1907–08 Crystal Palace F.C. season explained

Club:Crystal Palace
Season:1907–08
Manager:Edmund Goodman
Chairman:Sydney Bourne
Chrtitle:Chairman
League:Southern Football League Division One
League Result:4th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
League Topscorer:George Woodger 13
Season Topscorer:George Woodger 15
Highest Attendance:14,000 (vs. Norwich City, 20 April)
Lowest Attendance:4,000 (vs. Luton Town, 4 March)
Average Attendance:8,710
Prevseason:1906–07

The 1907–08 season was one of change for the new club. John Robson departed the club to manage Brighton and Hove Albion, and club secretary Edmund Goodman stepped in to take over the role. Goodman's first problem was to find a replacement for goalkeeper Bob Hewitson. Hewitson had departed for Oldham, and his early replacement was William Hall of Manchester City. Hall played in the first ten games before losing his place to Josh Johnson, signed from Plymouth Argyle. Johnson swiftly established himself as first choice and would go on to play 295 times for the first team. Dick Harker left for Hibernian and Charlie Wallace was snapped up by Aston Villa, where he would go on to win both the Football League and the FA Cup. Horace Astley, hero of last season's FA Cup exploits, moved on to Heywood United, and Bill Ledger moved on to Sunderland.

Although Goodman brought players into the club, the squad of players used dropped from last season's 26 to 22. George Walker returned to the club from New Brompton, and forward Jimmy Bauchop was signed from Norwich City. John Brearley came to the club from Tottenham and Billy Davies joined from Stoke City. Davies would become Palace's first International, playing for Wales in their match against Scotland on 7 March 1908. George Woodger was called into the England squad as a reserve for the 4 April 1908 game against Scotland but did not make the first team. Forwards Isaac Owens and George Smith also played for Palace during this season, joining from Bristol Rovers and Bristol City respectively.

Southern Football League First Division

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F – A
ScorersAttendance
4 September 1907Northampton TownH0 – 25,000
7 SeptemberSouthamptonA3 – 2Davies, Woodger, Edwards (pen)5,000
14 September 1907Plymouth ArgyleH0 – 48,000
28 SeptemberQueen's Park RangersH2 – 3Roberts (2)8,000
5 October 1907Tottenham HotspurA2 – 1Innerd, Needham17,000
7 October 1907Northampton TownA1 – 1Innerd
12 October 1907Swindon TownH4 – 1Woodger (3), Owens8,000
19 October 1907New BromptonH3 – 3Owens, Davies, Woodger8,000
26 October 1907Luton TownA0 – 46,000
2 November 1907Brighton & Hove AlbionH2 – 1Owens, Innerd10,000
9 NovemberPortsmouthA1 – 0Swann8,000
16 NovemberBradford (Park Avenue)H1 – 1Roberts (pen)11,000
23 November 1907MillwallA0 – 15,000
30 November 1907BrentfordH2 – 1Roberts, Woodger7,000
7 December 1907Bristol RoversA1 – 2Roberts7,000
14 December 1907LeytonH3 – 0Swann (2), Owens6,000
21 December 1907ReadingA1 – 2Brearley5,000
25 December 1907Norwich CityA1 – 0Brearley13,500
28 December 1907WatfordH3 – 1Roberts (pen), Woodger (2)7,000
4 January 1908SouthamptonH1 – 0Roberts (pen)8,000
18 January 1908West Ham UnitedH1 – 3Woodger10,000
25 January 1908Queen's Park RangersA2 – 1Smith, Swann8,000
8 February 1908Swindon TownA0 – 07,000
12 February 1908Tottenham HotspurH0 – 28,000
15 February 1908New BromptonA2 – 2Smith, Woodger2,000
29 February 1908Brighton & Hove AlbionA1 – 0Owens4,000
4 March 1908Luton TownH4 – 2Needham, Owens (2), Davies4,000
7 March 1908PortsmouthH2 – 2Woodger, Ryan10,000
14 March 1908Bradford (Park Avenue)A1 – 0Owens8,000
21 March 1908MillwallH2 – 0Needham, Bauchop13,500
28 March 1908BrentfordA1 – 1Bauchop9,000
4 April 1908Bristol RoversH1 – 1Woodger10,000
8 April 1908Plymouth ArgyleA1 – 1Bauchop7,000
11 April 1908LeytonA0 – 05,000
18 April 1908ReadingH2 – 0Bauchop, Woodger10,000
20 April 1908Norwich CityH2 – 1Needham, Bauchop14,000
25 April 1908WatfordA1 – 4Bauchop3,000

FA Cup

After a good run in the FA Cup last season, Palace were this time allowed to enter the draw in the first round proper. They were eventually dispatched by Grimsby Town in the third round, having been drawn away from home in each tie. Had they managed to beat Grimsby, a rematch with Newcastle would have been the reward.

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F – A
ScorersAttendance
11 January 2908First RoundCoventry CityA4 – 2Roberts, Woodger (2), Davies9,992
1 February 1908Second RoundPlymouth ArgyleA3 – 2Roberts, Smith, Swann17,830
22 February 1908Third RoundGrimsby TownA0 – 18,828

Squad statistics

Pos.NameLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK William Hall10000100
GK Henry Balding500050
GK Joshua Johnson23030260
FB Matthew Edwards11100111
FB Harry Collyer21020230
FB George Walker34030370
HB Wilf Innerd (c)34330373
HB Charles Ryan28120301
HB Bill Forster20030230
HB Arthur Wilson100010
HB Fred Lewis300030
HB John Brearley31230342
FW Billy Davies31331344
FW George Smith9221113
FW George Woodger3513323815
FW Archie Needham30410314
FW Dick Roberts20722229
FW Robert Baker400040
FW James Bauchop860086
FW H. Higgins100010
FW Herbert Swann37431405
FW Isaac Owens22800228

References

Bibliography
Citations