 Nowland signed for West Ham United on 23 January 2004, making eleven appearances for the club that season.After playing five games at the start of the 2004–05 season, Nowland was loaned out for one month to Gillingham on 30 September 2004, where he played three games, scoring one goal against Burnley.On his return to West Ham he played in their 1–0 League Cup defeat to Chelsea on 27 October.