, London....
, Kenny Bainbridge and Harry Hooper, and were not helped by a persistent back injury. He scored his first league goal during his debut, a home game against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
during the 1948-49
1948-49 in English football
The 1948–49 season was the 69th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth won the First Division title for the first time with a team of no recognised stars and very few international players. They won the league by five points from Manchester United and Derby...
season. He made 1 FA Cup appearance against Luton
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
on 8 January 1949. He played his last of 7 senior league games for West Ham the same season, having scored 3 goals for the club.
After leaving the playing staff, Chapman continued his involvement with the club's administrative affairs, and became West Ham's club secretary in 1956, following Frank Cearns' retirement. He was promoted to Chief Executive in 1980. In 1974 he was a recipient of the Football League Secretaries and Managers Association Long Service Award, and also the Canon League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
Loyalty Award in August 1984. He retired in the summer of 1986 after 49 years of service for the east London club. He returned to Gillingham in an advisory capacity less than a month after retiring, and made a dozen trips to the Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium
Priestfield Stadium is a football stadium in Gillingham, Kent...
to help advance the clubs administrative systems and matchday organisation. His testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
between West Ham and Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
' International IX took place on 9 August 1987. He died in 2002.