The second decade of the 20th century was one packed with incident for West Ham United.

The Hammers began the 1910/11 season in the Southern League First Division – the same division they had competed in since being promoted in 1899.

With prolific striker Danny Shea banging in the goals, West Ham were among the most consistent and competitive teams in the division, challenging for the title on more than one occasion prior to the cancellation of the competition in 1915 due to the First World War.

West Ham competed in the War-Time London Combination for four seasons before the War ended and organised national competitions were re-introduced.

The Football League took the decision to expand to two divisions and the Hammers duly won election to the new Second Division for the 1919/20 season.

The Club’s first campaign as a Football League club began with a 1-1 home draw with Lincoln City at the Boleyn Ground on 30 August 1919 in front of 20,000 spectators.

West Ham’s first league victory occurred in their third fixture, winning 4-1 away at Lincoln – home and away fixtures were played back-to-back during the 1919/20 season – on 6 September 1919. Fittingly, long-serving striker Syd Puddefoot netted twice.