Like many London non-league grounds East Ham United's old home has long been demolished and is now another housing estate. The Manorway is now long forgotten amongst the expensive semi-detached and terraced dwellings that are now built in the area - I suspect many people who live in the area don't even know a football ground once stood there.Like their Football League neighbours East Ham were known as The Hammers but actually played in the heart of Beckton with their local rivals Beckton United playing just up the road at the Sports and Leisure club in the shadow of the Beckton Alps ski-slope. United's ground is still associated with the beautiful game, West Ham United have a floodlit artificial pitch and facilities used by the local community all through the year.
East Ham United, formed in 1933, completed their last campaign in the Essex Senior League in 2000/01 season winning 12 of their 30 games finishing in 11th place of 16 clubs. This was the season prior to Enfield Town's formation and acceptance into the the ESL. The club moved a short distance East on the A13 to join up with Barking FC to form 'Barking and East Ham United' who existed until 2006 when the club reformed solely as Barking. East Ham United's best finish in the ESL was in the 1979/80 season when they were 5th out of 16 clubs. In the 1976/77 season they had a run of glory in the FA Vase beating East Barnet Old Grammarians, Dartford Glentworth, Basildon United, Edgware Town, Alma Swanley and Epping Town in a replay before losing at home 0-4 to Sheffield in the Quarter Final. Sheffield went on to the final losing to then ESL side Billericay Town.
Beckton United were formed as Ceevor FC in 1966 becoming Beckton United in 1975 and regular members of the London Spartan League up until 1996 when the club unfortunately folded. In 1985 they enjoyed a run to the Third Round of the FA Vase beating Eastbourne United, Romsey Town and Gorleston being losing to Stevenage Borough at home.They played in the Premier Division of the London Spartan League in the 91/92 season alongside Barkingside, Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey to name a few clubs. Division One of the league at the time was at Intermediate level and contained Ilford (making their way back up the Pyramid after being reformed), Leyton County and Walthamstow Trojans amongst others. United played in Green and White diagonal striped shirts with black shorts and green socks.
*Pen-Pictures of the 1991/92 Beckton United Squad.The area is now represented by London APSA (formed 1993) whose roots lie within the Asian community of East Ham - They play at the near-by Terrance MacMillan Stadium in Plaistow. APSA have averaged a crowd of just 18 this season for their ESL fixtures.
The Newham borough is also represented at non-league level by Clapton in the ESL and three clubs in the Essex Olympian League. Canning Town who share with APSA at the TM Stadium in the Premier Division, Cranes United who paly at Clapton FC's Spotted Dog ground in Forest Gate and Newham United in the Third Division whose pitch is a stone's throw from The Boleyn Ground.
* Local press article from 2000 regarding East Ham's Manorway ground.Click on the pictures and this should enlarge them to be able to read the text.
Beckton started out as 'Geevor' not Cleevor.
ReplyDeleteI played for them from 1968 until 1979...we bacame Beckton United in 1972, not 1975.
Contact me if you want any more info.
Tony
do you remember who played in goal for geevor
DeleteI can remember two Geevor goalkeepers.
DeleteClive Smith and Curt Josephs.
i played in goal for geevor in the 60s when we were in the stock exchange league before going to the barking and district league players t iverson b lamb j weir
Deletedid you ever play against pendeen in cornwall
DeleteMy dad played for both clubs from 1983 Terry Nelson
DeleteI played with Terry at East Ham .. I remember his brother Billy ~ long time ago
DeleteI played with Terry Nelson at East Ham with his brother Billy in the mid 80’s ~ long time ago
DeleteAnd also I think his cousin Terry Maxwell who was from Dagenham
DeleteI played with Terry over east ham as well.
DeleteTerry Wright.
Hello could you provide me with the date/newspaper of the article re flytipping at East Ham United. I am doing some research and need a copy of the article with these details on.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Lucy
is this the tony quinlan who I played a handfull of games with at beckton, before i wrecked my knee playing against the london fire brigade.You may remember me as I was out for nearly 18 months with the injury. John West was our captain and Bobby Broomfield was our manager. I can still remember the team that day and I think the game was around late October 1975. You and Ronnie Allen along with Greig Lawrence were the strikers.
ReplyDeleteYes it's me mate....shame you never said who you were!
ReplyDeleteEmail me at footballpunter@gmail.com
:-)
i am jon wiggins and playe for east ham. i also played in the fa cup first round
ReplyDeleteNames from the past there....all good mates of mine in the 60's and 70's.
ReplyDeleteBarry Lamb, Terry Iverson, John Weir, Jimmy Quayle, Johnny West and many more.
Sadly, Johnny Weir and his brother Steve (who also played for Geevor and Beckton) have both died in the last 4 years...both aged 58.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeletei playerd many times with all the names mentiond sad to hear about the weir bros
ReplyDeleteI married Denny Bowhill in 1981. Sadly he passed away 7th February this year. Sadly missed. X
ReplyDeleteSo very, very sorry to hear that Pamela.
DeleteSome other old names from the Geevor and Beckton days that I can remember:
DeleteAlan Russell
Mickey Coe
Danny Heron
Johnny West
Donny Duffield
Georgie Coldham
Clive Sinclair
Brendan Hoare
Does anybody knows Alfred Smith that played for East ham
DeleteMy father Harry Fisher was a trainer for the East Ham United football club..They converted a football pitch by the old Beckton Gas Works that was many years ago now.
ReplyDeleteI played for Beckton Utd in the 2 seasons previous to the 91/92 match programme above. I remember playing with most of those names on there, i owe a lot to Ronnie English who unfortunately is no longer with us as he pursueded me to come over and play for Beckton after watching me play on a sunday morning.
ReplyDeleteSome of the other names that are not on that programme were the Swan Brothers (Paul and Terry), Robbie O'Brien, Kevin Pearce, Alan Shirley, Mark Reed and Bill Reed our manager(RIP).
Does anyone know if Harry Cripps was manager or coach of East Ham United and if so the period involved, please?
ReplyDeleteI remember harry cripps coaching the east ham team of an evening at St. Johns church centre in North Woolwich. The five a side pitch next to dunedin house
ReplyDeleteMy dad took me down to the fence one week and called him over to get me his autograph.
I still have the autograph somewhere i hope.
I could watch the five a side matches from the side window of our flat.
Think it would have been around 1975 when harry played for charlton - the team I supported.
Hope this helps.
Can anybody remember Alfred Smith playing for East Ham United
ReplyDeleteHi i played football with Curtis Joseph Clive sinclair micky coe Tony quinlan in East ham at Kensington youth club. Where are they now
ReplyDeleteRegards Ray Wood
I remember you now Ray.
DeleteDo you recall the end of season 65/6 when we reached a local cup final that was played at the Terence McMillan Stadium?....We travelled by coach from the youth club and won the game 4-2.
I scored twice :-) .....Lost my medal during a house move in the early 80s :-(
Hi Tony i remember that game i also scored it was a great game do you no what happened to the other players i remember playing the semi final at East ham utd ground where we won one nil and John still the current Maidstone FC manager was also in the team. Regards Ray Wood
DeleteThat's right, we played at the old East Ham ground, I'd forgotten that.....as a 16 year old I thought I'd hit the big time. Great days Ray but so long ago now. My memory's not what is was. Old age is dreadful.
DeleteAs much as I try I can only recall a few names from that Kensington team....Curt Joseph, Trevor Sinclair, Mick Coe, Danny Heron, George Higgs, yourself and Terry Iverson........By the way, Terry sadly passed away two years ago I'm afraid...Great guy and a great player.
Hi Tony i was reading the report in the paper about that final today and several other reports that i have managed to save do you remember the game against St Francis in the league when we managed to win 41 nil. Terry was a classy player, yes old age is not, but it's been good to talk to you Regards Ray
Delete41-0?.....The other side must have only had 8 players show up......How many did I get?.....18 or 19?.....LOL.............By the way, any chance of taking a pic of that report of the final and emailing me it at footballpunter@gmail.com Ray?.....I'd really love to see it.
DeleteSo would I... i'd love to publish it on here. Always lots of interest in Beckton United and East Ham United.
DeleteI have an old East Ham United v Herne Bay programme from 1964, an Aetolian League game. Players, Gamblin, Baldassari, McKay, Hagger, Winchester, Ryan, Rayment, Mccarthy, Noriss, Battle and Pattison
ReplyDeleteHI Tony glad you are ok and still looking at this site . i went to Terry Ivesons funeral where i met up with Barry Fitch Greig Lawrence and Bobby Ford . sad day he was a great player and far better than the standard he played in .
ReplyDeleteI remember the old days playing for Geevor in the LBH league and how many good players we had .
Donny Duffield ,Brian Slade , John Weir, Barry Fitch ,Alan Russell to name a few Ronnie Allen joined as i was leaving i think . wish you well take care brendan hoare
We were all so young, fit and full of life Brendan....In our prime....I used to play three times a week.......Now we're a load of creaking boned grey/bald old farts.....I was gonna join a local walking football team but then suddenly remembered I can't walk.
DeleteI'd play in goal but if I dived to make a save my entire skeleton would snap into little bits.....Bones like clay pipes. :-(......Nice to hear from you mate.
Hi, I was just reading through this, after speaking to my neighbour Fred Winchester he played for and managed East Ham FC
ReplyDeleteI remember the name when I played at East Ham John Harper .. . Stewart Winchester played with us & wondering if your neighbour if Stewart is his son ?
DeleteAnyone tell me if the old Beckton manager Bobby Broomfield is still alive?.....I think he'd have to be mid to late 80s if he was....I'd love to know.
ReplyDeleteMy dad Rod Jones played for East Ham in the 70’s , with Denny Bowhill , Micky Driscoll , John Singleton
ReplyDeleteHi, yes I remember your Dad and Mum Carol. We went, Denny and ,I to parties at ( if I remember rightly) The Hope in Southend. New Micky and remember John vaguely. Thank you for the comment. Best wishes. Pam
DeleteI played for Canvey Island against East Ham for a few seasons in early 70’s, in Metropolitan London League and then Essex Senior League. I remember Rod Jones, Ken Bowhill, Driscoll brothers, and Don Ford a defender who usually marked me. Always hard fought games and great memories.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Keith Farrow.
farrow.keith@live.com
ReplyDeleteHi there, does anyone happen to know the scorers for the East Ham vs West Ham testimonial?
ReplyDeleteAnyone know the scorers for the East Ham vs West Ham testimonial game?
ReplyDeleteWhose testimonial
ReplyDeleteThe proceeds went towards East Ham and Frank Lampard's testimonial
DeleteAlan Taylor scored three and goalkeeper Mervyn Day two as the Hammers won 8-7. Jimmy Greaves, 35 years old and then playing for Chelmsford City in the Southern League, turned out and scored a couple. Trevor Brooking got the other. Don't know East Ham scorers.
ReplyDeleteThanks will keep fishing for the east ham scorers. Have a great picture of the East Ham lot but not sure you can post pics on here.
DeleteQuality's rubbish but copy and paste this to see a pic of both teams before the game.
ReplyDeletehttps://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1gw1Qu.img?w=1920&h=1080&q=60&m=2&f=jpg
Brilliant photo Tony.... The Cold End.
DeleteCan anyone help was the East Ham shirts green and black stripes for the game against West Ham in 1976 ?
ReplyDeleteyes......the Beckton shirt at the time.
ReplyDelete