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1986–87 West Ham United F.C. season

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John Lyall had made no signings during the close season, and it stayed that way until Stewart Robson was added in January. He was joined two months later by other new signings Gary Strodder, Tommy McQueen and Ireland international Liam Brady.

In this season which saw many player ravaged by injury, several academy players got their chance to play, including Kevin Keen, Paul Ince and future captain Steve Potts.

The West Ham fans were so disappointed with the team's underachievement during the season that Billy Bonds was voted Hammer of the Year, even though he only made 17 league and 7 cup appearances for the team.

Tony Cottee was the club's top scorer with 22 league goals and 28 in all competitions, but his strike partner Frank McAvennie disappointed with just seven league goals (11 in all competitions) after being the top flight's second-highest scorer the previous campaign, this being a large factor in the fact that the Hammers finished a lowly 15th in the league just a year after finishing third and being just four points short of their first top division title.

Number Player Position Lge Apps Lge Gls FAC Apps FAC Gls LC Apps LC Gls Date Signed Previous Club
West Ham United 1986–87 First XI
1 England Phil Parkes GK 33 5 6 February 1979 Queens Park Rangers
2 Scotland Ray Stewart RB 23 4 3 3 September 1979 Dundee United
3 England George Parris LB 35(1) 1 5 1 6 1985 Academy
4 England Tony Gale CB 32 2 4 1 4 August 1983 Fulham
5 England Billy Bonds (Captain) (Hammer of the Year) CB 13(4) 3 (1) 1 (2) 1967 Charlton
6 England Alan Devonshire LM 20 2 3 4 October 1976 Southall
7 England Mark Ward RM 37 1 5 6 2 August 1985 Oldham Athletic
8 Scotland Frank McAvennie CF 36 7 4 4 5 June 1985 St Mirren
9 England Alan Dickens CM 31(5) 3 2 (1) 4 2 1982 Academy
10 England Tony Cottee CF 42 22 5 1 6 5 September 1982 Academy
11 Scotland Neil Orr CM 21(1) 1 1 4 January 1982 Morton
Important Players
11 England Stewart Robson M 18 2 3 1 2 January 1987 Arsenal
5 England Alvin Martin CB 16 2 1 3 July 1976 Academy
5 England Paul Hilton CB 15(1) 1 2 1 4 (1) 1984 Bury
2 England Steve Walford LB 13(1) 3 4 (1) August 1983 Norwich
6 Republic of Ireland Liam Brady M 12 2 March 1987 Ascoli
5 England Gary Strodder CB 12 March 1987 Lincoln
9 England Geoff Pike M 10(1) 4 1 September 1974 Academy
6 England Kevin Keen M 7 (6) 1 (1) 1 2 1986 Academy
6 England Paul Ince M 7 (3) 1 1 1986 Academy
Other Players
1 Scotland Tom McAlister GK 9 1981 Bristol Rovers
3 Scotland Tommy McQueen LB 9 March 1987 Aberdeen
2 England Steve Potts RB 8 May 1984 Academy
8 England Paul Goddard CF 3 (1) 1 1 1 1980 Queens Park Rangers
12 Republic of Ireland Eamonn Dolan CF 0 (1) 1986 Academy