1995–96 West Ham United F.C. season

During the 1995–96 English football season, West Ham United competed in the FA Premier League.

Season summary West Ham progressed further following the previous season's 14th-place finish (and last-minute scramble away from relegation danger) and climbed to 10th place in the final table – their best finish since they came third in 1986. They were never in any danger of going down, but they never looked like challenging for a UEFA Cup spot. Nor did they make much of an impact in the cup competitions, though striker Tony Cottee showed little sign of his advancing years, coming joint top scorer with penalty taking left-back Julian Dicks.

Manager Harry Redknapp spent heavily over the summer, mostly on foreign players, in hope of building a West Ham side capable of chasing European qualification and major trophies.

The season also brought the debut of two teenage players - defender Rio Ferdinand and midfielder Frank Lampard.

Final league table

Results West Ham United's score comes first

Legend WinDrawLoss

FA Premier League DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 19 August 1995 Leeds UnitedH1–222,901Williamson 23 August 1995 Manchester UnitedA1–231,966Bruce (own goal) 26 August 1995 Nottingham ForestA1–126,645Allen 30 August 1995 Tottenham HotspurH1–123,516Hutchison 11 September 1995 ChelseaH1–319,228Hutchison 16 September 1995 ArsenalA0–138,065 23 September 1995 EvertonH2–121,085Dicks (2 pens) 2 October 1995 SouthamptonA0–013,568 16 October 1995 WimbledonA1–09,411Cottee 21 October 1995 Blackburn RoversH1–121,776Dowie 28 October 1995 Sheffield WednesdayA1–023,917Dowie 4 November 1995 Aston VillaH1–423,637Dicks (pen) 18 November 1995 Bolton WanderersA3–019,047Bishop, Cottee, Williamson 22 November 1995 LiverpoolH0–024,324 25 November 1995 Queens Park RangersH1–021,504Cottee 2 December 1995 Blackburn RoversA2–426,638Dicks (pen), Slater 11 December 1995 EvertonA0–331,778 16 December 1995 SouthamptonH2–118,501Cottee, Dowie 23 December 1995 MiddlesbroughA2–428,640Cottee, Dicks 1 January 1996 Manchester CityA1–226,024Dowie 13 January 1996 Leeds UnitedA0–230,658 22 January 1996 Manchester UnitedH0–124,197 31 January 1996 Coventry CityH3–218,884Cottee, Rieper, Dowie 3 February 1996 Nottingham ForestH1–021,257Slater 12 February 1996 Tottenham HotspurA1–029,781Dani 17 February 1996 ChelseaA2–125,252Dicks, Williamson 21 February 1996 Newcastle UnitedH2–023,843Williamson, Cottee 24 February 1996 ArsenalH0–124,217 2 March 1996 Coventry CityA2–217,459Cottee, Rieper 9 March 1996 MiddlesbroughH2–023,850Dowie, Dicks (pen) 18 March 1996 Newcastle UnitedA0–336,331 23 March 1996 Manchester CityH4–224,017Dowie (2), Dicks, Dani 6 April 1996 WimbledonH1–120,402Dicks 8 April 1996 LiverpoolA0–240,326 13 April 1996 Bolton WanderersH1–023,086Cottee 17 April 1996 Aston VillaA1–126,768Cottee 27 April 1996 Queens Park RangersA0–318,828 5 May 1996 Sheffield WednesdayH1–123,790Dicks

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR36 January 1996 Southend UnitedH2–023,284Moncur, HughesR47 February 1996 Grimsby TownH1–122,030DowieR4R14 February 1996 Grimsby TownA0–38,382

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st Leg 20 September 1995 Bristol RoversA1–07,103MoncurR2 2nd Leg 4 October 1995 Bristol RoversH3–0 (won 4–0 on agg)15,375Dicks (pen), Bishop, CotteeR325 October 1995 SouthamptonA1–211,059Cottee

First-team squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Reserve squad

Transfers

In DatePosNameFromFee1 July 1995FWMarco BoogersSparta Rotterdam£1,000,00014 August 1995MFRobbie SlaterBlackburn Rovers£600,0008 September 1995FWIain DowieCrystal Palace£500,0008 September 1995MFStan LazaridisWest Adelaide£300,00011 January 1996GKPeter ShiltonCoventry CityFree transfer29 March 1996GKSteve MautoneCanberra Cosmos£30,000

Out DatePosNameToFee1 July 1995DFJamie VictoryBournemouthFree transfer15 August 1995MFMatty HolmesBlackburn Rovers£1,200,00018 August 1995MFMatthew RushNorwich City£330,0007 September 1995FWJeroen BoereCrystal Palace£375,0003 November 1995FWChris MoorsTorquay UnitedFree transfer16 December 1995GKIan FeuerLuton Town£580,00010 January 1996MFDon HutchisonSheffield United£1,200,0007 February 1996MFDarren CurrieShrewsbury Town£70,00022 February 1996MFMartin AllenPortsmouth£500,00028 March 1996MFPaul MitchellBournemouthFree transfer

Transfers in: £2,430,000 Transfers out: £4,255,000 Total spending: £1,825,000

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