After winning the Second Division title the previous season, West Ham equalled their highest ever league finish of the 1926–1927 season, coming a very respectable 6th. This was in spite of the fact that the only signing they made was of the Leyton Orient Inside Forward Phil Woosnam in November 1958.
Season summary
editWest Ham beat the champions of that season (and the previous one) Wolves 2-0 in their first home match back in the top flight.
The team featured Andy Malcolm who was West Ham's first ever England Youth International. This indicated the progress Manager Ted Fenton had made in establishing West Ham's successful Academy.
League table
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 79 | 66 | 1.197 | 50 |
| 5 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 88 | 68 | 1.294 | 49 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 42 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 85 | 70 | 1.214 | 48 |
| 7 | Burnley | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 81 | 70 | 1.157 | 48 |
| 8 | Blackpool | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 66 | 49 | 1.347 | 47 |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Squad
edit| No. | Player | Position | Lge Apps |
Lge Gls |
FAC Apps |
FAC Gls |
Total Apps |
Total Gls |
Date Signed | Previous Club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Ham United F.C. 1958–1959 First XI (Most appearances) | |||||||||||
| 1 | 
|
Ernie Gregory | GK | 32 | 1 | 33 | 1939 | Leytonstone | |||
| 2 |
|
John Bond | RB | 42 | 7 | 1 | 43 | 7 | 1951 | Amateur | |
| 3 | 
|
Noel Cantwell (Captain) | LB | 42 | 3 | 1 | 43 | 3 | 1952 | Cork United F.C. | |
| 4 |
|
Andy Malcolm | RH | 42 | 1 | 43 | 1950 | Academy | |||
| 5 |
|
Ken Brown (Hammer of the Year) | CH | 42 | 1 | 43 | 1952 | Academy | |||
| 6 |
|
John Smith | LH | 36 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 4 | 1956 | Academy | |
| 7 |
|
Mike Grice | OR | 42 | 6 | 1 | 43 | 6 | 1955 | Colchester United | |
| 8 | 
|
Phil Woosnam | IR | 13 | 2 | 13 | 2 | November 1958 | Leyton Orient | ||
| 9 |
|
Vic Keeble | CF | 32 | 20 | 1 | 33 | 20 | 1957 | Newcastle United | |
| 10 | 
|
John Dick | IL | 41 | 27 | 1 | 42 | 27 | 1953 | Crittall Athletic | |
| 11 |
|
Malcolm Musgrove | OL | 40 | 7 | 1 | 41 | 7 | 1953 | Lynmouth Colliery | |
| Other players with appearances | |||||||||||
| 6 |
|
Andy Nelson | LH | 12 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1957 | Academy | ||
| 2 |
|
Joe Kirkup | RB | 11 | 11 | 1958 | Academy | ||||
| 1 |
|
Noel Dwyer | GK | 10 | 10 | 1958 | Wolves | ||||
| 6 |
|
Bill Lansdowne | LH | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1955 | Woodford Town | ||
| 8 |
|
Harry Obeney | IR | 6 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1956 | Briggs Sports | ||
| 6 |
|
Bobby Moore | LH | 5 | 5 | 1958 | Academy | ||||
| 8 |
|
Andy Smillie | IR | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1958 | Academy | |||
| 9 |
|
Billy Dare | CF | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1954 | Brentford | ||
| 8 |
|
Doug Wragg | OR | 2 | 2 | 1956 | Academy | ||||