West Ham United FC

With their attractive style of play, claret and blue jerseys and a catchy anthem, West Ham United are certainly a unique beast in the football world. They have a reputation of cup specialists – in addition to winning a Cup Winners' Cup in 1965, they have also claimed three FA Cup trophies. Since the early 50s, the club has been known as "The Academy of Football", with many young and talented players coming through their ranks.

Basic facts

Founded: 1895
Country: England
City: London

Home grounds

Hermit Road (1895-1896)
Browning Road (1896-1897)
Memorial Recreation Ground (1897-1904)
Boleyn Ground (1904-2012)
Olympic Stadium (2012-)

Main trophies

FA Cup: 3
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1

Prominent players

Vic Watson, Geoff Hurst, Trevor Brooking, Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Paul Ince, Rio Ferdinand, Paolo Di Canio, Stuart Pearce, Teddy Sheringham, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Carlos Tevez, Scott Parker, Winston Reid

Club records

Most games played: Billy Bonds (799)
Top goalscorer: Vic Watson (326)

West Ham team
West Ham team in 2015.

History

Even though the club was reformed as West Ham United FC at the turn of the twentieth century, their roots go back to 1885 and the foundation of Thames Ironworks FC. The club was founded by Arnold Hills, the director of the Thames Ironworks shipyard department; the idea was that a football team would improve the relations between the management and the workers. Their humble beginnings as a works team are a big part of West Ham's history, which is most evident in the club's most popular nicknames (the Hammers and the Irons), as well as in the club's crest, which still features a pair of crossed rivet hammers.

In the early years the club played in London League, Southern League and Western League. In 1919, West Ham became a member of the Football League and participated in the second division the first season after the war. Four years later, the team was promoted to the first division. The same year, they would partake in a legendary game. It was the first FA Cup final taking place on Wembley Stadium and the estimated attendance was far over 200,000. In the game, they would fall short to Bolton Wanderers.

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Things starts taking a turn for the better

Up until the 50s, West Ham were a fairly unremarkable club, albeit with a passionate fan base. It wasn't until Ted Fenton took over as manager that things finally started taking a turn for the better; during his eleven years with the club, Fenton made the club's youth school an integral part of the club's identity. This change in philosophy led to West Ham forming a talented team led by Bobby Moore, who would soon become one of the greatest football stars of his era.

The 60s saw the club reap the rewards of their reliance on the youth school. In 1964, West Ham claimed their first major honor by defeating Preston North End in the FA Cup final. The following year, the club would go all the way in the Cup Winners' Cup, outlasting 1860 Munich in the finals with two goals from Alan Seeley.

West Ham won two more FA Cups in 1975 and 1980 before eventually slowing down and retreating from the spotlight. While the club had stuck to their brand of attacking football, they would not win another trophy for the next couple of decades. They remain one of the most consistent sides of English football, however, having never been relegated to the Third Division.

The Premiere League era

In the early Premier League days, West Ham had a talented team with players such as Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, and Joe Cole. The club stayed a midtable club for some years before a relegation 2002-2003 season and when the talents were grabbed by the top clubs. West Ham has, however, managed to establishing themselves in the 2000s as a Premier League team with only brief disruptions.

Olympic Stadium

In 2016, West Ham moved to the new Olympic Stadium after over hundred years at Boleyn Ground. The new Olympic Stadium would swallow 60,000, almost twice the capacity of Boleyn Ground.

Boleyn Ground entrance
Boleyn Ground.

By Martin Wahl

Logo

West Ham logo The logo features a pair of crossed rivet hammers which is part of the club's heritage as a workers team. After a fans vote, the castle in the crest was removed and the letters of the team below the crest was changing position for the 2016-2017 season.

Trivia

Football clubs also founded in 1895

Oldham Athletic AFC logoOldham Athletic AFC

Football clubs ordered after establishment

League statistics

League record

Titles in total: 0
Premier League titles: 0
First participation: 1919-1920

All seasons

Season League Position Points Notes
2018-19 Premier League 10 52  
2017-18 Premier League 13 42  
2016-17 Premier League 11 45  
2015-16 Premier League 7 62  
2014-15 Premier League 12 47  
2013-14 Premier League 17 36  
2012-13 Premier League 10 46  
2011-12 Championship 3 86 Promoted
2010-11 Premier League 20 33 Relegated
2009-10 Premier League 17 35  
2008-09 Premier League 9 51  
2007-08 Premier League 10 49  
2006-07 Premier League 15 41  
2005-06 Premier League 9 55  
2004-05 Championship 6 73 Promoted
2003-04 Championship 4 74  
2002-03 Premier League 18 42 Relegated
2001-02 Premier League 7 53  
2000-01 Premier League 15 42  
1999-00 Premier League 9 55  
1998-99 Premier League 5 57  
1997-98 Premier League 8 56  
1996-97 Premier League 14 42  
1995-96 Premier League 10 51  
1994-95 Premier League 14 50  
1993-94 Premier League 13 52  
1992-93 1st Division 2 88 Promoted
1991-92 1st Division 22 38  
1990-91 2nd Division 2 87 Promoted
1989-90 2nd Division 7 72  
1988-89 1st Division 19 38 Relegated
1987-88 1st Division 16 42  
1986-87 1st Division 15 52  
1985-86 1st Division 3 84  
1984-85 1st Division 16 51  
1983-84 1st Division 9 60  
1982-83 1st Division 8 64  
1981-82 1st Division 9 58  
1980-81 2nd Division 1 66 Promoted
1979-80 2nd Division 7 47  
1978-79 2nd Division 5 50  
1977-78 1st Division 20 32 Relegated
1976-77 1st Division 17 36  
1975-76 1st Division 18 36  
1974-75 1st Division 13 39  
1973-74 1st Division 18 37  
1972-73 1st Division 6 46  
1971-72 1st Division 14 36  
1970-71 1st Division 20 34  
1969-70 1st Division 17 36  
1968-69 1st Division 8 44  
1967-68 1st Division 12 38  
1966-67 1st Division 16 36  
1965-66 1st Division 12 39  
1964-65 1st Division 9 42  
1963-64 1st Division 14 40  
1962-63 1st Division 12 40  
1961-62 1st Division 8 44  
1960-61 1st Division 16 36  
1959-60 1st Division 14 38  
1958-59 1st Division 6 48  
1957-58 2nd Division 1 57 Promoted
1956-57 2nd Division 8 46  
1955-56 2nd Division 16 39  
1954-55 2nd Division 8 46  
1953-54 2nd Division 13 39  
1952-53 2nd Division 14 39  
1951-52 2nd Division 12 41  
1950-51 2nd Division 13 42  
1949-50 2nd Division 19 36  
1948-49 2nd Division 7 46  
1947-48 2nd Division 6 46  
1946-47 2nd Division 12 40  
1939-46 - - - WWII
1938-39 2nd Division 11 44  
1937-38 2nd Division 9 42  
1936-37 2nd Division 6 49  
1935-36 2nd Division 4 52  
1934-35 2nd Division 3 56  
1933-34 2nd Division 7 45  
1932-33 2nd Division 20 35  
1931-32 1st Division 22 31 Relegated
1930-31 1st Division 18 36  
1929-30 1st Division 7 43  
1928-29 1st Division 17 39  
1927-28 1st Division 17 39  
1926-27 1st Division 6 46  
1925-26 1st Division 18 37  
1924-25 1st Division 13 42  
1923-24 1st Division 13 41  
1922-23 2nd Division 2 51 Promoted
1921-22 2nd Division 4 48  
1920-21 2nd Division 5 48  
1919-20 2nd Division 7 47  

Note. The 1939-40 season was abandoned after three rounds and is therefore excluded.

Premier League – facts, stats and history

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ham_United_FC
https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/west-ham-united/
http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/leaked-west-hams-brand-new-club-badge/

Image sources:
1. Josh
2. Fay