We’re closing in on the top ten in our #50GreatestHammers countdown, in association with Official Investment Partner Basset & Gold…
John Dick
Years at West Ham: 1953-62
Appearances: 351
Goals: 166
Another prolific attacker checks into the #50GreatestHammers countdown today, as Scottish striker John Dick takes the No13 slot.
Born in Govan, he had already made his way south when he joined the Hammers from Crittall Athletic – now Braintree Town – while on National Service in 1953.
He was prolific right from the off, scoring 13 goals from inside left during his debut season in east London.
The Hammers were striving for a return to the top flight at the time, and they achieved that during a glorious 1957/58 campaign, which saw Ted Fenton’s side win the Division Two title.
Dick’s goals were a major part of that as he netted 21 in the league and 26 in all competitions as the Hammers lifted the trophy.
He handled the step up to Division One in style, netting a career-best 27 times in the league – and 30 in all – as West Ham finished sixth in their first season back at the top table.
Dick’s goalscoring exploits weren’t going unnoticed back home in Scotland, and he became the Club’s first ever Scottish international when he was selected to face England at Wembley in 1959.
By the time he moved onto Brentford in 1962, he scored 166 goals in total for the Hammers, a tally beaten by only Vic Watson and Geoff Hurst in Claret & Blue.
The £17,500 West Ham received from Brentford for Dick was a Club record incoming transfer fee at the time, and he quickly took his goalscoring skills to west London, notching 45 times in 72 league games for the Bees.
He would later return to West Ham to manage the junior team and pass on his extensive striking knowledge to the next generation.