1980–81 West Ham United F.C. season

In one of the most notable seasons in the club's history, West Ham United won the Second Division in the 1980–81 season to return to the top flight of English football after an absence of three years.

West Ham United
1980–81 season
ChairmanLen Cearns
ManagerJohn Lyall
StadiumBoleyn Ground
Second Division1st
FA CupThird round
League CupFinal
European Cup Winners' CupQuarter-finals
Top goalscorerLeague:
David Cross (22)
All:
Cross (33)
Highest home attendance36,551 (v Coventry City F.C, League cup Semi final 2nd leg 10 February 1981)
Lowest home attendance0 (v Castilla, 1 October 1980)
Average home league attendance27,140

Season summary

West Ham lost just four League matches all season, were unbeaten in the League after Boxing Day, and finished 13 points clear of second-placed Notts County, accumulating a record points total for the Second Division.[1]

The Hammers also reached the League Cup final for the second time, after a run in which they knocked out First Division Tottenham Hotspur and Coventry City. In the final, they forced a replay against Liverpool after Ray Stewart scored an equalising penalty in the last minute of extra-time, but lost 2–1 at Villa Park.

West Ham failed to retain the FA Cup, which they had won the previous season, when they lost to Wrexham in a second replay in the third round. However, they reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup in a run that included a 5–1 victory over Real Madrid's reserve side Castilla played behind closed doors because of crowd trouble.[2] They were eliminated 4–2 on aggregate by the eventual winners, Dinamo Tbilisi.

League table
Main article: 1980–81 Football League § Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 West Ham United (C, P) 42 28 10 4 79 29 +50 66 Promotion to the First Division
2 Notts County (P) 42 18 17 7 49 38 +11 53
3 Swansea City (P) 42 18 14 10 64 44 +20 50 Cup Winners' Cup first round and promotion to the First Division
4 Blackburn Rovers 42 16 18 8 42 29 +13 50
5 Luton Town 42 18 12 12 61 46 +15 48
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

West Ham United's score comes first

Football League Second Division
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
16 August 1980Luton TownH1–227,933Stewart (pen)
19 August 1980Bristol CityA1–113,554Cross
23 August 1980Preston North EndA0–09,063
30 August 1980Notts CountyH4–021,769Cross, Goddard (2), Stewart (pen)
6 September 1980ChelseaA1–032,669Wilkins (o.g.)
13 September 1980Shrewsbury TownH3–022,339King (o.g.), Goddard, Cross
20 September 1980WatfordH3–224,288Cross, Barnes, Brooking
27 September 1980Cambridge UnitedA2–18,591Goddard, Cross
4 October 1980Newcastle UnitedA0–024,848
7 October 1980Cardiff CityH1–020,402Neighbour
11 October 1980Blackburn RoversH2–032,402Cross (2)
18 October 1980Oldham AthleticA0–08,344
25 October 1980Bolton WanderersH2–125,257Walsh (o.g.), Pike
1 November 1980Bristol RoversA1–06,328Goddard
8 November 1980Grimsby TownH2–125,468Cross (2)
11 November 1980Bristol CityH5–025,210Goddard (2), Martin, Brooking, Cross
15 November 1980Luton TownA2–317,031Brooking (2)
22 November 1980Swansea CityH2–025,210Cross, Goddard
26 November 1980Derby CountyA0–218,446
29 November 1980WrexhamA2–28,941Devonshire, Goddard
6 December 1980Sheffield WednesdayH2–130,746Brooking, Holland
13 December 1980Blackburn RoversA0–013,279
20 December 1980Derby CountyH3–124,071Cross, Goddard, Brooking
26 December 1980Queens Park RangersA0–323,811
27 December 1980OrientH2–134,408Holland, Allen
1 January 1981Swansea CityA3–134,408Brooking, Pike, Cross
17 January 1981Notts CountyA1–113,718Holland
31 January 1981Preston North EndH5–026,413Goddard, Pike, Lampard, Devonshire (2)
7 February 1981Shrewsbury TownA2–09,201Devonshire, Cross
14 February 1981ChelseaH4–035,164Brooking (2), Cross, Devonshire
21 February 1981Cambridge UnitedH4–236,002Devonshire, Stewart (2; 1 pen), Goddard
28 February 1981WatfordA2–120,786Cross (2)
7 March 1981Newcastle UnitedH1–026,274Cross
21 March 1981Oldham AthleticH1–124,394Goddard
28 March 1981Bolton WanderersA1–113,271Brooking
4 April 1981Bristol RoversH2–023,544Pike, Goddard
11 April 1981Grimsby TownA5–117,924Cross (4), Pike
18 April 1981OrientA2–014,592Neighbour, Pike
21 April 1981Queens Park RangersH3–024,599Goddard (3)
2 May 1981WrexhamH1–030,515Stewart (pen)
6 May 1981Cardiff CityA0–010,558
8 May 1981Sheffield WednesdayA1–021,087Morgan

FA Cup
Main article: 1980–81 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R33 January 1981WrexhamH1–130,137Stewart (pen)
R3 replay6 January 1981WrexhamA0–0 (aet)13,643
R3 2nd replay19 January 1981WrexhamA0–1 (aet)14,615

League Cup
Main article: 1980–81 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st leg26 August 1980BurnleyA2–06,818Goddard, Cross
R2 2nd leg2 September 1980BurnleyH4–0 (6–0 on agg)15,216Stewart (pen), Goddard, Wood (o.g.), Pike
R323 September 1980Charlton AthleticA2–117,884Cross (2)
R428 October 1980BarnsleyH2–121,548Martin, Cross
QF2 December 1980Tottenham HotspurH1–026,003Cross
SF 1st leg27 January 1981Coventry CityA2–335,468Bonds, Thompson (o.g.)
SF 2nd leg10 February 1981Coventry CityH2–0 (4–3 on agg)36,551Goddard, Neighbour
F14 March 1981LiverpoolN1–1 (aet)100,000Stewart (pen)
F replay1 April 1981LiverpoolN1–226,693Goddard

European Cup Winners' Cup
Main article: 1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R1 1st leg17 September 1980CastillaA1–340,000Cross
R1 2nd leg1 October 1980CastillaH5–1 (aet; 6–4 on agg)0Pike, Cross (3), Goddard, Bernal
R2 1st leg22 October 1980Poli TimișoaraH4–027,257Bonds, Goddard, Stewart (pen), Cross
R2 2nd leg5 November 1980Poli TimișoaraA0–1 (4–1 on agg)25,000Păltinișanu
R3 1st leg4 March 1981Dinamo TbilisiH1–434,957Cross
R3 2nd leg18 March 1981Dinamo TbilisiA1–0 (2–4 on agg)80,000Pearson

Charity Shield
Main article: 1980 FA Charity Shield
DateOpponentResultAttendanceGoalscorers
9 August 1980Liverpool0–190,000McDermott

Squad
No. Player Pos. Eur Apps Eur Gls Lge Apps Lge Gls FAC Apps FAC Gls LC Apps LC Gls CS Apps Date Signed Previous Club
West Ham United 1980-81 First XI
1 England Phil Parkes (Hammer of the Year) GK 6 42 3 9 1 1979 Q.P.R.
2 Scotland Ray Stewart RB 6 1 41 5 3 1 9 2 1 August 1979 Dundee United
3 England Frank Lampard LB 6 38(1) 1 2 8 1964 Academy
4 England Billy Bonds (Captain) CD 6 1 41 3 8 1 1 May 1967 Charlton Athletic
5 England Alvin Martin CD 6 41 1 3 9 1 1 August 1974 Academy
6 England Alan Devonshire LM 4 39 6 3 9 1 September 1976 Southall
7 England Pat Holland RM 3 25 3 2 4 1 April 1969 Academy
8 England Paul Goddard CF 6 2 37 17 3 9 4 1980 Q.P.R.
9 England David Cross CF 6 5 41 22 3 9 5 1 December 1977 West Brom
10 England Trevor Brooking CM 4 (1) 36 10 3 7 1 July 1965 Academy
11 England Geoff Pike CM 6 1 42 6 3 9 1 1 July 1973 Academy
Important Players
7 England Jimmy Neighbour W 4 22(2) 2 0 (1) 4 1 September 1979 Norwich City
3 England Paul Brush LB 1 (3) 8 (3) 1 3 1 1977 Academy
Other Players
11 England Nicky Morgan F 1 (2) 5 (1) 1 1 0 (1) 1978 Academy
7 England Paul Allen RM 1 (1) 1 (2) 1 1 1 (2) 1 1979 Academy
12 England Stuart Pearson F 0 (1) 1 2 (3) 0 (2) August 1979 Manchester United
12 England Bobby Barnes F 0 (1) 1 (5) 1 1 1980 Academy

See also

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. Chris Bevan. "Croatia v England: A 'ghost game' - what is it like to play behind closed doors?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
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