# 1931–32 West Ham United F.C. season

The 1931–32 season was West Ham's eighth season in the First Division since their promotion in season 1922–23. The club were managed by Syd King.

## Season summary

As a warm-up to the season West Ham completed a three match unbeaten tour of Switzerland and began the season with their first ever win at Bolton's Burnden Park. This would be one of only 12 wins all season which saw poor form for the team. February saw the return of Syd Puddefoot to the club, after ten years away, but his seven appearances and no goals did nothing to stave off relegation. West Ham gained a single point from their last 10 games, finished 22nd and bottom and were relegated to the Second Division. Vic Watson was the top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions. He was also top scorer in the league with 23. Jimmy Ruffell made the most appearances; 41 in all competitions.
Relegation for West Ham had a dramatic effect on the mental health of manager King. Suffering from delusions, these became chronic during the season and were a factor towards his sacking and death the following season.
West Ham made the fourth round of the FA Cup before being eliminated by Chelsea.

### First Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation |
| 18 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 64 | 89 | 0.719 | 38 | |
| 19 | Leicester City | 42 | 15 | 7 | 20 | 74 | 94 | 0.787 | 37 | |
| 20 | Blackpool | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 65 | 102 | 0.637 | 33 | |
| 21 | Grimsby Town (R) | 42 | 13 | 6 | 23 | 67 | 98 | 0.684 | 32 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | West Ham United (R) | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 62 | 107 | 0.579 | 31 | Relegation to the Second Division |

## Results

West Ham United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League First Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 29 August 1931 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–0 | 15,740 | Watson |
| 31 August 1931 | Chelsea | H | 3–1 | 28,338 | Norris, Weldon, Watson |
| 5 September 1931 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–2 | 23,129 | |
| 7 September 1931 | Sheffield United | A | 0–6 | 11,055 | |
| 12 September 1931 | Huddersfield | A | 1–3 | 11,986 | Watson |
| 19 September 1931 | Newcastle United | H | 2–1 | 21,558 | Watson, Ruffell |
| 21 September 1931 | Sheffield United | H | 1–2 | 12,075 | Ruffell |
| 26 September 1931 | Aston Villa | A | 2–5 | 39,619 | Wood, Tate (og) |
| 3 October 1931 | Leicester City | H | 1–4 | 20,196 | Weldon |
| 10 October 1931 | Liverpool | A | 2–2 | 23,819 | Weldon, Gibbins |
| 17 October 1931 | Manchester City | A | 1–0 | 18,310 | Ruffell |
| 24 October 1931 | Portsmouth | H | 2–1 | 18,092 | Ruffell (2) |
| 31 October 1931 | Derby County | A | 1–5 | 10,424 | Watson |
| 7 November 1931 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–5 | 20,685 | Ruffell |
| 14 November 1931 | Arsenal | A | 1–4 | 41,028 | Watson |
| 21 November 1931 | Blackpool | H | 1–1 | 14,800 | Ruffell |
| 28 November 1931 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 4–2 | 8,426 | Barrett, Phillips, Gibbins, Watson |
| 5 December 1931 | Everton | H | 4–2 | 34,109 | Ruffell (3), Wood |
| 12 December 1931 | Birmingham | A | 1–4 | 19,725 | Watson |
| 19 December 1931 | Sunderland | H | 2–2 | 6,505 | Barrett, Watson |
| 25 December 1931 | Grimsby | A | 1–2 | 15,132 | Barrett |
| 26 December 1931 | Grimsby Town | H | 3–1 | 23,859 | Watson, Ruffell (2) |
| 2 January 1932 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 3–1 | 15,997 | Ruffell, Watson (2) |
| 16 January 1932 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–3 | 8,287 | Watson (2) |
| 30 January 1932 | Newcastle United | A | 2–2 | 31,942 | Cadwell, Watson |
| 1 February 1932 | Huddersfield Town | H | 1–1 | 8,631 | Watson |
| 6 February 1932 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | 25,438 | Yews, Phillips |
| 18 February 1932 | Leicester City | A | 1–2 | 9,983 | Ruffell |
| 20 February 1932 | Liverpool | H | 1–0 | 15,721 | Ruffell |
| 2 March 1932 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | 13,524 | Chalkley |
| 5 March 1932 | Portsmouth | A | 0–3 | 14,031 | |
| 12 March 1932 | Derby County | H | 2–1 | 19,635 | Watson, Ruffell |
| 19 March 1932 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 1–3 | 19,002 | Phillips |
| 23 March 1932 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–2 | 19,794 | Ruffell |
| 26 March 1932 | Arsenal | H | 1–1 | 34,852 | Watson |
| 28 March 1932 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–6 | 14,848 | Watson |
| 2 April 1932 | Blackpool | A | 2–7 | 13,092 | Morton, Watson |
| 9 April 1932 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–3 | 10,136 | Watson |
| 16 April 1932 | Everton | A | 1–6 | 26,997 | Cresswell (og) |
| 23 April 1932 | Birmingham | H | 2–4 | 10,983 | Watson, Weldon |
| 30 April 1932 | Sunderland | A | 0–2 | 13,528 | |
| 7 May 1932 | Chelsea | A | 2–3 | 24,386 | Yews, Barrett |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 9 January 1932 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–1 | 26,500 | Watson (2) |
| R4 | 23 January 1932 | Chelsea | A | 1–3 | 36,657 | Weldon |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | ENG | Jim Barrett |
| — | MF | ENG | Albert Cadwell |
| — | DF | ENG | Alfred Chalkley |
| — | DF | ENG | Jimmy Collins |
| — | DF | ENG | Charlie Cox (captain) |
| — | DF | ENG | Bob Dixon |
| — | DF | ENG | Alfred Earl |
| — | FW | ENG | Vivian Gibbins |
| — | DF | ENG | Reg Goodacre |
| — | FW | ENG | Jim Harris |
| — | GK | ENG | Ted Hufton |
| — | FW | WAL | Wilf James |
| — | FW | ENG | Jackie Morton |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | ENG | Joe Musgrave |
| — | MF | ENG | Fred Norris |
| — | FW | ENG | Wilf Phillips |
| — | FW | ENG | Walter Pollard |
| — | FW | ENG | Syd Puddefoot |
| — | MF | ENG | Wally St Pier |
| — | DF | ENG | Reg Wade |
| — | DF | ENG | William Wade |
| — | FW | ENG | Vic Watson |
| — | MF | ENG | Tony Weldon |
| — | FW | ENG | Jim Wood |
| — | MF | ENG | Tommy Yews |