1978–79 West Ham United F.C. season

1978–79 season of West Ham United

West Ham United 1978–79 football season

West Ham United1978–79 season

Chairman| Reg Pratt
Manager| John Lyall
Stadium| Boleyn Ground
Second Division| 5th
FA Cup| Third round
League Cup| Second round
Top goalscorer| League: Pop Robson (24)
All: Robson (26)
Highest home attendance| 35,802 (vs Brighton & Hove Albion, 10 March 1979)
Lowest home attendance| 19,672 (vs Swindon Town, 30 August 1978)
Average home league attendance| 25,779

<- 1977–78

1979–80 ->

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

[edit]

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.[1]

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.[2]

## League table

[edit]

Main article: 1978–79 Football League § Second Division

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

3  | Stoke City (P) | 42  | 20  | 16  | 6  | 58  | 31  | +27  | 56  | Promotion to the First Division
4  | Sunderland | 42  | 22  | 11  | 9  | 70  | 44  | +26  | 55  |
5  | West Ham United | 42  | 18  | 14  | 10  | 70  | 39  | +31  | 50
6  | Notts County | 42  | 14  | 16  | 12  | 48  | 60  | −12  | 44
7  | Preston North End | 42  | 12  | 18  | 12  | 59  | 57  | +2  | 42

Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(P) Promoted

## Results

[edit]

### Football League Second Division

[edit]

Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers

|
|
|
|
|

19 August 1978 | Notts County | H | 5–2 | 25,387 | Cross (3), Blockley (o.g.), Devonshire
23 August 1978 | Newcastle United | A | 3–0 | 27,233 | Devonshire, Cross, Robson
26 August 1978 | Crystal Palace | A | 1–1 | 32,611 | A Taylor
2 September 1978 | Fulham | H | 0–1 | 25,778 |
9 September 1978 | Burnley | A | 2–3 | 12,303 | Cross (2)
16 September 1978 | Bristol Rovers | H | 2–0 | 22,189 | Robson, Brooking
23 September 1978 | Sheffield United | H | 2–0 | 24,361 | Robson (2 pens)
30 September 1978 | Sunderland | A | 1–2 | 23,676 | Cross
7 October 1978 | Millwall | H | 3–0 | 22,000 | Robson (3; 1 pen)
14 October 1978 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2–2 | 10,143 | Robson (2)
21 October 1978 | Stoke City | H | 1–1 | 27,859 | Brooking
28 October 1978 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | 32,634 | Robson (2)
4 November 1978 | Preston North End | H | 3–1 | 23,579 | Lampard, Devonshire, Cross
11 November 1978 | Notts County | A | 0–1 | 11,002 |
18 November 1978 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–1 | 31,245 | Bonds
21 November 1978 | Fulham | A | 0–0 | 26,556 |
25 November 1978 | Leicester City | A | 2–1 | 16,149 | Cross (2)
2 December 1978 | Cambridge United | H | 5–0 | 21,379 | A Taylor, Robson (2), Bonds, Curbishley
9 December 1978 | Wrexham | A | 3–4 | 15,787 | Cross, Lampard, Robson
16 December 1978 | Charlton Athletic | H | 2–0 | 23,833 | Robson, Cross
26 December 1978 | Orient | H | 0–2 | 29,220 |
30 December 1978 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 4–0 | 21,269 | Robson, A Taylor, Cross, Curtis (o.g.)
20 January 1979 | Bristol Rovers | A | 1–0 | 12,418 | Robson
10 February 1979 | Sunderland | H | 3–3 | 24,998 | Cross (2), Robson
24 February 1979 | Oldham Athletic | H | 3–0 | 26,052 | Holland, Martin, Robson
26 February 1979 | Luton Town | A | 4–1 | 14,205 | Cross (2), Devonshire, Robson
3 March 1979 | Stoke City | A | 0–2 | 24,912 |
10 March 1979 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–0 | 35,802 |
17 March 1979 | Preston North End | A | 0–0 | 15,376 |
24 March 1979 | Newcastle United | H | 5–0 | 24,650 | Devonshire, Robson, Lampard, McDowell (2)
31 March 1979 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 23,992 | Robson
2 April 1979 | Sheffield United | A | 0–3 | 17,720 |
7 April 1979 | Cambridge United | A | 0–0 | 11,406 |
9 April 1979 | Luton Town | H | 1–0 | 25,498 | Carr (o.g.)
14 April 1979 | Orient | A | 2–0 | 17,517 | Holland, Pike
16 April 1979 | Cardiff City | H | 1–1 | 29,058 | Holland
21 April 1979 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–0 | 22,816 |
24 April 1979 | Burnley | H | 3–1 | 24,139 | Bonds, Pike, Robson
28 April 1979 | Wrexham | H | 1–1 | 28,865 | Bonds
5 May 1979 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–1 | 7,585 |
11 May 1979 | Cardiff City | A | 0–0 | 13,140 |
14 May 1979 | Millwall | A | 1–2 | 11,917 | Robson

### FA Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

R3 | 9 January 1979 | Newport County | A | 1–2 | 14,124 | Robson

### League Cup

[edit]

Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup

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

|
|
|
|
|
|

R2 | 30 August 1978 | Swindon Town | H | 1–2 | 19,672 | Robson

## Players

[edit]

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

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| Mervyn Day | GK  | 13  |  | 1  |  |  |  | 1973  | Academy
| Bobby Ferguson | GK  | 11  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1967  | Kilmarnock
| Phil Parkes | GK  | 18  |  |  |  |  |  | 1973  | Q.P.R.
| Phil Brignull | DF  | 0 (1)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1978  | Academy
| Paul Brush | DF  | 42  |  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1977  | Academy
| Frank Lampard | DF  | 28 (1)  | 3  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1967  | Academy
| Alvin Martin | DF  | 22  | 1  | 1  |  |  |  | 1976  | Academy
| John McDowell | DF  | 26 (2)  | 2  | 1  |  |  |  | 1969  | Academy
| Tommy Taylor | DF  | 32  |  |  |  | 1  |  | 1970  | Leyton Orient
| Billy Bonds (Capt)  | MF  | 39  | 4  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1967  | Charlton Athletic
| Trevor Brooking | MF  | 21  | 2  | 1  |  |  |  | 1967  | Academy
| Alan Curbishley | MF  | 26 (1)  | 1  |  |  | 1  |  | 1974  | Academy
| Alan Devonshire | MF  | 41  | 5  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1976  | Southall
| Pat Holland | MF  | 39  | 3  |  |  | 1  |  | 1969  | Academy
| Geoff Pike | MF  | 10 (4)  | 1  |  |  | 0 (1)  |  | 1975  | Academy
| David Cross | FW  | 40  | 18  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1977  | West Bromwich Albion
| Billy Jennings | FW  | 2 (2)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1974  | Watford
| Billy Lansdowne | FW  | 0 (1)  |  |  |  |  |  | 1979  | Academy
| Nicky Morgan | FW  | 2  |  |  |  |  |  | 1978  | Academy
| Pop Robson | FW  | 40  | 24  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 1976  | Sunderland
| Alan Taylor | FW  | 10 (3)  | 3  | 1  |  | 1  |  | 1974  | Rochdale

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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. ^ Blows, Kirk; Hogg, Tony (2000). The Essential History of West Ham United. London: Headline. ISBN 0747270368.

* v
* t
* e

West Ham United F.C. seasons

* 1895–96
* 1896–97
* 1897–98
* 1898–99
* 1899–1900
* 1900–01
* 1919–20
* 1920–21
* 1921–22
* 1922–23
* 1923–24
* 1924–25
* 1925–26
* 1926–27
* 1927–28
* 1928–29
* 1929–30
* 1930–31
* 1931–32
* 1932–33
* 1933–34
* 1934–35
* 1935–36
* 1936–37
* 1937–38
* 1938–39
* 1939–40
* 1945–46
* 1946–47
* 1947–48
* 1948–49
* 1949–50
* 1950–51
* 1951–52
* 1952–53
* 1953–54
* 1954–55
* 1955–56
* 1956–57
* 1957–58
* 1958–59
* 1959–60
* 1960–61
* 1961–62
* 1962–63
* 1963–64
* 1964–65
* 1965–66
* 1966–67
* 1967–68
* 1968–69
* 1969–70
* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80
* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

* v
* t
* e

1978–79 in English football

« 1977–78

1979–80 »

National teams|

* Ron Greenwood
* Home Championship
* UEFA Euro 1980 (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 (One, Two)
* Town & Country League (level 7 only)
* Essex Senior League (level 7 only)
* Hellenic League (Premier, One)
* Home Counties League (level 7 only)
* 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

Other|

* Manchester United 3–5 West Bromwich Albion (1978)

Club seasons

First Division|

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

Second Division|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol Rovers
* Burnley
* Cambridge United
* Cardiff City
* Charlton Athletic
* Crystal Palace
* Fulham
* Leicester City
* Luton Town
* Millwall
* Newcastle United
* Notts County
* Oldham Athletic
* Orient
* Preston North End
* Sheffield United
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* West Ham United
* Wrexham

Third Division|

* Blackpool
* Brentford
* Bury
* Carlisle United
* Chester
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Exeter City
* Gillingham
* Hull City
* Lincoln City
* Mansfield Town
* Oxford United
* Peterborough United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southend United
* Swansea City
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall
* Watford

Fourth Division|

* Aldershot
* Barnsley
* Bournemouth
* Bradford City
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Grimsby Town
* Halifax Town
* Hartlepool United
* Hereford United
* Huddersfield Town
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Port Vale
* Portsmouth
* Reading
* Rochdale
* Scunthorpe United
* Stockport County
* Torquay United
* Wigan Athletic
* 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