During the 1996–97 English football season, West Ham United competed in the FA Premier League.
Season summary The season began with much excitement at Upton Park, as a whole host of foreign signings arrived. However, most of the acquisitions were short-lived and unsuccessful. Romanian striker Florin Răducioiu walked out in mid-season after scoring just two goals and Portuguese winger Paulo Futre played just nine games for the club before giving in to a knee injury and announcing his retirement in November.
It was a season of struggle for Harry Redknapp's team, but in the end, a new wave of players helped to keep West Ham in the FA Premier League on the last day of the season. Exciting young defender Rio Ferdinand broke into the side, while newly signed strikers Paul Kitson and John Hartson gave the attack the boost that Răducioiu and Futre had failed to deliver.
Final league table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Results West Ham United's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 17 August 1996 ArsenalA0–238,056 21 August 1996 Coventry CityH1–121,580Rieper 24 August 1996 SouthamptonH2–121,227M Hughes, Dicks (pen) 4 September 1996 MiddlesbroughA1–430,060M Hughes 8 September 1996 SunderlandA0–018,642 15 September 1996 WimbledonH0–221,294 21 September 1996 Nottingham ForestA2–023,352Bowen, M Hughes 29 September 1996 LiverpoolH1–225,064Bilić 12 October 1996 EvertonA1–236,571Dicks (pen) 19 October 1996 Leicester CityH1–022,285Moncur 26 October 1996 Blackburn RoversH2–123,947Berg (own goal), Porfírio 2 November 1996 Tottenham HotspurA0–132,999 16 November 1996 Newcastle UnitedA1–136,552Rowland 23 November 1996 Derby CountyH1–124,576Bishop 30 November 1996 Sheffield WednesdayA0–022,321 4 December 1996 Aston VillaH0–219,105 8 December 1996 Manchester UnitedH2–225,045Răducioiu, Dicks (pen) 21 December 1996 ChelseaA1–328,315Porfírio 28 December 1996 SunderlandH2–024,077Bilić, Răducioiu 1 January 1997 Nottingham ForestH0–122,358 11 January 1997 LiverpoolA0–040,102 20 January 1997 Leeds UnitedH0–219,441 29 January 1997 ArsenalH1–224,382Rose (own goal) 1 February 1997 Blackburn RoversA1–221,994Ferdinand 15 February 1997 Derby CountyA0–118,057 24 February 1997 Tottenham HotspurH4–323,998Dicks (2, 1 pen), Kitson, Hartson 1 March 1997 Leeds UnitedA0–130,575 12 March 1997 ChelseaH3–224,502Dicks, Kitson (2) 15 March 1997 Aston VillaA0–035,992 18 March 1997 WimbledonA1–115,771Lazaridis 22 March 1997 Coventry CityA3–122,291Hartson (2), Ferdinand 9 April 1997 MiddlesbroughH0–023,988 12 April 1997 SouthamptonA0–215,244 19 April 1997 EvertonH2–224,525Kitson (2) 23 April 1997 Leicester CityA1–020,327Moncur 3 May 1997 Sheffield WednesdayH5–124,960Kitson (3), Hartson (2) 6 May 1997 Newcastle UnitedH0–024,617 11 May 1997 Manchester UnitedA0–255,249
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR34 January 1997 WrexhamA1–19,747PorfírioR3R25 January 1997 WrexhamH0–116,763
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 18 September 1996 BarnetA1–13,849CotteeR2 2nd Leg 25 September 1996 BarnetH1–015,264BilićR323 October 1996 Nottingham ForestH4–119,402Dowie (2), Porfírio, Dicks (pen)R427 November 1996 Stockport CountyH1–120,061RăducioiuR4R18 December 1996 Stockport CountyA1–29,834Dicks
First-team squad
Left club during season
Statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center|Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players who left the club permanently or on loan during the season
References