1978–79 West Ham United F.C. season

For the 1978–79 West Ham United F.C. season in English football, West Ham United played in the Second Division following their relegation the previous season.

Season summary West Ham occupied a promotion place at the end of February, but after a loss of form that saw them win just one of their last seven League matches they finished in fifth place. They were knocked out of both domestic cup competitions by lower league opposition in the first round they entered.

In February 1979, West Ham broke the world record transfer fee for a goalkeeper when they signed Phil Parkes from Queens Park Rangers for £565,000.

League table

Results

Football League Second Division

+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers19 August 1978 Notts CountyH5–225,387Cross (3), Blockley (o.g.), Devonshire23 August 1978 Newcastle UnitedA3–027,233Devonshire, Cross, Robson26 August 1978 Crystal PalaceA1–132,611A Taylor2 September 1978 FulhamH0–125,7789 September 1978 BurnleyA2–312,303Cross (2)16 September 1978 Bristol RoversH2–022,189Robson, Brooking23 September 1978 Sheffield UnitedH2–024,361Robson (2 pens)30 September 1978 SunderlandA1–223,676Cross7 October 1978 MillwallH3–022,000Robson (3; 1 pen)14 October 1978 Oldham AthleticA2–210,143Robson (2)21 October 1978 Stoke CityH1–127,859Brooking28 October 1978 Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–132,634Robson (2)4 November 1978 Preston North EndH3–123,579Lampard, Devonshire, Cross11 November 1978 Notts CountyA0–111,00218 November 1978 Crystal PalaceH1–131,245Bonds21 November 1978 FulhamA0–026,55625 November 1978 Leicester CityA2–116,149Cross (2)2 December 1978 Cambridge UnitedH5–021,379A Taylor, Robson (2), Bonds, Curbishley9 December 1978 WrexhamA3–415,787Cross, Lampard, Robson16 December 1978 Charlton AthleticH2–023,833Robson, Cross26 December 1978 OrientH0–229,22030 December 1978 Blackburn RoversH4–021,269Robson, A Taylor, Cross, Curtis (o.g.)20 January 1979 Bristol RoversA1–012,418Robson10 February 1979 SunderlandH3–324,998Cross (2), Robson24 February 1979 Oldham AthleticH3–026,052Holland, Martin, Robson26 February 1979 Luton TownA4–114,205Cross (2), Devonshire, Robson3 March 1979 Stoke CityA0–224,91210 March 1979 Brighton & Hove AlbionH0–035,80217 March 1979 Preston North EndA0–015,37624 March 1979 Newcastle UnitedH5–024,650Devonshire, Robson, Lampard, McDowell (2)31 March 1979 Leicester CityH1–123,992Robson2 April 1979 Sheffield UnitedA0–317,7207 April 1979 Cambridge UnitedA0–011,4069 April 1979 Luton TownH1–025,498Carr (o.g.)14 April 1979 OrientA2–017,517Holland, Pike16 April 1979 Cardiff CityH1–129,058Holland21 April 1979 Charlton AthleticA0–022,81624 April 1979 BurnleyH3–124,139Bonds, Pike, Robson28 April 1979 WrexhamH1–128,865Bonds5 May 1979 Blackburn RoversA0–17,58511 May 1979 Cardiff CityA0–013,14014 May 1979 MillwallA1–211,917Robson

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR39 January 1979 Newport CountyA1–214,124Robson

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR230 August 1978 Swindon TownH1–219,672Robson

Players

NationPlayerPosLge AppsLge GlsFAC AppsFAC GlsLC AppsLC GlsDate SignedPrevious clubMervyn DayGK1311973AcademyBobby FergusonGK1111967KilmarnockPhil ParkesGK181973Q.P.R.Phil BrignullDF0 (1)1978AcademyPaul BrushDF42111977AcademyFrank LampardDF28 (1)3111967AcademyAlvin MartinDF22111976AcademyJohn McDowellDF26 (2)211969AcademyTommy TaylorDF3211970Leyton OrientBilly Bonds (Capt)MF394111967Charlton AthleticTrevor BrookingMF21211967AcademyAlan CurbishleyMF26 (1)111974AcademyAlan DevonshireMF415111976SouthallPat HollandMF39311969AcademyGeoff PikeMF10 (4)10 (1)1975AcademyDavid CrossFW4018111977West Bromwich AlbionBilly JenningsFW2 (2)1974WatfordBilly LansdowneFW0 (1)1979AcademyNicky MorganFW21978AcademyPop RobsonFW402411111976SunderlandAlan TaylorFW10 (3)3111974Rochdale

References