Brief History of West Ham United

Year Formed > 1895 >>>> Honours FA Cup winners > 1964,1975,1980

West ham United, known as 'The Hammers', were formed in 1985 as 'Thames Ironworks F.C.'. They changed the name to West Ham United five years later after severing their links with the Ironworks. In 1989 they turned professional and joined the Southern League, having won the London League as amateurs the year before. The team went through a number of colours before winning their now traditional colours of claret and blue from members of Aston Villa F.C. in a wager. After becoming West Ham United, the team went through some difficult years, at some points having no stable ground until the team moved to the Boleyn Ground at Upton Park in 1904. The team still plays there today and the ground currently holds 35,300. The team joined the Football League Second Division in 1919, achieving promotion to the First Division in 1923 and reaching the FA Cup Final in the same year. In 1961 Ron Greenwood was appointed manager and in 1964 Bobby Moore, the team's captain, lifted the FA Cup for the teams first major silverware success. The Hammers won the FA Cup again in 1975 and 1980. They also won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1965.