There were various departures at this time, among them Eustace, Redknapp and Stephenson, but the big shock came when Geoff Hurst was transferred to Stoke City for a fee of £80,000. It was a decent start to the season with just three losses in the first nine games. At home Coventry City were beaten 5–2 and Norwich City 4–0. Bryan Robson was the man in form, scoring eight goals in those nine games.

The League Cup began with a narrow 2–1 home victory against Bristol City but the next round was a disaster as the Hammers were humbled 2–1 away to Fourth Division Stockport County. After a 2–2 draw in November with Wolves the team had moved up to fifth place, but the next nine games only yielded two wins. Robson was still on the mark, scoring twice against both Stoke City and Tottenham.

After winning 1–0 at Port Vale in the FA Cup, a trip to Hull City in the fourth round brought a 1–0 defeat. In March centre-forward Ted MacDougall was signed for £150,000 from Manchester United, and his four goals in his first five appearances helped the team to a nine-game unbeaten run. Bryan Robson scored a hat-trick against Southampton to take his tally of goals to 28, which made him the league’s top scorer. There had been poor performances in the cups but a sixth-place finish in the league was the highest placing since 1959.