# 1996–97 West Ham United F.C. season

During the 1996–97 English football season, West Ham United competed in the FA Premier League.

## Season summary

The season began with much excitement at Upton Park, as a whole host of foreign signings arrived. However, most of the acquisitions were short-lived and unsuccessful. Romanian striker Florin Răducioiu walked out in mid-season after scoring just two goals and Portuguese winger Paulo Futre played just nine games for the club before giving in to a knee injury and announcing his retirement in November.
It was a season of struggle for Harry Redknapp's team, but in the end, a new wave of players helped to keep West Ham in the Premiership on the last day of the season. Exciting young defender Rio Ferdinand broke into the side, while newly signed strikers Paul Kitson and John Hartson gave the attack the boost that Răducioiu and Futre had failed to deliver.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 12 | Derby County | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 45 | 58 | −13 | 46 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 38 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 42 | 43 | −1 | 42 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 42 |
| 15 | Everton | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 44 | 57 | −13 | 42 |
| 16 | Southampton | 38 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50 | 56 | −6 | 41 |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: Statto

### Results by matchday

| Match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | L | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | L | W | W | L | D | D | D | L | D | L | W | L | D | L | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | D | W | D | L | D | W | W | D | L |
| Position | 16 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 |

## Results

West Ham United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 17 August 1996 | Arsenal | A | 0–2 | 38,056 | |
| 21 August 1996 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 21,580 | Rieper |
| 24 August 1996 | Southampton | H | 2–1 | 21,227 | M Hughes, Dicks (pen) |
| 4 September 1996 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–4 | 30,060 | M Hughes |
| 8 September 1996 | Sunderland | A | 0–0 | 18,642 | |
| 15 September 1996 | Wimbledon | H | 0–2 | 21,294 | |
| 21 September 1996 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2–0 | 23,352 | Bowen, M Hughes |
| 29 September 1996 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 25,064 | Bilić |
| 12 October 1996 | Everton | A | 1–2 | 36,571 | Dicks (pen) |
| 19 October 1996 | Leicester City | H | 1–0 | 22,285 | Moncur |
| 26 October 1996 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–1 | 23,947 | Berg (own goal), Porfírio |
| 2 November 1996 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–1 | 32,999 | |
| 16 November 1996 | Newcastle United | A | 1–1 | 36,552 | Rowland |
| 23 November 1996 | Derby County | H | 1–1 | 24,576 | Bishop |
| 30 November 1996 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–0 | 22,321 | |
| 4 December 1996 | Aston Villa | H | 0–2 | 19,105 | |
| 8 December 1996 | Manchester United | H | 2–2 | 25,045 | Răducioiu, Dicks (pen) |
| 21 December 1996 | Chelsea | A | 1–3 | 28,315 | Porfírio |
| 28 December 1996 | Sunderland | H | 2–0 | 24,077 | Bilić, Răducioiu |
| 1 January 1997 | Nottingham Forest | H | 0–1 | 22,358 | |
| 11 January 1997 | Liverpool | A | 0–0 | 40,102 | |
| 20 January 1997 | Leeds United | H | 0–2 | 19,441 | |
| 29 January 1997 | Arsenal | H | 1–2 | 24,382 | Rose (own goal) |
| 1 February 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 1–2 | 21,994 | Ferdinand |
| 15 February 1997 | Derby County | A | 0–1 | 18,057 | |
| 24 February 1997 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 4–3 | 23,998 | Dicks (2, 1 pen), Kitson, Hartson |
| 1 March 1997 | Leeds United | A | 0–1 | 30,575 | |
| 12 March 1997 | Chelsea | H | 3–2 | 24,502 | Dicks, Kitson (2) |
| 15 March 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 0–0 | 35,992 | |
| 18 March 1997 | Wimbledon | A | 1–1 | 15,771 | Lazaridis |
| 22 March 1997 | Coventry City | A | 3–1 | 22,291 | Hartson (2), Ferdinand |
| 9 April 1997 | Middlesbrough | H | 0–0 | 23,988 | |
| 12 April 1997 | Southampton | A | 0–2 | 15,244 | |
| 19 April 1997 | Everton | H | 2–2 | 24,525 | Kitson (2) |
| 23 April 1997 | Leicester City | A | 1–0 | 20,327 | Moncur |
| 3 May 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 5–1 | 24,960 | Kitson (3), Hartson (2) |
| 6 May 1997 | Newcastle United | H | 0–0 | 24,617 | |
| 11 May 1997 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 55,249 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 4 January 1997 | Wrexham | A | 1–1 | 9,747 | Porfírio |
| R3R | 25 January 1997 | Wrexham | H | 0–1 | 16,763 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 18 September 1996 | Barnet | A | 1–1 | 3,849 | Cottee |
| R2 2nd Leg | 25 September 1996 | Barnet | H | 1–0 | 15,264 | Bilić |
| R3 | 23 October 1996 | Nottingham Forest | H | 4–1 | 19,402 | Dowie (2), Porfírio, Dicks (pen) |
| R4 | 27 November 1996 | Stockport County | H | 1–1 | 20,061 | Răducioiu |
| R4R | 18 December 1996 | Stockport County | A | 1–2 | 9,834 | Dicks |

## First-team 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 |
| 1 | GK | CZE | Luděk Mikloško |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Tim Breacker |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Julian Dicks (captain) |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Steve Potts (vice-captain) |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Richard Hall |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Danny Williamson |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Ian Bishop |
| 8 | DF | DEN | Marc Rieper |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Paul Kitson |
| 10 | FW | WAL | John Hartson |
| 11 | MF | NIR | Steve Lomas |
| 12 | DF | NIR | Keith Rowland |
| 13 | MF | POR | Hugo Porfírio (on loan from Sporting CP) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 14 | FW | NIR | Iain Dowie |
| 16 | MF | ENG | John Moncur |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Stan Lazaridis |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Les Sealey |
| 24 | MF | NIR | Michael Hughes |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Lee Hodges |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Frank Lampard |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Rio Ferdinand |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slaven Bilić |
| 29 | FW | NGA | Emmanuel Omoyinmi |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Neil Finn |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Scott Mean |
| 33 | FW | IRL | Lee Boylan |

### Left club during season

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 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Tony Cottee (to Selangor) |
| 10 | FW | POR | Paulo Futre (to Atlético Madrid) |
| 11 | FW | ROU | Florin Răducioiu (to Espanyol) |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Kenny Brown (to Birmingham City) |
| 18 | FW | ROU | Ilie Dumitrescu (to América) |
| 19 | MF | AUS | Robbie Slater (to Southampton) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Mike Newell (on loan from Birmingham City) |
| 20 | DF | WAL | Mark Bowen (to Shimizu S-Pulse) |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Peter Shilton (to Leyton Orient) |
| 22 | DF | ENG | Adrian Whitbread (to Portsmouth) |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Steve Jones (to Charlton Athletic) |
| 30 | GK | AUS | Steve Mautone (to Reading) |

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | CZE | Luděk Mikloško | 41 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Les Sealey | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | ENG | Tim Breacker | 30 | 0 | 22+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Julian Dicks | 38 | 8 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 4 | DF | ENG | Steve Potts | 21 | 0 | 17+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Richard Hall | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | DEN | Marc Rieper | 33 | 1 | 26+2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | NIR | Keith Rowland | 14 | 1 | 11+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | ENG | Rio Ferdinand | 17 | 2 | 11+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | CRO | Slaven Bilić | 41 | 3 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 6 | MF | ENG | Danny Williamson | 18 | 0 | 13+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Ian Bishop | 36 | 1 | 26+3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | NIR | Steve Lomas | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | POR | Hugo Porfirio | 27 | 4 | 15+8 | 2 | 1+1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | John Moncur | 32 | 2 | 26+1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | AUS | Stan Lazaridis | 27 | 1 | 13+9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | NIR | Michael Hughes | 39 | 3 | 31+2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Frank Lampard | 16 | 0 | 3+10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | Paul Kitson | 14 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | WAL | John Hartson | 11 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | NIR | Iain Dowie | 28 | 2 | 18+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 29 | FW | NGA | Emmanuel Omoyinmi | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | IRL | Lee Boylan | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left the club permanently or on loan during the season ||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | ENG | Tony Cottee | 5 | 1 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | POR | Paulo Futre | 9 | 0 | 4+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ROU | Florin Răducioiu | 12 | 3 | 6+5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | ROU | Ilie Dumitrescu | 10 | 0 | 3+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | AUS | Robbie Slater | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Mike Newell | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Mark Bowen | 20 | 1 | 15+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Steve Jones | 11 | 0 | 5+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | AUS | Steve Mautone | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: Luděk Mikloško
* RB: Tim Breacker
* CB: Marc Rieper
* CB: Slaven Bilić
* CB: Julian Dicks
* LB: Mark Bowen
* CM: Michael Hughes
* CM: Ian Bishop
* CM: John Moncur
* CF: Iain Dowie
* CF: Paul Kitson