For the 1988–89 West Ham United F.C. season in English football, West Ham United finished 19th in the league.

Season summary

The 1988–89 season saw new signings Allen McKnight and David Kelly both begin their West Ham United careers, but neither supplied the club with the kind of form necessary to stay in the top flight.

On 22 March 1989, it looked as though Lyall had come up with the goods to save West Ham's top flight status when he recaptured Frank McAvennie from Glasgow Celtic for a club record fee of £1.1 million – just after the player had turned down the chance to sign for Arsenal, who went on to win the league. However, McAvennie failed to repeat the goalscoring heroics of his first spell at Upton Park as he didn't score a single goal in nine league appearances and the Hammers were relegated despite winning five of their final seven games.

The club finished in 19th place in the First Division and were relegated to the second tier of the Football League.

John Lyall was sacked as manager after 15 years on 5 June 1989, by which time he was the longest serving manager at any League club. It also ended his 34-year service with the club, which had started in 1955 when he signed for them as an apprentice player from school.

League table

Results West Ham United's score comes first

Football League First Division DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 27 August 1988 SouthamptonA0–418,407 3 September 1988 Charlton AthleticH1–319,566Keen (pen) 10 September 1988 WimbledonA1–07,730Ward 17 September 1988 Aston VillaH2–219,186Mountfield (o.g.), Kelly 24 September 1988 Manchester UnitedA0–239,941 1 October 1988 ArsenalH1–427,658Dickens 8 October 1988 MiddlesbroughA0–119,608 15 October 1988 Queens Park RangersA1–214,566Kelly 22 October 1988 Newcastle UnitedH2–017,765Dickens, Stewart (pen) 29 October 1988 LiverpoolH0–230,188 5 November 1988 Coventry CityA1–114,651Kelly 12 November 1988 Nottingham ForestH3–321,583Kelly (2), Rosenior 19 November 1988 Luton TownA1–49,308Martin 26 November 1988 EvertonH0–122,176 3 December 1988 MillwallA1–020,105Ince 10 December 1988 Sheffield WednesdayH0–016,676 17 December 1988 Tottenham HotspurH0–228,365 27 December 1988 Norwich CityA1–217,491Stewart (pen) 31 December 1988 Charlton AthleticA0–011,084 2 January 1989 WimbledonH1–218,346Rosenior 14 January 1989 Derby CountyA2–116,796Kelly, Brady 21 January 1989 Manchester UnitedH1–329,822Brady (pen) 4 February 1989 ArsenalA1–240,139Dicks 25 February 1989 Queens Park RangersH0–017,371 11 March 1989 Coventry CityH1–115,205Ince 25 March 1989 Aston VillaA1–022,471Ince 27 March 1989 Norwich CityH0–227,265 1 April 1989 Tottenham HotspurA0–328,376 8 April 1989 Derby CountyH1–116,560Rosenior 11 April 1989 MiddlesbroughH1–216,217Keen 15 April 1989 SouthamptonH1–214,766Brady (pen) 22 April 1989 MillwallH3–016,603Dicks, Dickens, Parris 3 May 1989 Newcastle UnitedA2–114,202Keen, Ward 6 May 1989 Luton TownH1–018,606Dickens 9 May 1989 Sheffield WednesdayA2–019,905Dickens, Rosenior 13 May 1989 EvertonA1–321,694Slater 18 May 1989 Nottingham ForestA2–120,943Rosenior (2) 23 May 1989 LiverpoolA1–541,855Rosenior

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR38 January 1989 ArsenalH2–222,017Dickens, Bould (o.g.)R3R11 January 1989 ArsenalA1–044,124RoseniorR428 January 1989 Swindon TownA0–018,627R4R1 February 1989 Swindon TownH1–024,723RoseniorR518 February 1989 Charlton AthleticA1–018,785SlaterR618 March 1989 Norwich CityH0–029,119R6R22 March 1989 Norwich CityA1–325,785Ince

League Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR2 1st leg27 September 1988 SunderlandA3–013,691Kelly (2), RoseniorR2 2nd leg12 October 1988 SunderlandH2–1 (won 5–1 on agg)10,558Kelly, DickensR31 November 1988 Derby CountyH5–014,226Martin (2), Stewart (pen), Rosenior, KeenR430 November 1988 LiverpoolH4–126,971Ince (2), Staunton (o.g.), GaleQF18 January 1989 Aston VillaH2–130,110Ince, KellySF112 February 1989 Luton TownH0–324,602SF21 March 1989 Luton TownA0–2 (lost 0–5 on agg)12,020

Squad

NumberPlayerPositionLge AppsLge GlsFAC AppsFAC GlsLC AppsLC GlsDate SignedPrevious clubWest Ham United 1988–89 First XI1Allen McKnightGK23461988Celtic2Steve PottsRB23(5)75 (1)May 1984Academy3Julian DicksLB34267March 1988Birmingham City4Tony GaleCB31561August 1983Fulham5Alvin Martin (Captain)CB271552July 1976Academy6Alan DickensCM34(3)55 (2)1611982Academy7Mark WardRM30235 (1)August 1985Oldham Athletic8David KellyCF21 (4)666 (1)41988Walsall9Leroy RoseniorCF26(2)74252March 1988Fulham10Liam BradyLM21(1)374 (1)March 1987Ascoli11Paul Ince (Hammer of the Year)CM32(1)371731986AcademyImportant Players2George ParrisFB23(4)1131985Academy6Kevin KeenM16(8)30 (5)1 (1)11986Academy9Stuart SlaterM/F16(2)13111987Academy6Alan DevonshireLM14(6)74October 1976Southall1Phil ParkesGK1331February 1979Queens Park Rangers5Paul HiltonCB9 (2)0 (1)21984Bury8Frank McAvennieCF8 (1)March 1989CelticOther Players11Stewart RobsonM61January 1987Arsenal2Ray StewartRB5 (1)2211September 1979Dundee United5Gary StrodderCB4 (3)2 (2)1March 1987Lincoln1Tom McAlisterGK21981Bristol Rovers12Tommy McQueenLB0 (2)March 1987Aberdeen

Transfers

Transfers in Date Position Name From Fee F David Kelly Walsall G Allen McKnight Celtic March 1989 F Frank McAvennie Celtic £1,250,000

Transfers out Date Position Name From Fee F Tony Cottee Everton £2,200,000

See also West Ham United F.C. by season

References