West Ham supporter Robert Banks and author of a number of Hammers book including An Irrational Hatred of Luton has uploaded the 1988/1989 season review to Youtube this week.
The 1988–89 season saw new signings Allen McKnight and David Kelly both begin their West Ham careers, but neither supplied the club with the kind of form necessary to stay in the top flight.
On 22 March 1989, it looked as though Lyall had come up with the goods to save West Ham’s top flight status when he recaptured Frank McAvennie from Glasgow Celtic for a club record fee of £1.1 million – just after the player had turned down the chance to sign for Arsenal, who went on to win the league. However, McAvennie failed to repeat the goalscoring heroics of his first spell at Upton Park as he didn’t score a single goal in nine league appearances and the Hammers were relegated despite winning five of their final seven games.
The club finished in 19th place in the First Division and were relegated to the second tier of the Football League.
John Lyall was sacked as manager after 15 years on 5 June 1989, by which time he was the longest serving manager at any League club. It also ended his 34-year service with the club, which had started in 1955 when he signed for them as an apprentice player from school.
Thanks Rob!
His books can be found at:
An Irrational Hatred of Everything: West Ham 2003-2018 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178590404…
The Legacy of Barry Green: West Ham 2000-2003 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0952964120/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_etGJEb2E8J6C4
West Ham Till I die: West Ham 1995-2000 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0952964112/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_muGJEbN731VS9
An Irrational Hatred of Luton: West Ham 1975-1995 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0952964104/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_zsGJEbNKMQVR4