Ken Tucker
Encyclopedia
Ken Tucker was an English
footballer
who played as a left winger.
Signed by Charlie Paynter
from Finchley
, Tucker made his West Ham United
debut in October 1947, scoring a hat-trick at home against Chesterfield
. He had first come to the attention of Paynter a year earlier. He had been playing for a local amateur team, Central Park, in an early round FA Cup
game. He missed most of the first half due to a delayed train, but hit six second-half goals. This was recorded in the Stratford Express and Ilford Recorder and soon after, he received a letter from Paynter asking for a meeting. Paynter asked Tucker if he would play on loan to Athenian League
side Finchley against Leyton
the following Saturday and after that game, despite a 3-0 loss, both West Ham and Finchley were after him. Finchley offered him £11 a week, including £5 from the chairman's personal funds, and Tucker accepted this. Paynter allowed "his player" to stay at the club on the proviso that Tucker would sign professional forms with West Ham as soon as the season was over.
After his Hammers debut, Tucker played only 14 games for the first team in the following four years, but he played well in the reserve team
, scoring 73 goals in 191 games. He finally became a first-team regular during the 1955-56
season, and was called into the England
squad for a game against Brazil
although he didn't play.
Tucker had a fractious relationship with manager Ted Fenton
– he once went on strike over pay – and his feud lasted well after he had left the club. In an interview with Ex Magazine in April 2006, he said "Ted once told me 'All my troubles here are down to you'. If I felt I wasn't being treated right, I'd rebel - I told it as I saw it".
Tucker was the wealthiest player on the books at West Ham, and was the first to own a car, a Chrysler
. He and his wife owned two shops in Barking Road, which he continued to manage once he had retired. He also owned six greyhound
s that raced at West Ham Stadium
.
He made a total of 93 league and cup appearances during his ten years at West Ham, scoring 31 goals.
He went on to play for Notts County
after an acrimonious departure from the east London club in March 1957, although he still insisted on training at West Ham. Two seasons later, he joined non-League Margate
where he played alongside former Hammer Almer Hall
.
Tucker's older brother, Samual, played for Clapton
. His son, Raymond, played for the West Ham youth team under John Lyall
during the 1960s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer
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...
who played as a left winger.
Signed by Charlie Paynter
Charlie Paynter
Charlie Paynter was the manager of West Ham United from 1932-1950.He moved to Plaistow with his family as a child. He played for the football team Victoria Swifts, but while still a teenager he also developed an interest in physiotherapy. Paynter first became involved with West Ham as unpaid help...
from Finchley
Finchley F.C.
Finchley Football Club was an English football club based in Finchley, Greater London. Established in 1874, the club merged with Wingate to form Wingate & Finchley in 1991.-History:...
, Tucker made his 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...
debut in October 1947, scoring a hat-trick at home against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. He had first come to the attention of Paynter a year earlier. He had been playing for a local amateur team, Central Park, in an early round FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
game. He missed most of the first half due to a delayed train, but hit six second-half goals. This was recorded in the Stratford Express and Ilford Recorder and soon after, he received a letter from Paynter asking for a meeting. Paynter asked Tucker if he would play on loan to Athenian League
Athenian League
The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined...
side Finchley against Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
the following Saturday and after that game, despite a 3-0 loss, both West Ham and Finchley were after him. Finchley offered him £11 a week, including £5 from the chairman's personal funds, and Tucker accepted this. Paynter allowed "his player" to stay at the club on the proviso that Tucker would sign professional forms with West Ham as soon as the season was over.
After his Hammers debut, Tucker played only 14 games for the first team in the following four years, but he played well in the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
, scoring 73 goals in 191 games. He finally became a first-team regular during the 1955-56
1955-56 in English football
The 1955–56 season was the 76th season of competitive football in England. The First Division was won by Manchester United, the fourth time they had won that particular accolade.-Awards:Football Writers' Association...
season, and was called into the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
squad for a game against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
although he didn't play.
Tucker had a fractious relationship with manager Ted Fenton
Ted Fenton
Edward "Ted" Fenton was manager of English football club West Ham United between 1950 and 1961.- West Ham United :...
– he once went on strike over pay – and his feud lasted well after he had left the club. In an interview with Ex Magazine in April 2006, he said "Ted once told me 'All my troubles here are down to you'. If I felt I wasn't being treated right, I'd rebel - I told it as I saw it".
Tucker was the wealthiest player on the books at West Ham, and was the first to own a car, a Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. He and his wife owned two shops in Barking Road, which he continued to manage once he had retired. He also owned six greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
s that raced at West Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium
West Ham Stadium was a stadium that existed between 1928 and 1972 in Custom House, in east London...
.
He made a total of 93 league and cup appearances during his ten years at West Ham, scoring 31 goals.
He went on to play for Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
after an acrimonious departure from the east London club in March 1957, although he still insisted on training at West Ham. Two seasons later, he joined non-League Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
where he played alongside former Hammer Almer Hall
Almer Hall
Almeric George "Almer" Hall was an English footballer and manager.Born in Hove, England Hall, a striker, began his professional career in 1930 with his local club Brighton & Hove Albion but before making any appearances for the Sussex club he moved to Tottenham Hotspur...
.
Tucker's older brother, Samual, played for Clapton
Clapton F.C.
Clapton F.C. is an English association football club, who play in Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham, England.Founded by W.R. Davis at a meeting in his father's house at 11 Queensdown Road, Clapton in August 0f 1877. Downs F.C. started playing on Hackney Downs. They changed their name a...
. His son, Raymond, played for the West Ham youth team under John Lyall
John Lyall
John Angus Lyall was an English footballer and manager of Scottish descent. His mother, Catherine, was from the Isle of Lewis, his father, James, was from Kirriemuir. He was born in Ilford, Essex.- Youth team career :...
during the 1960s.
External links
- Ken Tucker at westhamstats.info