1977–78 West Ham United F.C. season

1977–78 season of West Ham United

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West Ham United 1977–78 football season

West Ham United1977–78 season

Chairman| Reg Pratt
Manager| John Lyall
Stadium| Boleyn Ground
First Division| 20th (relegated)
FA Cup| Fourth round
League Cup| Second round
Top goalscorer| League: Derek Hales (10)
All: Pop Robson (11)
Highest home attendance| 37,448 (vs Liverpool, 29 April 1978)
Lowest home attendance| 19,260 (vs Coventry City, 1 April 1978)
Average home league attendance| 25,655

<- 1976–77

1978–79 ->

In the 1977–78 season West Ham United were relegated from the First Division after twenty years in the top flight since their promotion in 1958.

## Season summary[edit]

Despite winning six of their last nine League matches, they paid the price for a terrible start to the season that had seen them win just one of their first twelve games, and were relegated when they lost their last match to Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Aston Villa.[1] They finished one point behind Queens Park Rangers and went down to the Second Division alongside Newcastle United and Leicester City.[2] They also suffered a heavy 6–1 defeat to QPR in the FA Cup, equalling their record margin of defeat in the competition at that time.[3]

A season of few highlights saw the introduction to the first team of Alvin Martin and David Cross, both of whom went on to play significant parts in the club's revival in subsequent seasons.[2]

## League table[edit]

Main article: 1977–78 Football League § First Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

18  | Ipswich Town | 42  | 11  | 13  | 18  | 47  | 61  | −14  | 35  | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[a]
19  | Queens Park Rangers | 42  | 9  | 15  | 18  | 47  | 64  | −17  | 33  |
20  | West Ham United (R) | 42  | 12  | 8  | 22  | 52  | 69  | −17  | 32  | Relegation to the Second Division
21  | Newcastle United (R) | 42  | 6  | 10  | 26  | 42  | 78  | −36  | 22
22  | Leicester City (R) | 42  | 5  | 12  | 25  | 26  | 70  | −44  | 22

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
Notes:

1. ^ Ipswich Town qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1977–78 FA Cup winners.

## Results[edit]

### Football League First Division[edit]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|

20 August 1977 | Norwich City | H | 1–3 | 28,178 | Robson (pen)
24 August 1977 | Leicester City | A | 0–1 | 18,310 |
27 August 1977 | Manchester City | H | 0–1 | 25,278 |
3 September 1977 | Newcastle United | A | 3–2 | 26,983 | Jennings, A Taylor, Robson
10 September 1977 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–2 | 26,922 | Holland, Lock
17 September 1977 | Bristol City | A | 2–3 | 21,180 | Robson, Pike
24 September 1977 | Everton | H | 1–1 | 25,296 | Dobson (o.g.)
1 October 1977 | Arsenal | A | 0–3 | 41,245 |
3 October 1977 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–2 | 26,508 | Jennings
8 October 1977 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–0 | 26,126 |
15 October 1977 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2–2 | 19,366 | Pike, Robson
22 October 1977 | Aston Villa | H | 2–2 | 26,599 | T Taylor, Hales
29 October 1977 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–0 | 27,308 | Hales (2)
5 November 1977 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 23,276 |
12 November 1977 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–3 | 23,601 | Robson (pen), Devonshire (2)
19 November 1977 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 23,273 | Bonds
26 November 1977 | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 26,883 |
3 December 1977 | Liverpool | A | 0–2 | 39,659 |
10 December 1977 | Manchester United | H | 2–1 | 20,759 | Hales, Brooking
17 December 1977 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–1 | 18,868 |
26 December 1977 | Birmingham City | H | 1–0 | 25,572 | Curbishley
27 December 1977 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | 44,083 | Robson
31 December 1977 | Leicester City | H | 3–2 | 16,201 | McDowell, Hales, Cross
2 January 1978 | Norwich City | A | 2–2 | 29,480 | Devonshire, Hales
14 January 1978 | Manchester City | A | 2–3 | 43,627 | Brooking, Cross
21 January 1978 | Newcastle United | H | 1–0 | 25,461 | Hales
11 February 1978 | Bristol City | H | 1–2 | 19,934 | Robson
18 February 1978 | Everton | A | 1–2 | 33,862 | Hales
25 February 1978 | Arsenal | H | 2–2 | 31,675 | A Taylor, Cross
4 March 1978 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–2 | 33,924 |
11 March 1978 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | 23,525 | Hales
14 March 1978 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 0–1 | 20,394 |
18 March 1978 | Aston Villa | A | 1–4 | 28,275 | Brooking
24 March 1978 | Ipswich Town | H | 3–0 | 23,867 | Cross (3)
25 March 1978 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 24,987 | Brooking, Green, Holland
28 March 1978 | Birmingham City | A | 0–3 | 23,554 |
1 April 1978 | Coventry City | H | 2–1 | 19,260 | T Taylor, Holland
8 April 1978 | Leeds United | A | 2–1 | 22,953 | Martin, Hales
15 April 1978 | Derby County | H | 3–0 | 25,424 | Robson (2), Cross
22 April 1978 | Manchester United | A | 0–3 | 54,089 |
25 April 1978 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–1 | 13,247 | Cross (2)
29 April 1978 | Liverpool | H | 0–2 | 37,448 |

### FA Cup[edit]

Main article: 1977–78 FA Cup

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

R3 | 7 January 1978 | Watford | H | 1–0 | 36,745 | Robson
R4 | 28 January 1978 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–1 | 35,566 | Bonds
R4 replay | 31 January 1978 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–6 | 24,057 | Robson

### League Cup[edit]

Main article: 1977–78 Football League Cup

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

R2 | 30 August 1977 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–5 | 18,224 |

## Players[edit]

| Player  | Pos  | Lge Apps  | Lge Gls  | FAC Apps  | FAC Gls  | LC Apps  | LC Gls  | Date Signed  | Previous Club

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First Team
| Mervyn Day | GK  | 23  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1973  | Academy
| Frank Lampard | LB  | 40  |  | 3  |  | 1  |  | 1967  | Academy
| Paul Brush | RB  | 23 (1)  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1977  | Academy
| Billy Bonds (Capt)  | CM  | 29  | 1  | 3  | 1  |  |  | 1967  | Charlton Athletic
| Tommy Taylor | D  | 42  | 2  | 3  |  |  |  | 1970  | Leyton Orient
| Alan Curbishley | M  | 31 (1)  | 1  | 3  |  | 1  |  | 1974  | Academy
| Alan Devonshire | LM  | 32 (2)  | 3  | 3  |  | 1  |  | 1976  | Southall
| Geoff Pike | M  | 25 (3)  | 2  | 0 (1)  |  | 1  |  | 1975  | Academy
| Trevor Brooking | CM  | 37  | 4  | 2  |  |  |  | 1967  | Academy
| Derek Hales | CF  | 23 (1)  | 10  | 3  |  |  |  | 1977  | Derby County
| Pop Robson | CF  | 37  | 9  | 3  | 2  | 1  |  | 1976  | Sunderland
Other Players
| David Cross | RW  | 21  | 9  | 3  |  |  |  | 1977  | West Bromwich Albion
| Bobby Ferguson | GK  | 19  |  | 3  |  |  |  | 1967  | Kilmarnock
| Bill Green | CH  | 13  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  | 1976  | Carlisle United
| Pat Holland | M  | 18 (3)  | 3  | 1  |  |  |  | 1969  | Academy
| Billy Jennings | F  | 2  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1974  | Watford
| Kevin Lock | CH  | 6  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  | 1971  | Academy
| Alvin Martin | CH  | 5 (2)  | 1  |  |  |  |  | 1976  | Academy
| John McDowell | D  | 12 (2)  | 1  | 3  |  |  |  | 1969  | Academy
| Mick McGiven | CH  | 4  |  |  |  |  |  | 1973  | Sunderland
| Anton Otulakowski | M  | 0 (5)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1976  | Barnsley
| John Radford | M  | 10  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1976  | Arsenal
| Alan Taylor | CF  | 10 (1)  | 2  | 0 (1)  |  | 1  |  | 1974  | Rochdale

## References[edit]

1. ^ Gerald Richmond (3 May 1978). "Wolves rediscover fire and purpose". The Times. No. 60291\. London. p. 12.
2. ^ 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.
3. ^ Collett, Mike (1993). The Guinness Record of the FA Cup. Enfield: Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-538-7.

* v
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* v
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1977–78 in English football

« 1976–77

1978–79 »

National teams|

* Ron Greenwood
* Home Championship
* 1978 FIFA World Cup (qualification)

League competitions|

| Levels 1–4|

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

|

Levels 5–6|

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

Levels 7–9|

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

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

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

|

Football League cups|

* League Cup (Final)

European competitions|

* European Cup
* UEFA Cup
* European Cup Winners' Cup
* Anglo-Scottish Cup

Club seasons

First Division|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Birmingham City
* Bristol City
* Chelsea
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Everton
* Ipswich Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Middlesbrough
* Newcastle United
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Queens Park Rangers
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Charlton Athletic
* Crystal Palace
* Fulham
* Hull City
* Luton Town
* Mansfield Town
* Millwall
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Orient
* Sheffield United
* Southampton
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Tottenham Hotspur

Third Division|

* Bradford City
* Bury
* Cambridge United
* Carlisle United
* Chester
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Exeter City
* Gillingham
* Hereford United
* Lincoln City
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Shrewsbury Town
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Wrexham

Fourth Division|

* Aldershot
* Barnsley
* Bournemouth
* Brentford
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Grimsby Town
* Halifax Town
* Hartlepool United
* Huddersfield Town
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Reading
* Rochdale
* Scunthorpe United
* Southend United
* Southport
* Stockport County
* Swansea City
* Torquay United
* Watford
* Wimbledon
* York City

*[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
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points