West Ham United F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | West Ham United Football Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | The Irons The Hammers |
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| Short name | West Ham | |
| Founded | 29 June 1895, as Thames Ironworks 5 July 1900, as West Ham United |
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| Ground | London Stadium | |
| Capacity | 62,500 | |
| Owner(s) | David Sullivan (38.8%) Daniel Křetínský (27%) Vanessa Gold (25.1%) J. Albert "Tripp" Smith (8%) Other investors (1.1%) |
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| Co-chairmen | David Sullivan and Vanessa Gold | |
| Manager | Julen Lopetegui | |
| League | Premier League | |
| 2018–19 | Premier League, 10th of 20 | |
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West Ham United Football Club is a professional football team from Stratford, East London, England. The club plays in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. West Ham United plays its home games at the London Stadium. They moved there in 2016 from their old home, the Boleyn Ground.
The club started in 1895 as Thames Ironworks. It was then renamed West Ham United in 1900. The team moved to the Boleyn Ground in 1904 and played there for over 100 years. West Ham first played in the Southern League and Western League. They joined the main Football League in 1919. In 1923, they were promoted to the top league. They also reached the first FA Cup final at Wembley that year. In 1940, the club won the first Football League War Cup.
West Ham United has won five big trophies. They have won the FA Cup three times (in 1964, 1975, and 1980). They were also runners-up twice (in 1923 and 2006). In European competitions, the club has played in three major finals. They won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. They were runners-up in the same competition in 1976. Most recently, they won the Europa Conference League in 2023. The club also won a smaller European trophy, the Intertoto Cup, in 1999. West Ham United is one of only eight clubs that have never dropped below the second level of English football. They have spent 66 out of 98 league seasons in the top league. Their best league finish was third place in 1985–86.
Three West Ham players were part of the 1966 World Cup winning England squad. These were captain Bobby Moore, and goal scorers Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. The club has a long-standing rivalry with Millwall. West Ham started using their claret and sky blue colors in the early 1900s. The most common design, with a claret shirt and sky blue sleeves, first appeared in 1904.
Contents
Club History
How West Ham Started
West Ham United began in 1895 as Thames Ironworks F.C.. This was the team for the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. This company was the biggest shipbuilder on the River Thames. The team was started by foreman Dave Taylor and owner Arnold Hills. The company was located in Leamouth Wharf and Blackwall, where the River Lea meets the Thames. Thames Ironworks built many ships, including the famous HMS Warrior. The company closed in 1912.
The nearby repair yard of the Castle Shipping Line also had a team. This team, called Castle Swifts, later joined with Thames Ironworks.
At first, the team played for fun, not for money. Many players worked at the ironworks. For example, Thomas Freeman was a ship's fireman, and Walter Parks was a clerk. Johnny Stewart, Walter Tranter, and James Lindsay were all boilermakers. Other workers like William Chapman and Charlie Dove also played.
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Thames Ironworks won the West Ham Charity Cup in 1895. This cup was for clubs in the West Ham area. They then won the London League in 1897. In 1898, they became a professional team and joined the Southern League Second Division. They were promoted to the First Division in their first try. The next year, they finished near the bottom. But they showed they could compete. They beat Fulham 5–1 in a play-off in 1900 to stay in the First Division.
The team first wore dark blue kits, inspired by Mr. Hills, who went to Oxford University. The next season, they changed to sky blue shirts and white shorts, which they wore from 1897 to 1899.
In June 1900, Thames Ironworks F.C. was closed down because of disagreements about how it was run. But it was quickly restarted as West Ham United F.C. on July 5, 1900. This new name reflected the West Ham area where they played. Syd King became their manager, and Charlie Paynter was his assistant. Because of their roots as a "works team," fans still call them "the Irons" or "the Hammers." These names are even on the club badge.
Early Years of West Ham United (1901–1961)
West Ham United joined the Western League in 1901. They also kept playing in the Southern Division 1. In 1907, West Ham won the Western League Division 1B. They then beat Fulham 1–0 to become the Western League Overall Champions. The club continued to play at the Memorial Grounds in Plaistow. In 1904, they moved to a new pitch in Upton Park, which became the Boleyn Ground stadium. West Ham's first game at their new home was against their big rivals Millwall. West Ham won 3–0 in front of 10,000 fans.
In 1919, West Ham joined the Football League Second Division. Their first game was a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City. In 1923, they were promoted to the First Division. They also reached the first ever FA Cup final at the old Wembley Stadium. Their opponents were Bolton Wanderers. This match was famous as the "White Horse final". About 200,000 people came to watch. The crowd spilled onto the pitch, and a white horse named "Billie," ridden by PC George Scorey, had to clear it. Bolton won the final 2–0. The team had mixed success in the First Division but stayed there for ten years. They reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1933.
In 1932, the club was moved down to the Second Division. Long-time manager Syd King was let go after 32 years. He was replaced by his assistant, Charlie Paynter. Paynter had been with West Ham since 1897 and managed the team for 480 games until 1950. The club spent most of the next thirty years in the Second Division. First under Paynter, and then under former player Ted Fenton.
Fenton helped the club get promoted back to the top level of English football in 1958. With help from player Malcolm Allison, Fenton helped develop many future West Ham stars. He also shaped West Ham's style of play.
The Glory Years (1961–1986)
Ron Greenwood became manager in 1961. He quickly led the club to two major trophies. They won the 1964 FA Cup Final. The team was led by the young Bobby Moore. West Ham also won the European Cup Winners' Cup the next year. During the 1966 World Cup, important players for the winning England team were from West Ham. These included captain Bobby Moore, Martin Peters (who scored in the final), and Geoff Hurst, who scored the first hat-trick in a World Cup final. All three players grew up in West Ham's youth team.
There is a "Champions" statue on Barking Road. It celebrates West Ham's "three sons" who helped England win the 1966 World Cup: Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters. Everton's Ray Wilson is also on the statue.
After a tough start to the 1974–75 season, Greenwood became general manager. He then made his assistant, John Lyall, the team manager. The team immediately found success. They scored 20 goals in their first four games and won the FA Cup. They were the last team to win the FA Cup with only English players. They beat Fulham 2–0 in the 1975 final. The Fulham team included two former England captains, Alan Mullery and West Ham legend Bobby Moore. Lyall then led West Ham to another European Cup Winners' Cup final in 1976. However, they lost 4–2 to Belgian team Anderlecht. Greenwood managed England after leaving West Ham in 1977.
In 1978, West Ham was moved down to the Second Division again. But Lyall stayed as manager. He led the team to win the 1980 FA Cup final with a 1–0 victory against Arsenal. This was the most recent time a team from outside the top league won the FA Cup. They reached the final by beating Everton in the semi-final. West Ham was promoted to the First Division in 1981. They finished in the top ten for the next three seasons. Then, in 1985–86, they achieved their highest-ever league finish of third place. This group of players became known as The Boys of 86.
Ups and Downs (1986–2005)
However, the Hammers were moved down again in 1989. This led to Lyall being fired. He had served the club for 34 years.
After Lyall, Lou Macari briefly managed the team. He left after less than a season. He was replaced by former player Billy Bonds. In Bonds' first full season, 1990–91, West Ham was promoted to the First Division again. Back in the top league, Bonds saw West Ham through a difficult season. The club was planning a new ticket scheme, which caused fan protests. West Ham finished last and were moved down after only one season. However, they bounced back strongly in 1992–93. With Trevor Morley and Clive Allen scoring many goals, they secured second place on the last day of the season. They beat Cambridge United 2–0 at home, earning promotion to the Premier League.
With the team in the Premier League, they needed to rebuild. Oxford United player Joey Beauchamp was bought for £1.2 million. But he became unhappy soon after joining, saying he missed his home in Oxford. Bonds found this hard to understand. Fifty-eight days later, Beauchamp was sold to Swindon Town.
Assistant manager Harry Redknapp started taking a bigger role in buying players. The club wanted to keep Redknapp, so they offered Bonds a role on the West Ham board, away from daily club matters. This would have allowed Redknapp to become manager. Bonds refused and left the club. He felt he had been treated unfairly by the board and Redknapp.
Redknapp became manager on August 10, 1994.
Redknapp managed for seven years. During this time, many players came and went. The team played attractive football and had success not seen since John Lyall's time. Over 134 players joined the club under Redknapp. This cost the club £16 million more than they made from selling players. This was despite selling Rio Ferdinand to Leeds United for £18 million in 2000. Some new players were very successful, like Stuart Pearce, Trevor Sinclair, Paolo Di Canio, and Ian Wright. Others were expensive international players who did not do well at West Ham.
In 1999, West Ham finished fifth, their highest position in the top league since 1986. They also won the Intertoto Cup, beating French club Metz. This qualified them for the 1999–2000 UEFA Cup. Things started to go wrong for Redknapp after Ferdinand was sold in November 2000. Redknapp used the money poorly on players who did not perform well. Chairman Brown became frustrated with Redknapp's demands for more money to buy players. In June 2001, Redknapp was fired. His assistant Frank Lampard also left. This led to his son, Frank Lampard Jr., joining Chelsea for £11 million in the summer of 2001.
The club appointed reserve team coach Glenn Roeder as manager on May 9, 2001. He had not done well in previous management jobs. His first big signings were Don Hutchison for £5 million and Czech defender Tomáš Řepka. Roeder's team finished seventh in his first season. But then he became ill. Former player Trevor Brooking took over as temporary manager. Even though the team did not lose another game, West Ham was moved down on the last day of the season. They had 42 points, which was a record high for a relegated club. Ten seasons in the top league were over. Many top players, including Joe Cole and Di Canio, left the club.
The next season, in the second league, Roeder returned as manager. But results were still bad. After a loss to Rotherham United, he was fired on August 24, 2003. Brooking again became temporary manager. He lost only one game and is known as "the best manager West Ham never had."
Alan Pardew was appointed manager on October 18, 2003. He was the club's tenth manager. Pardew set out to rebuild the team, bringing in players like Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood. In his first season, they reached the play-off final but lost to Crystal Palace. His new players, like Bobby Zamora and Matthew Etherington, helped West Ham finish sixth. They then beat Preston North End 1–0 in the 2005 play-off final, with a goal from Zamora. This secured their return to the Premier League.
Final Years at Boleyn Ground (2005–2016)
When they returned to the top league, West Ham finished ninth. The best part of the 2005–06 season was reaching the FA Cup final. They took favorites Liverpool to a penalty shootout after a 3–3 draw. West Ham lost the shootout. But they still got to play in the UEFA Cup the next season. In August 2006, West Ham signed Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. An Icelandic group, led by Eggert Magnússon, bought the club in November 2006. Manager Alan Pardew was fired and replaced by Alan Curbishley.
The signings of Mascherano and Tevez were investigated by the Premier League. The club was found guilty and fined £5.5 million in April 2007. However, West Ham did not lose any points. This was important because it helped them avoid being moved down at the end of the 2006–07 season. West Ham avoided relegation by winning seven of their last nine games. On the last day of the season, they beat Manchester United 1–0 with a goal from Tevez. They finished 15th.
In the 2007–08 season, West Ham stayed in the top half of the league. They finished 10th, three points ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur. This was a five-place improvement from the previous season.
Manager Alan Curbishley resigned on September 3, 2008, after an argument with the board. His replacement was former Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola. He became the club's first non-British manager on September 11, 2008. In the 2008–09 season, West Ham finished ninth.
In the 2009–10 season, West Ham started well. A League Cup game against old rivals Millwall led to violent incidents outside the stadium. There were also pitch invasions and crowd trouble inside Upton Park.
In August 2009, the club's owners had financial problems. The club's shirt sponsor, SBOBET, helped them buy a needed striker, Alessandro Diamanti.
West Ham had a bad season and fought against being moved down. They secured their survival with two games left by beating Wigan 3–2.
On May 11, 2010, West Ham ended Zola's contract. On June 3, 2010, Avram Grant became the next manager. West Ham's poor form continued. They were often in the relegation zone. A 4–0 Football League Cup quarter-final win over Manchester United was a highlight. West Ham reached the League Cup semi-final but lost to Birmingham City. They also reached the FA Cup quarter-final.
On May 15, 2011, West Ham was moved down to the Championship. Wigan came back from 2–0 down at half-time to win 3–2. After the loss, manager Avram Grant was fired. On June 1, 2011, Sam Allardyce was appointed manager.
The club finished third in the 2011–12 Football League Championship with 86 points. They entered the play-offs. They beat Cardiff City 5–0 over two games to reach the final against Blackpool at Wembley on May 19, 2012. Carlton Cole scored first. Blackpool equalized, but Ricardo Vaz Tê scored the winning goal for West Ham in the 87th minute.
Back in the Premier League, West Ham signed former players James Collins and George McCartney. They also signed Matt Jarvis and Andy Carroll on loan. They won their first game of the season 1–0 against Aston Villa on August 18, 2012. A highlight was a 3–1 home win against European champions Chelsea on December 1, 2012. On March 22, 2013, West Ham secured a 99-year lease for the Olympic Stadium. They planned to use it as their home ground from the 2016–17 season. They finished 10th that season.
In 2013–14, West Ham finished 13th in the Premier League. They reached the semi-finals of the League Cup but lost 9–0 to Manchester City. Fans criticized manager Sam Allardyce for his defensive tactics. West Ham finished 12th in the 2014–15 Premier League. On May 24, 2015, the club announced that Allardyce's contract would not be renewed. By winning the Premier League Fair Play table for 2014–15, West Ham qualified for the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League.
On June 9, 2015, former West Ham player Slaven Bilić became manager. In his fourth game, the team won at Anfield for the first time in 52 years, beating Liverpool 3–0. At the end of the season, West Ham finished 7th in the Premier League. The team broke several club records in the Premier League era. This included the most points (62) and most goals in a season (65). This season was also their last at the Boleyn Ground. They moved to the London Stadium the next season, ending 112 years at their old home.
Moving to London Stadium and European Success (2016–)
After Manchester United won the 2016 FA Cup final, West Ham took their place in the 2016–17 edition. At the end of their first season at the London Stadium, the team finished 11th. They also had to deal with star player Dimitri Payet leaving. However, the team started the next season poorly, with only two wins in their first 11 games. After a 4–1 home loss to Liverpool, and with the team facing relegation, Bilić was fired on November 6, 2017. Former Sunderland boss David Moyes replaced him. The team had mixed results but avoided relegation, finishing 13th. Moyes was not offered a new contract.
On May 22, 2018, the club appointed former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini as the new manager. In his first season, the Hammers finished 10th. However, after a poor start to the next season, Pellegrini was fired in December 2019. The team was only one point above the relegation zone. David Moyes returned for his second time as manager a day later.
On July 22, 2020, the club secured their Premier League spot for another season. This happened after a 1–1 draw away to Manchester United. Before the 2020–21 season, West Ham's owners faced criticism. Club captain Mark Noble publicly criticized the sale of young player Grady Diangana. Despite losing their first two games, West Ham's form improved. By the end of November, the club was in fifth place. They stayed in a European spot for the rest of the season. They qualified for the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League group stages by finishing 6th. Moyes signed a new three-year contract on June 12, 2021.
West Ham won their first three games of 2022. This temporarily moved the club to fourth place in the Premier League. The team beat Sevilla 2–1 to reach their first European quarter-final in 41 years. Then they beat Lyon 4–1 to reach their first semi-final since 1976. They played against Eintracht Frankfurt, the same team they met in their 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final. The Hammers were knocked out of the Europa League after losing 3–1. At the end of the 2021–22 Premier League season, West Ham qualified for European football for a second season in a row. They entered the UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh. This season was also Mark Noble's last as a West Ham player. He retired after 18 years, playing 550 games and scoring 62 goals.
The 2022–23 season was mixed for the Hammers. The club finished 14th in the Premier League. They only secured their Premier League spot with two games left. They also lost in the League Cup to a lower league team. Manager David Moyes faced pressure. In January 2023, Mark Noble returned to the club as sporting director. Despite problems in their league season, West Ham did very well in the Europa Conference League. The club reached the final without losing a game, winning 13 and drawing once. They won the competition, beating Fiorentina 2–1 in the final. This was their first major trophy since 1980 and their first European trophy in 58 years.
Club Crest and Symbols
Thames Ironworks FC Badge
The Thames Ironworks Team (1895–1900) used the Union Flag as its badge.
Rivet Hammers Symbol
The main part of the badge is a pair of crossed rivet hammers. These tools were used in shipbuilding. The areas around the Thames Ironworks were full of the sound of hammers. There were steam hammers, sledgehammers, and rivet hammers.
Large steam hammers would punch holes in the iron plates used to build ships. Teams of five workers would then fix the plates together with rivets. Three workers were inside the ship, and two were outside.
Inside the ship, one person heated the rivets until they were very hot. They threw them to a "catch-boy" who put the rivet in the hole. A third person, the "holder-on," would hit the rivet with a large sledgehammer. They would then hold it in place while the workers outside flattened the other end.
Outside the ship, two men with rivet hammers would flatten the glowing rivet. This secured the many points needed to connect the ship's large plates.
The crossed hammers were also part of the coat of arms for the County Borough of West Ham and the London Borough of Newham.
The Tower on the Badge
A yellow or white tower was sometimes added to the badge from the 1950s. This tower likely represents Anne Boleyn's Tower. This was a notable part of Green Street House, an old Tudor building next to the Boleyn Ground. Green Street House was also known as Boleyn Castle. It was said that Henry VIII met his second queen, Anne Boleyn, there.
Other reasons for including the castle might be:
- To show the contribution of players from Old Castle Swifts.
- The engineering department of the Thames Ironworks had towers and roofs that looked like the castle on the badge.
- The club's song, "I'm forever blowing bubbles," starts with "I'm building castles high."
- The White Tower of the Tower of London is a symbol of East London.
- To honor the 'West Ham Pals,' a group of soldiers from Stratford who fought in World War I. Their war cry was "Up the Hammers."
Shield Design
A shield has been used in many versions of the club badge. The shape of the 2016 badge is said to match the cross-section of the hull of HMS Warrior. This was the first ironclad warship in the Royal Navy, built by Thames Ironworks.
Badge Changes Over Time
The club crest was updated in the late 1990s. The yellow castle became wider, with fewer cross-shaped "windows." The pointed roofs were removed, making the castle look less like a fairy tale castle. Other details were changed to make the symbols look stronger.
When the club rebuilt the west stand of the Boleyn Ground (finished 2001–02), the "castle" from the new badge was put on the main entrance. Two towers were important parts of the stadium's look, both with large club badges.
A new badge was introduced after the 2015–16 season, when the club moved to the Olympic Stadium. This new badge removed the Boleyn Castle because the club was moving away from the Boleyn Ground. It only has the crossed hammers. The club says this design is inspired by the crest used during Bobby Moore's career. The word "London" was added below to "establish the club firmly on the international stage." The simpler design is meant to be a "strong statement that is instantly West Ham United." The shape of the crest is like the hull of HMS Warrior.
Team Colors
The team's first colors were dark blue. This was because Thames Ironworks chairman Arnold Hills had studied at Oxford University. However, the team used different kits, including the claret and sky blue colors of Thames Ironworks. They also used sky blue or white kits.
The Irons permanently adopted claret and blue for their home colors in 1903.
One story says that Thames Ironworks player Charlie Dove received the Aston Villa kit. He got it from William Belton, a professional runner who also helped coach Thames Ironworks. Belton had raced four Villa players and won. When they couldn't pay, one Villa player, who washed the team's kit, offered a full team's "football kits" as payment. This story is often debated.
Thames Ironworks, and later West Ham United, kept the claret and blue design. They also continued to use their old colors for their away kits.
Fans, Rivalries, and Behavior
West Ham Supporters
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air.
They fly so high, nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams they fade and die.
Fortune's always hiding,
I've looked everywhere ...
I'm forever blowing bubbles,
pretty bubbles in the air.
West Ham fans are famous for singing their team's song, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles." Former manager Charlie Paynter introduced it in the late 1920s. A commercial for Pears soap showed a child with curly hair in a painting called "Bubbles" by John Everett Millais. This child looked like a player named Billy J. "Bubbles" Murray from a local school team. The headmaster, Cornelius Beal, was known for his music and rhymes. He wrote special words to the tune of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" when a player had a good game.
Beal was a friend of Paynter. Murray also played football with some West Ham players. Because of these connections, the club's fans started singing the popular song before home games. Sometimes, a band would play the song at Charlie Paynter's request.
The 1975 FA Cup version of the song, which includes the original lyrics and features the team's players singing, is always played before home games. The crowd joins in and continues singing after the music stops at the line "Fortune's always hiding."
Since the 1950s, fans have also sung the East London pub song Knees Up Mother Brown. The song title is also the name of a fan internet forum.
Like other teams, West Ham fans also adapt popular songs for events, themes, or players. They have sung serious songs from theater and movies, like "The Bells are Ringing." They also use funny chants, like singing former player Paolo Di Canio's name to the tune of "La donna è mobile" or "D.I. Canio" to the tune of Ottawan's "D.I.S.C.O.." When Steve Potts warmed up, fans would sing "Who Let The Potts Out?" to the tune of Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out?." They also sang "That's Zamora" for former striker Bobby Zamora to the tune of Dean Martin's "That's Amore." Other players honored with songs include Christian Dailly, Joe Cole, Carlton Cole, and Luděk Mikloško. A song for West Ham favorite Bobby Moore, "Viva Bobby Moore," is also sung. In 2016, supporters changed the lyrics of Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart" for Dimitri Payet.
Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue,
Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue,
When the Hammers are scoring, and the South Bank are roaring,
And the money is pouring, for the Claret and Blue,
Claret and Blue,
No relegation for the Claret and Blue,
Just celebration for the Claret and Blue,
One day we'll win a cup or two, or three,
Or four or more, for West Ham and the Claret and Blue.
When players come onto the pitch, and during celebrations, about 60 bubble machines fill the stadium with bubbles as "I'm forever blowing bubbles" is sung. Fans gained attention for their strong reaction to David Beckham in his first away match of the 1998–99 season. This was after he was sent off for a foul in the World Cup. Fans booed Beckham every time he touched the ball during the game.
West Ham fans can be very critical of former players. Especially those who they feel left the club unfairly or did something wrong. Players like Paul Ince, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe, and Nigel Reo-Coker often received a hostile welcome at Upton Park. However, players like Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, and Carlos Tevez receive applause and even standing ovations for their contributions to the club. Joe Cole even rejoined West Ham from Liverpool in 2012–13.
Fan Behavior and Rivalries
West Ham has a history of fan groups known for aggressive behavior. In the 1960s, The Mile End Mob was formed. In the 1970s and 1980s, West Ham fans became known for their aggressive behavior towards rival fans and police. During the 1970s, rival groups of West Ham fans from different areas often fought each other at games.
The Inter City Firm was one of the first "casuals." They tried to avoid police by not wearing football clothes and traveling on regular trains instead of special "football special" trains. This group was a famous West Ham-linked gang. Their name "inter city" meant they caused trouble at any game, not just local ones.
Both the 1989 film The Firm and the 2005 film Green Street are based on West Ham fan groups.
West Ham has strong rivalries with several other clubs. Most of these are with other London clubs. Especially with Tottenham Hotspur (an East versus North London rivalry) and with Chelsea (an East versus West London rivalry). The rivalry with Tottenham grew when players like Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe left West Ham to join Tottenham. The appointment of former Hammers manager Harry Redknapp as Tottenham's manager also made the rivalry stronger. Since the 2006–07 Premier League season, West Ham has also developed a strong rivalry with Yorkshire club Sheffield United. This is because of the controversial transfer of Carlos Tevez, who helped West Ham avoid relegation at Sheffield United's expense.
The oldest and most intense rivalry is with Millwall. Both teams are local rivals. They were both started by employees of local companies, and players lived in the same areas. The early history of both clubs is connected. West Ham was more successful in early games, leading to West Ham being promoted instead of Millwall. Later, Millwall chose not to join the new Football League, while West Ham went on to the top division and an FA Cup final. In the 1920s, the rivalry grew stronger during a workers' strike. Companies on the Isle of Dogs (where many Millwall fans lived) refused to support the strike. This caused bad feelings between the two groups that lasted for years. In 1972, a Millwall supporter died after falling from a train during a fight with West Ham fans.
The rivalry between West Ham and Millwall has involved significant violence. It is one of the most well-known rivalries in football. The teams played each other in the second round of the 2009–10 League Cup on August 25, 2009, at Upton Park. This was their first game in four years. Clashes between fans happened outside the stadium, leading to injuries and arrests. There were also several times when West Ham fans ran onto the pitch, stopping the game. In January 2010, West Ham was fined for violent behavior. Millwall was cleared of all charges.
Team Nicknames
The team and its fans are known as The Hammers. This is partly because of the club's origins as Thames Ironworks. They are also called The Irons.
Home Stadiums
Until 2016, West Ham played at the Boleyn Ground, also known as Upton Park. It is in Newham, East London. The Boleyn Ground could hold 35,016 fans. It had been West Ham's home since 1904. Before that, as Thames Ironworks, they played at Hermit Road in Canning Town. They also briefly played at Browning Road in East Ham. Then they moved to the Memorial Grounds in Plaistow in 1897. They kept this stadium when they became West Ham United. They played there for four more seasons before moving to the Boleyn Ground in 1904.
Former chairman Eggert Magnússon wanted West Ham to move to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Summer Olympics. Current chairmen Gold and Sullivan also wanted this. They felt it made sense for the government, as the stadium was in the borough of Newham.
In February 2010, the British Olympic Minister said West Ham would not get the stadium. It would be used for track and field events instead. On May 17, 2010, West Ham and Newham London Borough Council submitted a plan for using the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympics. Their idea was for a stadium that could hold 60,000 people and still have an athletics track. This plan was supported by UK athletics.
On September 30, 2010, the club officially submitted its bid for the Olympic Stadium. On October 8, 2010, Live Nation, a large entertainment company, supported West Ham's plans. Three days later, UK Athletics also supported West Ham United and Newham Council's bid. In November 2010, West Ham started looking for developers for their old ground if they won the bid for the Olympic Stadium. On February 11, 2011, West Ham was chosen as the preferred club to move into the Olympic Stadium.
This decision was unanimous but controversial. Rival club Tottenham Hotspur had also bid for the stadium. Tottenham and Leyton Orient challenged the decision in court. Leyton Orient feared that West Ham playing so close to their ground could take away their fans and hurt their business. However, both clubs' requests for a review were rejected on June 23, 2011. On March 3, 2011, West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium was officially approved by the British government and then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
On June 8, 2011, it was confirmed that the Westfield Shopping Centre was talking to West Ham about naming rights for the new stadium. It could be called the Westfield Stadium. West Ham announced plans to move from the Boleyn Ground in the 2014–15 season. In August 2011, an investigation confirmed the decision to give West Ham the Olympic Stadium. On June 29, 2011, Tottenham announced they were going back to court to fight the decision. On August 25, 2011, Tottenham and Leyton Orient were granted a judicial review. On October 11, 2011, the deal to give West Ham the Olympic Stadium fell apart due to legal pressure. The government decided the stadium would remain publicly owned. Six days later, Tottenham and Leyton Orient ended their legal challenge.
After the original deal failed, a new process to choose a tenant began. West Ham immediately said they wanted to be tenants of the stadium. By March 2012, West Ham was one of four bidders. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, delayed the final decision until after the 2012 Summer Olympics. He said it was "overwhelmingly likely" that West Ham would be the tenants.
On March 22, 2013, it was announced that West Ham had signed a 99-year lease for the Olympic Stadium. This happened after the government agreed to put in an extra £1 million for the conversion costs. The club planned to move into the stadium before the start of the 2016–17 season. Fans of rival clubs argued that West Ham was getting an unfair advantage. However, in September 2015, the government rejected holding an inquiry into this.
The Academy of Football
The club is known as "The Academy of Football." This name is even on the new stadium's front. This refers to the club's youth development system. Manager Ted Fenton started it in the 1950s. Many international players have come through this system. Most famously, three players from West Ham were on the World Cup-winning England team in 1966. These were club legend Bobby Moore, as well as Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst. They scored all of England's goals in the 4–2 victory. Other academy players who played for England include Trevor Brooking, Alvin Martin, Tony Cottee, Paul Ince, and Declan Rice.
Since the late 1990s, players like Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, and Glen Johnson started their careers at West Ham. They all went on to play for other big clubs. More recently, first-team players like Mark Noble and James Tomkins, and Welsh international Jack Collison, have come from the Academy. It has been frustrating for fans and managers that the club has struggled to keep many of these players, mostly for money reasons. During the 2007–08 season, West Ham had an average of 6.61 English players in their starting lineup. This was more than any other Premier League club. This showed they were still developing young English talent. Between 2000 and 2011, the club produced eight England players. Much of the academy's success is thanks to Tony Carr, who was West Ham's youth coach from 1973 to 2014.
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Under-21s Team
Club Leaders
Retired Jersey Numbers
- 6
Bobby Moore, Defender (1958–74) – honored after his death - 38
Dylan Tombides, Striker (2010–14) – honored after his death
Team Captains
| Dates | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1895–97 |  Bob Stevenson |
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| 1897–99 | Walter Tranter |
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| 1899 | Tom Bradshaw |
Bradshaw died on Christmas Day 1899. |
| 1899–01 | Charlie Dove |
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| 1901–03 | Unknown | |
| c.1903–04 | Ernest Watts |
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| 1904–07 | David Gardner |
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| 1907–11 | Frank Piercy |
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| 1911–14 | Tommy Randall |
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| 1914–15 | Dick Leafe |
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| 1915–22 | Billy Cope |
Also captained games during World War I. |
| 1922–25 | George Kay |
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| 1925–26 | Billy Moore |
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| 1926–28 | Jack Hebden |
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| 1928–32 | Stanley Earle |
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| 1932–37 | Jim Barrett |
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| 1937–46 | Charles Bicknell |
Remained captain for games during World War II. |
| 1946–51 | Dick Walker |
After retiring, he helped clean younger players' boots. |
| 1951–57 | Malcolm Allison |
Became ill with tuberculosis in 1957 and had a lung removed. |
| 1957–60 |  Noel Cantwell |
First captain not from the United Kingdom. |
| 1960–62 |  Phil Woosnam |
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| 1962–74 | Bobby Moore |
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| 1974–84 | Billy Bonds |
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| 1984–90 | Alvin Martin |
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| 1990–92 | Ian Bishop |
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| 1992–93 | Julian Dicks |
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| 1993–96 | Steve Potts |
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| 1996–97 | Julian Dicks |
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| 1997–2001 |  Steve Lomas |
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| 2001–03 |  Paolo Di Canio |
First captain not from the British Isles. |
| 2003 | Joe Cole |
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| 2003–05 | Christian Dailly |
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| 2005–07 | Nigel Reo-Coker |
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| 2007–09 | Lucas Neill |
First captain from outside Europe. |
| 2009–11 | Matthew Upson |
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| 2011–15 | Kevin Nolan |
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| 2015–22 | Mark Noble |
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| 2022–23 | Declan Rice |
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| 2023–24 |  Kurt Zouma |
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| 2024– | Jarrod Bowen |
West Ham Dream Team
In the 2003 book The Official West Ham United Dream Team, 500 fans voted for their all-time best Hammers team. The voting was for players from the modern era.
| 1 | |
GK | Phil Parkes |
| 2 | |
DF | Ray Stewart |
| 3 | |
DF | Julian Dicks |
| 4 | |
MF | Billy Bonds |
| 5 | |
DF | Alvin Martin |
| 6 | |
DF | Bobby Moore (captain) |
| 7 | |
MF | Martin Peters |
| 8 | |
MF | Trevor Brooking |
| 9 | |
FW | Geoff Hurst |
| 10 | |
FW | Paolo Di Canio |
| 11 | |
MF | Alan Devonshire |
Hammer of the Year Award
The 'Hammer of the Year' award is given to the best player each season. The first award was given to Andy Malcolm in 1957–58. After that, fans voted for the winner. Trevor Brooking was the first player to win the award three times in a row (1976, 1977, and 1978). Scott Parker also won it three times in a row (2009-2011). Brooking has won the award the most times, with five wins. Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, and Julian Dicks have each won it four times.
Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2013, West Ham United started a new award called the Lifetime Achievement Award. The first award went to Billy Bonds, who played the most games for the club. He received the award at Upton Park before a game in the 2013–14 season. The 2014 award was given to Sir Trevor Brooking. He won the Hammer of the Year award five times. Brooking received the award before the 2014–15 season opener. The 2015 award went to Martin Peters. On May 3, 2016, Sir Geoff Hurst received the fourth award. He is the club's second all-time leading goalscorer. He also scored a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup Final. Ken Brown received the sixth award in April 2018. In 2019, midfielder Ronnie Boyce received the honor.
Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year Award
The Young Hammer of the Year award was renamed the Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year Award on May 9, 2022. This was to honor Mark Noble, who won the award in 2004. He played for the club from 2000 until he retired in 2022.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Glen Johnson |
| 2004 | Mark Noble |
| 2005 | Mark Noble (2) |
| 2006 | Anton Ferdinand |
| 2007 | Junior Stanislas |
| 2008 | James Tomkins |
| 2009 | Jack Collison |
| 2010 | Zavon Hines |
| 2011 | Freddie Sears |
| 2012 | Dan Potts |
| 2013 | George Moncur |
| 2014 | Sam Howes |
| 2015 | Reece Burke |
| 2016 | Reece Oxford |
| 2017 | / Declan Rice |
| 2018 | / Declan Rice (2) |
| 2019 | / Declan Rice (3) |
| 2020 | Nathan Holland |
| 2021 | Ben Johnson |
| 2022 | Ben Johnson (2) |
| 2023 | Divin Mubama |
| 2024 | George Earthy |
Club Staff
Staff and Directors
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Co-chairman | David Sullivan |
| Co-chairman | Vanessa Gold |
| Vice-chairman | Karren Brady CBE |
| Director | Daniel Křetínský |
| Director | Pavel Horský |
| Director | Peter Mitka |
| Director | Jiří Švarc |
| Director | Jack Sullivan |
| Director | David Sullivan Jr. |
| Director | Daniel Cunningham |
| Non-executive director | Daniel Harris |
| Non-executive director | J. Albert "Tripp" Smith |
| Honorary life president | Terry Brown |
| Club secretary | Andrew Pincher |
| Chief finance officer | Andy Mollett |
| Projects & stadium operations director | Philippa Cartwright |
| Executive director, marketing & communications | Tara Warren |
| Club ambassador | Tony Carr MBE |
| Sporting director | Mark Noble |
| Technical director | Tim Steidten |
Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Julen Lopetegui |
| Assistant head coach | Pablo Sanz |
| Head of performance & assistant coach | Oscar Caro |
| Head of analysis & assistant coach | Juan Vicente Peinado |
| First team goalkeeper coach | Xavi Valero |
| Fitness coach | Borja de Alba |
| Technical coach | Edu Rubio |
| Academy manager & head of coaching and player development | Terry Westley |
| Academy operations and player development manager | Ricky Martin |
| Head of medical services | Richard Collinge |
| First team rehabilitation fitness coach | Eamon Swift |
| First team physiotherapist | Dominic Rogan |
Club Managers
West Ham United has had 18 permanent managers and three temporary (caretaker) managers in its history.
| Manager | Caretaker Manager | Period | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | Honors/Notes (major honors in bold) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syd King |
1901–32 | 638 | 248 | 146 | 244 | 38.87 | Longest-serving manager (31 years). FA Cup runners-up 1923. | |
| Charlie Paynter |
1932–50 | 480 | 198 | 116 | 166 | 41.25 | ||
| Ted Fenton |
1950–61 | 484 | 193 | 107 | 184 | 39.87 | Division Two Champions 1957–58. | |
| Ron Greenwood |
1961–74 | 613 | 215 | 165 | 233 | 35.07 | FA Cup winners 1964, UEFA Cup Winners Cup winners 1965. League Cup runners-up 1966. | |
| John Lyall |
1974–89 | 708 | 277 | 176 | 255 | 39.12 | FA Cup winners 1975, 1980. Highest league finish (3rd in Division One 1985–86). UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runners-up 1976; League Cup runners-up 1981. | |
| Lou Macari |
1989–90 | 38 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 36.84 | ||
| Ronnie Boyce |
1990 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| Billy Bonds |
1990–94 | 227 | 99 | 61 | 67 | 43.61 | ||
| Harry Redknapp |
1994–01 | 327 | 121 | 85 | 121 | 37.00 | UEFA Intertoto Cup joint winners 1999 (European qualification). Club's highest Premier League finish (5th, 1998–99). | |
| Glenn Roeder |
2001–03 | 86 | 27 | 23 | 36 | 31.40 | ||
| Trevor Brooking |
2003 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 64.29 | ||
| Alan Pardew |
2003–06 | 163 | 67 | 38 | 58 | 41.10 | Championship Play-off Winners 2005, FA Cup runners-up 2006 (UEFA Cup qualification). | |
| Alan Curbishley |
2006–08 | 71 | 28 | 14 | 29 | 39.44 | ||
| Kevin Keen |
2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | ||
| Gianfranco Zola |
2008–10 | 80 | 23 | 21 | 36 | 28.75 | Club's first non-British manager. | |
 Avram Grant |
2010–11 | 47 | 15 | 12 | 20 | 31.91 | Club's first non-EU manager. | |
| Kevin Keen |
2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | ||
| Sam Allardyce |
2011–15 | 181 | 68 | 46 | 67 | 37.57 | Championship Play-off Winners 2012. | |
 Slaven Bilić |
2015–17 | 111 | 42 | 30 | 39 | 37.84 | ||
| David Moyes |
2017–18 | 31 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 29.03 | ||
 Manuel Pellegrini |
2018–19 | 64 | 24 | 11 | 29 | 37.50 | ||
| David Moyes |
2019–2024 | 231 | 103 | 45 | 83 | 44.59 | UEFA Europa Conference League winners 2023. Highest win percentage of club's permanent managers. Highest Premier League win percentage of club's Premier League era managers. |
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| Julen Lopetegui |
2024– | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 33.33 |
Club Ownership
In January 2010, David Sullivan and David Gold bought 50% of West Ham. This gave them control of how the club was run and its business. In May 2010, Gold and Sullivan bought another 10% for £8 million. This made their total share 60%. They said they might let fans buy shares too. On August 9, 2010, Gold and Sullivan increased their shares to 30.6% each. Other smaller investors, including former owner Terry Brown, bought another 3.8%. This left Icelandic Straumur Investment Bank owning 35% of the club.
On July 2, 2013, Sullivan bought another 25% of shares. This happened after the club's debts were reorganized. Straumur Bank then owned only 10%. To clear club debts before moving to the Olympic Stadium in 2016, Sullivan announced in December 2014 that 20% of the club was for sale. Clearing the club's debts, which were £70 million in July 2013, was a condition for moving to the Olympic Stadium.
In September 2017, American billionaire J. Albert "Tripp" Smith bought 10% of the club's shares. On November 10, 2021, the club announced that Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský had bought 27% of the shares. This reduced Gold and Sullivan's shares.
Co-chairman David Gold passed away on January 4, 2023. This left Sullivan as the only chairman. Seven months later, Gold's daughter Vanessa became joint-chair with Sullivan.
European Football Record
Club Honors and Trophies
Sources:
Domestic Trophies
League Titles
- Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2)
- Champions: 1957–58, 1980–81
- Runners-up: 1922–23, 1990–91, 1992–93
- Play-off winners: 2005, 2012
Cup Competitions
- FA Cup
- Winners: 1963–64, 1974–75, 1979–80
- Runners-up: 1922–23, 2005–06
- League Cup
- Runners-up: 1965–66, 1980–81
- FA Charity Shield
- Winners: 1964 (shared)
- Runners-up: 1975, 1980
- Football League War Cup
- Winners: 1940
European Trophies
- European Cup Winners' Cup
- Winners: 1964–65
- Runners-up: 1975–76
- UEFA Europa Conference League
- Winners: 2022–23
- UEFA Intertoto Cup
- Winners: 1999
- Anglo-Italian League Cup
- Runners-up: 1975
International Trophies
- International Soccer League
- Winners: 1963
- American Challenge Cup
- Runners-up: 1963
Other Awards
- BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award: 1965
- UNESCO Fair Play Trophy: 1966 (shared with 1860 Munich)
- Honorary Degree (awarded to the club) in 2009 by the University of East London
Statistics and Records
Attendance Records
- Record attendance: 62,478 vs Leeds United, Premier League, May 21, 2023
- At the Boleyn Ground: 42,322 v Tottenham Hotspur, Division One, October 17, 1970
- Lowest league attendance: 4,373 v Doncaster Rovers, Division Two, February 24, 1955
Transfer Records
- Biggest transfer fee paid: £51.2 million to Lyon for Lucas Paquetá, August 29, 2022
- Biggest transfer fee received: £100 million from Arsenal for Declan Rice, July 15, 2023
Biggest Wins
- League:
- Premier League:
- Home: 6–0 v Barnsley, January 10, 1998
- Away: 5–0 v Derby County, November 10, 2007
- Division One:
- Home: 8–0 v Sunderland, October 19, 1968
- Away: 6–1 v Manchester City, September 8, 1962
- Division Two:
- Home: 8–0 v Rotherham United, March 8, 1958
- Away: 6–0 v Leicester City, February 15, 1923
- FA Cup:
- Home: 8–1 v Chesterfield (round one), January 10, 1914
- Away: 5–0 v Chatham Town (fifth qualifying round), November 28, 1903
- League Cup:
- Home: 10–0 v Bury (round two second leg) (12–1 total score), October 25, 1983
- Away: 5–1 v Cardiff City (semi-final second leg) (10–3 total score), February 2, 1966
- Away: 5–1 v Walsall (round two), September 13, 1967
- European Cup Winners' Cup:
- Home: 5–1 v Castilla CF (round one second leg) (6–4 total score), October 1, 1980
- Away: 2–1 v Lausanne (quarter final second leg), (6–4 total score) March 16, 1965
- UEFA Cup/Europa League:
Biggest Losses
- League:
- Premier League:
- Division One:
- Home: 2–8 v Blackburn Rovers, December 26, 1963
- Away: 0–7 v Sheffield Wednesday, November 28, 1959
- Division Two:
- Away: 0–7 v Barnsley, September 1, 1919
- FA Cup:
- Away: 0–6 v Manchester United (fourth round), January 26, 2003
- League Cup:
- Away: 0–6 v Oldham Athletic (semi-final first leg), February 14, 1990
- Away: 0–6 v Manchester City (semi-final first leg), January 8, 2014
- European Cup Winners' Cup:
- Home: 1–4 v Dinamo Tbilisi (quarter final first leg) (2–4 total score), March 4, 1981
- Away: 2–4 v FC Den Haag (quarter final first leg) (5–5 total score, West Ham won on away goals), March 3, 1976
- Neutral: 2–4 v Anderlecht (Final), May 5, 1976
- UEFA Cup:
Player Records
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Most Appearances
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Most Goals
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See also
In Spanish: West Ham United Football Club para niños
