1907–08 Crystal Palace F.C. season

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.

Crystal Palace
1907–08 season
ChairmanSydney Bourne
ManagerEdmund Goodman
Southern Football League Division One4th
FA CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: George Woodger 13
All: George Woodger 15
Highest home attendance14,000 (vs. Norwich City, 20 April)
Lowest home attendance4,000 (vs. Luton Town, 4 March)
Average home league attendance8,710

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

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A
Scorers Attendance
4 September 1907 Northampton Town H 0 – 2 5,000
7 September Southampton A 3 – 2 Davies, Woodger, Edwards (pen) 5,000
14 September 1907 Plymouth Argyle H 0 – 4 8,000
28 September Queen's Park Rangers H 2 – 3 Roberts (2) 8,000
5 October 1907 Tottenham Hotspur A 2 – 1 Innerd, Needham 17,000
7 October 1907 Northampton Town A 1 – 1 Innerd
12 October 1907 Swindon Town H 4 – 1 Woodger (3), Owens 8,000
19 October 1907 New Brompton H 3 – 3 Owens, Davies, Woodger 8,000
26 October 1907 Luton Town A 0 – 4 6,000
2 November 1907 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2 – 1 Owens, Innerd 10,000
9 November Portsmouth A 1 – 0 Swann 8,000
16 November Bradford (Park Avenue) H 1 – 1 Roberts (pen) 11,000
23 November 1907 Millwall A 0 – 1 5,000
30 November 1907 Brentford H 2 – 1 Roberts, Woodger 7,000
7 December 1907 Bristol Rovers A 1 – 2 Roberts 7,000
14 December 1907 Leyton H 3 – 0 Swann (2), Owens 6,000
21 December 1907 Reading A 1 – 2 Brearley 5,000
25 December 1907 Norwich City A 1 – 0 Brearley 13,500
28 December 1907 Watford H 3 – 1 Roberts (pen), Woodger (2) 7,000
4 January 1908 Southampton H 1 – 0 Roberts (pen) 8,000
18 January 1908 West Ham United H 1 – 3 Woodger 10,000
25 January 1908 Queen's Park Rangers A 2 – 1 Smith, Swann 8,000
8 February 1908 Swindon Town A 0 – 0 7,000
12 February 1908 Tottenham Hotspur H 0 – 2 8,000
15 February 1908 New Brompton A 2 – 2 Smith, Woodger 2,000
29 February 1908 Brighton & Hove Albion A 1 – 0 Owens 4,000
4 March 1908 Luton Town H 4 – 2 Needham, Owens (2), Davies 4,000
7 March 1908 Portsmouth H 2 – 2 Woodger, Ryan 10,000
14 March 1908 Bradford (Park Avenue) A 1 – 0 Owens 8,000
21 March 1908 Millwall H 2 – 0 Needham, Bauchop 13,500
28 March 1908 Brentford A 1 – 1 Bauchop 9,000
4 April 1908 Bristol Rovers H 1 – 1 Woodger 10,000
8 April 1908 Plymouth Argyle A 1 – 1 Bauchop 7,000
11 April 1908 Leyton A 0 – 0 5,000
18 April 1908 Reading H 2 – 0 Bauchop, Woodger 10,000
20 April 1908 Norwich City H 2 – 1 Needham, Bauchop 14,000
25 April 1908 Watford A 1 – 4 Bauchop 3,000

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
2 Plymouth Argyle 38 19 11 8 50 31 1.613 49
3 Millwall 38 19 8 11 49 32 1.531 46
4 Crystal Palace 38 17 10 11 54 51 1.059 44
5 Swindon Town 38 16 10 12 55 40 1.375 42
6 Bristol Rovers 38 16 10 12 59 56 1.054 42
Source:
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

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.

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F – A
Scorers Attendance
11 January 2908 First Round Coventry City A 4 – 2 Roberts, Woodger (2), Davies 9,992
1 February 1908 Second Round Plymouth Argyle A 3 – 2 Roberts, Smith, Swann 17,830
22 February 1908 Third Round Grimsby Town A 0 – 1 8,828

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GKEngland William Hall 10000100
GKEngland Henry Balding 500050
GKEngland Joshua Johnson 23030260
FBEngland Matthew Edwards 11100111
FBEngland Harry Collyer 21020230
FBEngland George Walker 34030370
HBEngland Wilf Innerd (c) 34330373
HBEngland Charles Ryan 28120301
HBEngland Bill Forster 20030230
HBEngland Arthur Wilson 100010
HBEngland Fred Lewis 300030
HBEngland John Brearley 31230342
FWWales Billy Davies 31331344
FW George Smith 9221113
FWEngland George Woodger 3513323815
FWEngland Archie Needham 30410314
FWEngland Dick Roberts 20722229
FWEngland Robert Baker 400040
FWScotland James Bauchop 860086
FWEngland H. Higgins 100010
FWEngland Herbert Swann 37431405
FWEngland Isaac Owens 22800228

Notes

    References

    Bibliography
    • King, Ian (2012). Crystal Palace: The Complete Record 1905–2011. Derby Books Publishing Company Limited. ISBN 978-1-78091-221-9.
    • Matthews, Tony (editor). We All Follow The Palace. Juma, 1998. ISBN 1-872204-55-4
    Citations
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