Throughout the 2024/25 season, we're taking a look at some of the best players to have worn a range of squad numbers for West Ham United, since they were introduced for the start of the 1993/94 campaign.
Vote for your favourite No4 from the four chosen nominees below!
All West Ham No4s since 1993/94 | |
|---|---|
1993-2001 | 2016-2017 |
2001-2005 | 2018-2021 |
2005-2011 | 2021-2024 |
2011-2015 | 2024-present |
2015-2016 |
|
Steve Potts
DOB: 07.05.67 WHU: 1985-2002 Apps: 506 Goals: 1
Steve Potts is rightly labelled as a cult hero at West Ham United, having spent a remarkable 17 years in east London. After progressing through the Academy of Football, Potts went on to make 506 appearances for the Hammers, undoubtedly experiencing plenty of thrills and spills.
Potts, who is also West Ham’s fifth-highest Premier League appearance holder, made his debut in 1985/86 as West Ham finished third in the First Division, though it was in 1988/89 where he made his breakthrough, making 43 appearances in all competitions.
His 47 outings in all competitions in the 1990/91 season helped West Ham secure promotion back to the top tier, though perhaps Potts’ best season arrived in 1992/93, when he featured on 56 occasions, won promotion to the Premier League for the first time and was voted Hammer of the Year. He would go on to win a second Hammer of the Year award in 1995.
Potts has worked with the Academy of Football as a coach and mentor since 2011, and was the U21s lead coach last season as his talented side finished second in Premier League 2. He is currently U21s assistant coach.
Danny Gabbidon
DOB: 08.08.79 WHU: 2005-2011 Apps: 113 Goals: 0
On his day, Danny Gabbidon was one of the finest defenders around. He was snapped up by manager Alan Pardew in the summer of 2005 in a double transfer deal with James Collins from Cardiff City.
The centre-back made an outstanding start to life in Claret and Blue, producing a consistent series of displays in defence alongside Anton Ferdinand that saw him become only the third player in West Ham United's history to win the coveted Hammer of the Year award in his debut season.
Gabbidon suffered cruel luck throughout his time with the Hammers, as hamstring, groin, complex back and abdominal injuries ruled him out of consistent action over the new few seasons, though he did return to action in 2009/10 before enjoying an injury-free campaign in 2010/11, during which he made 27 first-team appearances in all competitions and passed the 100-appearance mark.
At international level, Gabbidon won 49 senior caps for Wales, having made his debut in the spring of 2002 against the Czech Republic.
Kevin Nolan
DOB: 24.06.82 WHU: 2011-2015 Apps: 157 Goals: 31
At a time when West Ham United were perhaps at their lowest ebb, Kevin Nolan’s experience and guidance in the dressing room and on the pitch was a pivotal factor in the Irons not only returning to the top-flight but thriving upon their re-entry into England’s top tier.
Having helped Newcastle United back to the Premier League, Nolan was arguably enjoying the best football of his career when he decided to swap the north-east for east London. He was immediately entrusted with the captaincy by Sam Allardyce in his debut season and made 46 appearances as the Hammers beat Blackpool 2-1 to secure a place back in the Premier League.
Nolan was the Hammers’ top goalscorer throughout the next season, helping them to a mid-table finish. After departing the Club for a role at Leyton Orient in 2015, he returned as a first-team coach in February 2020 within former manager David Moyes’ coaching staff.
Don Hutchison
DOB: 09.05.71 WHU: 1994-96 & 2001-2005 Apps: 110 Goals: 18
Don Hutchison enjoyed two memorable spells with the Hammers, making 110 appearances and scoring 18 goals during a successful period for the Club, where he experienced the highs of promotion to the lows of relegation during a six-year stint in east London.
Hutchison first arrived at the Boleyn Ground for a Club record £1.5m fee from Liverpool in the summer of 1994 and scored on his debut against Newcastle. The former Scotland international netted 14 times in his first two seasons at the Club before leaving to join Sheffield United in January 1996.
After successful spells with the Blades, Everton and Sunderland, Hutchison returned to Upton Park in August 2001 for £5m, another Club record fee at that time, but unfortunately a serious knee ligament injury disrupted his return and he was unable to regain his best form for the Hammers.
Hutchison is the last man to score a winner for Scotland against England at Wembley, as he towered high above Tony Adams to score in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifying play-off back in 1999.
