1972–73 West Ham United F.C. season

1972–73 season of West Ham United

West Ham United 1972–73 football season

West Ham United1972–73 season

Chairman| Reg Pratt
Manager| Ron Greenwood
Stadium| Boleyn Ground
First Division| 6th
FA Cup| Fourth round
League Cup| Third round
Top goalscorer| League: Pop Robson (28)
All: Robson (28)
Highest home attendance| 38,804 (vs Leeds United, 14 April 1973)
Lowest home attendance| 17,688 (vs Bristol City, 6 September 1972)
Average home league attendance| 30,025

Home colours

<- 1971–72

1973–74 ->

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

[edit]

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.[1]

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.[1][2]

## League table

[edit]

Main article: 1972–73 Football League § First Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

4  | Ipswich Town | 42  | 17  | 14  | 11  | 55  | 45  | 1.222  | 48  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
5  | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42  | 18  | 11  | 13  | 66  | 54  | 1.222  | 47
6  | West Ham United | 42  | 17  | 12  | 13  | 67  | 53  | 1.264  | 46  | Qualification for the Watney Cup[a]
7  | Derby County | 42  | 19  | 8  | 15  | 56  | 54  | 1.037  | 46  |
8  | Tottenham Hotspur | 42  | 16  | 13  | 13  | 58  | 48  | 1.208  | 45  | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:

1. ^ West Ham United and Stoke City qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that had not already qualified for a European competition.

## Results

[edit]

### Football League First Division

[edit]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|

12 August 1972 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–0 | 21,509 |
14 August 1972 | Coventry City | H | 1–0 | 27,498 | Best
19 August 1972 | Leicester City | H | 5–2 | 25,414 | Moore, Coker, Robson (2), Tyler
22 August 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–3 | 21,958 |
26 August 1972 | Liverpool | A | 2–3 | 50,491 | Robson (2)
29 August 1972 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 43,802 |
2 September 1972 | Manchester United | H | 2–2 | 31,939 | Robson (2)
9 September 1972 | Chelsea | A | 3–1 | 34,392 | Taylor, Moore, Bonds
16 September 1972 | Norwich City | H | 4–0 | 27,780 | Brooking, Robson (2), Taylor
23 September 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–1 | 51,700 |
30 September 1972 | Birmingham City | H | 2–0 | 26,482 | Bonds, Best
7 October 1972 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–1 | 22,377 | Best
14 October 1972 | Sheffield United | H | 3–1 | 25,379 | Brooking, Robson (2)
21 October 1972 | Manchester City | A | 3–4 | 30,890 | Best, Ayris, Moore
28 October 1972 | Crystal Palace | H | 4–0 | 28,894 | Brooking (2), McDowell, Robson
4 November 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2–2 | 29,524 | Robson, Brooking
11 November 1972 | Coventry City | A | 1–3 | 27,189 | McDowell
18 November 1972 | Derby County | H | 1–2 | 28,154 | Robson
25 November 1972 | Everton | A | 2–1 | 27,558 | Brooking, Best
2 December 1972 | Newcastle United | H | 1–1 | 23,785 | Brooking
9 December 1972 | Leeds United | A | 0–1 | 30,270 |
16 December 1972 | Stoke City | H | 3–2 | 23,269 | Robson (2), Best
23 December 1972 | Southampton | A | 0–0 | 19,429 |
26 December 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–2 | 37,397 | Robson (2; 1 pen)
30 December 1972 | Leicester City | A | 1–2 | 19,341 | Brooking
6 January 1973 | Liverpool | H | 0–1 | 34,480 |
20 January 1973 | Manchester United | A | 2–2 | 50,878 | Robson, Best
27 January 1973 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 33,336 | Taylor, Robson (2)
10 February 1973 | Norwich City | A | 1–0 | 27,032 | Robson
17 February 1973 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–1 | 26,071 | Bonds, Robson
24 February 1973 | Stoke City | A | 0–2 | 21,855 |
2 March 1973 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–1 | 37,004 |
10 March 1973 | Sheffield United | A | 0–0 | 24,024 |
17 March 1973 | Manchester City | H | 2–1 | 29,370 | MacDougall, Robson
24 March 1973 | Crystal Palace | A | 3–1 | 36,915 | Robson, Brooking, MacDougall
31 March 1973 | Everton | H | 2–0 | 25,531 | Robson, Lock
7 April 1973 | Newcastle United | A | 2–1 | 24,030 | MacDougall (2)
14 April 1973 | Leeds United | H | 1–1 | 38,804 | Holland
20 April 1973 | Southampton | H | 4–3 | 33,039 | Robson (3), Brooking
21 April 1973 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | 28,727 | Lutton
23 April 1973 | Birmingham City | A | 0–0 | 36,942 |
28 April 1973 | Arsenal | H | 1–2 | 37,368 | Rice (o.g.)

### FA Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1972–73 FA Cup

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|
|

R3 | 13 January 1973 | Port Vale | A | 1–0 | 20,619 | Holland
R4 | 8 February 1973 | Hull City | A | 0–1 | 32,290 |

### League Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1972–73 Football League Cup

Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|
|

R2 | 6 September 1972 | Bristol City | H | 2–1 | 17,688 | McDowell, Best
R3 | 4 October 1972 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 13,410 | Best

## Players

[edit]

Number  |  | Player  | Position  | Lge Apps  | Lge Gls  | FAC Apps  | FAC Gls  | LC Apps  | LC Gls  | Date Signed  | Previous Club

|
|
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|
|

First XI
1 |  | Bobby Ferguson | GK  | 31  |  | 2  |  |  |  | 1967  | Kilmarnock
2 |  | John McDowell | RB  | 38  | 2  | 2  |  | 2  | 1  | 1970  | Academy
3 |  | Frank Lampard | LB  | 38  |  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1967  | Academy
4 |  | Billy Bonds | DCM  | 39  | 3  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1967  | Charlton Athletic
5 |  | Tommy Taylor | CH  | 37  | 3  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1970  | Orient
6 |  | Bobby Moore (Captain)  | CH  | 42  | 3  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1958  | Academy
7 |  | Dudley Tyler | RW  | 21  | 1  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1972  | Hereford
8 |  | Clyde Best | CF  | 41(1)  | 7  | 2  |  | 2  | 2  | 1969  | Academy
9 |  | Pat Holland | LW  | 30(2)  | 1  | 2  | 1  | 2  |  | 1969  | Academy
10 |  | Trevor Brooking | ACM  | 40  | 11  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1967  | Academy
11 |  | Pop Robson (Hammer of the Year)  | CF  | 42  | 28  | 2  |  | 2  |  | 1970  | Newcastle United
Other Players
5 |  | Kevin Lock | D/M  | 14(4)  | 1  | 0 (1)  |  |  |  | 1971  | Academy
7 |  | Johnny Ayris | RW  | 13(2)  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1970  | Academy
1 |  | Peter Grotier | GK  | 11  |  |  |  | 2  |  | 1968  | Academy
9 |  | Ted MacDougall | CF  | 10  | 4  |  |  |  |  | 1972  | Manchester United
3 |  | Clive Charles | FB  | 7 (2)  |  | 0 (1)  |  |  |  | 1971  | Academy
8 |  | Bertie Lutton | F  | 4 (2)  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1972  | Brighton & Hove Albion
9 |  | Ade Coker | CF  | 4  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1971  | Academy
12 |  | Ronnie Boyce | F  | 0 (2)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1960  | Academy

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Helliar, John (2009). West Ham United: The Elite Era (4th ed.). Bodmin & King's Lynn: MPG Books Group. ISBN 978-1-905328-68-0.
2. ^ German, Tom (5 October 1972). "West Ham unable to find the spark". The Times. No. 58597\. London. p. 13.

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* v
* t
* e

1972–73 in English football

« 1971–72

1973–74 »

National teams|

* Alf Ramsey
* Home Championship
* 1974 FIFA World Cup (qualification)

League competitions|

| Levels 1–4|

* Football League (First Division, Second Division, Third Division, Fourth Division)

|

Levels 5–6|

* Isthmian League (level 5 only)
* Northern Premier League (level 5 only)
* Southern League (Premier, One North, One South)

Levels 7–9|

* Athenian League (Premier, One, Two)
* Cheshire County League (level 7 only)
* Eastern Counties League (level 7 only)
* Essex Senior League (level 7 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One, Two)
* Kent League (level 7 only)
* Lancashire Combination (level 7 only)
* Midland Football Combination (level 7 only)
* Midland League (level 7 only)
* Northern League (level 7 only)
* South Midlands League (Premier, One)
* Spartan League (level 7 only)
* Sussex County League (One, Two)
* United Counties League (Premier, One, Two)
* West Midlands (Regional) League (level 7 only)
* Western League (level 7 only)
* Yorkshire League (One, Two, Three)

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds, Final)
* Charity Shield
* FA Trophy (Final)
* FA Amateur Cup

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)
* Watney Cup

European competitions|

* European Cup
* UEFA Cup
* European Cup Winners' Cup
* Anglo-Italian Cup
* Texaco Cup

Club seasons

First Division|

* Arsenal
* Birmingham City
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Crystal Palace
* Derby County
* Everton
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Norwich City
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Tottenham Hotspur
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Aston Villa
* Blackpool
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol City
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Carlisle United
* Fulham
* Huddersfield Town
* Hull City
* Leyton Orient
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Nottingham Forest
* Oxford United
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Sunderland
* Swindon Town
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United

Third Division|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Bristol Rovers
* Charlton Athletic
* Chesterfield
* Grimsby Town
* Halifax Town
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Rochdale
* Rotherham United
* Scunthorpe United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southend United
* Swansea City
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Watford
* Wrexham
* York City

Fourth Division|

* Aldershot
* Barnsley
* Bradford City
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Chester
* Colchester United
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Exeter City
* Gillingham
* Hartlepool United
* Hereford United
* Lincoln City
* Mansfield Town
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Peterborough United
* Reading
* Southport
* Stockport County
* Torquay United
* Workington

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GAv]: Goal average
*[Pts]: Points