1988–89 West Ham United F.C. season


Season summary

The 1988–89 season saw new signings Allen McKnight and David Kelly both begin their West Ham United careers, but neither supplied the club with the 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 recaptured 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.
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 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.

League table

Results

West Ham United's score comes first

Football League First Division

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R38 January 1989ArsenalH2–222,017Dickens, Bould
R3R11 January 1989ArsenalA1–044,124Rosenior
R428 January 1989Swindon TownA0–018,627
R4R1 February 1989Swindon TownH1–024,723Rosenior
R518 February 1989Charlton AthleticA1–018,785Slater
R618 March 1989Norwich CityH0–029,119
R6R22 March 1989Norwich CityA1–325,785Ince

League Cup

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R2 1st leg27 September 1988SunderlandA3–013,691Kelly, Rosenior
R2 2nd leg12 October 1988SunderlandH2–1 10,558Kelly, Dickens
R31 November 1988Derby CountyH5–014,226Martin, Stewart, Rosenior, Keen
R430 November 1988LiverpoolH4–126,971Ince, Staunton, Gale
QF18 January 1989Aston VillaH2–130,110Ince, Kelly
SF112 February 1989Luton TownH0–324,602
SF21 March 1989Luton TownA0–2 12,020

Squad

Transfers

Transfers in

Transfers out