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1965-66 Football League First Division

Manager: Ron Greenwood

The new season commenced with Sealey, Byrne and Dear all injured. A 3–0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on the opening day paved the way for some dismal early performances as the team conceded five goals in three successive games against Sheffield United, Liverpool and Leicester City. By mid-October, after another 5–0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, the Hammers were third from bottom.

There was some joy in the League Cup as West Ham disposed of Bristol Rovers, Mansfield and Rotherham United, while the European journey in defence of the Cup Winners’ Cup began with West Ham defeating Olympiakos 6–2 on aggregate. Results improved with league victories against Everton (3–0) and Newcastle (4–3), Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick in the latter game. The League Cup saw Grimsby Town knocked out and this brought a semi-final clash with Cardiff City. The Bluebirds were no match for the marauding Hammers, who won 10–3 over two legs. Oldham Athletic were beaten in the FA Cup but in the fourth round, following a replay, Blackburn Rovers triumphed 4–1.

March was a busy month: in the league Aston Villa and Blackburn suffered four-goal defeats while in Europe the Hammers beat Magdeburg 2–1 on aggregate. The League Cup final with West Bromwich Albion, a two-legged affair back then, saw West Ham gain a 2–1 advantage in the first leg at Upton Park, but the Midlands side recovered to win 4–1 in the second leg to lift the cup.

In the Cup Winners’ Cup the German side Borussia Dortmund proved to be tough opposition as they won both legs of the semi-final and went through on a 5–2 aggregate. To round off the season to the delight of the home support, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United were all beaten at Upton Park to give a twelfth place finish. It had been a hectic campaign, as in addition to the 42 league games there had been an extra 20 cup ties.

In July 1966 England won the World Cup and all West Ham supporters were proud that Bobby Moore captained the side, Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick and the other goal came from Martin Peters in the 4–2 victory against West Germany.

Note:

Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United

GOING UP ... the extension to the main stand at West Ham's Upton Park ground.

The new section when completed later this season will seat another seven hundred fans under cover and boost the Boleyn ground's capacity to more than 36,000.

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