Thursday, April 28

The Boys of '76

Hard to believe that it was 46 years ago when as a 16-year-old I watched West Ham beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 at Upton Park to reach the final of the Cup Winners' Cup. The game was played on a damp night and the pitch was a mudbath, but Trevor Brooking's header, Keith Robson's rocket into the top corner from way out and Brooking's exquisite third, which saw his dummy send a defender halfway into the Barking Road, saw the Hammers through. The atmosphere was great that night and it was a happy tube ride home to Upminster. 

Mind you, it's often forgotten that West Ham's league form went to pieces that season and the Irons failed to win any of their final 16 league matches. Having seen West Ham win the FA Cup Final in 1975 and the reach the Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1976 it seemed we'd be in a final every season. Things didn't quite work out that way. Still, I'd settle for another 3-1 score tonight in the club's first European semi-final for 46 years. Irons!

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