It was a strange start to the season as after eight games the team were unbeaten away but had not won a home game. After Barnsley were beaten 2–0 at home the trend continued with home defeats to Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town. Fortunes changed in November: after Stoke City were beaten 1–0 at the Boleyn, the team went on a run of nine consecutive home wins, which put the side in fifth place in the table.

Grimsby Town were the visitors in the FA Cup and in an exciting game the Hammers won 5–3, with two goals from John Smith. There were 55,245 inside the ground at Everton for the next round, which saw West Ham narrowly lose 2–1 to the First Division side. Manager Ted Fenton was now putting together a good side. Ernie Gregory was reliable in goal, full-backs John Bond and Noel Cantwell were strong and rugged, and skipper and centre-half Malcolm Allison was a rock in defence. In the forward line flying winger Malcolm Musgrove was on hand to lay on chances for inside-forward Johnny Dick. There was a shock at Huddersfield in February as in snowy conditions the Hammers slumped to a 6–2 defeat. In the aftermath of this defeat only three wins were achieved in the remaining twelve games, which included a 5–3 defeat at Leicester City and a 4–1 reverse at Notts County. It was a disappointing end to the season, which gave a final placing of eighth.