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1979-80 Football League Second Division

Manager: John Lyall

A player exodus saw Bryan Robson, Mervyn Day and Tommy Taylor all leave, while new signings were full-back Ray Stewart and winger Jimmy Neighbour. It was a poor start to the season, with just two wins in seven games leaving the side in nineteenth place. Barnsley and Southend United were beaten in the League Cup, with young Billy Lansdowne claiming a hat-trick in the 5–1 Southend win. November was a good month as all three Welsh clubs, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham, were beaten at home without conceding a goal, and after a replay West Ham beat Sunderland 2–1 in the League Cup. The team was struggling on their travels with 3–0 defeats at Shrewsbury and in a League Cup replay at Nottingham Forest.

On New Year’s Day there was a good 4–0 win at neighbours Orient and the FA Cup trail started with a 2–1 home win against West Bromwich Albion. Orient were next in the FA Cup and the Hammers advanced, winning 3–2. During February the three league wins moved the team to within a point of the leaders and, now in top form, Swansea were knocked out of the FA Cup following a 2–0 home win. Just one win in March saw the team drop down to eighth in the league, but the FA Cup brought a 1–0 victory against Aston Villa thanks to a goal from Ray Stewart in the last minute.

Two home defeats in April brought the promotion dream to an end as the Hammers looked for FA Cup success. Everton were the opponents in the semi-final and following a 1–1 draw West Ham won the replay 3–1 at Elland Road. The FA Cup final was an all-London affair as the Hammers faced cup-holders and favourites Arsenal. On 13 minutes Trevor Brooking scored with a rare headed goal and for the remainder of the match the Hammers sat back, marshalled by Bonds and Martin, and held out to win 1–0 .

The final league match at Sunderland had to be delayed until after the cup final. A tired Hammers team lost 2–0, which ensured the Wearsiders promotion and left West Ham in seventh place.

Note:

Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United

WREXHAM
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CHELSEA
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OLDHAM ATHLETIC
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BARNSLEY : FL Cup (Second Round 1st leg)
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WATFORD
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BARNSLEY : FL Cup (SeconD Round 2nd leg)
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PRESTON NORTH END
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SUNDERLAND
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QUEENS PARK RANGERS
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SOUTHEND UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round)
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BURNLEY
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SOUTHEND UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round Replay)
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
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SOUTHEND UNITED : FL Cup (Third Round 2nd Replay)
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LEICESTER CITY
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LUTON TOWN
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NOTTS COUNTY
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SUNDERLAND : FL Cup (Fourth Round)
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WREXHAM
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SUNDERLAND : FL Cup (Fourth Round Replay)
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FULHAM
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CHELSEA
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SWANSEA CITY
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CARDIFF CITY
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST : FL Cup (Fifth Round)
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BRISTOL ROVERS
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NOTTINGHAM FOREST : FL Cup (Fifth Round Replay)
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SHREWSBURY TOWN
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CAMBRIDGE UNITED
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BIRMINGHAM CITY
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OLDHAM ATHLETIC
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ORIENT
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WEST BROMWICH ALBION : FA Cup (Third Round)
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WEST BROMWICH ALBION : FA Cup (Third Round Replay)
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WATFORD
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PRESTON NORTH END
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ORIENT : FA Cup (Fourth Round)
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SUNDERLAND
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QUEENS PARK RANGERS
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SWANSEA CITY : FA Cup (Fifth Round)
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BURNLEY
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LEICESTER CITY
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LUTON TOWN
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ASTON VILLA : FA Cup (Sixth Round)
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NOTTS COUNTY
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
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OLDHAM ATHLETIC
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FULHAM
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SWANSEA CITY
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CAMBRIDGE UNITED
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ORIENT
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BIRMINGHAM CITY
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EVERTON : FA Cup (Semi-Final
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EVERTON : FA Cup (Semi-Final Replay)
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CARDIFF CITY
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BIRMINGHAM CITY
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SHREWSBURY TOWN
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OLDHAM ATHLETIC
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BRISTOL ROVERS
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CHARLTON ATHLETIC
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ARDENAL : FA Cup (Final)
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SUNDERLAND
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