In the final instalment of our 2023/24 Season Review, we round up May's fixtures and revisit a fitting farewell to David Moyes at London Stadium…
Four and a half years after it began with a 4-0 win over AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium, the David Moyes era at West Ham United ended with a spirited 3-1 defeat at champions Manchester City on Sunday 19 May.
After 261 matches, 112 victories, three top-ten Premier League finishes, a UEFA Europa League semi-final – and not forgetting West Ham United’s first major trophy since 1980 in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022/23 – the reign of one of the most successful permanent managers in the Club’s 129-year history came to its conclusion.
Though Moyes’ tenure ended disappointingly at Etihad Stadium, the Scotsman left with his head held high having achieved something a lot more powerful – he got east London and the Club believing again.
While West Ham also fell to a defeat away to Chelsea during May, Moyes did sign off at London Stadium in style with a 3-1 win over Luton Town.
A superb second-half comeback, capped by a first senior goal for George Earthy, saw the Irons finish their 2023/24 home campaign with reason to celebrate.
Albert Sambi Lokonga put Luton in front within six minutes, before the hosts found a new lease of life with three strikes after the interval.
Good finishes from James Ward-Prowse and Tomás Souček arrived not long after the break to set the party in motion.
Earthy then capped a stunning return to senior action, after he was stretchered off on his Premier League debut against Fulham in April, with a superb cameo across the final 15 minutes.
Barely a minute into his appearance, the boyhood Hammer timed his run across the box perfectly to slot home his first senior goal on 76 minutes, after superb work from Mohammed Kudus down the right.
The fact Earthy was later joined by teammate since West Ham United U7s Kaelan Casey, who made his Premier League debut in stoppage time, capped a fitting home send-off to 2023/24 and Moyes!
The season also concluded with Jarrod Bowen, Kudus and Vladimír Coufal taking home trophies from the 2023/24 West Ham United Player Awards.
Bowen won two prizes, being crowned Hammer of the Year for the first time, and finishing the season as the Club’s Top Goalscorer, while Kudus took home the Goal of the Season gong for his incredible individual strike against SC Freiburg in March.
With Coufal picking up the Players’ Project award, two promising homegrown players were also recognised, with midfielder Earthy named Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year and defender Ezra Mayers winning the Dylan Tombides Award and Doris Bell Trophy for the outstanding Academy of Football scholar.
The last word of 2023/24 truly, then, belongs to Moyes, who reflected fondly on his incredible work at London Stadium throughout a superb tenure. He said: "I have enjoyed four and a half brilliant years at West Ham, and the Club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019.
“When I joined West Ham for a second time, the Club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.
“After leading the Club to safety, we guided the team to finishes of sixth and seventh in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June – the Club’s first major trophy in 43 years.
“I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four and a half years.
“I have really enjoyed working with everyone at West Ham, and I would like to thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to manage this great Club."
