Bishop Sid Image 3 West Ham United 1921

Description

Stepney, London born left half Sid Bishop began his early football career as a centre forward with London Schools and also with the RAF during the First World War years. After the end of the War he played as a forward for Isthmian League club Ilford in 1918 and joined Southern League club Crystal Palace in 1919 assisting the reserve side, where he moved to a more permanent half back position, and transferred to West Ham United in May 1920, making his Football League debut against Birmingham on Christmas Day 1920. He was part of the West Ham team that won promotion to the First Division and also appeared in the famous “White Horse” FA Cup Final in 1923, the first final at the brand new Wembley Stadium, lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers.

He became known affectionately by the West Ham fans as “Sticks” and played for The Hammers until November 1926, making 172 appearances and netting 10 goals. Bishop then signed for Leicester City for £3,500 in November 1926 where he helped them to finish in third place in the League Championship in 1927-28. After 53 games and 7 goals for The Foxes, he moved to Chelsea in June 1928 for £4,500, helping them to win promotion to the First Division as Second Division runners up in 1929-30 and he made 109 appearances for The Pensioners scoring 7 goals before retiring in May 1933.

He gained England international recognition, winning 4 caps, his debut coming in a 2-1 win against Scotland at Hampden Park on 2nd April 1927. He also scored once for England in the 86th minute of a match against Luxembourg on 21st May 1927 which England won 5-2, and had to withdraw from the “Wembley Wizards” match at Wembley due to illness the following year, having been named as England’s captain. He also represented The Football League and won The 1923 Charity Shield with The Professionals against The Amateurs at Stamford Bridge.