The 1981–82 West Ham United F.C. season was their first season in the First Division after their promotion the previous season. The club was managed by John Lyall and the team captain was Billy Bonds.

Season summary The season started well for West Ham and they went unbeaten in their first nine league games. By the end of the year they sat in 7th place in the league. Four defeats in a row in December and January and a slump in form then occurred and they reached a low position of 14th at the end of February 1982. They finished in 9th place having drawn 10 of their home games and 16 games home and away. David Cross was the top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions and 16 in the league. The next highest scorer was Paul Goddard with 17. Ray Stewart made the most appearances; 51 in all competitions. The season saw the only appearance for West Ham by future Liverpool and Ireland player, Ray Houghton and the last West Ham appearance for 1980 FA Cup Final winner with West Ham, Stuart Pearson.

First Division

Results West Ham United's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 29 August 1981 Brighton and Hove AlbionH1–130,468Stewart 2 September 1981 Tottenham HotspurA4–041,200Cross (4) 5 September 1981 SunderlandA2–028,347Goddard, Cross 12 September 1981 Stoke CityH3–228,774Stewart, Goddard (2) 19 September 1981 West Bromwich AlbionA0–019,429 22 September 1981 SouthamptonH4–234,026Goddard (3), Pike 26 September 1981 LiverpoolH1–130,802Pike 3 October 1981 Birmingham CityA2–222,290Cross (2) 10 October 1981 EvertonH1–131,608Martin 17 October 1981 Aston VillaA2–332,064Cross, Brooking 24 October 1981 Notts CountyA1–112,456Brooking 31 October 1981 MiddlesbroughH3–227,604Stewart, Neighbour, Goddard 7 November 1981 Nottingham ForestA0–026,327 21 November 1981Coventry CityH5–226,065Stewart, Martin (2), Neighbour, Brooking 28 November 1981 Leeds UnitedA3–325,637Cross, Brooking (2) 5 December 1981 ArsenalH1–233,833Pearson 5 January 1982 LiverpoolA0–328,427 16 January 1982 Brighton and Hove AlbionA0–122,591 27 January 1982 Manchester UnitedA0–141,291 30 January 1982 West Bromwich AlbionH3–124,423Goddard, Cross (2) 2 February 1982 Manchester CityH1–126,522Bonds 6 February 1982 Stoke CityA1–211,987Van der Elst 13 February 1982 Birmingham CityH2–222,512Stewart, Orr 20 February 1982 SouthamptonA1–224,026Stewart 27 February 1982 EvertonA0–028,598 2 March 1982 Ipswich TownA2–024,846Devonshire, Van der Elst 6 March 1982 Aston VillaH2–226,894Stewart, Van der Elst 13 March 1982 Notts CountyH1–022,145Stewart 20 March 1982 MiddlesbroughA3–212,134Goddard (2), Van der Elst 27 March 1982 Nottingham ForestH0–124,633 30 March 1982 Swansea CityA1–020,272Van der Elst 3 April 1982 Manchester CityA1–030,875Goddard 6 April 1982 Wolverhampton WanderersH3–120,651Martin, Goddard (2) 10 April 1982 Swansea CityH1–126,566Goddard 13 April 1982 Ipswich TownH2–329,050Cross (2) 17 April 1982 Coventry CityA0–113,446 24 April 1982 Leeds UnitedH4–324,478Stewart, Cross, Brooking (2) 1 May 1982 ArsenalA0–234,977 4 May 1982 SunderlandH1–117,130Stewart 8 May 1982 Manchester UnitedH1–126,377Cross 10 May 1982 Tottenham HotspurH2–227,667Goddard, Brooking 15 May 1982 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–213,283Cross

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR32 January 1982 EvertonH2–124,431Bonds, CrossR423 January 1982 WatfordA0–227,004

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 First Leg7 October 1981 Derby CountyA3–213,764Stewart, Cross, BrookingR2 Second Leg27 October 1981 Derby CountyH2–0 (won 5–2 on agg)21,043Goddard (2)R310 November 1981 West Bromwich AlbionH2–224,168Stewart, CrossR3 Replay24 November 1981 West Bromwich AlbionA1–1 aet15,869StewartR3 2nd Replay1 December 1981 West Bromwich AlbionH0–124,760

Squad

References