2003–04 West Ham United F.C. season

Following West Ham's relegation from the Premiership, several key players left the club that summer, including Les Ferdinand, Trevor Sinclair, Frédéric Kanouté, Joe Cole, Paolo Di Canio and Glen Johnson. Young striker Jermain Defoe had also submitted a transfer request just one day after their relegation, but this was rejected and he would remain with the club for the start of the new season.[1][2] Manager Glenn Roeder, who had since recovered from the brain tumour that caused him to miss the end of the previous season, immediately set about rebuilding his squad, signing Kevin Horlock, Matthew Etherington, Rob Lee and David Connolly prior to the beginning of the campaign. After a win over Preston North End on the opening day, a draw and a loss would follow and Roeder was sacked three games into the season. Sir Trevor Brooking once again took over as caretaker manager, and form improved as they won their next four games. A permanent replacement was soon found for Roeder, when Alan Pardew was bought in from Reading as new manager in October.

Despite continuing to be a prolific goalscorer for the club, disciplinary issues became a problem for striker Jermain Defoe, who was sent off three times and played just 22 out of a possible 34 games due to suspension in the first half of the season. This, combined with his repeated refusal to sign a new contract, meant West Ham allowed him to leave the club in January to sign with Tottenham Hotspur in a swap deal that saw West Ham take out of favour striker Bobby Zamora.[3] Along with Defoe, goalkeeper David James and club mainstay Ian Pearce would also leave for Manchester City and Fulham F.C. respectively.

Under the guidance of Pardew, West Ham performed well enough to finish fourth and earn themselves a playoff finish. They would lose 1-0 to 5th place Ipswich Town in the first leg of their playoff semi-final, but bounced back to win 2-0 in the second, advancing to the final where they would face Crystal Palace at the Millennium Stadium. A goal from Neil Shipperley after 61 minutes would be enough to give Palace the win, consigning the Hammers to another season in English football's second tier.

Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 2 DF Tomáš Řepka 3 DF Rufus Brevett 4 MF Don Hutchison[4] 5 MF Rob Lee 6 MF Michael Carrick 7 DF Christian Dailly 8 FW David Connolly[5] 10 FW Marlon Harewood 11 MF Steve Lomas[6] 12 MF Matthew Etherington 14 DF Wayne Quinn (on loan from Newcastle United) 15 DF Anton Ferdinand 16 MF Kevin Horlock[7] 17 MF Hayden Mullins

No. Position Player 18 FW Youssef Sofiane 19 MF Adam Nowland 20 MF Nigel Reo-Coker 21 MF Richard Garcia 22 DF Andy Melville 24 DF Jon Harley (on loan from Fulham) 25 FW Bobby Zamora 26 MF Jobi McAnuff[8] 27 DF Shaun Byrne 29 FW Brian Deane 30 GK Pavel Srníček 32 GK Stephen Bywater 34 DF Elliott Ward 35 DF Chris Cohen

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK David James (to Manchester City) 9 FW Jermain Defoe (to Tottenham Hotspur) 19 DF Ian Pearce (to Fulham) 20 MF Niclas Alexandersson (on loan from Everton) 20 MF Robbie Stockdale (on loan from Middlesbrough)

No. Position Player 22 DF Matthew Kilgallon (on loan from Leeds United) 28 MF David Noble (to Boston United) 30 DF Sebastian Schemmel (to Portsmouth) 30 GK Rami Shaaban (on loan from Arsenal) 33 FW Neil Mellor (on loan from Liverpool)