FOOTBALL SEASON 1925-6.

The present football season promises to be the most successful that the School has experienced for many years.
Although only four of last year's XI. remained at the beginning of the season, we were fortunate in finding keen and talented members of the middle school, who have fully earned their places. I refer to Bailey and V. Snaith.
The form of the forwards has been particularly pleasing. These two fellows, with Foan on the extreme right, and I.. Smith, and later Collins, in the centre, have accounted largely for the success that has attended our efforts this year.
Although it is a peculiar fact that we have not once in all our games kept a clean score sheet, we cannot blame our defence, Acres, Taylor, and S.B. Smith in particular being great stumbling blocks to the opposing attacks.
If our XI continues to show the good form of its earlier games, we can hope this year that our long cherished ambition to heat the Old Boys will be accomplished.
Our first match with West Ham Grammar was undertaken before the weather had allowed any trial game. Under the circumstances we were unfortunate only to draw, 2-2.
The following game against Parmiter's was noticeable for its high scoring. We won, 8-6.
George Green School were our next opponents, and we must thank Roberts for beating our former Head's new school. Roberts scored in the last minute, after a penalty had been missed.
In a very close game against Leyton County, who have beaten us regularly for the past few years, we proved successful by 4-2.
Then followed two easier games against West Ham Municipal College and Leyton Technical, both of which we won easily.
Against Ongar the following week we suffered our first defeat by 4-1. Unfortunately we were compelled to play only seven men for half of the game. Ongar, however, thoroughly deserved their win, as they showed when they beat us in the return gamc by 3-0.
Then followed two games against Loughton School, both of which we won. The first was a personal triumph for Collins, who scored the only four goals of the game. We won the return game at Loughton by 4-3, and Allan, a member of the Second XI, more than upheld his reputation as a fearless and hefty tackler.
A very enjoyable fixture with the Headmaster's old school, St. Olave's, followed. Unfortunately St. Olave's were handicapped by having to play two of our fellows as substitutes. They made a great fight, however, and it was not until a quarter of an hour from the end that we scored. Then Bailey scored twice, and with two other goals scored by V. Snaith and Vaughan, we won by 4--0.
We started the present term with a well merited victory by 6-1 over Parmiter's School. The game was much more even than the score suggests, and, indeed, we scored three times in the last five minutes. Bailey, who scored three; V. Snaith, two; and Taylor played extremely well.
In the next fixture against Leyton County we succeeded by 3-1. Again the School showed good finishing power, for the last two goals were scored in the last four minutes. C. Vincent and Acres played very well, but the forwards lacked shooting ability on a very wet pitch.
We took revenge on West Ham Grammar, who were the only team, apart from Ongar, whom we had failed to beat. Although Roberts was badly crocked in the first few minutes, we won easily by 7-1.
A complete record of the games to date is:
Played 13, won 10, drawn 1, lost 2. Goals: for 68, agst. 31.
Goal scorers: Collins, 7; Bailey, 10; Douse, 1; Foan, 2; Summers, 1 ; V. Snaith, 8 ; L. Snaith, 33; Vaughan, 1; Roberts, 5.
Our Second XI, captained by Jones (UVb), have been very successful, being beaten only once and that by Ongar School.
We must congratulate Lee, who in the first three games scored a total of 10 goals. Williamson has upheld the reputation of the middle school in this XI, and mention must also be made of Blythe, Allan, and Rayner.
The Third XI. met with varying success, alternately winning and losing by large margins.
We must thank Mr. Morgan for refereeing our home matches. The want of a capable official is always felt in school games, and Mr. Morgan has gone to no small trouble to help us in this respect.
L.W.S. (VIth), Capt. of Football.