2004–05 West Ham United F.C. season

Following the previous season's First Division play-off final loss to Crystal Palace, Rob Lee, Brian Deane, Wayne Quinn and Shaun Byrne were all released from West Ham on free transfers. They were closely followed by Kevin Horlock, who signed for Ipswich Town, and David Connolly, who left for Leicester City in a £500,000 deal. Sébastien Carole also returned to Monaco after his loan spell, while Richard Garcia and Elliott Ward signed new contracts.

The first signing Alan Pardew made following the end of the previous season was goalkeeper James Walker, signed on a free transfer from Walsall, where he had been a folk hero. He was brought in as cover for Stephen Bywater. The following month former England international Teddy Sheringham and Serhiy Rebrov both signed on free transfers, from Portsmouth and Tottenham respectively. Their arrivals were closely followed by those of AFC Bournemouth captain Carl Fletcher for £275,000 and winger Luke Chadwick from Manchester United on a free transfer. In September, Malky Mackay signed for £300,000 from Norwich City.

West Ham's biggest defeat of the season was away to Cardiff City on 2 November 2004 when they lost 4–1. The Welsh team featured former Hammer Jobi McAnuff, who created the first two goals and scored the fourth. West Ham's biggest win of the season came in their home game against Plymouth Argyle on 19 February 2005 when they won 5–0.

West Ham only lost one of their last ten matches, which helped moved them from seventh to sixth, guaranteeing a play-off spot. The club returned to the FA Premier League at the second time of asking, defeating Preston North End in the 2005 Football League Championship play-off Final with a single goal from Bobby Zamora.

Squad at end of season[1]

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 Stephen Bywater 2 DF Tomáš Řepka 3 DF Rufus Brevett 4 MF Don Hutchison 5 DF Andy Melville 6 MF Carl Fletcher 7 DF Christian Dailly 8 FW Teddy Sheringham 10 FW Marlon Harewood 11 MF Steve Lomas 12 MF Matthew Etherington 14 MF Chris Cohen 15 DF Anton Ferdinand 16 FW Serhiy Rebrov 17 MF Hayden Mullins 18 FW Youssef Sofiane

No. Position Player 20 MF Nigel Reo-Coker (captain) 21 DF Malky Mackay 22 DF Elliott Ward 23 GK Jimmy Walker 24 MF Mark Noble 25 FW Bobby Zamora 26 MF Shaun Newton 27 FW Greg Pearson 28 DF Trent McClenahan 30 MF Luke Chadwick 31 DF Darren Blewitt 32 FW Moses Ashikodi 34 DF Chris Powell 35 MF Gavin Williams 36 MF Hogan Ephraim

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 6 MF Michael Carrick (to Tottenham Hotspur) 9 MF Jobi McAnuff (to Cardiff City) 9 DF Mauricio Taricco (released) 19 MF Adam Nowland (to Nottingham Forest) 19 DF Darren Powell (on loan from Crystal Palace)

No. Position Player 21 FW Richard Garcia (to Colchester United) 26 DF Calum Davenport (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) 29 MF Graeme Carrick (Released) 41 GK Robert Burch (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)