When West Ham United kicked-off the 1980s, they sat eighth in Division Two and a return to the highest echelons of English football appeared a long way off.
John Lyall’s side had been relegated in 1978 and, following a fifth-place finish in 1978/79, were no closer to gaining promotion back to Division One.
The opening months of the new decade were not without excitement, however, as the Hammers launched a bid to win the FA Cup for a third time. West Bromwich Albion, Leyton Orient, Swansea City, Aston Villa and Everton – three of them top-flight clubs – were swept aside to set up a final meeting with high-flying Arsenal.
The Gunners were considered hot favourites on a warm and sunny afternoon at Wembley on 10 May 1980, but West Ham rose to the big occasion and lifted the trophy courtesy of Trevor Brooking’s first-half header.
After losing out 1-0 to Liverpool in the Charity Shield, West Ham set about tearing the Second Division apart in 1980/81, losing just four of their 42 league matches to win the title by a staggering 13 points – and this in a day when clubs received just two points for a win!
With David Cross and Paul Goddard combining to score 56 goals, and young Scottish full-back Ray Stewart bagging nine from the penalty spot, Lyall’s men also reached the League Cup final. There, they were handed a re-match with the all-conquering Reds, who could only edge out their lower-division opponents after a replay.
