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1985–86 West Ham United F.C. season

West Ham United
1985–86 season
ChairmanLen Cearns
ManagerJohn Lyall
StadiumBoleyn Ground
First Division3rd
FA CupSixth round
Milk CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Frank McAvennie (26)
All:
Frank McAvennie (28)
Highest home attendance31,121 vs Ipswich Town (30 April 1986)
Lowest home attendance9,282 vs Swansea City (24 September 1985 League Cup)
Average home league attendance21,179

The 1985–1986 season saw manager John Lyall lead West Ham United (known as "The Hammers") to their highest ever league finish, coming a close third behind Liverpool and Everton. They won 26 of their 42 games and finished with 84 points, two behind Everton and four behind eventual double winners Liverpool. The Hammers team of 1985–86 became known as The Boys of 86.

Events of the season

August

The most notable pre-season changes to the West Ham side were midfielder Mark Ward and striker Frank McAvennie, signed from Oldham Athletic and St Mirren respectively.[1][2]

Both players made their debuts on the opening day of the season in a 1–0 defeat by Birmingham City at St Andrew's.[3] McAvennie played in midfield, but an injury to Paul Goddard gave the Scot the opportunity to establish himself as first choice strike partner to Tony Cottee, who was in his third full season as a regular player despite only being 21.

It was a slow start to the season for the Hammers as they managed just one win from their five games in August, a 3–1 defeat of London rivals Queens Park Rangers in which McAvennie scored his first two goals for the club. He added two more in a 2–2 draw with Liverpool on 31 August. The month ended with West Ham lying 17th in a table led by Manchester United, who had a 100% record.[4][5][6]

September

Things got better for the Hammers in September, as they completed the month unbeaten in the league, beating Leicester City 3–0 and Nottingham Forest 4–2 at Upton Park, and drawing at Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City.[7][8][9][10][11] They began their Milk Cup involvement by winning 3–0 at home to Swansea City in the second round first leg.[12] The Hammers ended September in 13th place.[13]

October

October was another successful month, as the Hammers completed an aggregate win over Swansea in the Milk Cup and also managed league successes over Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town which helped them climb to seventh by the end of the month.[11][14][15][16][17] Manchester United still led the table, 10 points ahead of nearest challengers Liverpool and 15 ahead of the Hammers.[18] Disappointment came in the Milk Cup on 29 October with a third round exit at Old Trafford. [19]

November

The Hammers muscled in on the title challenge by winning all five of their games in November, bookended by a 2–1 win over defending champions Everton and a 4–0 demolition of relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion. The Hammers ended the month in third place, a mere five points behind leaders Manchester United, raising hopes that the league title would arrive at the club at long last.[20]

Frank McAvennie was now the Football League's highest scorer with 17 First Division goals.

December

December was a mixed month for West Ham. They managed wins over Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham, but were held to a goalless draw at Luton Town and then beaten 1–0 by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day. The Hammers were still third in the league as 1985 drew to a close, level on points with second placed Liverpool and four adrift of a Manchester United side whose title bid appeared to be slowly falling apart after a blistering start to the season.[21]

January

1986 began on a high note for the Hammers, as they eliminated neighbours Charlton Athletic from the FA Cup in the third round before winning 1–0 at Leicester in the league the following weekend. However, their title hopes suffered a blow in the next game on 18 January when they lost 3–1 to Liverpool at Anfield. They now found themselves fifth in the league and seven points behind leaders Manchester United, albeit with a game in hand.[22]

The month ended with a goalless home draw against struggling Ipswich in the FA Cup fourth round.

February

The Hammers' 2–1 win over Manchester United on 2 February proved to be the turning point in the title race, as Ron Atkinson's side were deposed from the top of the table for the first time, allowing Everton go top. The FA Cup replay against Ipswich at Portman Road ended in another draw before West Ham won a second replay 1–0 in extra time. Due to severe weather, however, there was no more action for the Hammers that month.

March

West Ham went head to head with Manchester United in the race for the double as the two met in the FA Cup fifth round. The first match at Upton Park ended in a 1–1 draw, but the Hammers won the replay 2–0 at Old Trafford. However, the double dream died in the quarter-finals three days later when they were beaten 2–1 at Sheffield Wednesday.[23]

The league title dream also appeared to be on the wane when the Hammers lost their next two games, but they ended the month on a high by avenging Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 before demolishing Chelsea 4–0 at Stamford Bridge[24] (making a huge dent to their London rivals' title ambitions) and beating Tottenham 2–1 at Upton Park.[25]

As March ended, the title challenge was firmly back on track – the Hammers were fifth in the league, 10 points adrift of leaders Liverpool but with the advantage of five games in hand.[26]

April

April 1986 was one of the most memorable months in the history of West Ham United Football Club.

It began on a disappointing note with a 2–1 defeat at Nottingham Forest, but the Hammers showed no sign of tiredness and went into overdrive by winning eight of their next nine games, including an 8–1 demolition of Newcastle in which Alvin Martin joined the select group of defenders to score a hat-trick, scoring each goal against a different Newcastle goalkeeper!.[27] They ended the month in third place, four points behind leaders Liverpool but with a game in hand. There was still a chance of title glory.[28]

May

The final Saturday of the league season saw the Hammers win 3–2 at doomed West Bromwich Albion,[29] but on the same day Liverpool sealed the title by winning at Chelsea. West Ham's final match of the season would be a straight shoot-out for second place between them and Everton.[30] The contest was won by Everton, who triumphed 3–1.

Everton's prolific striker Gary Lineker also defeated Frank McAvennie in the contest for the title as First Division leading goalscorer, with Lineker on 30 goals and McAvennie on 26.[31] West Ham had the best home record of all teams in the First Division in the 1985–86 season. Of 21 games they won 17 and lost only two.[32]

There would be no chance of a UEFA Cup challenge the following season, as UEFA voted for the ban on English clubs in European competitions (imposed the previous year in the wake of the Heysel disaster) to continue for a second season. On a more positive note, West Ham held onto their key players for the 1986–87 season, despite a growing trend for the league's top players to move abroad in order to be able to play in European competitions.

League table

Main article: 1985–86 Football League § First Division

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Liverpool (C) 42 26 10 6 89 37 +52 88 Disqualified from the European Cup[33]
2 Everton[a] 42 26 8 8 87 41 +46 86 Disqualified from the European Cup Winners' Cup[34]
3 West Ham United 42 26 6 10 74 40 +34 84 Disqualified from the UEFA Cup[35]
4 Manchester United 42 22 10 10 70 36 +34 76
5 Sheffield Wednesday[b] 42 21 10 11 63 54 +9 73
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Since the FA Cup winners, Liverpool, would have instead qualified for the European Cup, qualification would have instead been passed down to runners-up Everton.
  2. ^ Since Everton would have instead qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup qualification would have been passed down to Sheffield Wednesday.

Results

West Ham United's score comes first

Football League First Division

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
17 August 1985 Birmingham City A 0–1 11,164
20 August 1985 Queens Park Rangers H 3–1 15,530 McAvennie (2), Dickens
24 August 1985 Luton Town H 0–1 14,104
26 August 1985 Manchester United A 0–2 50,773
31 August 1985 Liverpool H 2–2 19,762 McAvennie (2)
3 September 1985 Southampton A 1–1 14,477 McAvennie
7 September 1985 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–2 19,287 McAvennie, Cottee
14 September 1985 Leicester City H 3–0 12,125 McAvennie, Devonshire, Cottee
21 September 1985 Manchester City A 2–2 22,001 Cottee, McCarthy (o.g.)
28 September 1985 Nottingham Forest H 4–2 14,540 Cottee, McAvennie (2), Dickens
5 October 1985 Newcastle United A 2–1 26,709 McAvennie, Cottee
12 October 1985 Arsenal H 0–0 24,057
19 October 1985 Aston Villa H 4–1 15,034 McAvennie (2), Cottee (2)
26 October 1985 Ipswich Town A 1–0 16,849 Cottee
2 November 1985 Everton H 2–1 23,844 McAvennie (2)
9 November 1985 Oxford United A 2–1 13,140 Cottee, Ward
16 November 1985 Watford H 2–1 21,490 McAvennie, Ward
23 November 1985 Coventry City A 1–0 11,042 McAvennie
30 November 1985 West Bromwich Albion H 4–0 16,325 Cottee, Parris, Devonshire, Orr
7 December 1985 Queens Park Rangers A 1–0 23,836 McAvennie
14 December 1985 Birmingham City H 2–0 17,481 McAvennie, Stewart (pen)
21 December 1985 Luton Town A 0–0 14,599
26 December 1985 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–1 33,835
11 January 1986 Leicester City A 1–0 11,359 McAvennie
18 January 1986 Liverpool A 1–3 41,056 Dickens
2 February 1986 Manchester United H 2–1 22,642 Ward, Cottee
15 March 1986 Arsenal A 0–1 31,240
19 March 1986 Aston Villa A 1–2 11,579 Hunt (o.g.)
22 March 1986 Sheffield Wednesday H 1–0 16,604 McAvennie
29 March 1986 Chelsea A 4–0 29,955 Devonshire, Cottee (2), McAvennie
31 March 1986 Tottenham Hotspur H 2–1 27,497 Cottee, McAvennie
2 April 1986 Nottingham Forest A 1–2 17,498 Cottee
8 April 1986 Southampton H 1–0 22,459 Martin
12 April 1986 Oxford United H 3–1 23,956 Trewick (o.g.), McAvennie, Stewart (pen)
15 April 1986 Chelsea H 1–2 29,361 Cottee
19 April 1986 Watford A 2–0 16,651 Cottee, McAvennie
21 April 1986 Newcastle United H 8–1 24,735 Martin (3; 1 pen), Stewart, Orr, Roeder (o.g.), Goddard, McAvennie
26 April 1986 Coventry City H 1–0 27,251 Cottee
28 April 1986 Manchester City H 1–0 27,153 Stewart (pen)
30 April 1986 Ipswich Town H 2–1 31,131 Dickens, Stewart (pen)
3 May 1986 West Bromwich Albion A 3–2 17,651 McAvennie, Cottee, Stewart (pen)
5 May 1986 Everton A 1–3 40,073 Cottee

FA Cup

Main article: 1985–86 FA Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R3 5 January 1986 Charlton Athletic A 1–0 13,037 Cottee
R4 25 January 1986 Ipswich Town H 0–0 25,035
R4R 4 February 1986 Ipswich Town A 1–1aet 25,384 Cottee
R4RR 6 February 1986 Ipswich Town A 1–0aet 14,515 Cottee
R5 5 March 1986 Manchester United H 1–1 26,441 McAvennie
R5R 9 March 1986 Manchester United A 2–0 30,441 Pike, Stewart (pen)
R6 12 March 1986 Sheffield Wednesday A 1–2 35,522 Cottee

League Cup

Main article: 1985–86 Football League Cup
Round Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Goalscorers
R2 1st leg 24 September 1985 Swansea City H 3–0 9,282 Cottee, McAvennie, Stewart (pen)
R2 2nd leg 8 October 1985 Swansea City A 3–2 (won 6–2 on agg) 3,584 Stewart (2 pen), Cottee
R3 29 October 1985 Manchester United A 0–1 32,057

Squad statistics

No. Player Position Lge
Apps 		Lge
Gls 		FAC
Apps 		FAC
Gls 		LC
Apps 		LC
Gls 		Total
Apps 		Total
Gls 		Date Signed Previous Club
West Ham United F.C. 1985–86 First XI (Most appearances)
1 England Phil Parkes GK 42 7 3 52 - February 1979 Queens Park Rangers
2 Scotland Ray Stewart RB 39 6 6 1 3 3 48 10 September 1979 Dundee United
3 England Steve Walford LB 27 3 3 33 - August 1983 Norwich
4 England Tony Gale CB 42 7 3 52 - August 1983 Fulham
5 England Alvin Martin (Captain) CB 40 4 7 3 50 4 July 1976 Academy
6 England Alan Devonshire LM 38 3 6 3 47 3 October 1976 Southall
7 England Mark Ward RM 42 3 7 3 52 3 August 1985 Oldham Athletic
8 Scotland Frank McAvennie CF 41 26 7 1 3 1 51 28 June 1985 St Mirren
9 England Alan Dickens CM 40 (1) 4 7 3 50 (1) 4 1982 Academy
10 England Tony Cottee (Hammer of the Year) CF 41 (1) 20 7 4 3 2 51 (1) 26 September 1982 Academy
11 Scotland Neil Orr CM 33 (3) 2 1 (1) 3 37 (4) 2 January 1982 Morton
Players with 10+ appearances
3 England George Parris LB 23 (3) 1 7 0 (2) 30 (5) 1 1985 Academy
11 England Geoff Pike CM 10 5 1 15 1 September 1974 Academy
Other players with appearances
8 England Paul Goddard CF 1 (5) 1 0 (1) 1 (6) 1 August 1980 Queens Park Rangers
5 England Paul Hilton CB 2 2 - 1984 Bury
10 England Greg Campbell CF 1 (2) 1 (2) - 1984 Academy
12 England Bobby Barnes CF 0 (1) 0 (1) - 1980 Academy
12 England Steve Potts RB 0 (1) 0 (1) - May 1984 Academy

References

  1. ^ "Mark Ward: 'When my career ended, I wound up with nothing. I'd never been in trouble before, now I'm serving eight years'". The Guardian. 4 December 2005. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  2. ^ "On this day – 13 June". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ^ Game played on 17 Aug 1985. Westhamstats.info (17 August 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 31 Aug West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 31 August 1985. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  5. ^ Game played on 20 Aug 1985. Westhamstats.info (20 August 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  6. ^ Game played on 31 Aug 1985. Westhamstats.info (31 August 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  7. ^ Game played on 3 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (3 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  8. ^ Game played on 7 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (7 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  9. ^ Game played on 21 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (21 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  10. ^ Game played on 14 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (14 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  11. ^ a b Game played on 28 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (28 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  12. ^ Game played on 24 Sep 1985. Westhamstats.info (24 September 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 28 Sep West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 28 September 1985. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  14. ^ Game played on 8 Oct 1985. Westhamstats.info (8 October 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  15. ^ Game played on 5 Oct 1985. Westhamstats.info (5 October 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  16. ^ Game played on 19 Oct 1985. Westhamstats.info (19 October 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  17. ^ Game played on 26 Oct 1985. Westhamstats.info (26 October 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  18. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 26 Oct West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 26 October 1985. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  19. ^ Game played on 29 Oct 1985. Westhamstats.info (29 October 1985). Retrieved on 25 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 30 Nov West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 30 November 1985. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  21. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 26 Dec West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 26 December 1985. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 18 Jan West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 18 January 1986. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Sheff Wed 2–1 West Ham". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  24. ^ "On this day 29 March". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  25. ^ "West Ham 2–1 Tottenham". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  26. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 31 Mar West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 31 March 1986. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Martin treble in Newcastle rout". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  28. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 28 Apr West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 28 April 1986. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  29. ^ "West Brom 2–3 West Ham". 11v11.com. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  30. ^ "Snapshot Tables 1985–1986 3 May West Ham United — West Ham United FC — Hammers Mad". Westhamunited-mad.co.uk. 3 May 1986. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  31. ^ "Gary Lineker". thefa.com. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  32. ^ "West Ham 1985–86 season". statto.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  33. ^ English teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on until the season 1990–91 because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.
  34. ^ English teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on until the season 1990–91 because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.
  35. ^ English teams were banned by UEFA from its competitions from the season 1985–86 on until the season 1990–91 because of the Heysel Disaster in 1985, involving Liverpool fans.
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