New Club Record for Away Wins in a Season

by Roger Hillier

Allardyce’s 2011-12 Team Breaks an 89 year Old Club Record!

Whatever happens in the Championship promotion play-offs the 2011-12 season’s team will be proudly remembered for a new club record. This is the record for the number of away wins in the league in a season.

On Friday April 6, 2012 West Ham beat Barnsley at Oakwell, 4-0, for their 12th away win and beat the previous best set by the 1922-23 team and later equalled by 1957-58's team. The 1923 and 1958 teams also won promotion to the top tier, Division I. Does this set a precedent for the 2012 team?

The 2012 team went on to increase the record to 13 wins on Monday April 23. This 13th success was 2-1 away at Leicester. The achievement is even more commendable when you consider that two of West Ham’s all-time great sides from 1980-81 and 1985-86 only managed nine victories.

The following table compares the away performances of the three record making sides. The churlish amongst you could comment on how the 2012 team played two more away league games than the previous record holders. But the win % comparison highlights how the 2012’s 56% win percentage performance is the more superior. (The win percentage is the number of wins as a percentage of all away matches played).

Away League Matches

Date: Opposition: Result: Scorer: League Position:

A quick comparison highlights how the latest team deserve some comparison with some of the earlier all time great West Ham sides. Sam Allardyce may have received criticism for his team’s style of play at times, but in terms of achievement the away record is formidable and something supporters can be proud of. While the 2012 team was not as free scoring as their predecessors, they leaked fewer goals (less than a goal a game), had a greater goal difference and only suffered four away defeats compared with seven by the previous record holders.

Promotion to the Premier League beckons - Come on you Irons!

1922-23 : Football League Division II

For the record the three season’s matches and goalscorers are listed below.

Final League Placing:

2nd