By Alexander Lynn
- March 4, 2007
A 4-3 home defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham may appear, on paper, to be an odd choice. However this particular derby marked Carlos Tevez’s first goal for the Hammers. Seven more followed, and the Argentinian forward’s new-found confidence would prove to be the basis of the club’s now infamous “Great Escape”. His goal in the 1-0 away win against Manchester United on the last day of the season was enough to keep West Ham in the top-flight for another season.
- November 12, 2014
Though it may be painfully ironic to Hammers fans, one of the Boleyn Ground’s finest hours did not feature a single West Ham player. An international friendly between Argentina and Croatia saw fan-favourite Carlos Tevez return to his former ground accompanied by compatriot and football phenomenon Lionel Messi. The match finished 2-1 in Argentina’s favour, with Messi scoring the winner from the spot.
- January 13, 2015
A third-round FA Cup replay does not sound like a typical match to remember, but the drama of this game made it an instant classic. The first match against Everton had ended 1-1, forcing a replay at Upton Park. With another 1-1 draw at full-time, extra-time goals from Romelu Lukaku and Carlton Cole to end the match 2-2 meant the tie would go to penalties. After Everton keeper Joel Robles hit the crossbar at 8-8, the responsibility fell to West Ham stopper Adrian. In a theatrical show of confidence, the Spaniard tossed his gloves aside, indicating to his Toffees counterpart that he would not be needing them any longer. His strike sent Robles the wrong way, causing the Boleyn Ground to erupt and cementing his status as a West Ham hero.
- February 12, 2000
A nine-goal thriller which saw West Ham edge a narrow 5-4 win over Bradford also set the stage for one of the club’s more surreal moments. Having been denied three penalty appeals, West Ham star Paulo Di Canio sat in front of the dugout and unsuccessfully demanded to be substituted by manager Harry Redknapp. As if the match was not tense enough, the temperamental Italian also wrestled the ball from a young Frank Lampard’s hands once a penalty had finally been given. The favourable result now means Hammers fans can remember the entertaining spectacle fondly. Though Di Canio could be an unpredictable genius, he was their unpredictable genius.
- September 8, 1958
A 3-2 victory at home to Manchester United marked the senior debut of 17-year-old West Ham icon Bobby Moore. The centre-back would go on to make 544 appearances for the Hammers and captained England to World Cup glory in 1966. John Dick, John Smith and Malcom Musgrove netted for West Ham to sink a Red Devils side which featured Moore’s future England team-mate Bobby Charlton.
- May 14, 1999
‘The Academy of Football’ showed its pedigree with a 6-0 thumping of Coventry City in the FA Youth Cup final to win 9-0 on aggregate. In the squad were a young Michael Carrick and Joe Cole, who would go on to secure 87 England caps between them. This victory marked West Ham’s third FA Youth Cup win.
- October 19, 1968
Special mention must be given to West Ham’s biggest ever league win, which came in the form of an 8-0 rout against Sunderland. World Cup hero Geoff Hurst scored one of only two double hat-tricks in West Ham’s history, whilst captain Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking also got on the score sheet.
- March 6, 2000
That goal. A sublime cross from Trevor Sinclair found Paolo Di Canio’s right foot for a stunning volley which rocketed past Wimbledon stopper Neil Sullivan. The Italian’s effort marked West Ham’s only “Goal of the Season” since its inception on Match of the Day in the 1970/71 season.
- April 14, 1976
A rainy night in East London marked one of West Ham’s greatest victories; a thrilling 3-1 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt to reach the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Having lost 2-1 away in the first-leg, this tie saw the likes of Trevor Brooking, Billy Bonds and Frank Lampard Senior secure a superb second leg comeback. Hero Brooking netted twice with a towering header and clever dummy past the keeper to add to Keith Robson’s long-range effort. The sodden pitch did nothing to dampen the Hammers’ spirits, and many who stood in the old terraced “Chicken Run” remember this night as the club’s finest hour. Though they had won the competition at Wembley in 1965, the Hammers finished runners-up in this particular edition, losing 4-2 to Anderlecht in the final.
- May 18, 2004
Having finished fourth in the First Division, West Ham required play-off success in order to return to the top flight. Despite losing 1-0 away to Ipswich in the first leg, the Hammers secured a place in the play-off final with a dramatic 2-0 victory three days later. Matthew Etherington opened the scoring with a scorching effort from outside the box. West Ham’s second goal, a low shot from centre-back Christian Dailly, sent the Boleyn faithful into raptures and manager Alan Pardew leaping into the stands. With the fans singing long after the final whistle, the atmosphere that day is often cited as one of the greatest in the Boleyn Ground’s 112-year history. Sadly, the Hammers lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace in the play-off final.
