For West Ham United and everyone associated with the Club, 2023 will be a year that will never, ever be forgotten.
It was a year that began with more than a tinge of sadness as the Club mourned the loss of Joint-Chairman, lifelong supporter and former junior player David Gold on 4 January at the age of 86.
A memorial service for the Club’s beloved Joint-Chairman was held at London Stadium. Just weeks later, tragically, his eldest daughter Jacqueline also passed away, aged just 62.
At men’s first-team level, the Hammers lifted their first major trophy in 43 years, recorded their best start to a Premier League season in 28 attempts, achieved their second-highest number of victories in a calendar year in the Club’s 128-year history, and reached the knockout stages of a European competition for the third consecutive season, setting an English club record of 17 games unbeaten in the process.
The Irons played 59 competitive matches in 2023, winning 32 – behind only 1981, when John Lyall’s side won the Second Division title and reached the League Cup final – and scoring 97 goals.
In Europe, David Moyes’ squad was virtually unbeatable, winning eleven out of 13 ties played in eight different countries, losing just once, scoring 26 goals, conceding just eight and, of course, lifting the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy after beating Italian side Fiorentina in June.
Individually, a number of players enjoyed truly outstanding calendar year.
Jarrod Bowen made the headlines when his late goal won West Ham the Europa Conference League in Prague, but that historic strike does not tell the whole story of his 2023. Bowen scored 21 goals and registered 12 assists in 55 appearances, while also signing a new long-term contract, earning an England recall and becoming a father for the first time.
The man who provided the pass for Bowen’s final winner, Lucas Paquetá, has also showed his vast range of talents in a Claret and Blue shirt, netting ten goals and ten assists in all competitions. His move to a position on the left of the midfield has also helped bring out the best in his close friend, left-back Emerson, who was arguably the outstanding performer that night in Prague.
Another Europa Conference League final starter, Alphonse Areola, was named in the competition’s Team of the Season alongside Bowen, Paquetá, Michail Antonio and Nayef Aguerd, and won the Premier League’s Save of the Month award in October.
Czech mates Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal have continued to prove two of the best buys in recent West Ham history, with the former bagging nine goals and the latter providing outstanding levels of consistency at right-back in 2023.
While he may have departed in the summer, Declan Rice also left the supporters with many fond memories, captaining the Club to that Europa Conference League glory and leading the team to Premier League safety before being voted Hammer of the Year for the second time.
The Club made four senior summer signings and all four have excelled. James Ward-Prowse has three goals and ten assists in just 26 appearances, Mexico international Edson Álvarez has added steel and presence to the midfield, Dinos Mavropanos has provided depth in defence and Ghana ‘Starboy’ Mohammed Kudus has made a big impact with his play from the right wing, scoring nine goals.
In addition to travelling to eight different countries in European competition, the men’s first team also made a successful pre-season tour to the Australian city of Perth, where the Hammers made and met many friends and scored victories over Perth Glory and Tottenham Hotspur.
At Academy level, the U18s completed an FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League South division double, before many of the same players helped the U21s reach the EFL Trophy round of 16 and compile a 16-game unbeaten run to close out the calendar year.
All in, it was an incredible, record-setting, record-breaking 2023 for West Ham United, manager Moyes, his squad and staff, Academy director Kenny Brown, coaches Steve Potts and Kevin Keen and their respective squads and staff, as well as for every member of staff and the Claret and Blue Army.
