1991–92 West Ham United F.C. season

During the 1991–92 English football season, West Ham United F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.

West Ham United
1991–92 season
ChairmanTerry Brown
ManagerBilly Bonds
StadiumBoleyn Ground
First Division22nd (relegated)
FA CupFifth round
League CupFourth round
Full Members CupSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague: Small (13)
All: Small (18)
Average home league attendance21,342

Season summary

1991–92 was West Ham United's first season back in the First Division following promotion, ending a two-year absence from the top flight.

However, their return to the First Division lasted just one season and they were relegated in bottom place, missing out on a place in the new FA Premier League, which would be created for the 1992-93 season. Their chances of survival were not helped by the fact that key players Trevor Morley and Julian Dicks missed large stretches of the season due to injury and off-field issues, such as the infamous Bond Scheme, which exacerbated the club's poor league form.

The few bright spots of the season came in the final stages – after relegation was confirmed – in the shape of a 1–0 win over Manchester United which effectively ended the opposition's title hopes, and then came a 3–0 demolition of eighth-placed Nottingham Forest in which striker Frank McAvennie ended his second spell at Upton Park by scoring a hat-trick. The season could have ended very differently for the Hammers had they been able to show such fine form on a more regular basis.

Final league table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
18Norwich City421112194763−1645
19Coventry City421111203544−944
20Luton Town (R)421012203871−3342Relegated[a]
21Notts County (R)421010224062−2240
22West Ham United (R)42911223759−2238
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(R) Relegated
Notes:


Results

West Ham United's score comes first[1]

Legend

WinDrawLoss

Football League First Division

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
17 August 1991Luton TownH0–025,079
20 August 1991Sheffield UnitedA1–121,463Small
24 August 1991WimbledonA0–210,081
28 August 1991Aston VillaH3–123,644Small, Rosenior, Brown
31 August 1991Notts CountyH0–220,093
4 September 1991Queens Park RangersA0–016,616
7 September 1991ChelseaH1–118,875Small
14 September 1991Norwich CityA1–215,348Small
17 September 1991Crystal PalaceA3–221,363Morley, Thomas, Small
21 September 1991Manchester CityH1–225,558Brown
28 September 1991Nottingham ForestA2–225,613Small (2)
5 October 1991Coventry CityH0–121,817
19 October 1991Oldham AthleticA2–214,365Small, McAvennie
26 October 1991Tottenham HotspurH2–123,946Thomas, Small
2 November 1991ArsenalA1–033,539Small
17 November 1991LiverpoolH0–023,569
23 November 1991Manchester UnitedA1–247,185McAvennie
30 November 1991Sheffield WednesdayH1–224,116Breacker
7 December 1991EvertonA0–421,563
21 December 1991Sheffield UnitedH1–119,287Dicks (pen)
26 December 1991Aston VillaA1–331,959McAvennie
28 December 1991Notts CountyA0–311,163
1 January 1992Leeds UnitedH1–321,766Dicks (pen)
11 January 1992WimbledonH1–118,485Morley
18 January 1992Luton TownA1–011,088Small
1 February 1992Oldham AthleticH1–019,012Thomas
22 February 1992Sheffield WednesdayA1–224,150Small
29 February 1992EvertonH0–220,976
3 March 1992SouthamptonA0–114,548
11 March 1992LiverpoolA0–130,821
14 March 1992ArsenalH0–222,640
21 March 1992Queens Park RangersH2–220,401Breacker, Small
28 March 1992Leeds UnitedA0–031,101
1 April 1992Tottenham HotspurA0–331,809
4 April 1992ChelseaA1–220,684C Allen
11 April 1992Norwich CityH4–016,896Bishop, Rush (2), Dicks (pen)
14 April 1992SouthamptonH0–118,298
18 April 1992Manchester CityA0–225,601
20 April 1992Crystal PalaceH0–217,710
22 April 1992Manchester UnitedH1–024,197Brown
25 April 1992Coventry CityA0–115,398
2 May 1992Nottingham ForestH3–020,629McAvennie (3)

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R34 January 1992Farnborough TownA1–123,449Dicks
R3R14 January 1992Farnborough TownH1–023,869Morley
R425 January 1992WrexhamH2–224,712Morley, Dicks
R4R4 February 1992WrexhamA1–017,995Foster
R515 February 1992SunderlandA1–125,475Small
R5R26 February 1992SunderlandH2–325,830M Allen (2)

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st leg24 September 1991Bradford CityA1–17,034Small
R2 2nd leg9 October 1991Bradford CityH4–0 (won 5–1 on agg)17,232Small, Morley, Keen, Parris
R329 October 1991Sheffield UnitedA2–011,144McAvennie, Small (pen)
R44 December 1991Norwich CityA1–216,325Small

Full Members Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R222 October 1991Cambridge UnitedH2–17,812McAvennie, Parris
R326 November 1991Brighton & Hove AlbionH2–08,146McAvennie (2)
S Area SF7 January 1992SouthamptonA1–26,861Bishop 34'

Squad

[2]

NumberPlayerPositionLge AppsLge GlsFAC AppsFAC GlsLC AppsLC GlsDate signedPrevious club
1991–92 West Ham United First XI
1 Ludek MikloskoGK3634February 1990Banik Ostrava
2 Kenny BrownD25(2)341August 1991Plymouth Argyle
3 Julian Dicks
(Hammer of the Year)
D23362March 1988Birmingham City
4 Tim BreackerD33(1)164October 1990Luton Town
5 Steve PottsD3453May 1984Academy
6 Mitchell ThomasD34(1)3441991Tottenham Hotspur
7 Ian Bishop (captain)M41134December 1989Manchester City
8 Frank McAvennieF16(4)642 (1)1March 1989Celtic
9 Mike SmallF37(3)134 (1)1441991Brighton
10 Kevin KeenM20(9)5211986Academy
11 Stuart SlaterM41641987Academy
Important Players
4 Tony GaleCB24(1)23 (1)August 1983Fulham
5 Colin FosterCB245121989Nottingham Forest
6 George ParrisD/M20(1)411985Academy
11 Trevor MorleyCF13(11)22 (3)221December 1989Manchester City
10 Martin AllenM14(5)221 (1)August 1989Queens Park Rangers
8 Matthew RushM3 (7)21990Academy
Other Players
10 Leroy RoseniorCF5 (4)1March 1988Fulham
5 Alvin MartinCB7July 1976Academy
1 Tony ParksGK631991Fulham
10 Clive AllenCF41March 1992Chelsea
6 Ray AtteveldCB1February 1992Everton
10 Dean MartinCF1 (1)0 (1)1991Fisher Athletic
12 Simon ClarkeF0 (1)1990Academy
14 Chris HughtonLB0 (1)1990Tottenham Hotspur

Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
FW  ENGTony Cottee
FW  NIRIain Dowie

Transfers

In

DatePosNameFromFee
3 June 1991MFDean MartinFisher Athletic£25,000
2 August 1991DFKenny BrownPlymouth Argyle£175,000
7 August 1991DFMitchell ThomasTottenham Hotspur£525,000
27 March 1992FWClive AllenChelsea£275,000

Out

DatePosNameToFee
5 August 1991FWJimmy QuinnAFC Bournemouth£40,000
3 September 1991FWIain DowieSouthampton£500,000
1 January 1992FWMike MacariStoke CitySigned
Transfers in: £1,000,000
Transfers out: £540,000
Total spending: £460,000

References