1987–88 West Ham United F.C. season

West Ham United
1987–88 season
ChairmanLen Cearns
ManagerJohn Lyall
StadiumBoleyn Ground
First Division16th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Tony Cottee (13)
All: Cottee (15)
Highest home attendance29,865 (vs Liverpool, 5 September 1987)
Lowest home attendance14,975 (vs Southampton, 5 December 1987)

Season summary

Again John Lyall waited until three quarters of the season had passed before bringing any new signings to the club. Even so, the two players he did eventually bring in, Julian Dicks and Leroy Rosenior, would play a major part in helping the club to just avoid relegation for the second season running.

Alan Dickens had to play most of the season as a striker as Frank McAvennie had signed for Celtic without a replacement being found until Rosenior's arrival.

West Ham finally finished in 16th place in the First Division.

Midfielder Stewart Robson was voted club player of the year, though Tony Cottee was once again top goalscorer with 13 in the league and 15 in all competitions. However, Cottee would be sold to Everton for a national record £2.2 million by the start of the following season, leaving manager Lyall with a big gap to fill in the forward positions as he had lost his two highest goalscorers within a year of each other.[1]

League table
Main article: 1987–88 Football League § First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
14 Norwich City 40 12 9 19 40 52 −12 45
15 Derby County 40 10 13 17 35 45 −10 43
16 West Ham United 40 9 15 16 40 52 −12 42
17 Charlton Athletic 40 9 15 16 38 52 −14 42
18 Chelsea 40 9 15 16 50 68 −18 42 Relegated via the Second Division play-offs[lower-alpha 1]
Source:
Notes:
  1. Chelsea lost in the final round of the play-offs and were thus relegated.

Results

West Ham United's score comes first

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
15 August 1987Queens Park RangersH0–322,881
22 August 1987Luton TownA2–218,073Brady, Stewart (pen)
29 August 1987Norwich CityH2–016,394Cottee (2)
31 August 1987PortsmouthA1–216,104Strodder
5 September 1987LiverpoolH1–129,865Cottee
12 September 1987WimbledonA1–18,507Cottee
19 September 1987Tottenham HotspurH0–127,750
26 September 1987ArsenalA0–140,127
3 October 1987Derby CountyH1–117,226Brady
10 October 1987Charlton AthleticH1–115,757Ince
17 October 1987Oxford UnitedA2–19,092Caton (o.g.), Cottee
25 October 1987Manchester UnitedH1–119,863Stewart (pen)
31 October 1987WatfordA2–114,427Dickens, Cottee
7 November 1987Sheffield WednesdayH0–116,277
14 November 1987EvertonA1–329,405Hilton
21 November 1987Nottingham ForestH3–217,216Cottee (2), Stewart (pen)
28 November 1987Coventry CityA0–016,740
5 December 1987SouthamptonH2–114,975Keen, Dickens
12 December 1987ChelseaA1–122,850Parris
19 December 1987Newcastle UnitedH2–118,679Robson, Ince
26 December 1987WimbledonH1–218,605Stewart (pen)
28 December 1987Tottenham HotspurA1–239,456Hilton
1 January 1988Norwich CityA1–420,069Cottee
2 January 1988Luton TownH1–116,716Ince
16 January 1988Queens Park RangersA1–014,509Dickens
6 February 1988LiverpoolA0–042,049
13 February 1988PortsmouthH1–118,639Cottee
27 February 1988Derby CountyA0–116,301
5 March 1988Oxford UnitedH1–114,980Ward
12 March 1988Charlton AthleticA0–38,118
19 March 1988WatfordH1–016,051Rosenior
26 March 1988Manchester UnitedA1–337,269Rosenior
2 April 1988Sheffield WednesdayA1–218,435Rosenior
4 April 1988EvertonH0–021,195
12 April 1988ArsenalH0–126,746
20 April 1988Nottingham ForestA0–015,775
23 April 1988Coventry CityH1–117,733Cottee
30 April 1988SouthamptonA1–215,652Cottee
7 May 1988ChelseaH4–128,521Rosenior (2), Hilton, Cottee
14 May 1988Newcastle UnitedA1–223,731Robson

FA Cup
Main article: 1987–88 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R39 January 1988Charlton AthleticH2–022,043Brady, Cottee
R430 January 1988Queens Park RangersA1–323,651Cottee

League Cup
Main article: 1987–88 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st leg22 September 1987BarnsleyA0–010,330
R2 2nd leg6 October 1987BarnsleyH2–5aet (lost 2–5 on agg)12,403Robson, Keen

Squad
Number Player Position Lge Apps Lge Gls FAC Apps FAC Gls LC Apps LC Gls Date Signed Previous Club
West Ham United 1987-88 First XI
1 Tom McAlister GK 39 2 2 1981 Bristol Rovers
2 Ray Stewart RB 33 4 2 September 1979 Dundee United
3 George Parris LB 27(3) 1 2 1985 Academy
4 Billy Bonds (Captain) CB 22 2 1967 Charlton Athletic
5 Gary Strodder CB 27(3) 1 2 2 March 1987 Lincoln City
6 Liam Brady LM 21(1) 2 2 1 2 March 1987 Ascoli
7 Mark Ward RM 37 1 2 2 August 1985 Oldham Athletic
8 Alan Dickens F 25(3) 3 1 0 (1) 1982 Academy
9 Paul Ince CM 26(2) 3 0 (1) 2 1986 Academy
10 Tony Cottee CF 40 13 2 2 2 September 1982 Academy
11 Stewart Robson (Hammer of the Year) CM 37 2 2 2 1 January 1987 Arsenal
Important Players
6 Kevin Keen M 19(4) 1 1 1 1986 Academy
6 Tony Gale CB 17(1) 2 August 1983 Fulham
5 Alvin Martin CB 15 2 July 1976 Academy
3 Tommy McQueen LB 10(2) 1 1 (1) March 1987 Aberdeen
5 Paul Hilton CB 9 (5) 3 1 (1) 0 (1) 1984 Bury
9 Leroy Rosenior CF 9 5 March 1988 Fulham
Other Players
8 Frank McAvennie CF 8 1 June 1985 St Mirren
3 Julian Dicks LB 8 March 1988 Birmingham City
2 Steve Potts D 7 (1) 1 1 May 1984 Academy
12 Eamonn Dolan CF 1 (3) 1986 Academy
1 Phil Parkes GK 1 February 1979 Queens Park Rangers
6 Alan Devonshire LM 1 October 1976 Southall
4 Neil Orr CM 1 January 1982 Morton
12 Stuart Slater M/F 0 (2) 1987 Academy

References
  1. "Football photographic encyclopedia, footballer, world cup, champions league, football championship, olympic games & hero images by sporting-heroes.net". www.sporting-heroes.net.
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