War years, 1915–19

From the autumn of 1915 the Southern League, the Football League and the FA Cup were suspended for the First World War. West Ham played instead in the London Combination, a regional competition with no prizes and no professionalism. Players' contracts were suspended, so they could turn out for other clubs, and West Ham regularly picked guest players: footballers from other clubs who were stationed near London.

These matches were not official league football, so they are not counted in West Ham's league records, manager records or career totals anywhere else on this site. They are collected here instead, and on a player's own page as a separate wartime line. Two points for a win. The details come from the book West Ham United: The Complete Record and are not independently verified.

148 matches and 357 goals for West Ham in all. In 1915/16 there were two tournaments, a Principal (September to January) and a Supplementary (February to May), so that season has two rows of finishing places. Manager throughout: Syd King.

• Syd Puddefoot scored 100 goals in 114 wartime starts. Next: Danny Shea 64, Frank Roberts 18, Arthur Stallard 17.
• Biggest win: 11–0 at home to Crystal Palace on 6 Apr 1918 (1917/18).
• Most goals in a game: 7 by Syd Puddefoot against Crystal Palace on 6 Apr 1918 (1917/18).
• 1916/17 was the standout: 30 wins in 40 games, 110 goals, and the London Combination title by seven points.