West Ham United F.C. season 2004-05

During the 2004-2005 season, Rob Lee, Brian Deane, Wayne Quinn and Shaun Byrne were all released from West Ham United on free transfers, following their Championship playoff loss to Crystal Palace.

Their departures were closely followed by those of Kevin Horlock, who signed for Ipswich Town, and David Connolly, who left for Leicester City in a £500,000 deal. Sébastien Carole also returned to Monaco after his loan spell.

Richard Garcia and Elliott Ward signed new contracts.

The first signing Alan Pardew made following the end of the previous season was goalkeeper James Walker, signed on a free transfer from Walsall where he had been a folk hero. He was brought in as cover for Stephen Bywater.

The following month former England international Teddy Sheringham and Sergei Rebrov both signed on free transfers, from Portsmouth and Tottenham respectively.

Their arrivals were closely followed by those of Bournemouth captain Carl Fletcher for £275,000 and winger Luke Chadwick from Manchester United on a free transfer.

In September Malky Mackay signed for £300,000 from Norwich City.

West Ham's biggest defeat of the season was away to Cardiff City on 2 November 2004 when they lost 1-4. The Welsh team, featured former Hammer Jobi McAnuff who created the first two goals and scored the fourth.

West Ham's biggest win of the season came in their home game against Plymouth Argyle on 19 February 2005 when they won 5-0. Marlon Harewood scored the first goal by sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. The penalty was given after the defender inexplicably punched the ball away. The second was an own goal by the keeper as he fumbled a Sergei Rebrov corner into his own net. Malky Mackay lobbed the keeper from another corner to net the third. Goals four and five were scored by Teddy Sheringham. The fourth, and arguably the best of the day's goals, came when Carl Fletcher crossed for Teddy to head home. The fifth goal was a twice taken penalty.

West Ham only lost one of their last ten games which helped push them up from 7th and into 6th, guaranteeing a Play-off spot.

West Ham returned to the FA Premier League at the second time of asking, beating Preston North End in the Football League Championship Play-off Final, which the East London club won with a single goal from Bobby Zamora.