1975–76 West Ham United F.C. season explained

In the 1975–76 season, West Ham United finished in 18th position in the First Division and reached the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Club:West Ham United
Season:1975–76
Manager:John Lyall & Ron Greenwood
Chairman:Reg Pratt
Stadium:Boleyn Ground
League:First Division
League Result:18th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Third round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Fourth round
Cup3:European Cup Winners' Cup
Cup3 Result:Runners-up
League Topscorer:Alan Taylor (13)
Season Topscorer:Alan Taylor (17)
Highest Attendance:39,202 (vs Eintracht Frankfurt, 14 April 1976)
Lowest Attendance:16,769 (vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, 3 April 1976)
Average Attendance:27,345
Prevseason:1974–75
Nextseason:1976–77

Season summary

West Ham United were unbeaten in their first nine League games of the 1975–76 season and occupied second place in the autumn of 1975. However, in an abrupt downturn in form they collected just eight points and won only one League match after Christmas, leaving them in 18th, only six points away from the relegation places. Their FA Cup defence ended in the third round, when they lost at home to Liverpool.[1]

West Ham saved their best form for their third foray into European competition. Despite failing to win any of their away fixtures, they reached the final of the Cup Winners' Cup, losing 4–2 to Anderlecht.[2]

Results

Football League First Division

!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
16 August 1975 Stoke CityA2–123,744Gould, A Taylor
19 August 1975 LiverpoolA2–240,564A Taylor (2)
23 August 1975 BurnleyH3–228,048A Taylor (2), Paddon
25 August 1975 Tottenham HotspurH1–036,567Robson
30 August 1975 Queens Park RangersA1–128,408Jennings
6 September 1975 Manchester CityH1–029,752Lampard
13 September 1975 Leicester CityA3–321,413Bonds, Lampard, Holland
20 September 1975 Sheffield UnitedH2–028,744T Taylor, Best
27 September 1975 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–018,455Paddon
4 October 1975 EvertonH0–131,005
11 October 1975 Newcastle UnitedH2–130,400Curbishley, A Taylor
18 October 1975 MiddlesbroughA0–325,831
25 October 1975 Manchester UnitedH2–138,528A Taylor, Gould
1 November 1975 Birmingham CityA5–128,474Brooking, Pendrey (o.g.), Lampard, A Taylor (2)
8 November 1975 Coventry CityH1–129,501Robson
15 November 1975 Derby CountyA1–231,172Brooking
22 November 1975 MiddlesbroughH2–126,914Jennings, Holland
29 November 1975 ArsenalH1–031,012A Taylor
6 December 1975 Norwich CityA0–127,020
13 December 1975 BurnleyA0–214,907
20 December 1975 Stoke CityH3–121,135Jennings (3)
26 December 1975 Aston VillaA1–451,300Jennings
27 December 1975 Ipswich TownH1–232,741T Taylor (pen)
10 January 1976 Leicester CityH1–124,615A Taylor
17 January 1976 Manchester CityA0–332,147
24 January 1976 Queens Park RangersH1–026,677A Taylor
31 January 1976 LiverpoolH0–426,741
7 February 1976 Tottenham HotspurA1–132,832Brooking
14 February 1976 Coventry CityA0–216,173
21 February 1976 Derby CountyH1–224,941Brooking
23 February 1976 Leeds UnitedH1–128,025A Taylor
28 February 1976 Manchester UnitedA0–457,240
6 March 1976 Birmingham CityH1–219,868Curbishley
9 March 1976 Leeds UnitedA1–128,453Jennings
13 March 1976 Newcastle UnitedA1–232,842Jennings
20 March 1976 ArsenalA1–634,011Jennings
27 March 1976 Norwich CityH0–120,628
3 April 1976 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–016,769
10 April 1976 Sheffield UnitedA2–318,797Jennings (2)
17 April 1976 Aston VillaH2–221,642Robson, Brooking
19 April 1976 Ipswich TownA0–428,217
24 April 1976 EvertonA0–226,101

Charity Shield

See main article: 1975 FA Charity Shield.

!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
9 August 1975 Derby CountyN0–259,000

FA Cup

See main article: 1975–76 FA Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R33 January 1976 LiverpoolH0–232,363

League Cup

See main article: 1975–76 Football League Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R29 September 1975 Bristol CityH0–019,837
R2 replay24 September 1975 Bristol CityA3–119,643Brooking, Best, A Taylor
R38 October 1975 DarlingtonH3–019,844Paddon, Robson, Bonds (pen)
R412 November 1975 Tottenham HotspurA0–049,126
R4 replay24 November 1975 Tottenham HotspurH0–238,443

European Cup Winners' Cup

See main article: 1975–76 European Cup Winners' Cup.

!Round!!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result!!Attendance!!Goalscorers
R1 1st leg17 September 1975 Reipas LahtiA2–24,587Brooking, Bonds
R1 2nd leg1 October 1975 Reipas LahtiH3–0 (5–2 agg.)24,131Robson, Holland, Jennings
R2 1st leg22 October 1975 Ararat YerevanA1–166,662A Taylor
R2 2nd leg5 November 1975 Ararat YerevanH3–1 (4–2 agg.)30,399Paddon, Robson, A Taylor
QF 1st leg3 March 1976 Den HaagA2–426,000Jennings (2)
QF 2nd leg17 March 1976 Den HaagH3–1 (5–5 agg.)29,829A Taylor, Lampard, Bonds
SF 1st leg31 March 1976 Eintracht FrankfurtA1–245,000Paddon
SF 1st leg14 April 1976 Eintracht FrankfurtH3–1 (4–3 agg.)39,202Brooking (2), Robson
F5 May 1976 AnderlechtN2–458,000Holland, Robson

Anglo-Italian League Cup

See main article: Anglo-Italian League Cup.

!Date!!Opponent!!Venue!!Result
3 September 1975 FiorentinaA0–1
10 December 1975 FiorentinaH0-1 (0–2 agg.)

Players

width=1%Numberwidth=1%width=68%Playerwidth=1%Poswidth=1%Eur Appswidth=1%Eur Glswidth=1%Lge Appswidth=1%Lge Glswidth=1%FAC Appswidth=1%FAC Glswidth=1%LC Appswidth=1%LC Glswidth=1%CS Appswidth=1%CS Glswidth=1%Date Signedwidth=13%Previous Club
Cup Winners Cup Final Team
1Mervyn DayGK9411511973Academy
2Keith ColemanRB6 (1)26110 (1)1973Sunderland
3Frank LampardLB913731411967Academy
4Billy Bonds (Capt)CM9217(1)1511967Charlton Athletic
5Tommy TaylorD9422511970Leyton Orient
6John McDowellD736(1)511970Academy
7Pat HollandM723521511969Academy
8Graham PaddonM9239215111973Norwich City
9Billy JenningsF5 (2)326(4)1111 (2)11974Watford
10Trevor Brooking(Hammer of the Year)CM7334514111967Academy
11Keith RobsonW94333410 (1)1974Newcastle United
Substitute
12Alan TaylorCF6 (1)333(2)1314111974Rochdale
Important Players
6Kevin LockCH4261511971Academy
10Alan CurbishleyM1 (1)12(2)111974Academy
6Mick McGivenCH1 (1)6 (1)11973Sunderland
9Bobby GouldF14 (1)211973Bristol City
Other Players
9Clyde BestF5 (2)1211969Academy
12Johnny AyrisRW3 (6)10 (1)11970Academy
11Yılmaz OrhanF51975Aveley
1Bobby FergusonGK11967Kilmarnock
6Alan WoolerM11973Reading
12Geoff PikeM0 (3)1975Academy

Notes and References

  1. Book: Helliar . John . West Ham United: The Elite Era . 2009 . MPG Books Group . Bodmin & King's Lynn . 978-1-905328-68-0 . 4th.
  2. Web site: Carney . Sam . In praise of the Cup Winners' Cup, the competition that was never retained . Guardian . 8 December 2019.