1972–73 West Ham United F.C. season

In the 1972–73 season West Ham United finished sixth in the First Division, their highest League position under the management of Ron Greenwood and the joint-highest in their history at that time.

West Ham United
1972–73 season
ChairmanReg Pratt
ManagerRon Greenwood
StadiumBoleyn Ground
First Division6th
FA CupFourth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: Pop Robson (28)
All: Robson (28)
Highest home attendance38,804 (vs Leeds United, 14 April 1973)
Lowest home attendance17,688 (vs Bristol City, 6 September 1972)
Average home league attendance30,025

Season summary

Pop Robson was the First Division's top scorer with 28 League goals, including eight doubles and a hat-trick, just one behind the post-war club record held by Geoff Hurst, who had left the Hammers for Stoke City the previous summer. In February 1973, Bobby Moore overtook Jimmy Ruffell's West Ham appearance record. He won his hundredth England cap in the same month.[1]

West Ham continued their poor Cup record from previous seasons by losing in both the FA Cup and the League Cup to lower League opposition. Second Division Hull City beat them in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and the Hammers suffered a humiliating defeat at Fourth Division Stockport County in the League Cup.[1][2]

League table
Main article: 1972–73 Football League § First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
4 Ipswich Town 42 17 14 11 55 45 1.222 48 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 18 11 13 66 54 1.222 47
6 West Ham United 42 17 12 13 67 53 1.264 46 Qualification for the Watney Cup[lower-alpha 1]
7 Derby County 42 19 8 15 56 54 1.037 46
8 Tottenham Hotspur 42 16 13 13 58 48 1.208 45 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. West Ham United and Stoke City qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.

Results

Football League First Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
12 August 1972West Bromwich AlbionA0–021,509
14 August 1972Coventry CityH1–027,498Best
19 August 1972Leicester CityH5–225,414Moore, Coker, Robson (2), Tyler
22 August 1972Wolverhampton WanderersA0–321,958
26 August 1972LiverpoolA2–350,491Robson (2)
29 August 1972ArsenalA0–143,802
2 September 1972Manchester UnitedH2–231,939Robson (2)
9 September 1972ChelseaA3–134,392Taylor, Moore, Bonds
16 September 1972Norwich CityH4–027,780Brooking, Robson (2), Taylor
23 September 1972Tottenham HotspurA0–151,700
30 September 1972Birmingham CityH2–026,482Bonds, Best
7 October 1972Ipswich TownA1–122,377Best
14 October 1972Sheffield UnitedH3–125,379Brooking, Robson (2)
21 October 1972Manchester CityA3–430,890Best, Ayris, Moore
28 October 1972Crystal PalaceH4–028,894Brooking (2), McDowell, Robson
4 November 1972Wolverhampton WanderersH2–229,524Robson, Brooking
11 November 1972Coventry CityA1–327,189McDowell
18 November 1972Derby CountyH1–228,154Robson
25 November 1972EvertonA2–127,558Brooking, Best
2 December 1972Newcastle UnitedH1–123,785Brooking
9 December 1972Leeds UnitedA0–130,270
16 December 1972Stoke CityH3–223,269Robson (2), Best
23 December 1972SouthamptonA0–019,429
26 December 1972Tottenham HotspurH2–237,397Robson (2; 1 pen)
30 December 1972Leicester CityA1–219,341Brooking
6 January 1973LiverpoolH0–134,480
20 January 1973Manchester UnitedA2–250,878Robson, Best
27 January 1973ChelseaH3–133,336Taylor, Robson (2)
10 February 1973Norwich CityA1–027,032Robson
17 February 1973West Bromwich AlbionH2–126,071Bonds, Robson
24 February 1973Stoke CityA0–221,855
2 March 1973Ipswich TownH0–137,004
10 March 1973Sheffield UnitedA0–024,024
17 March 1973Manchester CityH2–129,370MacDougall, Robson
24 March 1973Crystal PalaceA3–136,915Robson, Brooking, MacDougall
31 March 1973EvertonH2–025,531Robson, Lock
7 April 1973Newcastle UnitedA2–124,030MacDougall (2)
14 April 1973Leeds UnitedH1–138,804Holland
20 April 1973SouthamptonH4–333,039Robson (3), Brooking
21 April 1973Derby CountyA1–128,727Lutton
23 April 1973Birmingham CityA0–036,942
28 April 1973ArsenalH1–237,368Rice (o.g.)

FA Cup
Main article: 1972–73 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R313 January 1973Port ValeA1–020,619Holland
R48 February 1973Hull CityA0–132,290

League Cup
Main article: 1972–73 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R26 September 1972Bristol CityH2–117,688McDowell, Best
R34 October 1972Stockport CountyA1–213,410Best

Players
Number Player Position Lge Apps Lge Gls FAC Apps FAC Gls LC Apps LC Gls Date Signed Previous Club
First XI
1 Scotland Bobby Ferguson GK 31 2 1967 Kilmarnock
2 England John McDowell RB 38 2 2 2 1 1970 Academy
3 England Frank Lampard LB 38 2 2 1967 Academy
4 England Billy Bonds DCM 39 3 2 2 1967 Charlton Athletic
5 England Tommy Taylor CH 37 3 2 2 1970 Orient
6 England Bobby Moore (Captain) CH 42 3 2 2 1958 Academy
7 England Dudley Tyler RW 21 1 2 2 1972 Hereford
8 Bermuda Clyde Best CF 41(1) 7 2 2 2 1969 Academy
9 England Pat Holland LW 30(2) 1 2 1 2 1969 Academy
10 England Trevor Brooking ACM 40 11 2 2 1967 Academy
11 England Pop Robson (Hammer of the Year) CF 42 28 2 2 1970 Newcastle United
Other Players
5 England Kevin Lock D/M 14(4) 1 0 (1) 1971 Academy
7 England Johnny Ayris RW 13(2) 1 1970 Academy
1 England Peter Grotier GK 11 2 1968 Academy
9 Scotland Ted MacDougall CF 10 4 1972 Manchester United
3 England Clive Charles FB 7 (2) 0 (1) 1971 Academy
8 Northern Ireland Bertie Lutton F 4 (2) 1 1972 Brighton & Hove Albion
9 Nigeria Ade Coker CF 4 1 1971 Academy
12 England Ronnie Boyce F 0 (2) 1960 Academy

References
  1. Helliar, John (2009). West Ham United: The Elite Era (4th ed.). Bodmin & King's Lynn: MPG Books Group. ISBN 978-1-905328-68-0.
  2. German, Tom (5 October 1972). "West Ham unable to find the spark". The Times. No. 58597. London. p. 13.
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