2003:
The year kicked off in better fashion for the Hammers winning their first home game of the season against Nottingham Forrest in the FA Cup in January.
The end of the month also saw them win their first Premiership game at Upton Park, when Jermain Defoe struck in the final minute against Blackburn.
Glen Johnson had come into the team, Joe Cole was made captain and the Hammers fortunes started to revive. Wins over West Brom, Spurs, Sunderland and Middlesbrough had given Roeder's team hope of survival, but the manager was taken ill and the reigns handed over Hammers legend Sir Trevor Brooking.
Back to back wins over Manchester City and Chelsea set up a nervous final day, but fortune was hiding that afternoon and West Ham were relegated.
It was all change over the summer with Cole, Freddie Kanoute, Johnson and Trevor Sinclair all sold and Matty Etherington and David Connolly brought in, as well as Neil Mellor on loan.
Roeder was only in charge for three games before departing Upton Park after defeat at Rotherham. Alan Pardew arrived as the new manager but due to disputes could not take charge until the end of October. He quickly started the rebuilding process signing Hayden Mullins and Marlon Harewood.
2004:
Jermain Defoe and David James departed in the transfer window but Hammers fan Bobby Zamora arrived from Spurs.
The automatic promotion places were slipping out of reach, but Padrew's team did enough to clinch fourth spot and a Playoff Semi-Final against Ipswich Town. The 1-0 defeat at Portman Road set up a mouth watering clash at Upton Park for the second leg which saw one of the best atmosphere's under the floodlights the Club has ever known. A spectacular second half strike from Matty Etherington and a scrambled effort from Christian Dailly were enough for the Hammers to earn a first trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
There was more heartbreak however, as Crystal Palace, who ironically wouldn't have even made the Playoff's if West Ham hadn't equalised against Wigan on the final day, triumphed 1-0.
West Ham had to prepare for another stay in the newly renamed Championship without Michael Carrick who departed for Spurs, but Pardew managed to capture the signature of veteran England international Teddy Sheringham.
The year kicked off in better fashion for the Hammers winning their first home game of the season against Nottingham Forrest in the FA Cup in January.
The end of the month also saw them win their first Premiership game at Upton Park, when Jermain Defoe struck in the final minute against Blackburn.
Glen Johnson had come into the team, Joe Cole was made captain and the Hammers fortunes started to revive. Wins over West Brom, Spurs, Sunderland and Middlesbrough had given Roeder's team hope of survival, but the manager was taken ill and the reigns handed over Hammers legend Sir Trevor Brooking.
Back to back wins over Manchester City and Chelsea set up a nervous final day, but fortune was hiding that afternoon and West Ham were relegated.
It was all change over the summer with Cole, Freddie Kanoute, Johnson and Trevor Sinclair all sold and Matty Etherington and David Connolly brought in, as well as Neil Mellor on loan.
Roeder was only in charge for three games before departing Upton Park after defeat at Rotherham. Alan Pardew arrived as the new manager but due to disputes could not take charge until the end of October. He quickly started the rebuilding process signing Hayden Mullins and Marlon Harewood.
2004:
Jermain Defoe and David James departed in the transfer window but Hammers fan Bobby Zamora arrived from Spurs.
The automatic promotion places were slipping out of reach, but Padrew's team did enough to clinch fourth spot and a Playoff Semi-Final against Ipswich Town. The 1-0 defeat at Portman Road set up a mouth watering clash at Upton Park for the second leg which saw one of the best atmosphere's under the floodlights the Club has ever known. A spectacular second half strike from Matty Etherington and a scrambled effort from Christian Dailly were enough for the Hammers to earn a first trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
There was more heartbreak however, as Crystal Palace, who ironically wouldn't have even made the Playoff's if West Ham hadn't equalised against Wigan on the final day, triumphed 1-0.
West Ham had to prepare for another stay in the newly renamed Championship without Michael Carrick who departed for Spurs, but Pardew managed to capture the signature of veteran England international Teddy Sheringham.