West Ham

Stadium: Boleyn Ground (35,647)
Manager: Alan Curbishley

Chairman: Eggert Magnusson

2007-2008: 10th, Premier League

Official Club Site:  West Ham

 

 West Ham football club

 

West Ham United Football Club is an English football club foundation in Upton Park, West Ham United joined the Football League in 1919 and hold the distinct honour of never falling outside the top two divisions in their entire history. Despite obtaining success in the FA Cup and the European Cup Winner's Cup over the years, West Ham have failed to secure the Premier League title having come closest with a third place finish in 1986. London Borough of Newham, East London, and have played their home matches at the 35,303 capacity Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904.

The club was originally founded as Thames Ironworks F.C. in 1895 and later reformed, in 1900, as their current incarnation. They initially competed in the Southern League and Western League before joining the full Football League in 1919. West Ham first gained promotion to the top flight of English football in 1923 and enjoyed mixed success for the remainder of the 1920's. In 1932 West Ham were relegated to Division Two and spent many years in the football wilderness until finally earning promotion to the First Division in 1958. The club, who have spent their entire league career in the top two divisions, have been FA Cup winners three times: in 1964, 1975 and 1980. In 1965, they won the Cup Winners Cup (now defunct), and in 1999 they won the Intertoto Cup. They also won the first War Cup in 1940. The club's best final league position is third place in the 1985-86 (old) First Division. West Ham currently holds the dubious distinction of being the only team to breach the 40 point boundary in a 38-game Premier League season and still be relegated in 2003.

 

The 1990's again heralded a period of mixed success at the club as West Ham spent time in both the top flight of English football and the newly renamed Division One. West Ham gained promotion to the Premier League in 1993 and with the appointment of Harry Redknapp as manager in 1994 the club began to impose themselves as serious challengers, finishing fifth in the 1998-99 season. Controversy bounded the club during the 2006-07 seasons due to the signings of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez resulting in the club being investigated by the Premier League and in receipt of a record fine of £5.5 million and only just avoiding a point’s deduction they at present vie in the Premier League, after finishing in 10th position in the 2007-08 seasons. The club's current manager is Alan Currishly who was appointed on 13 December 2006; the club's present captain is Australian Lucas Neill.

 


To watch West Ham Live click HERE