West Ham

West Ham Club Overview

West Ham United is an English Football Club currently competing in the Premier League. The club is based in Upton Park, East London and has been playing its home game at the Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904. Originally founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks F.C, they joined the Football League in 1919. 3 times winners of the FA Cup, they also won the 1965 Cup Winners Cup and the 1999 Intertoto Cup. They reached their best position in the English Premier league in 1986 with a 3rd place finish. West Ham United is also known as 'the Irons' or 'the Hammers'.

West Ham History

In 1895, local referee and foreman Dave Taylor and owner Arnold Hills created the Thames Ironworks work team. Thames Ironworks F.C were the first winners ever of the West Ham Charity Cup in 1895. 2 years later, they won the London League. In 1898, they turned professional and entered the Southern League Second division, being promoted to Division 1 at their first attempt! Despite finishing next to last the following season, they managed to win 5-1 against Fullham in a relegation play-off to stay in the First Division.

In June 1900, following growing disputes over the running and financing of the club, Thames Ironworks F.C was wound up. On July 5, 1900, West Ham United was created and Syd King was appointed as their first manager. In 1904, the Hammers moved to a new location: the new ground was originally named ‘The Castle’, but the club eventually built a 20,000 capacity stadium with 2000 seats and named it the Boleyn Ground. That year, the club crest was also renewed: it incorporated the crossed hammers of the old Thames Ironworks emblem, and introduced the "castle" in the background because the land they played on was home to an old Tudor castle for Anne Boleyn. The Hammers baptized their new stadium on September 2, 1904 in a 3-0 wins over rivals Millwall F.C. In 1907, after being crowned champions of the Western League Division 1B, West Ham defeated 1A champions Fulham 1-0 and became the Western Leagues Overall Champions!

In 1919, the team won election to the Football League Second Division for the 1st post-war season. 4 years later, in 1923, the Hammers were promoted to Division 1. Moreover, they took part in the first ever FA Cup and even reached the final. They played against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley and lost 2-0. They enjoyed 11 top flight seasons, though regularly in the lower half, reaching the 1927 FA Cup semi-finals. However, in 1932, they were relegated in Second Division. After serving the club for 32 years, manager Syd King was sacked and died a few months later, taking is own life. He was replaced by his former assistant Charlie Paynter, who would eventually serve the club until 1950 for a total of 480 games. Despite wining the 1940 War Cup, West Ham spent most of the next 30 years in Division 2, first managed by Paynter and then by former player Ted Fenton. Finally, in 1958, thanks to Fenton and striker John Dick, the Hammers were back in First Division.

Appointed in 1961 as Fenton’s successor, Ron Greenwood led the club to their 1st major trophy, wining the 1964 FA Cup 3-2 over Preston North End, thanks to Ronnie Boyce who scored in the last seconds of the game. A year later, West Ham won their first European competition, the 1965 Cup Winners’ Cup: they won the final 2-0 against 1860 Munich at Wembley. The following year, they managed to reach the FA Cup Final, but they lost 6-3 on aggregate to West Bromwich Albion. In the 1966 World Cup, most of the England National Team squad was composed with West Ham players including international captain Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, who scored the only ever hat-trick to date in a World Cup Final! Over the next few years, Greenwood built a new team based on the Youth Centre. He signed some of the club best known: Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard Sr., Ken Brown, Johnny Byrne…

In 1975, Greenwood became General Manager and appointed his assistant John Lyall as team manager. In his first season, Lyall led the Hammers to another FA Cup success, after wining the final against Fullham. He then led them to the 1976 Cup Winners’ Cup Final, losing 4-2 to Anderlecht. Despite being relegated in Second Division in 1978, they won the 1980 FA Cup, becoming the only team outside the top division to do so. They won the final 1-0 over Arsenal. In 1981, they were back in the top-flight, achieving their highest league finish in 1986 with a 3rd place. However, Lyall was sacked in 1989 as they were relegated to Second Division.

Appointed as new manager, Lou Macari spent less than a season with the Hammers and was replaced by former West Ham player Billy Bonds. In his first season, he led them to Division 1, but they were relegated the following year, missing the inaugural season of the new Premier League. They were promoted again in 1993.

In 1994, Bonds left, being replaced by Harry Redknapp, who was also a former West Ham player. One of his first moves was to sign Julian Dicks. In the final day of the 1994-1995 season, West Ham avoided relegation as they hold Manchester United to a 1-1 draw, denying them a third successive Premiership title! West Ham finished 5th in the 1998-1999 season. Moreover, they won the Intertoto Cup and qualified for the UEFA Cup. At the end of the 2000-2001 season, Redknapp was sacked after several disagreements with the board of directors, being replaced by Glenn Roeder.

In Roeder’s first season, the team finished 7th. However, they were relegated the following season and Roeder was fired in August 2003. Under new manager Alan Pardew, the Hammers would eventually return to the Premiership in 2005: they finished 9th and even managed to reach the FA Cup Final, losing against favourites Liverpool in a penalty shootout! At the end of the 2006 transfer window, Caros Tevez and Javier Mascherano joined West Ham from Brazilian club Corinthians. On November 21, 2006, West Ham announced the sale of the club to Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnússon for £85m. A few days later, Pardew was sacked and replaced by Alan Curbishley. The Hammers avoided relegation by wining 7 of their last 9 games, including a 1-0 win over Arsenal and also over newly crowned League Champions Manchester United, securing a position in 15th.

Club Rivalries

West Ham has strong rivalries with other London clubs, especially Millwall, Tottenham and Arsenal.

Millwall

The rivalry with Millwall is the oldest and the strongest. Since the 19th century, it has involved violence and is one of the most notorious within the world of football hooliganism. There is even a movie about it, called ‘Green Street Hooligan’!

Stars of the Current Squad

Lucas Neill is an Australian defender. He started his professional career in 1995 with Millwall, making 174 appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals. In 2001, he signed with Blackburn Rovers. Combative, very determined, he has played in all defensive positions. In January 2007, Neill joined West Ham, despite a £2 million bid from Liverpool. On February 10, 2007, he made his debut for the Hammers against Watford. On March 4, he captained the team for the first time. Since Nigel Reo-Coker's transfer to Aston Villa, he has been the captain of West Ham.

Fredrik Ljungberg is a Swedish winger. He started his professional career in 1994 for Swedish club Halmstad and made 139 appearances, scoring16 goals. In 1998, he moved to Arsenal and the Premiership for £3 million. He made an amazing debut for the Gunners, scoring in his first game against rival Manchester United. However, he has had a lot of injury problems, which would eventually result in a move to West Ham. On July 23, 2007 Ljunberg signed a four-year contract with the Hammers for a £3 million fee. He made his debut on August 11, 2007 against Manchester City and was the captain of the team for his first cap!

Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English defender, like his brother Rio Ferdinand. He joined West Ham Youth Centre in December 2002 and made his full debut in August 2003. In the final day of the 2004-2004 season, he scored the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Watford as West Ham booked a play-off spot. In January 2006, he was named Premier League Player of the Month. Injured during the first half of the 2007/08 season, he came back on December 29 to play against his brother’s Manchester United side and scored the equaliser: West Ham won the game 2-1.

Coach: Alan Curbishley is a manager and a former midfielder. He played for West Ham from 1975 to 1979, wining the 1975 FA Cup. From 1991 to 2006, he was managing Charlton. In December 2006, he joined West Ham, leading them to win 7 of their last 9 games, including wins against Arsenal and Manchester United!

Club Legends

Geoff Hurst is a former striker. He started his professional career in 1959, playing for West Ham United. Initially a strong-running midfielder, he was converted to a centre forward by Ron Greenwood. He won the 1964 FA Cup and the 1965 Cup Winners’ Cup with the Hammers. He also played for the England National Team and won the 1966 World Cup: moreover, he is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup Final! He spent 13 years with West Ham, from 1959 to 1973, making 502 appearances and scoring 252 goals!

Billy Bonds is a former defender/midfielder. He started his professional career in 1964 for Charlton. In 1967, West Ham manager Ron Greenwood signed him for a £50,000 fee. In his first 2 seasons, he played 124 consecutive league games until injury ended his run of appearances. In 1974, he was appointed to the captaincy after Bobby Moore’s departure and led the Hammers to win the 1975 FA Cup. He played in 793 games for the Hammers and spent 27 years with them, as player and manager.

Bobby Moore was a defender who captained West Ham for more than 10 years. He joined the Hammers Youth Centre in 1956 and started playing in the first team in 1958. Well-known for his reading of the game, Pelé even called him the fairest defender he had ever played against. Winner of the 1964 FA Cup and the 1965 Cup Winners’ Cup, Moore played his last game for the Hammers in 1974, leaving the club with a personal record of 646 appearances! He then joined Fullham, spending 3 years with them. Moore was also the captain of the England Team who won the 1966 World Cup. Moreover, he earned 108 caps with England, the second most-capped player in the team’s history. He retired from professional football in 1978. Moore died on February 24, 1993.

Most Appearances

Most Goals

Player Recognition & Awards

Bobby Moore

• FIFA Player of the Year – 1964

Team Honours

• FA Cups (3): 1964, 1975, 1980
• Charity Shield: 1964
• Cup Winners’ Cup: 1965
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Club Management

On November 21, 2006, Icelandic businessman Eggert Magnússon bought West Ham United for £85 million. However, about a year later, he left West Ham and sold his residual to Björgólfur Guðmundsson, another Icelandic businessman.

• Owner: Björgólfur Guðmundsson
• Chairman: Björgólfur Guðmundsson
• Head Coach: Alan Curbishley

West Ham Uniforms

The original colours of the team were dark blue: in fact, chairman Arnold Hills was an ‘Oxford Blue’. In 1899, they adopted their now traditional home kit of claret shirts and sky blue sleeves.

Boleyn Ground / Upton Park Stadium

The Boleyn Ground, also known as Upton Park, has been West Ham’s stadium since 1904. Prior to this, the Hammers were playing at Hermit Road, and then moved to the Memorial Grounds in 1897. Nowadays, the stadium has a capacity of 35,303.

West Ham Sponsors

• XL Holidays
• Umbro
• Carlsberg
• BBC London

Important West Ham Links

• http://www.whufc.com/page/Home (Official team site)
• http://www.premierleague.com/ (Official league site)
• http://www.whufc.com/page/TicketNews/0,,12562,00.html (Official ticket site)
• http://www.whufc.com/page/StadiumInformation/0,,12562,00.html (Stadium home page)

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ham_United_F.C.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Neill
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ham_United_F.C._appearance_records
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Ham_United_F.C._goal_records
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Ljungberg
• http://www.whufc.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,12562~23285,00.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Hurst
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bonds
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Moore
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Curbishley