The match programme, priced at three old pence (about 1­½p), was advertising season tickets at £5 and £7 respectively. There was a distinct lack of goals in the opening games – only three were scored in the first seven fixtures. At home there was an improvement as after Leicester City were beaten 4–1 what followed was a series of three-goal wins against Nottingham Forest, Brentford and Swansea Town. With the side in mid-table the visit of Lincoln City in December brought a 5–1 victory, both Albert Foan and John Gregory scoring twice.

The FA Cup attracted a healthy attendance of 35,150 to the Boleyn Ground for the visit of West Bromwich Albion. The First Division side proved too strong for the Hammers as they won 4–1. Fred Kearns grabbed a hat-trick in the 3–2 home win against Bury, after which there was a run of seven games without a win. Again the team were inconsistent, a good 4–1 win at Brentford being followed by a 1–3 home reverse to Doncaster Rovers. At Easter Fulham won 2–1 at Upton Park but the Hammers won the return at Fulham 3–2. The big event of the season was the first ever floodlit match at Upton Park, which took place on 16 April 1953. It was a friendly match against Tottenham Hotspur, and in a keenly fought match goals from Jim Barrett and Tommy Dixon gave West Ham a 2–1 victory. The campaign ended with the Hammers finishing in a rather disappointing fourteenth place.