Billy Bonds

Billy Bonds

William Arthur "Billy" Bonds MBE is a former professional footballer and manager, who is most often associated with West Ham United with whom he spent 27 years as player and manager...

 in his first full season as manager guides West Ham

West Ham United F.C.

West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...

 back to the top flight of The Football League

The Football League

The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...

 as the team finishes 2nd in the Second Division

Football League Second Division

From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...

 behind Oldham Athletic

Oldham Athletic A.F.C.

Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...

. Oldham were the season's top scorers in the division with 83 goals.

West Ham finished the season with the meanest defence, conceding 34 goals. The second meanest defence belonged to a 7th place Middlesbrough F.C.

Middlesbrough F.C.

Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...

 team, containing Colin Cooper

Colin Cooper

Colin Terence Cooper is an English former footballer, who spent most of his career at Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. Cooper is part of the Middlesbrough coaching staff after leaving his role of assistant manager at Bradford City.-Playing career:He played as a centre back, but was equally...

 and Tony Mowbray

Tony Mowbray

Anthony Mark "Tony" Mowbray is an English former professional football player, who is currently the manager of Middlesbrough...

, which conceded 47 goals. West Ham's two games against Middlesbrough ended in 0-0 draws.

They finished one point behind champions Oldham Athletic, and also enjoyed their best FA Cup

FA Cup

The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...

 run since the triumph of 1980, reaching the semi-finals where they were soundly beaten by Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest F.C.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...

, denying them a Wembley final with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....

 who went on to win the trophy.

Trevor Morley was West Ham's leading scorer for 1990-91, with 12 goals in the league and 17 in all competitions, while Frank McAvennie showed full fitness after a long term injury by scoring 10 goals in the league (11 in all competitions) to finish the campaign as the club's second top scorer.

Number		|Player	Position	Lge Apps	Lge Gls	FAC Apps	FAC Gls	LC Apps	LC Gls	Date Signed	Previous Club
West Ham United 1990-91 First XI
1	Czechoslovakia	Ludek Miklosko Ludek Mikloško Luděk "Ludo" Mikloško is a Czech retired football goalkeeper.-Career:Mikloško started his career in his native Czechoslovakia with Baník Ostrava...   (Hammer of the Year)	GK	46		7		3		February 1990	Banik Ostrava FC Baník Ostrava FC Baník Ostrava is a football club from the Silesian part of the city of Ostrava, Czech Republic. It is based in Slezská Ostrava district of the city....
2	Kingdom of England	Steve Potts	RB	36(1)	1	7		2		May 1984	Academy
3	Kingdom of England	George Parris George Parris George Michael R. Parris is an English former professional footballer.-Background:Parris was born in Barking, Greater London. He played district, county and national football for Redbridge, Greater London and England Under 15 as a schoolboy...	LM	37(7)	5	7	3	2 (1)		1985	Academy
4	Kingdom of England	Tony Gale Tony Gale Anthony Peter "Tony" Gale is an English former footballer who is now a regular pundit on Soccer Saturday...	CB	23(1)	1	7		0 (1)		August 1983	Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
5	Kingdom of England	Colin Foster Colin Foster (footballer born 1964) Colin Foster is a retired English football defender.-Career:Foster made his league debut for Leyton Orient in January 1982 whilst still an apprentice...	CB	36	3	3	1	3		1989	Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
6	Republic of Ireland	Chris Hughton Chris Hughton Christopher William Gerard "Chris" Hughton is a professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Birmingham City F.C....	LB	32		7				1990	Tottenham Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
7	Kingdom of England	Ian Bishop Ian Bishop (footballer) Ian Bishop is a former footballer who played as a midfielder.He was born on the Cantril Farm housing estate in Liverpool and on leaving school in July 1981 he joined Everton, turning professional for the 1983-84 season under the management of Howard Kendall - who had taken over during the same...  (Captain)	CM	40	4	5 (1)	2	3		December 1989	Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
8	Kingdom of Scotland	Frank McAvennie Frank McAvennie Francis "Frank" McAvennie is a former Scottish football striker best known as a player with West Ham United and Celtic, having had two spells with both of these clubs.-Early life:...	CF	24(10)	10	3 (1)	1	0 (1)		March 1989	Celtic Celtic F.C. Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
9	Kingdom of England	Stuart Slater Stuart Slater Stuart Slater is a former professional footballer who played as a winger and forward for West Ham United, Celtic, Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Watford. He also represented England at under-21 and B level....	RM	37(3)	3	7	2	2		1987	Academy
10	Kingdom of England	Kevin Keen Kevin Keen Kevin Keen is a football coach, manager and former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Wycombe Wanderers, West Ham United, Wolves, Stoke City and Macclesfield Town...	CM	36(4)		6 (1)		3	1	1986	Academy
11	Kingdom of England	Trevor Morley Trevor Morley Trevor Morley is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.-Playing career:Morley played for Northampton Town, having previously seen non-league football with Corby Town and Nuneaton Borough...	CF	38	12	6	4	3	1	December 1989	Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
Important Players
10	Kingdom of England	Martin Allen	M	28(12)	3	2		3	2	August 1989	Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
8	Northern Ireland	Jimmy Quinn Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer) James Martin "Jimmy" Quinn is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and was manager of Bournemouth.-Club:...	CF	16(10)	6	3 (2)	2	3	1	December 1989	Bradford City
2	Kingdom of England	Tim Breacker Tim Breacker Tim Breacker is an ex-footballer and now football coach with a UEFA Pro A licence.Tim started his career as an apprentice at Luton Town. He eventually graduated to the first team where he had a long and successful spell accumulating 210 appearances...	RB	23(1)	1	6				October 1990	Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
5	Kingdom of England	Alvin Martin Alvin Martin Alvin Edward Martin is a retired English footballer who played as a defender.Playing most of his footballing career for West Ham United he appeared in 598 games for scoring 34 goals...	CB	20	1			3		July 1976	Academy
3	Kingdom of England	Julian Dicks Julian Dicks Julian Andrew Dicks , is a retired football player and manager, last attached to Isthmian League Division One North club Grays Athletic.-Playing career:...	LB	13	4			2	1	March 1988	Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
9	Northern Ireland	Iain Dowie Iain Dowie Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...	CF	12	4					March 1991	Luton Town Luton Town F.C. Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
Other Players
5	Kingdom of Scotland	Ray Stewart Ray Stewart (footballer) Raymond "Ray" Strean McDonald Stewart is a former Scottish international footballer of the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. During his career he played for Dundee United, West Ham United, St...	RB	5		0 (1)				September 1979	Dundee United Dundee United F.C. Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
9	Kingdom of England	Matthew Rush Matthew Rush (footballer) Matthew James Rush is a former professional footballer. He played as a winger.-West Ham United:Rush signed apprentice forms with West Ham in 1988 and professional forms in March 1990. He made his debut for the first-team as a substitute in a 7–1 win over Hull City in a Second Division match in...	W	2 (3)				1		1990	Academy
9	Kingdom of England	Franz Carr Franz Carr Franz Carr is an English former footballer. He was a pacy winger who never quite established himself as a regular in the top flight...	F	1 (2)						March 1991	Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
9	Kingdom of England	Simon Livett Simon Livett Simon Livett is a former English football midfielder. He started his career at West Ham United, playing four games in all competitions, before making a free transfer to play for Leyton Orient. He also played for Cambridge United, Southend United, Dover and Boston United.-External links:*...	M	1		0 (1)				1990	Academy
14	Kingdom of England	Leroy Rosenior Leroy Rosenior Leroy Rosenior is a professional football coach and pundit. He is a former professional footballer whose clubs included Fulham, Queens Park Rangers , Bristol City and West Ham United.As one of the few black football managers in England, Rosenior has spoken openly about the racism...	CF	0 (2)						March 1988	Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
12	Kingdom of England	Simon Clarke	F	0 (1)						1990	Academy
5	Kingdom of England	Stewart Robson Stewart Robson Stewart Ian Robson is an English former football player. He now summarises for Arsenal TV and sometimes on TalkSPORT's evening Kick Off Show during the week...	M	0 (1)		1				January 1987	Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...