| Club: | West Ham United |
| Season: | 1981–82 |
| Manager: | John Lyall |
| Chairman: | Len Cearns |
| Stadium: | Boleyn Ground |
| League: | First Division |
| League Result: | First Division 9th |
| Cup1: | FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Fourth round |
| Cup2: | League Cup |
| Cup2 Result: | Third round |
| League Topscorer: | David Cross (16) |
| Season Topscorer: | David Cross (20) |
| Pattern La1: | _dkredshoulders |
| Pattern B1: | _ |
| Pattern Ra1: | _dkredshoulders |
| Leftarm1: | 50b4ff |
| Body1: | 890909 |
| Rightarm1: | 50b4ff |
| Prevseason: | 1980–81 |
| Nextseason: | 1982–83 |
The 1981–82 West Ham United F.C. season was their first season in the First Division after their promotion the previous season. The club was managed by John Lyall and the team captain was Billy Bonds.
The season started well for West Ham and they went unbeaten in their first nine league games. By the end of the year they sat in 7th place in the league. Four defeats in a row in December and January and a slump in form then occurred and they reached a low position of 14th at the end of February 1982. They finished in 9th place having drawn 10 of their home games and 16 games home and away. David Cross was the top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions and 16 in the league. The next highest scorer was Paul Goddard with 17. Ray Stewart made the most appearances; 51 in all competitions.The season saw the only appearance for West Ham by future Liverpool and Ireland player, Ray Houghton and the last West Ham appearance for 1980 FA Cup Final winner with West Ham, Stuart Pearson.[1] [2]
West Ham United's score comes first[3]
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 August 1981 | Brighton and Hove Albion | H | 1–1 | 30,468 | Stewart | |
| 2 September 1981 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 4–0 | 41,200 | Cross (4) | |
| 5 September 1981 | Sunderland | A | 2–0 | 28,347 | Goddard, Cross | |
| 12 September 1981 | Stoke City | H | 3–2 | 28,774 | Stewart, Goddard (2) | |
| 19 September 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–0 | 19,429 | ||
| 22 September 1981 | Southampton | H | 4–2 | 34,026 | Goddard (3), Pike | |
| 26 September 1981 | Liverpool | H | 1–1 | 30,802 | Pike | |
| 3 October 1981 | Birmingham City | A | 2–2 | 22,290 | Cross (2) | |
| 10 October 1981 | Everton | H | 1–1 | 31,608 | Martin | |
| 17 October 1981 | Aston Villa | A | 2–3 | 32,064 | Cross, Brooking | |
| 24 October 1981 | Notts County | A | 1–1 | 12,456 | Brooking | |
| 31 October 1981 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–2 | 27,604 | Stewart, Neighbour, Goddard | |
| 7 November 1981 | Nottingham Forest | A | 0–0 | 26,327 | ||
| 21 November 1981 | Coventry City | H | 5–2 | 26,065 | Stewart, Martin (2), Neighbour, Brooking | |
| 28 November 1981 | Leeds United | A | 3–3 | 25,637 | Cross, Brooking (2) | |
| 5 December 1981 | Arsenal | H | 1–2 | 33,833 | Pearson | |
| 5 January 1982 | Liverpool | A | 0–3 | 28,427 | ||
| 16 January 1982 | Brighton and Hove Albion | A | 0–1 | 22,591 | ||
| 27 January 1982 | Manchester United | A | 0–1 | 41,291 | ||
| 30 January 1982 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–1 | 24,423 | Goddard, Cross (2) | |
| 2 February 1982 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | 26,522 | Bonds | |
| 6 February 1982 | Stoke City | A | 1–2 | 11,987 | Van der Elst | |
| 13 February 1982 | Birmingham City | H | 2–2 | 22,512 | Stewart, Orr | |
| 20 February 1982 | Southampton | A | 1–2 | 24,026 | Stewart | |
| 27 February 1982 | Everton | A | 0–0 | 28,598 | ||
| 2 March 1982 | Ipswich Town | A | 2–0 | 24,846 | Devonshire, Van der Elst | |
| 6 March 1982 | Aston Villa | H | 2–2 | 26,894 | Stewart, Van der Elst | |
| 13 March 1982 | Notts County | H | 1–0 | 22,145 | Stewart | |
| 20 March 1982 | Middlesbrough | A | 3–2 | 12,134 | Goddard (2), Van der Elst | |
| 27 March 1982 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–1 | 24,633 | ||
| 30 March 1982 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 20,272 | Van der Elst | |
| 3 April 1982 | Manchester City | A | 1–0 | 30,875 | Goddard | |
| 6 April 1982 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 20,651 | Martin, Goddard (2) | |
| 10 April 1982 | Swansea City | H | 1–1 | 26,566 | Goddard | |
| 13 April 1982 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–3 | 29,050 | Cross (2) | |
| 17 April 1982 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 13,446 | ||
| 24 April 1982 | Leeds United | H | 4–3 | 24,478 | Stewart, Cross, Brooking (2) | |
| 1 May 1982 | Arsenal | A | 0–2 | 34,977 | ||
| 4 May 1982 | Sunderland | H | 1–1 | 17,130 | Stewart | |
| 8 May 1982 | Manchester United | H | 1–1 | 26,377 | Cross | |
| 10 May 1982 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–2 | 27,667 | Goddard, Brooking | |
| 15 May 1982 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 13,283 | Cross |
See main article: 1981–82 FA Cup.
| R3 | 2 January 1982 | Everton | H | 2–1 | 24,431 | Bonds, Cross | |
| R4 | 23 January 1982 | Watford | A | 0–2 | 27,004 |
See main article: 1981–82 Football League Cup.
| R2 First Leg | 7 October 1981 | Derby County | A | 3–2 | 13,764 | Stewart, Cross, Brooking | |
| R2 Second Leg | 27 October 1981 | Derby County | H | 2–0 (won 5–2 on agg) | 21,043 | Goddard (2) | |
| R3 | 10 November 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2–2 | 24,168 | Stewart, Cross | |
| R3 Replay | 24 November 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–1 aet | 15,869 | Stewart | |
| R3 2nd Replay | 1 December 1981 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 0–1 | 24,760 |