1970-71 Football League : First Division

BLACKPOOL : F.A. Cup (Third Round)

Bloomfield Road 0 - 4 2 January 1971 Att: 21,814

Ferguson Bonds Lampard Eustace Taylor T. Moore Ayris (Dear) Lindsay Best Greaves Howe

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

BOBBY MOORE, JIMMY GREAVES, CLYDE BEST and BRIAN DEAR all dropped after being seen late night drinking the previous evening.

The Hammers travelled northwards for the first game of the New Year an FA Cup Third Round tie at Bloomfield Road. Their opponents, Blackpool, were in a slightly worse position than themselves as the Seasiders were just one place off the bottom of the table. The pitch was hard and slippery because of the weather but the home side adapted better to the conditions and were two up by the interval. Two more in the second-half made the scoreline embarrassing as far as Bobby Moore and his colleagues were concerned. It then emerged that the captain and perhaps six or more of his colleagues had been spotted in a night club in the early hours of the morning. The news hit the Club like an earthquake as both fans and press speculated about how easy had been the capitulation to a team that had only won two Cup-ties in the previous ten seasons and only three times in the league from 23 starts that season. A number of players, including Moore and Jimmy Greaves, were fined and censored for "irresponsible behaviour" and were dropped for the next few games.

ARSENAL : Football League First Division

Highbury 0 - 2 9 January 1971 Att: 49,057

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Howe Redknapp Lindsay Best (Llewelyn) Brooking Eustace

9 January 1971

PAUL KITSON (1997-2002) Born this day Murton, County Durham

One of Redknapp's most inspired signings. The striker was languishing behind Shearer, Asprilla and Ferdinand at Newcastle United when 'H' saw him as

the man whose goals could steer Hammers away from relegation. With proven scoring pedigree at Leicester City and Derby County. Kitson was signed from the St James's Park outfit for a fee of £2.3m in February 1997, just days before John Hartson was transferred from Arsenal. Kitson made his Hammers debut along with Hartson against his former club Derby County at the Baseball Ground 15th February 1997 but finished on the wrong ended of a 1-2 scoreline.

The pair immediately hit it off "Kits" responded with eight strikes in 14 games as his lucrative 13-goal partnership with Hartson put Hammers on the fast lane

to safety, which justified Harry Redknapp spending spree to ward off almost certain relegation at the end of the 1996-97 campaign. A string of injuries to

Paul disrupted the partnership for the start of the following season. At the end of the season the Geordie underwent a groin operation after failing to shake

off a niggling problem. Paul's injury problems persisted and was allowed to join Charlton Athletic on loan at the end of the 99-00 campaign helping the

Addicts back to the Premiership. Further loan spells to Crystal Palace and Birmingham City followed before he finally signed for newly-promoted first

division Brighton & Hove Albion on a free transfer August 2002.

LEEDS UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 3 (Eustace, Brooking) 16 January 1971 Att: 34,407

Grotier McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Howe Redknapp Lindsay Hurst Brooking Eustace

No Programme Insert Issued

A crowd of over 34,000 turned up on this mid-January date to see the Hammers claw back a two goal deficit against table-toppers Leeds United before drawing level with two goals in three minutes from Peter Eustace and Trevor Brooking. The revival was short lived as Don Revie's side scored a third and deciding goal in the 84th minute to inflict a fifth home defeat of the season for the Hammers. The outcome was that Ron Greenwood's team slipped another place down the table to second from bottom.

DERBY COUNTY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 4 (Eustace) 6 February 1971 Att: 26,606

Grotier McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Howe (Moore) Redknapp Lindsay Hurst Brooking Eustace

Brian Clough's Derby County were just three places and six points ahead of the Hammers going into this game at Upton Park, and were still technically relegation candidates themselves. By Five o'clock they had stretched the gap by another two points with a comfortable 4-1 victory. A crowd of 26,606 watched as The Rams mounted an almost non-stop offensive from the start and were 3-0 ahead within 30 minutes. In the pre-match kick-about the crowd had given a great reception to Bobby Moore, who had been named as substitute, for his first appearance since the infamous Blackpool nightclub affair. When he replaced Bobby Howe at the interval the applause was as rapturous. It seemed a miracle might happen as within three minutes Peter Eustace had headed home Harry Redknapp's cross, but although the England captain endeavoured to inspire his colleagues, the revival was short-lived as 20 minutes later County got a fourth goal to seal the issue. Although he had been greeted by a barrage of banners venting their feelings Hammers Manager Ron Greenwood praised the Club's supporters "as the best in Football", but well before the final whistle they were heading towards the exit gates in their thousands as they expressed their continuing disenchantment at the situation

Programme Insert :

Peter Grotier and Jimmy Greaves

COVENTRY CITY : Football League First Division

Highfield Road 1 - 0 (Greaves) 9 February 1971 Att: 25,083

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Greaves (Lindsay) Eustace

As the crisis from the infamous ‘Blackpool nightclub affair’ deepened the Hammers prepared for a visit to Coventry City. With Bobby Moore and one of his fellow exiles, Jimmy Greaves, re-instated to the starting line-up there seemed a magic in the Highfirld Road air. When Greaves knocked home a rebound from Hurst's fierce 20-yard drive in the 27th minute, a new look came over the side from that of past weeks when heads had dropped so easily. The goal was enough to seal a win, the first after six successive defeats.

Image courtesy of Richard Miller -

Note: Programme & Ticked re-issued from postponed game dated 30th January 1971

LIVERPOOL : Football League First Division

Anfield 0 - 1 16 February 1971 Att: 38,032

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Eustace Greaves

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

MANCHESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 0 20 February 1971 Att: 30,168

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Eustace Greaves

No Programme Insert Issued

West Ham United welcomed Manchester City to the Boleyn Ground just one place above the top flight relegation zone in the 1970/71 campaign. The Hammers never dropped below the line and into the bottom two all season, but they were hovering dangerously, so the point gained from this 0-0 draw was most welcome. 30,168 were in attendance in east London to watch a West Ham side including the likes of Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp bounce back from a 1-0 defeat suffered at Liverpool in their previous game. Burnley and Blackpool were eventually cut adrift in the drop zone, with the former finishing seven points behind the Hammers and four above rock-bottom Blackpool. Manchester City enjoyed slightly more success that term, ending the campaign safely in mid-table in 11th place.

22 February 1971

BRYAN 'Pop' ROBSON signs from NEWCASTLE UNITED for a £120,000 a new club record

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 0 (Hurst, Robson) 24 February 1971 Att: 35,601

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Robson Hurst Eustace (Lindsay) Greaves

Debut programme signed by Bryan Robson

No Programme Insert Issued

BRYAN “Pop” ROBSON makes his Hammers debut against NOTTINGHAM FOREST at Upton Park

Bobby Moore may have been best known for his calm, assured defending, but his set-piece taking was another part of his game that was well above average. Moore's quick free-kick being headed past Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Jim Barron to open the scoring in a comfortable 2-0 victory for Ron Greenwood's Hammers. The match also marked the debut of Bryan 'Pop' Robson, who celebrated his £120,000 transfer from Newcastle United by adding a second goal on 56 minutes by converting Harry Redknapp's chip to the near post. Victory over Forest would prove crucial as West Ham finished just one place above the relegation zone in 20th position.

BLACKPOOL : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Hurst) 27 February 1971 Att: 15,689

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Eustace (Greaves) Robson

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

CRYSTAL PALACE : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 0 6 March 1971 Att: 26,157

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Robson Greaves

Programme Insert :

Peter Eusatce and Geoff Hurst

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS : Football League First Division

Molineux 0 - 2 13 March 1971 Att: 25,166

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp (Greaves) Robson Hurst Boyce Eustace

13 March 1971

JOEY BEAUCHAMP (1994) Born this day Oxford

Clubs: Oxford United, Swansea City (loan), West Ham United, Swindon Town, Oxford United

Joey Beauchamp had a blink and you'll miss it Hammers career, Beauchamp decided he couldn't stand the traffic travelling from Oxford each day and spent only 58 days at the Boleyn Ground between a £1.2million move from hometown club Oxford United and a £800,000 sale to Swindon Town. The left-sided midfielder came through the ranks at Oxford United and made 124 League appearances before moving on to the Hammers in 1994. However, he was to leave east London without making a competitive appearance for West Ham, moving closer to home at Swindon with defender Adrian Whitbread travelling in the other direction. He returned to Oxford after a season and spent the rest of his pro career with the U's, playing a further 238 League games for the club, scoring 63 goals in total.

IPSWICH TOWN : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 2 (Greaves 2) 20 March 1971 Att: 25,957

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Ayris Boyce Hurst Robson (Best) Greaves

No Programme Insert Issued

EVERTON : Football League First Division

Goodison Park 1 - 0 (o.g.) 30 March 1971 Att: 29,094

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Robson Greaves

MANCHESTER UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 - 1 (Hurst, Robson) 3 April 1971 Att: 38,507

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce Hurst Robson Greaves

No Programme Insert Issued

The 1970/71 season did not provide too many high points for Hammers fans - although a run of three consecutive wins at the start of Spring did give them something to cheer. Everton had already been dispatched 1-0 before Manchester United came to visit E13, and they too were to leave the pitch defeated by Ron Greenwood's West Ham side. Geoff Hurst and Bryan Robson were the goalscorers, Hurst's strike being one of 16 in his penultimate season in claret and blue. 38,507 were in attendance at the Boleyn Ground to witness the Hammers record this 2-1 success, a scoreline that was to be repeated the next week when West Bromwich Albion were the visitors. The run of three wins helped West Ham maintain a comfortable gap over the bottom two relegation places, and although the Hammers finished 20th out of 22, they survived by a seven-point margin over Burnley

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Football League First Division

Upton Park 2 -1 (Robson, Greaves) 9 April 1971 Att: 34,981

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Boyce (Brooking) Hurst Robson Greaves

Six days after their 2-1 home win against Manchester United, the Hammers once again recorded a similar scoreline, this time over West Bromwich Albion on Good Friday morning, a result which gave further relief from relegation pressure. This time me Hammers had to come from behind with goals from Bryan Robson and Jimmy Greaves late in the second-half. All the good work was almost undone in the next three days with two away defeats at fellow relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest and Burnley.

Programme Insert :

Bobby Moore

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football League First Division

City Ground 0 - 1 10 April 1971 Att: 23,032

Ferguson McDowell Lampard (Stephenson) Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Lindsay Hurst Robson Greaves

BURNLEY : Football League First Division

Turf Moor 0 - 1 13 April 1971 Att: 15,841

Ferguson McDowell Howe Bonds Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Eustace (Stephenson) Hurst Robson Best

STOKE CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Hurst) 17 April 1971 Att: 26,269

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Stephenson Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Bonds Hurst Robson Greaves

Programme Insert

Jimmy Greaves same as issued for Coventry City 28 November 1970

Highly likely your programme may contain a different insert. Surplus copies were re-issued rather than be thrown away

21 April 1971

BOBBY MOORE 86th and GEOFF HURST 43rd ENGLAND caps

GREECE European Championship Qualifier Wembley Stadium, London 3-0

43 caps

86 caps

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Football League First Division

St James' Park 1 - 1 (Hurst) 24 April 1971 Att: 22,790

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Stephenson Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Bonds Hurst Robson Howe

Events of the preceding week virtually assured our First Division safety served to ease off the pressure in our match against Newcastle United at St. James's Park. West Ham United had travelled north with the knowledge that one point would guarantee that Burnley could not catch us. The Hammers’ got the necessary point - and merited sharing the spoils with the Tynesiders - but it was not a game over which much enthusiasm was aroused. The Magpies were the first to score, but we equalised before the interval and late in the second-half almost snatched full spoils It was our twelfth away point of the season; although not gained by top-rate soccer it could be attributed to some determined play that we hope augurs well for the future.

SOUTHAMPTON : Football League First Division

The Dell 2 - 1 (Hurst, Taylor) 27 April 1971 Att: 19,935

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Stephenson Taylor T. Moore Llewelyn Bonds Hurst Robson Howe

The Hammers secured a vital win over Southampton as they beat off the threat of relegation and put a huge dent the Saints chances of a place in the Fairs Cup the following season. The Hammers took advantage of some unexpected lapses in the home rearguard to net with goals from Tommy Taylor and Geoff Hurst as West Ham won in front of nearly 20,000 fans at The Dell. Southampton went onto secure seventh place in the league whilst the Hammers finished one place above the drop zone.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN : Football League First Division

Upton Park 0 - 1 1 May 1971 Att: 24,983

Ferguson McDowell Lampard Stephenson Taylor T. Moore Redknapp Bonds Hurst Robson Greaves

No Programme Insert Issued

9 May 1971

DON HUTCHISON (1994-1996 & 2001-2005) Born this day Gateshead, County Durham

Clubs: Hartlepool United, Liverpool, West Ham United, Sheffield United, Everton, Sunderland, Millwall, Coventry City, Luton Town

Hutchison first caught the eye while playing for Redheugh Boys, but he made the breakthrough to League status for Hartlepool United. The gangling Hutch was used either as a striker or central defender before settling into his familiar attacking midfield role. Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish signed him for £300,000

in November 1990. Despite some controversial off-the-field antics which earned him a somewhat dubious reputation, it was with great reluctance that Roy Evans finally agreed to make him Harry Redknapp's first signing as manager at Upton Park. Attacking midfielder who became the club's record signing when he moved from Liverpool for a £1.5 million fee in August 1994. "Hutch" scored on his debut against Newcastle United at Upton Park in which he scored in a

1-3 defeat on the 31st August 1994. By the autumn the honeymoon period was over following Don's reckless first-half dismissal against Leicester City. Ultimately, his nine goals - including a double against the Reds - helped stave off relegation, but his in-and out performances were a frustration to all.

Famously coated with a tray of sandwiches at Southampton following a ding-dong with Harry, the untamed "Hutch" was on his way to Sheffield United for a cut-price £800,000 in January 1996, having scored 13 goals from just 39 appearances.

Later joined Everton where he also enjoyed a call-up for the Scotland national side. Hutch re-signed for the Hammers for a then club record transfer fee of £5 million in August 2001. He had previously broken the club's record transfer fee - £1.5 million - when he signed for his spell at the club in August 1994. Hutchinson sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in February 2002. When he finally regained full fitness, he found himself out of favour, having missed most of the 2003-04 season through injury, and was unable to force his

way back into the first team in the 2004-05 season. Hutchison joined Millwall in August 2005 after being released at the start of the 2005-06. He spent barely three months at the New Den, before joining first Coventry City then Luton Town. After hanging up his playing boots “Hutch” became a TV pundit.

12 May 1971

BOBBY MOORE 87th cap

MALTA European Championship Qualifier Wembley Stadium, London 5-0

15 May 1971

BOBBY MOORE 88th cap

NORTHERN IRELAND Home Championship at Windsor Park, Belfast 1-0

19 May 1971

GEOFF HURST 44th cap

WALES Home Championship Wembley Stadium, London 0-0

20 May 1971

IAN FEUER (1994 & 2000) Born this day Las Vegas, USA

Towering American who would ordinarily be line-backing, slam-dunking or base-stealing back in his native USA. Came to Upton Park on trial from FC Brugge (Belgium) and subsequently signed in the Spring of 1994 for £70,000. Ian just missed out on a place in Team USA's 1994 World Cup squad. Highly-rated by mentor, Ludek Miklosko, Ian joined Peterborough on loan in a bid to gain more experience of the English game. Moved to Luton Town for £600,000 in 1995 after failing to dislodge "Ludo" from between the sticks. A clash of personalities with Lennie Lawrence the manager at Kenilworth Road, spelled the end of Feuer's opportunities there and decided on a return to his homeland in the USA. "Speedo" admits he made a huge mistake in leaving England and is desperate to make amends with the second chance given to him by West Ham when Shaka Hislop (broken leg) and Craig Forrest (international duty) were both unavailable. As a free agent Ian signed for three months until the end of the season. The giant stopper, who towers at 6'7" finally after six years made his Hammers debut against Derby County at the Baseball Ground 15th April 2000 in a 2-1 victory. Ian played three consecutive games before a injury forced him back onto the bench, left at the end of the season to join Wimbledon. Later played for our East London rivals Orient.

21 April 1971

BOBBY MOORE 89th and GEOFF HURST 45th ENGLAND caps

SCOTLAND Home Championship Wembley Stadium, London 3-1

24 May 1971

JIMMY LINDSAY joins WATFORD for £20,000 fee

The Hamilton born player made 65 appearances and scored 2 goals in his three seasons with the Club

1969-70 First XI Season 1970-71 1971-72 FirstXI