West Ham have gone close to forty years without lifting a trophy, and fans on the KUMB forum have been discussing our unwanted record.
Given the fact we’re not going to win the league and our poor efforts in both domestic cups this term, that run is going to be extended even further.
The last time we lifted a meaningful trophy, in fact, was in the 1980/81 season when John Lyall’s side stormed the old Second Division to clinch the title by 13 points.
We have secured the Intertoto Cup and two Play-Off titles since, which obviously don’t count, but the wait for a fourth FA Cup, for example, has been too long and painful.
To correct that particular record next season, Manuel Pellegrini will have to ensure the players selected for the oldest club knockout tournament know what is at stake after the horror show at Wimbledon this year.
Given the strength of the top six, as well, a fourth FA Cup would be the most attainable trophy and could be brought to the London Stadium with a solid run.
Close to forty years without any meaningful trophy to add to the cabinet, though, has got fans on the KUMB forum talking…
“I was a youngster in the 60s and saw us win those trophies, and believed it would always be that way. I still do – sort of… But I have ZERO patience with some of the younger folk who portray us a “little old West Ham”. We are a big club who have seriously underperformed for decades, and I long for us to put that right before I snuff it.” – Albie Beck (March 11, 15:03)
“The 80 Cup Final was the first Cup I can really remember, and as I am from the other side of the river, and all my family are Palace fans, it could only have been this that made me a West Ham fan. I was probably considered a glory hunter at the time… If only…” – Parkeslife (March 11, 16:30)
“Pretty much how I see it, biggest club never to win the top league.” – Estuary (March 11, 16:47)
“With luck, I’ve hopefully got another 10 years of being able to attend West Ham games. I don’t really expect to see us winning another trophy in that time. However, I saw us win the three FA Cups in 64, 75 and 80, the ECWC in 65 and the World Cup in 66 so I suppose I should count myself a lot luckier than anyone who started supporting West Ham after 1980 and has been yearning for a trophy ever since.” – JohnnyB (March 11, 17:39)
“It drives me bananas when we are called a ‘small’ club. Especially when it’s by our own supporters.” – BondsoBob (March 11, 18:48)
“The teams we had were far too good to come no higher than 8th” – Crouchend_Hammer (March 11, 18:53)
“The truth is that it took our club 64 years to win a major trophy, and our success of 3 FA cup and a European trophy is condensed in an 16 year period of our nearly 120-year history. I was lucky to have seen all the cup wins, but if we never win another thing in my lifetime it would not affect my support, the club is in my family’s DNA and always will be.” – Oldun (March 11, 19:57)
“I was 41 last month, I await the day…. hopefully before I shuffle off this Earth.” – Wolf359 (March 11, 23:23)