West Ham co-Chairman, David Sullivan has publicly stated that West Ham need a twenty plus goal scorer per season to take the Hammers to the next level and that it is his top priority this summer to find one.
We asked Hammers historian, Nigel Kahn to check the history books for West Ham strikers with twenty or more goals in the top flight in both league and cup games in one season excluding friendlies. There are ten in total since 1923 when West Ham joined the top flight for the first time with Vic Watson being the first in 1924 and John Hartson being our last in 1998 over 18 years ago.
Vic Watson Goals per season 1923-1924 (23) 1925-1926(20) 1926-1927(37) 1928-1929(30) 1929-1930(50) 1931-1932(25) 1932-1933(28) 1933-1934(29)
John Dick Goals per season 1958-1959(30) 1961/1962 (23)
Malcolm Musgrove Goals per season 1959/1960 (20)
Budgie Byrne Goals per season 1963/1964 (33) 1964/1965(30)
Geoff Hurst Goals per season 1964/1964 (26) 1964/1965 
(20) 1965/1966 (40) 1966/1967 (41) 1967/1968 (25) 1968/1969 (31)
Clyde Best Goals per season 1971/1972 (23)
Pop Robson Goals per season 1972/1973 (28)
Frank McAvennie 1985/1986 (29)
Tony Cottee 1984/1985 (24) 1985/1986(26) 1986/1987(29)
John Hartson Goals per season 1997/1998 (24)
What will be the next name to add to this list?
Seems to me, looking over those results that Geoff Hurst was our best ever by a country mile since our very earliest days
Unfortunately the likelihood of us getting another like him is just about zero. Our upper aim now is twenty, never mind even thirty.
Never say never, Canchez! In this glorious new era, who knows?…DS is amazing at unearthing talent. My bet is that Antonio will hit 20….at least…. IF he doesn’t have to play RB (ha!..We’ll see)……BUT I wonder if DS won’t just dig out another Messi from somewhere!!
Thx to the 2 Dave’s I have NEVER felt so hopeful about the Hammers….Dreams NO LONGER fade and die!
Happy Hammers
Hopefully Jannsen from AZ I am not convinced by either Lacazete of Batshauyi they look like they could be 15 to 20 goals but equally might flop. Would be good of the rumours are true about Zaza but he has looked a bit rusty so far, Bacca might get us the goals also, likewise Wilson if we could get him. Even Dimi could probably get 20 a season if he became our penalty taker fingers crossed whatever striker we buy will turn up trumps COYI!!!
Whey Hey! Brian ‘Pop’; our very own ‘Bald Assassin’! Our antidote to Kevin Keegan. Fantastic goal poacher and finisher, who took ballet lessons to improve his balance. Unfortunately, couldn’t take a penalty to save his life (& neither could Billy Bonds after him….It wasn’t till Ray Stewart appeared that we got penalties sewn up….Best penalty taker ever = another Hammer Great)….
My favourite player when I 1st started going to the Boleyn in 1972. Played for us in 2 spells, and each time he left (for Sunderland both times), we won the FA Cup. I only have 3 real WHU regrets 1) Bonds cruelly denied playing for England by flu
2) Ditto Noble denied by Woy
3) ‘Pop’ Robson not winning an FA Cup medal with us…..Oh, and a 4th: Dean Ashton’s career cruelly cut short by a broken ankle on effing England duty…. Grrrr.
But Robson? Happy days, happy memories! FACT: During his long professional career, he was top goalscorer for whichever club he was at for nearly 50% of the years! RESPECT! Last I knew was he lost his job as chief (?) scout at Sunderland or Newcastle?? The reason this fantastic Geordie boy wanted to play for us was because of the West Ham way. God bless you, Brian, wherever you are. Hope you get an MBE for services to football. Whilst Bonds is my favourite all time Hammer, as you just might have read between the lines, and like droves of others, we idolised Pop. May you continue to prosper wherever you are!
Yep Pop was sacked by Sunderland in 2013
He returned recently for a charity golf day. He is pictured here
http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/sunderland-fan-wins-golf-tournament-after-being-asked-to-engrave-trophy-1-7950779
FANTASTIC WORK, Sean!! How did you find that one? Great to see him looking well and happy. Pop never seems to get a mention or seems to come back in videos / interviews, but we all loved him, didn’t we? Maybe it is the long journey from Geordie-land?? For various celebrations, we’ve had players coming from the USA…(Bishop?). Come and see us, Pop. Make an apperance. Opening the OS?? We’d love to see you!
WHATTTTT….NO ‘David Cross’,.NA,somethings seriously WRONG there mate.Well,…,i suppose i could be corrected…but the guy did put goals away for fun in the late70’s,& ‘IS’, A WEST HAM LEGEND! Anybody who can put 4 past the Spuds down at the lane,midweek, is a WHU ‘LEDGE’ in my book anyway.
David Cross scored 33 goals in Division 2 in 1980/1981 but our criteria was top flight so it misses out. He came very close scoring 19 goals in division 1 in 1981/1982
http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=161&united=David_Cross
Who’s Pop Robinson please?
You must be under 40 ?? Ask around
I’ve only heard of Pop Robson I’m afraid 😀
You on the wind up boy ???
Get the history book out young un,!
Poacher supreme ! Class.
No wind up, seems I’m the only one who can spell on here! 😉
Callum Wilson next season