1978–79 West Ham United F.C. season

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.

West Ham United
1978–79 season
ChairmanReg Pratt
ManagerJohn Lyall
StadiumBoleyn Ground
Second Division5th
FA CupThird round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Pop Robson (24)
All: Robson (26)
Highest home attendance35,802 (vs Brighton & Hove Albion, 10 March 1979)
Lowest home attendance19,672 (vs Swindon Town, 30 August 1978)
Average home league attendance25,779

Season summary

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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

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Pos Team 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

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Football League Second Division

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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

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 9 January 1979 Newport County A 1–2 14,124 Robson

League Cup

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Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 30 August 1978 Swindon Town H 1–2 19,672 Robson

Players

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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

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  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.