WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1971-72 Football League First Division
Another poor start saw the Hammers with no wins and no goals from the opening four games. It was a vast improvement when the next 11 games only yielded one defeat at Manchester United. Clyde Best was the player in form as he scored twice against both Coventry City and Chelsea. Following a 1–1 home draw with Cardiff City in the League Cup, the Hammers won the replay 2–1, with both goals being scored by Geoff Hurst. Leeds United were the next opponents in the League Cup, which saw Clyde Best score the winner in a 1–0 win at Elland Road. Despite losing four league games during November, the League Cup journey progressed with a 2–1 home win over Liverpool and a 5–0 thrashing of Sheffield United, which saw Bryan Robson score a hat-trick. At Southampton in December West Ham were leading 3–0 only to draw 3–3.
The League Cup semi-final with Stoke City became a saga played out over four games. The first leg at Stoke was won 2–1, with goals from Best and Hurst. There was drama in the second leg as, with Stoke winning 1–0 with just four minutes left, Hurst stepped up to take a penalty – if he scored the Hammers would be at Wembley.
Unfortunately for the Hammers Gordon Banks made a wonder save and the tie went to a replay at Hillsborough. That game resulted in a 0–0 stalemate, which meant a second replay at Old Trafford. This next tie, for twists, turns, upheavals and sheer football drama, was one of the great cup ties of the 1970s. On 13 minutes goalkeeper Bobby Ferguson went off for lengthy treatment, to be replaced in goal by Bobby Moore. Later Stoke were awarded a penalty, which Moore saved, but the ball rebounded to Mike Bernard who scored for Stoke. The Hammers ten men then rallied, with goals from Bonds and Brooking putting them 2–1 ahead. Ferguson, still concussed, then returned to play in goal, only to concede goals from Dobing and Conroy, which saw Stoke reach the cup final.
After beating Luton Town in the FA Cup the next round brought a trip to non-league Hereford United. It was a tense 0–0 affair; the replay, however, saw Geoff Hurst score a hat-trick as the gallant non-leaguers lost 3–1. Cup hopes were dashed at Huddersfield Town as the Yorkshire side knocked the Hammers out 4–2. After their cup exertions the league form fell away, with the team winning just four of their final 16 fixtures to leave them in a disappointing fourteenth.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
DERBY COUNTY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
IPSWICH TOWN
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
EVERTON
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
COVENTRY CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CARDIFF CITY : FL Cup (Second Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CHELSEA
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
MANCHESTER UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CARDIFF CITY : FL Cup (Second Round Replay)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LEEDS UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LEEDS UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LEICESTER CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LEEDS UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round Replay)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LIVERPOOL : FL Cup (Fourth Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CRYSTAL PALACE
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
SHEFFIELD UNITED : FL Cup (Fifth Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
MANCHESTER CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LIVERPOOL
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
ARSENAL
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final 1st-leg)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
SOUTHAMPTON
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final 2nd-Leg)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
MANCHESTER UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final Replay)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
EVERTON
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LUTON TOWN : FA Cup (Third Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
DERBY COUNTY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY : FL Cup (Semi-Final Second Replay)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
IPSWICH TOWN
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
HEREFORD UNITED : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
HEREFORD UNITED : FA Cup (Fourth Round Rplay)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CRYSTAL PALACE
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : FA Cup (Fifth Round)
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
COVENTRY CITY
Highfield Road
7 March 1972
Postponed: Floodlight restrictions
Delay in lifting floodlight restrictions due to miner's strikes
LEICESTER CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
COVENTRY CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
CHELSEA
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LEEDS UNITED
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
STOKE CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
MANCHESTER CITY
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
LIVERPOOL
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
ARSENAL
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our
SOUTHAMPTON
Venue
? - (??)
Date
Att:
Player 1
Player 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Our