1988–89 West Ham United F.C. season

The 1988–1989 season saw new signings Allen McKnight[1] and David Kelly both begin their West Ham United careers, but neither supplied the club with kind of form necessary to stay in the top flight.

On 22 March 1989, it looked as though Lyall had come up with the goods to save West Ham's top flight status when he re-captured Frank McAvennie from Glasgow Celtic for a club record fee of £1.1 million – just after the player had turned down the chance to sign for Arsenal, who went on to win the league. However, McAvennie failed to repeat the goalscoring heroics of his first spell at Upton Park as he didn't score a single goal in nine league appearances and the Hammers were relegated despite winning five of their final seven games.[2]

The club finished in 19th place in the First Division and were relegated to the second tier of The Football League.

John Lyall was sacked as manager after 15 years on 5 June 1989, by which time he was the longest serving manager at any Football League club. It also ended his 34-year service with the club, which had started in 1955 when he signed for them as an apprentice player from school.[3]

Number Player Position Lge Apps Lge Gls FAC Apps FAC Gls LC Apps LC Gls Date Signed Previous Club
West Ham United 1988–89 First XI
1 Northern Ireland Allen McKnight GK 23 4 6 1988 Celtic
2 England Steve Potts RB 23(5) 7 5 (1) May 1984 Academy
3 England Julian Dicks LB 34 2 6 7 March 1988 Birmingham City
4 England Tony Gale CB 31 5 6 1 August 1983 Fulham
5 England Alvin Martin (Captain) CB 27 1 5 5 2 July 1976 Academy
6 England Alan Dickens CM 34(3) 5 5 (2) 1 6 1 1982 Academy
7 England Mark Ward RM 30 2 3 5 (1) August 1985 Oldham Athletic
8 Republic of Ireland David Kelly CF 21 (4) 6 6 6 (1) 4 1988 Walsall
9 Sierra Leone Leroy Rosenior CF 26(2) 7 4 2 5 2 March 1988 Fulham
10 Republic of Ireland Liam Brady LM 21(1) 3 7 4 (1) March 1987 Ascoli
11 England Paul Ince
(Hammer of the Year)		 CM 32(1) 3 7 1 7 3 1986 Academy
Important Players
2 England George Parris FB 23(4) 1 1 3 1985 Academy
6 England Kevin Keen M 16(8) 3 0 (5) 1 (1) 1 1986 Academy
9 England Stuart Slater M/F 16(2) 1 3 1 1 1987 Academy
6 England Alan Devonshire LM 14(6) 7 4 October 1976 Southall
1 England Phil Parkes GK 13 3 1 February 1979 Queens Park Rangers
5 England Paul Hilton CB 9 (2) 0 (1) 2 1984 Bury
8 Scotland Frank McAvennie CF 8 (1) March 1989 Celtic
Other Players
11 England Stewart Robson M 6 1 January 1987 Arsenal
2 Scotland Ray Stewart RB 5 (1) 2 2 1 1 September 1979 Dundee United
5 England Gary Strodder CB 4 (3) 2 (2) 1 March 1987 Lincoln
1 Scotland Tom McAlister GK 2 1981 Bristol Rovers
12 Scotland Tommy McQueen LB 0 (2) March 1987 Aberdeen

References

  1. ↑ Player profile at Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database
  2. ↑ http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=41934
  3. ↑ http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=2802

See also

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