The Great Tragedy: How West Ham survived the 200-goal seasons of 1931-33

As long-suffering Hammers fans, we can all point to a bad season where absolutely nothing went right. But there are poor seasons and spectacularly bad seasons that defy logic or reason. Two seasons between 1931 and 1933 surpassed anything before or since.

In 1931/32 the Hammers were relegated after a nine-year stay in the top tier. They finished bottom of the table on 31 points and conceded 107 goals, both of which remain a club record. The following season, 1932/33, West Ham finished 20th and narrowly avoided relegation to Division 3 (South).

The greatest tragedy of this period was the dismissal and suicide of manager Syd King. But what caused this tragic event and how exactly did the Hammers survive these seasons from hell?

The Ticking Time Bomb: From Glory to Frailty

As the 1930s dawned West Ham appeared to be in a good place. A highly credible 7th place finish in the First Division was complemented by a Cup run… Centre forward Vic Watson was in the form of his life, scoring 42 goals.

However, storm clouds were beginning to gather as the 1930/31 season began. It was a talented but ageing squad… Goalkeeper Ted Hufton was injury-prone, and Vic Watson picked up a serious knee injury. We leaked a colossal 94 goals, finishing 17th.

1931/32: The Record-Breaking Collapse

That fateful season of 1931/32 started brightly enough… but their defensive frailties would soon become all too obvious. The next three games were lost including a crushing 6-0 defeat away at Sheffield United… West Ham were often swamped by opponents at the peak of their powers: Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal and Dixie Dean’s Everton.

In November they lost 5-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion, where William ‘Ginger’ Richardson caught them cold with four goals in five minutes—a record. Despite moments of brilliance, such as defeating eventual champions Everton 4-2, the defenders couldn’t match the heroic display of the forwards.

By March, West Ham looked relatively safe, but this precipitated a nosedive that was impressive even by West Ham’s standards. In the final 10 games, West Ham gained one point from a possible 20. A 3-2 defeat to Chelsea sealed their fate, consigning them to relegation with a club-record 107 goals conceded.

Syd King: The Architect’s Tragic Fall

Syd King was rightly dubbed ‘Mr West Ham’. He was instrumental in securing the land for and building Upton Park. He guided West Ham to promotion, the FA Cup Final, and their greatest early successes.

However, by November 1932, the pressure of the previous season’s failure was too much. Following a 3-0 defeat to Bradford Park Avenue, King was summoned to a meeting with the board. He was allegedly drunk and insulted several directors who questioned his fitness for the job. He was suspended without salary… Two weeks later, after the board decided against his reinstatement, Syd King committed suicide by consumption of a corrosive substance.

His son confirmed that King’s depression began when the club were relegated. It was a desperately sad end to the life and career of a man who did so much to shape the club’s destiny.

1932/33: Charlie Paynter and The Great Escape

The 1932/33 season was a mixture of trepidation and hope… After 13 games, the Hammers were bottom of the table.

With King’s suspension, the board gave control to trainer Charlie Paynter. Paynter was an avuncular figure who acted as a buffer between King and the players. He was the one who developed tactics and a system of play.

With Paynter in charge, results showed a marked improvement. The Hammers went on a seven-match unbeaten run… By way of silent tribute to King, the team began a Cup run the day after he died. They defeated Corinthians, West Brom, and Brighton, setting up a quarter-final against Birmingham.

However, the Cup run became a distraction, and the league form plummeted. West Ham tumbled into 20th place. Going into April, only five points separated the bottom seven teams. But the great escape was realised as West Ham won four of their last five games and stayed up by one point.

Over two seasons they conceded 200 league goals and avoided back-to-back relegations by the skin of their teeth. Syd King made West Ham but it was Charlie Paynter who saved them from obscurity in the lower leagues, preserving their status as one of only nine clubs to never play outside the top two divisions.