1986–87 West Ham United F.C. season

For the 1986–87 West Ham United F.C. season in English football, West Ham United finished 15th in the league.

Season summary John Lyall had made no signings during the close season, and it stayed that way until Stewart Robson was added in January. He was joined two months later by other new signings Gary Strodder, Tommy McQueen and Ireland international Liam Brady.

In this season which saw many player ravaged by injury, several academy players got their chance to play, including Kevin Keen, Paul Ince and future captain Steve Potts.

The West Ham fans were so disappointed with the team's underachievement during the season that Billy Bonds was voted Hammer of the Year, even though he only made 17 league and 7 cup appearances for the team.

Tony Cottee was the club's top scorer with 22 league goals and 28 in all competitions, but his strike partner Frank McAvennie disappointed with just seven league goals (11 in all competitions) after being the top flight's second-highest scorer the previous campaign. This was a large factor in the Hammers finishing a lowly 15th in the league, just a year after finishing third and being just four points short of their first top division title.

League table

Results West Ham United's score comes first

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 23 August 1986 Coventry CityH1–021,368Gale 25 August 1986 Manchester UnitedA3–243,306McAvennie (2), Devonshire 30 August 1986 Oxford UnitedA0–011,684 2 September 1986 Nottingham ForestH1–221,305McAvennie 6 September 1986 LiverpoolH2–529,807Stewart (pen), Cottee 13 September 1986 Queens Park RangersA3–219,257Cottee (3) 20 September 1986 Luton TownH2–019,133Parris, Gale 27 September 1986 Sheffield WednesdayA2–225,715Martin, Orr 4 October 1986 WatfordA2–217,120Dickens, McAvennie 11 October 1986 ChelseaH5–326,859McAvennie, Stewart (2 pen), Cottee (2) 18 October 1986 Norwich CityA1–122,884Goddard 25 October 1986 Charlton AthleticH1–324,141Cottee 2 November 1986 EvertonH1–019,094Dickens 8 November 1986 ArsenalA0–036,084 15 November 1986 WimbledonA1–019,094Cottee 22 November 1986 Aston VillaH1–121,959Cottee 30 November 1986 Newcastle UnitedA0–422,077 6 December 1986 SouthamptonH3–118,111Ince, Devonshire, Cottee (pen) 13 December 1986 Manchester CityA1–319,067Martin 20 December 1986 Queens Park RangersH1–117,290Cottee (pen) 26 December 1986 Tottenham HotspurA0–439,019 27 December 1986 WimbledonH2–319,122Cottee, Hilton 1 January 1987 Leicester CityH4–116,625Cottee (2), Dickens, McAvennie 3 January 1987 LiverpoolA0–141,286 24 January 1987 Coventry CityA3–114,191Cottee (3) 7 February 1987 Oxford UnitedH0–115,220 14 February 1987 Nottingham ForestA1–119,373Stewart (pen) 28 February 1987 Luton TownA1–211,101Cottee 7 March 1987 Charlton AthleticA1–210,100Robson 14 March 1987 Norwich CityH0–221,531 21 March 1987 ChelseaA0–125,386 24 March 1987 Sheffield WednesdayH0–213,514 28 March 1987 WatfordH1–016,485Parris 8 April 1987 ArsenalH3–126,174Cottee (2; 1 pen), Brady 11 April 1987 EvertonA0–435,731 14 April 1987 Manchester UnitedH0–023,486 18 April 1987 Leicester CityA0–210,434 20 April 1987 Tottenham HotspurH2–123,971McAvennie, Cottee (pen) 25 April 1987 Aston VillaA0–413,584 2 May 1987 Newcastle UnitedH1–117,844Ward 4 May 1987 SouthamptonA0–116,810 9 May 1987 Manchester CityH2–018,413Cottee, Brady

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR310 January 1987 OrientA1–119,225HiltonR3R31 January 1987 OrientH4–119,424Parris, Keen, McAvennie, CotteeR49 February 1987 Sheffield UnitedH4–017,194McAvennie (2), Robson, GaleR521 February 1987 Sheffield WednesdayA1–1McAvennie 10'R5R25 February 1987 Sheffield WednesdayH0–2

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st leg23 September 1986 Preston North EndA1–113,153WardR2 2nd leg7 October 1986 Preston North EndH4–1 (won 5–2 on agg)12,742Cottee (3), DickensR329 October 1986 WatfordA3–217,523Goddard, Dickens, WardR418 November 1986 Oxford UnitedH1–020,530Cottee (pen)R527 January 1987 Tottenham HotspurH1–129,477CotteeR5R2 February 1987 Tottenham HotspurA0–541,995

Squad

NumberPlayerPositionLge AppsLge GlsFAC AppsFAC GlsLC AppsLC GlsDate SignedPrevious clubWest Ham United 1986–87 First XI1Phil ParkesGK3356February 1979Queens Park Rangers2Ray StewartRB23433September 1979Dundee United3George ParrisLB35(1)15161985Academy4Tony GaleCB322414August 1983Fulham5Billy Bonds (Captain) (Hammer of the Year)CB13(4)3 (1)1 (2)1967Charlton6Alan DevonshireLM20234October 1976Southall7Mark WardRM371562August 1985Oldham Athletic8Frank McAvennieCF367445June 1985St Mirren9Alan DickensCM31(5)32 (1)421982Academy10Tony CotteeCF42225165September 1982Academy11Neil OrrCM21(1)114January 1982MortonImportant Players11Stewart RobsonM182312January 1987Arsenal5Alvin MartinCB16213July 1976Academy5Paul HiltonCB15(1)1214 (1)1984Bury2Steve WalfordLB13(1)34 (1)August 1983Norwich6Liam BradyM122March 1987Ascoli5Gary StrodderCB12March 1987Lincoln9Geoff PikeM10(1)41September 1974Academy6Kevin KeenM7 (6)1 (1)121986Academy6Paul InceM7 (3)111986AcademyOther Players1Tom McAlisterGK91981Bristol Rovers3Tommy McQueenLB9March 1987Aberdeen2Steve PottsRB8May 1984Academy8Paul GoddardCF3 (1)1111980Queens Park Rangers12Eamonn DolanCF0 (1)1986Academy

References