1981–82 West Ham United F.C. season

The 1981–82 West Ham United F.C. season was their first season in the First Division after their promotion the previous season. The club was managed by John Lyall and the team captain was Billy Bonds.

West Ham United

1981–82 season
Chairman	Len Cearns
Manager	John Lyall
Stadium	Boleyn Ground
First Division	First Division 9th
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	Third round
Top goalscorer	League: David Cross (16) All: David Cross (20)
Home colours

Season summary

The season started well for West Ham and they went unbeaten in their first nine league games. By the end of the year they sat in 7th place in the league. Four defeats in a row in December and January and a slump in form then occurred and they reached a low position of 14th at the end of February 1982. They finished in 9th place having drawn 10 of their home games and 16 games home and away. David Cross was the top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions and 16 in the league. The next highest scorer was Paul Goddard with 17. Ray Stewart made the most appearances; 51 in all competitions. The season saw the only appearance for West Ham by future Liverpool and Ireland player, Ray Houghton and the last West Ham appearance for 1980 FA Cup Final winner with West Ham, Stuart Pearson.

Club captain, Billy Bonds

First Division

Main article: 1981–82 Football League § First Division

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
7	Southampton	42	19	9	14	72	67	+5	66	Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
8	Everton	42	17	13	12	56	50	+6	64
9	West Ham United	42	14	16	12	66	57	+9	58
10	Manchester City	42	15	13	14	49	50	−1	58
11	Aston Villa	42	15	12	15	55	53	+2	57	Qualification for the European Cup first round

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:

Results

West Ham United's score comes first

Legend

Win

Draw

Loss

Football League First Division

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
29 August 1981	Brighton and Hove Albion	H	1–1	30,468	Stewart
2 September 1981	Tottenham Hotspur	A	4–0	41,200	Cross (4)
5 September 1981	Sunderland	A	2–0	28,347	Goddard, Cross
12 September 1981	Stoke City	H	3–2	28,774	Stewart, Goddard (2)
19 September 1981	West Bromwich Albion	A	0–0	19,429
22 September 1981	Southampton	H	4–2	34,026	Goddard (3), Pike
26 September 1981	Liverpool	H	1–1	30,802	Pike
3 October 1981	Birmingham City	A	2–2	22,290	Cross (2)
10 October 1981	Everton	H	1–1	31,608	Martin
17 October 1981	Aston Villa	A	2–3	32,064	Cross, Brooking
24 October 1981	Notts County	A	1–1	12,456	Brooking
31 October 1981	Middlesbrough	H	3–2	27,604	Stewart, Neighbour, Goddard
7 November 1981	Nottingham Forest	A	0–0	26,327
21 November 1981	Coventry City	H	5–2	26,065	Stewart, Martin (2), Neighbour, Brooking
28 November 1981	Leeds United	A	3–3	25,637	Cross, Brooking (2)
5 December 1981	Arsenal	H	1–2	33,833	Pearson
5 January 1982	Liverpool	A	0–3	28,427
16 January 1982	Brighton and Hove Albion	A	0–1	22,591
27 January 1982	Manchester United	A	0–1	41,291
30 January 1982	West Bromwich Albion	H	3–1	24,423	Goddard, Cross (2)
2 February 1982	Manchester City	H	1–1	26,522	Bonds
6 February 1982	Stoke City	A	1–2	11,987	Van der Elst
13 February 1982	Birmingham City	H	2–2	22,512	Stewart, Orr
20 February 1982	Southampton	A	1–2	24,026	Stewart
27 February 1982	Everton	A	0–0	28,598
2 March 1982	Ipswich Town	A	2–0	24,846	Devonshire, Van der Elst
6 March 1982	Aston Villa	H	2–2	26,894	Stewart, Van der Elst
13 March 1982	Notts County	H	1–0	22,145	Stewart
20 March 1982	Middlesbrough	A	3–2	12,134	Goddard (2), Van der Elst
27 March 1982	Nottingham Forest	H	0–1	24,633
30 March 1982	Swansea City	A	1–0	20,272	Van der Elst
3 April 1982	Manchester City	A	1–0	30,875	Goddard
6 April 1982	Wolverhampton Wanderers	H	3–1	20,651	Martin, Goddard (2)
10 April 1982	Swansea City	H	1–1	26,566	Goddard
13 April 1982	Ipswich Town	H	2–3	29,050	Cross (2)
17 April 1982	Coventry City	A	0–1	13,446
24 April 1982	Leeds United	H	4–3	24,478	Stewart, Cross, Brooking (2)
1 May 1982	Arsenal	A	0–2	34,977
4 May 1982	Sunderland	H	1–1	17,130	Stewart
8 May 1982	Manchester United	H	1–1	26,377	Cross
10 May 1982	Tottenham Hotspur	H	2–2	27,667	Goddard, Brooking
15 May 1982	Wolverhampton Wanderers	A	1–2	13,283	Cross

FA Cup

Main article: 1981–82 FA Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R3	2 January 1982	Everton	H	2–1	24,431	Bonds, Cross
R4	23 January 1982	Watford	A	0–2	27,004

League Cup

Main article: 1981–82 Football League Cup

Round	Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Goalscorers
R2 First Leg	7 October 1981	Derby County	A	3–2	13,764	Stewart, Cross, Brooking
R2 Second Leg	27 October 1981	Derby County	H	2–0 (won 5–2 on agg)	21,043	Goddard (2)
R3	10 November 1981	West Bromwich Albion	H	2–2	24,168	Stewart, Cross
R3 Replay	24 November 1981	West Bromwich Albion	A	1–1 aet	15,869	Stewart
R3 2nd Replay	1 December 1981	West Bromwich Albion	H	0–1	24,760

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	ENG	Paul Allen
—	FW	ENG	Dale Banton
—	MF	ENG	Bobby Barnes
—	DF	ENG	Billy Bonds (captain)
—	MF	ENG	Trevor Brooking
—	DF	ENG	Paul Brush
—	FW	SCO	George Cowie
—	FW	ENG	David Cross
—	MF	ENG	Alan Devonshire
—	FW	ENG	Paul Goddard
—	MF	IRL	Ray Houghton

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	DF	ENG	Everald La Ronde
—	DF	ENG	Frank Lampard
—	DF	ENG	Alvin Martin
—	GK	SCO	Tom McAlister
—	MF	ENG	Jimmy Neighbour
—	DF	SCO	Neil Orr
—	GK	ENG	Phil Parkes
—	FW	ENG	Stuart Pearson
—	MF	ENG	Geoff Pike
—	DF	SCO	Ray Stewart
—	FW	BEL	Francois Van der Elst