Following the disappointment of one win in 21 of the last league matches of 1975-75 and defeat in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, hopes were high that without the distraction of Europe, West Ham might have a better campaign. However, after making no signings the previous summer, only one arrival in the summer of ’76 – Bill Green signed by Ron Greenwood from Carlisle for £75,000.
It would seem incomprehensible now, to make just one signing in two years, and even by 1970’s standards this might be considered dangerous, however Lyall trusted his existing squad and had no reason to believe they would not perform. Those beliefs would be tested to the core – especially as an opening day defeat at Villa Park by a score of 4-0 blew Lyall’s’ tactical theories out of the water at the first hurdle.
With Green playing Centre Half, Tommy Taylor was pushed further forward into midfield. Graham Paddon claimed a win over QPR, then a goalless draw against Leicester was followed by a 3-0 win over Barnsley in the league cup with their midfielder Anton Otulakowski catching the eye. Defeat at the Victoria Ground, Stoke cast the die for much of the remainder of the season. A point at Bristol City proves expensive with a broken leg for Pat Holland.
Progress in the League Cup with a win against Charlton at the Valley, an evening marred by fighting at New Cross station which saw a Millwall fan killed after falling under a train. Tensions surface among team mates and Billy Bonds and Mick McGiven disagree visibly, and between players and fans.
Billy Jennings in particular was on the receiving end and let the North Bank have it when he scored against Sunderland, but it was only enough for another draw. Another big defeat at Manchester City, and only just over 21,000 turn up for the home game against Leeds which was also lost 3-1.
Something has to change – Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson re-signs having been sold in 1974. Alan Devonshire signed from non-League Southall for the princely sum of £5,000. Not many see him as the answer to West Ham’s problems as they sat 21st with just five points from 10 games. Devonshire’s debuted against QPR in the league Cup which ended in a 2-0 defeat.
After selling Graham Paddon back to Norwich for £110,000, Lyall tries a change of tack against a Tottenham side struggling just as badly in the League. He goes for three youngsters in midfield, Devonshire, Pike and Curbishley. Their energy along with Brooking’s guile seal a 5-3 win.
An unexpected 2-0 win came at Old Trafford, where Anton Otulakowski made his debut, having signed as a semi-pro from Barnsley where he had to serve two weeks’ notice working for the Gas Board. Defeat at home to Middlesbrough, but then champions Liverpool were beaten 2-0 at Upton Park with another new signing, John Radford, making his debut after an £80,000 move from Arsenal.
Another welcome clean sheet on Boxing Day in a 0-0 draw at St Andrews, before 1977 got underway at White Hart Lane. The Hammers went 1-0 up through Brooking but after some questionable refereeing and a dive by the aptly-named Alfie Conn, Tottenham win 2-1.
The new signings gave West Ham some depth but performances remained woefully inconsistent. Geoff Pike scored his first West Ham goal against Bolton in the cup, but then Villa won twice, once in the League at Upton Park then at Villa Park in the cup.
An unlucky defeat at Leicester, a narrow win at home to Stoke, but then the most West Ham thing: Victory at Highbury. Despite losing so many games, the Hammers beat Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United and now Arsenal, 3-2 with two for Alan Taylor and one for Billy Jennings.
The best run of results of the season to date came to an abrupt end at Roker Park with a 6-0 battering. Lyall admitted in his autobiography that he was so frustrated that day he wanted to leave the team at motorway services and let them make their own way home.
He was talked out of it by Chairman Reg Pratt who reminded him that every manager loses games – the important thing is to put it right next week. They did put it right with victory over Manchester City at Upton Park, at personal cost to Bill Green who wound up with a broken leg and fractured skull – but away frailties continued with a 4-1 mauling at Portman Road.
After 31 games West Ham were bottom of the league but with games in hand on their close rivals. All set up for a thrilling finale. A 2-2 draw at home to Birmingham, and another point at Coventry before a vital two points against Norwich, Pike with a 25-yarder. That left six of the bottom seven on 27 points.
Anything could happen. A vital run of results: successive draws at Derby, Leeds, and Middlesbrough. Of West Ham’s last four games, three are at home. Coventry are beaten 2-0, and the Hammers climb out of the relegation zone by a point.
A 2-2 draw at home to Derby, and a surprise 0-0 draw at Anfield, maybe not so surprising as Liverpool needed a point to win the title and had the FA Cup final looming. The point at Anfield was perhaps more significant in that it relegated Tottenham.
Victory in the last game of the season would guarantee survival given that two rivals, Coventry and Bristol City have to play each other. A dramatic 4-2 win seals survival. Stoke and Sunderland join Tottenham in Division Two. Lyall knows that there will have to be significant improvement in 1977-78 or West Ham will be facing the drop themselves.
My YouTube series “The John Lyall Years” follows the fortunes of the club during John Lyall’s tenure, merging match footage with interviews, newspaper cuttings, news items, music, TV, and cinema from the time. It is a must for anyone who remembers those heady days, or those who are curious to learn. 1976-77 is covered in Episodes 10-14 see @westhamhistory
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