Alan Devonshire

Born in Park Royal, then a part of Middlesex, Devonshire had been a schoolboy footballer but had been turned away by Crystal Palace at age 14 for being too small.[2] He returned to Selhurst Park two years later and played a couple of youth team games but was again released by the club, this time by former West Ham player and Palace manager, Malcolm Allison. Devonshire started playing for non-league Southall and in doing so came to the attention of league clubs such as Reading, Southampton, and Brentford.[2] By day he worked as a fork-lift truck driver at the Hoover Factory in Perivale, Middlesex. During this time he was spotted playing for Southall by West Ham United scouts, Eddie Baily and Charlie Faulkner who recommended him to West Ham manager, Ron Greenwood. Devonshire signed for West Ham United in 1976 for a fee of £5,000, a transfer which has led to him being referred to as "West Ham's best ever buy".[2]

Devonshire made his debut for West Ham on 27 October 1976 in a League Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers, in which West Ham lost 2–0.[3] He made his League debut three days later on 30 October 1976 against West Bromwich Albion, where he played in a 3–0 defeat. He soon became a fans' favourite, who referred to him by his nickname "Dev". His workman-like attitude was one to which the fans could relate. He also enhanced his rapport with supporters by travelling to home game on the London Underground from his West London home.[2]

He played 29 games in all competitions, without scoring, in his first season, the 1976–77 season. It was a poor season for West Ham who finished only two points above a relegation place in 17th place in the First Division.[4] The following season, the 1977–78 season saw Devonshire's first goals for the club, in a 3–3 at Upton Park on 12 November 1977.[5] It also saw him play 38 games in all competitions, scoring three goals. Unfortunately for West Ham his efforts could not prevent them from relegation to the Second Division after they finished in 20th place.[6] The 1978–79 season saw West Ham rebuilding their side following relegation. Devonshire was a regular member of the side which finished 5th in the Second Division. He had played 41 of a possible 42 league games that season and was voted Hammer of the Season.[7][8] West Ham failed to gain promotion again in the 1979–80 season. They did however reach the 1980 FA Cup Final where Devonshire collected an FA Cup winner's medal as West Ham beat favourites, holders and Cup Winners Cup finalists Arsenal 1–0 at Wembley with a single goal from Trevor Brooking from a cross by Devonshire. He had also scored a goal in a semi-final replay at Elland Road in a 2–1 win against Everton.[9][10] [2]

In the 1980–81 season Devonshire's career flourished. His partnership with Trevor Brooking formed the cornerstone of West Ham's push for promotion back to the First Division. He also played in European football for the first time and was a member of the side which reached to 1981 League Cup Final. He collected a Second Division title medal as they won promotion, losing only four games.[11] Devonshire continued to be a regular member of the West Ham side in the First Division until a game on 7 January 1984. Playing against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup, he snapped three ligaments in his right knee. He tried to make a comeback in March 1985 in two cup games against Wimbledon but again broke down. It was 19 months from his first injury to his full return, in a game against Birmingham City on 17 August 1985.[7] His long spell out injured had resulted in him losing some of his pace but still maintaining his ability to pass the ball well. He made the final pass for many of the goals scored by teammates, Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie in the 1985–86 season as West Ham finished third in the First Division.[12]

Injury struck Devonshire again in the first game of the 1987–88 season. Just 15 minutes in a game against Queens Park Rangers, he snapped his Achilles tendon. This forced him out of the game for over a year and by the time of his return the West Ham team were in decline. The 1988–89 season saw him play only 20 league games without scoring as West Ham were relegated back to the Second Division.[13] For the 1989–90 season manager John Lyall was replaced by Lou Macari who undertook the rebuilding of the West Ham side. Devonshire was rarely used making only seven league appearances that season. Macari was replaced in the same season by Billy Bonds who granted Devonshire a free transfer in May 1990.[11] His last appearance for West Ham came on 14 February 1990 when he was a substitute for Gary Strodder in a 6–0 away defeat to Oldham Athletic in a League Cup semi-final. His performance, and that of other experienced West Ham players, Liam Brady, Phil Parkes, Alvin Martin and Julian Dicks, was described as "embarrassingly helpless" in a game known as the "St. Valentine's Day massacre".[14] [15][16] Devonshire had played 448 competitive games over 14 years, scoring 32 goals.[7]

In 1990 Devonshire signed for Watford, where he played for two years before dropping out of league football in 1992.[17] He went on to serve non-league club Chippenham Sports as a player-coach.[17]

• Hogg, Tony (1995). West Ham Who's Who. Independent UK Sports publications. ISBN 1-899429-01-8.
• Blows, Kirk (2000). The Essential History of West Ham United. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7472-7036-8.