1972–73 West Ham United F.C. season

In the 1972–73 season West Ham United finished sixth in the First Division, their highest League position under the management of Ron Greenwood and the joint-highest in their history at that time.

Season summary Pop Robson was the First Division's top scorer with 28 League goals, including eight doubles and a hat-trick, just one behind the post-war club record held by Geoff Hurst, who had left the Hammers for Stoke City the previous summer. In February 1973, Bobby Moore overtook Jimmy Ruffell's West Ham appearance record. He won his hundredth England cap in the same month.

West Ham continued their poor Cup record from previous seasons by losing in both the FA Cup and the League Cup to lower League opposition. Second Division Hull City beat them in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and the Hammers suffered a humiliating defeat at Fourth Division Stockport County in the League Cup.

League table

Results

Football League First Division

+DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers12 August 1972 West Bromwich AlbionA0–021,50914 August 1972 Coventry CityH1–027,498Best19 August 1972 Leicester CityH5–225,414Moore, Coker, Robson (2), Tyler22 August 1972 Wolverhampton WanderersA0–321,95826 August 1972 LiverpoolA2–350,491Robson (2)29 August 1972 ArsenalA0–143,8022 September 1972 Manchester UnitedH2–231,939Robson (2)9 September 1972 ChelseaA3–134,392Taylor, Moore, Bonds16 September 1972 Norwich CityH4–027,780Brooking, Robson (2), Taylor23 September 1972 Tottenham HotspurA0–151,70030 September 1972 Birmingham CityH2–026,482Bonds, Best7 October 1972 Ipswich TownA1–122,377Best14 October 1972 Sheffield UnitedH3–125,379Brooking, Robson (2)21 October 1972 Manchester CityA3–430,890Best, Ayris, Moore28 October 1972 Crystal PalaceH4–028,894Brooking (2), McDowell, Robson4 November 1972 Wolverhampton WanderersH2–229,524Robson, Brooking11 November 1972 Coventry CityA1–327,189McDowell18 November 1972 Derby CountyH1–228,154Robson25 November 1972 EvertonA2–127,558Brooking, Best2 December 1972 Newcastle UnitedH1–123,785Brooking9 December 1972 Leeds UnitedA0–130,27016 December 1972 Stoke CityH3–223,269Robson (2), Best23 December 1972 SouthamptonA0–019,42926 December 1972 Tottenham HotspurH2–237,397Robson (2; 1 pen)30 December 1972 Leicester CityA1–219,341Brooking6 January 1973 LiverpoolH0–134,48020 January 1973 Manchester UnitedA2–250,878Robson, Best27 January 1973 ChelseaH3–133,336Taylor, Robson (2)10 February 1973 Norwich CityA1–027,032Robson17 February 1973 West Bromwich AlbionH2–126,071Bonds, Robson24 February 1973 Stoke CityA0–221,8552 March 1973 Ipswich TownH0–137,00410 March 1973 Sheffield UnitedA0–024,02417 March 1973 Manchester CityH2–129,370MacDougall, Robson24 March 1973 Crystal PalaceA3–136,915Robson, Brooking, MacDougall31 March 1973 EvertonH2–025,531Robson, Lock7 April 1973 Newcastle UnitedA2–124,030MacDougall (2)14 April 1973 Leeds UnitedH1–138,804Holland20 April 1973 SouthamptonH4–333,039Robson (3), Brooking21 April 1973 Derby CountyA1–128,727Lutton23 April 1973 Birmingham CityA0–036,94228 April 1973 ArsenalH1–237,368Rice (o.g.)

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR313 January 1973 Port ValeA1–020,619HollandR48 February 1973 Hull CityA0–132,290

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR26 September 1972 Bristol CityH2–117,688McDowell, BestR34 October 1972 Stockport CountyA1–213,410Best

Players

NumberPlayerPositionLge AppsLge GlsFAC AppsFAC GlsLC AppsLC GlsDate SignedPrevious clubFirst XI1Bobby FergusonGK3121967Kilmarnock2John McDowellRB3822211970Academy3Frank LampardLB38221967Academy4Billy BondsDCM393221967Charlton Athletic5Tommy TaylorCH373221970Orient6Bobby Moore (Captain)CH423221958Academy7Dudley TylerRW211221972Hereford8Clyde BestCF41(1)72221969Academy9Pat HollandLW30(2)12121969Academy10Trevor BrookingACM4011221967Academy11Pop Robson (Hammer of the Year)CF4228221970Newcastle UnitedOther Players5Kevin LockD/M14(4)10 (1)1971Academy7Johnny AyrisRW13(2)11970Academy1Peter GrotierGK1121968Academy9Ted MacDougallCF1041972Manchester United3Clive CharlesFB7 (2)0 (1)1971Academy8Bertie LuttonF4 (2)11972Brighton & Hove Albion9Ade CokerCF411971Academy12Ronnie BoyceF0 (2)1960Academy

References