WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
A Pictorial History
1975-76 Football League First Division
Manager: John Lyall
Returning to Wembley for the annual Charity Shield game, West Ham lost 2–0 to League Champions Derby County. In the league Alan Taylor scored five goals in the first three games, with the Hammers going on an unbeaten run of nine games. There had been a remarkable comeback at Leicester: after losing 3–0 at half-time, West Ham scored three second-half goals to draw 3–3.
Progress was made in the League Cup with victories over Bristol City and Darlington. The European campaign began with a 5–2 aggregate win against Finnish part timers Lahden Reipas in the European Cup Winners’ Cup. A gruelling trip to Russia came next, where the Hammers drew 1–1 with Ararat Yerevan; on their return they beat Manchester United 2–1 and won 5–1 at Birmingham City. The home leg with Ararat saw West Ham sweep into the last eight by winning 3–1 with a scintillating display of attacking football. A setback came when following a replay Tottenham beat West Ham 2–0 in the League Cup.
December was a poor month with four defeats, and morale was low when Liverpool won 2–0 at Upton Park in the FA Cup. There were no wins in February as the Hammers slid down the table to eighteenth. Europe beckoned again in March and after losing 4–2 to Den Haag in Holland the home leg brought a 3–1 win, the Hammers progressing by virtue of the away-goal rule. After a 6–1 defeat at Arsenal the Hammers travelled to Eintracht Frankfurt where they lost 2–1 in the semi-final. Their league form had lacked commitment but the Hammers rose to the occasion in the home leg and two goals from Trevor Brooking sent the Germans home, beaten 3–1.
The league season ended with the Hammers finishing eighteenth, without a win in 16 league matches. The Cup Winners’ Cup final saw West Ham travel to Brussels where they would meet the Belgian side Anderlecht. It was a marvellous match full of skill and passion, but two late goals from Anderlecht gave them a 4–2 victory.
RULE CHANGE
There will be a "call board" system in use for substitutes this season, the Football League adopted the system after last year's World Cup finals, and was accepted as being the best manner of notifying the referee and players which player is to be called off and substituted. It will obviate the necessity of hand-signals and other means of attracting attention, which has created difficulties since the substitute rule was introduced for League games at the start of the 1965-66 season.
Note:
Players in BOLD made their debuts for West Ham United
DERBY COUNTY : FA Charity Shield
Wembley Stadium
0 - 2
9 August 1975
Att: 59,000
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Jennings (Coleman)
Brooking
Gould (Robson)
REPORT:
STOKE CITY
Victoria Ground
2 - 1 (Gould, Taylor A.)
16 August 1975
Att: 24,237
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Robson
Our
LIVERPOOL
Anfield
2 - 2 (Taylor A. 2)
19 August 1975
Att: 40,564
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Gould (Jennings)
Brooking
Robson
Our
BURNLEY
Upton Park
3 - 2 (Taylor A. 2, Paddon)
23 August 1975
Att: 28,048
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Jennings (Ayris)
Brooking
Robson
Our
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Robson)
25 August 1975
Att: 36,567
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Robson
Our
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
VLoftus Road
1 - 1 (Jennings)
30 August 1975
Att: 28,408
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Robson
Our
A.C. FIORENTINA (Italy) Anglo-Italian Cup - 1st leg
The Studio Communale
0 - 1
3 September 1975
Att: 35,000
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Holland (Jennings)
Brooking
Robson
Mervyn Day found that life can be as difficult abroad as it is at home. The young keeper dropped a king-sized clanger as West Ham lost the first leg of the Anglo-Italian Cup Winners’ Cup in the breathtakingly beautiful city of Florence. It has been a bad month for the Chelmsford boy with all the qualities to be one of the game’s greats. His twentieth minute mistake against Fiorentina followed admitted errors on the home front in League matches with Burnley and Queens Park Rangers. Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Guerini hit a low and not particularly hard shot from fully 20 yards. Day went to his right to make what seemed the simplest of saves, then unaccountably let the ball go through his hands. It trickled over the line, with Day’s desperate dive backwards too late to prevent the inevitable.
But as Day said before the game: “If I am going to make mistakes it is better they come this early in the season rather than later.” And he certainly softened some of the anger he must have felt with a superb save from a much more thunderous Guerini 20-yarder later in the game. West Ham came to the city of a thousand priceless paintings as part of their soccer education in preparing for the more important European Cup Winners’ Cup campaign to come. They learned that a patient and deliberate build-up against sides who funnel back in depth the way Fiorentina do gets you nowhere – and not very quickly. But there was still plenty to encourage West Ham in the belief that they can make their mark in European competition this season after an absence of a decade.
Certainly the reaction of a 35,.000 crowd at the end suggests they know that a lone goal will not be enough to see Fiorentina to eventual victory when the second leg is played at Upton Park in November. Billy Bonds is back. Understandably after his recent injury problems, he looked a lot less than the commanding captain of the past. But he came through without reaction. West Ham had difficulty containing Domenico Caso, one of Fiorentina’s up-and-coming Italian internationals. But West Ham got better the longer the game went on, with Frank Lampard, Kevin Lock and Trevor Brooking all showing they will be a danger to the very best European sides. West Ham’s best chance came when Brooking crossed and Keith Robson put a tame header straight into keeper Superchi’s hands. And just before the end Billy Jennings, who came on as a second-half substitute for Pat Holland, saw another header brilliantly saved. The Italians showed they can be clever footballers – but they reverted to their more customary tactics of falling down and squealing for the referee’s attention. These tactics caused the bookings of Billy Jennings and Alan Taylor – but only for brief flashes of ill-feeling in a match that was played in the best possible spirit
MANCHESTER CITY
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Lampard)
6 September 1975
Att: 29,752
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A. (Bonds)
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Robson
Our
BRISTOL CITY : FL Cup (Second Round)
Upton Park
0 - 0
9 September 1975
Att: 19,837
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Holland (Ayris)
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Robson
Our
LEICESTER CITY
Filbert Street
3 - 3 (Bonds, Holland, Lampard)
13 September 1975
Att: 21,413
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Robson
Our
LAHDEN REIPAS (Finland) European Cup Winners' Cup (First Round 1st-leg)
Olympia Stadion Helsinki
2 - 2 (Bonds, Brooking)
17 September 1975
Att: 4,587
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Holland
Paddon
Taylor A.
Brooking
Robson (Jennings)
The huge electric scoreboard in Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium blazing out an indictment of West Ham’s first uncertain step in this year’s Cup Winners’ Cup. It showed that they trailed twice to the unranked amateurs of Lahden and were saved from what would have been one of the biggest European upsets of all time by a Billy Bonds equaliser 14 minutes from the finish.
I have no doubt West Ham will crush the Finns at Upton Park in the second leg of this first-round tie. It is better, too, that they get performances like this out of their system before the class sides have to be faced in the later stages of the competition. But you had to shake your head before believing this was the same West Ham who have blazed a breath-taking unbeaten path through the First Division this season.
The West Ham who made Lahden coach Keijo Voutilainen say, after watching them beat Manchester City: “I went away petrified.” It could be argued that both Lahden goals were the result of bad defensive mistakes. That Alan Taylor – the little man who has made Cup goals his speciality – had enough chances to finish this extraordinary evening a scorer six times over. But there you have the major weaknesses in West Ham’s performance. They made mistakes and paid for them. They created countless chances and couldn’t take them.
The game was only four minutes old when West Ham knew this would be no walkabout. Jantunen was allowed to break through on the right, to cross low, across the face of goal. There was no West Ham challenge, and Tolvanen got in a shot that rebounded off Mervyn Day’s body. The ball broke for schoolboy Harri Lindholm, 17, to beat Day. Perhaps if West Ham had scored first, it might have ended very differently. As it was, Finnish football, which has caused barely a ripple in the European ocean, was able to make an impressive splash. Taylor had missed two clear chances and seen a header spectacularly turned over the bar by Harri Holli, before the twenty-ninth minute brought a crazy equaliser. Trevor Brooking, out on the left, curled the ball right-footed towards goal. As Taylor and Pat Holland moved in to challenge, it squeezed in at the far post. Early in the second half, Taylor had a goal disallowed for offside, and Lahden immediately swept through to regain the lead. A cross from the right was headed down by Tolvanen, West Ham failed to get the ball away, and Arl Tupasela drove it past Day from just inside the penalty box. Keith Robson had a shot cleared off the line before he was replaced by Billy Jennings in the 71st minute, as West Ham mounted a final and furious onslaught. The game was in it’s 76th minute when skipper Bonds played a “one-two” with Pat Holland before driving a low shot wide of Holli. Team manager John Lyall said afterwards: “It was disappointing. We didn’t play well. “But the players will have grown up after this. They will have learned a lot.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Best, Taylor T.)
20 September 1975
Att: 28,744
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A. (Best)
Paddon
Jennings
Brooking
Holland
Our
BRISTOL CITY : FL Cup (Second Round Replay)
Ashton Gate
3 - 1 (Best, Brooking, Taylor A.)
24 September 1975
Att: 19,634
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Best
Brooking
Holland
Our
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Molineux
1 - 0 (Paddon)
27 September 1975
Att: 18,455
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A.
Paddon
Best
Brooking
Holland
Our
LAHDEN REIPAS (Finland) European Cup Winners' Cup (First Round 2nd-leg)
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Holland, Jennings, Robson)
1 October 1975
Att: 24,131
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Taylor A. (Jennings)
Paddon
Robson
Brooking
Holland
West Ham scored three second-half goals – two in the last minute – to end a European night of missed chances and frustration at Upton Park. Keith Robson recalled after a three-match absence, broke the deadlock with a lucky first goal just when it seemed that Reipas Lahden’s bunch of amateurs were going to survive a one-way onslaught.
Pat Holland added a scrambled second a minute from time. And with the last kick of this Cup Winners’ Cup tie substitute Jennings scored a spectacular third. The late two goals finally put the match in perspective, denied the Finns their moral victory and sent West Ham fumbling into the second round. But the 5-2 aggregate scoreline is a little lopsided, West Ham, as they feared, found European football in front of their own fans most frustrating. They were always superior but ran into trouble where it mattered, in the penalty area.
When they did break through Robson and Alan Taylor were guilty of bad misses. They will undoubtedly have learned a lesson from their first European home tie in 10 years, but they missed too many chances to raise confidence of them going much further in the competition. Reipas, to their credit, did not come just to defend and could have made it 1-1 when Hamalainen missed two open goals late in the game. Reipas fullback Kosonen had already been booked for handball when west Ham skipper Billy Bonds thought he had headed an early goal, but the referee consulted a linesman before ruling it out.
Robson put West Ham ahead after 59 minutes. He met Bonds’ cross perfectly and his shot hit Helli and the post before going in. With the last kick Jennings, who had come on for Taylor, scored. Hammers manager john Lyall said: “We never panicked and played the game at our pace. We missed some chances but that didn’t worry me. “We have learned from our European matches and we were far better tonight than in the first leg.” Robson said: “I thought the second goal was mime, but I don’t mind Pat Holland having it” Holland said: It was definitely my goal.”
EVERTON
Upton Park
0 - 1
4 October 1975
Att: 31,985
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock
Robson
Paddon
Best (Taylor A.)
Brooking
Holland
Our
DARLINGTON : FL Cup (Third Round)
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Bonds [pen], Paddon, Robson)
8 October 1975
Att: 19,844
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Lock (Jennings)
Robson
Paddon
Best
Taylor A.
Holland
Our
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Curbishley, Taylor A.)
11 October 1975
Att: 30,828
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Best
Curbishley
Holland
Our
MIDDLESBROUGH
Ayresome Park
0 - 3
18 October 1975
Att: 25,831
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Best
Brooking
Holland
Our
ARARAT EREVAN (U.S.S.R.) European Cup Winners' Cup (Second Round 1st-leg)
Hrazdan Stadium
1 - 1 (Taylor A.)
22 October 1975
Att: 66,662
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Gould
Holland
Robson
A crazy, controversial goal when the ball was headed out of Mervyn Day’s hands robbed West Ham of a brave European victory in Russia. Alan Taylor had just put West Ham ahead in the Cup Winners’ Cup clash when Day, who had safely held a no-hope centre, allowed tiny forward Petrosian to head the ball out of his grip. They were the only two players in West Ham’s area and Day tried desperately to scramble back as the ball rolled gently into the net. It was a scrappy and heart-breaking goal to concede, and West Ham couldn’t believe it when West German referee Hans Weyland pointed to the centre spot. Day kicked the ball into the crowd in disgust.
West Ham, of course can celebrate their vital away goal in the packed Razden Stadium, and it must surely be good enough to take them through to the third round. West Ham had held Ararat’s punch less attack comfortably when they took the lead in the 56th minute and it was Taylor, the man Ararat feared, who scored the goal. Pat Holland, switching to midfield to take the place of Trevor Brooking, who was ill, started the move with a ball out to Robson on the left. Skipper Billy Bonds carried on the move and Taylor was left unmarked to gratefully accept the first European goal of his remarkable career.
The Russians had dominated the first half but with Tommy Taylor in commanding form their attacks petered out. West Ham had a narrow escape when Petrosian hit the bar and the ball rebounded to safety. Then Day made a brilliant diving save from skipper Andreasian. West Ham were soon back on the defence in the second half but they always had plenty of time to organise. It was a cool and efficient defensive performance and they will now be determined and confident of going on – as they did in 1965 – to win this competition. There were screams for two penalties when Paddon and Bonds produced vital tackles, but the Ararat protests were waved aside and it would have been a terrible injustice if West Ham had lost after such a mature and confident performance
MANCHESTER UNITED
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Gould, Taylor A.)
25 October 1975
Att: 38,528
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Holland
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Gould
Brooking
Robson
Our
BIRMINGHAM CITY
St Andrews
5 - 1 (Taylor A. 2, Brooking, Lampard, Pendrey [og])
1 November 1975
Att: 28,474
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Holland
Brooking
Robson
Our
ARARAT EREVAN (U.S.S.R.) European Cup Winners' Cup (Second Round 2nd-leg)
Upton Park
3 - 1 (Paddon, Robson, Taylor A.)
5 November 1975
Att: 30,399
Day
McDowell
Lampard
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Holland
Brooking
Robson
West Ham strode magnificently on in Europe with bursts of attacking football which can win them the Cup Winners’ Cup. Their attack, inspired by another England-class performance by Trevor Brooking, proved far too good for the Russians. West Ham are now in the quarter-finals and, on this form must have an outstanding chance of winning the competition for the second time. They cut the Russians to ribbons with attacking football which is one of the finest sights in English football at the moment. Only for a brief period after half-time, when Ararat scored a shock goal, did West Ham lose their stranglehold on a match which was a superb advert for European football.
Ararat will argue that the third and clinching goal by Alan Taylor should have been disallowed for offside against Keith Coleman. Their skipper, Andreasian, who spoiled a magnificent performance by being booked in the second half for a foul on Pat Holland, was still arguing with French referee Robert Helies when the teams left to a standing ovation. West Ham could and should have doubled their score. Billy Bonds hit the bar and went close on four other occasions, and Ararat goalkeeper Abramian made thrilling saves from Keith Robson and Taylor. West Ham were given a perfect start by Graham Paddon, who scored with a left-footed drive from the edge of the area. Ararat could not cope with Taylor’s speed and Brooking’s skill and a second goal was inevitable. It came when Taylor’s deep cross to the far post was headed in powerfully by Robson. West Ham were temporarily knocked out of their rhythm when Nazar Petrosian scored.
Then came the controversial third goal. Coleman was waved on as Ararat appealed for offside on the half-way line and he raced 40 yards before slipping the ball to Taylor, whose mis-hit shot lobbed into the net. The goal stood and so did the crowd as West Ham brought the Russian defence to its knees. Manager John Lyall said: “I am delighted. To play as we did against a side as strong as Ararat was excellent. The confidence in the team is sky-high now. “We gave Trevor Brooking a free role and it worked well. He was tremendous.” Ararat manager Viktor Maslov said: “I thought West Ham played well but should their third goal should not have been allowed. It was a psychological blow.”
COVENTRY CITY
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Robson)
8 November 1975
Att: 29,501
Day
McDowell
Lock
Bonds (Gould)
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Holland
Brooking
Robson
Our
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : FL Cup (Fourth Round)
White Hart Lane
0 - 0
12 November 1975
Att: 49,125
Day
McDowell
Lock
Bonds
Taylor T.
Coleman
Taylor A.
Paddon
Holland
Brooking
Robson
Our
DERBY COUNTY
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MIDDLESBROUGH
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : FL Cup (Fourth Round Replay)
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ARSENAL
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A.C. FIORENTINA (Italy) Anglo-Italian Cup 2nd-leg
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West Ham suffered all the frustrations of Italian tactics as they discovered just how much more there is to learn about European football. The Hammers, a shadow of the team which has done so well in the Cup Winners’ Cup this season, couldn’t turn their pressure into goals against a well-organised Fiorentina. The visitors’ time-wasting and constant appeals only added to West Ham’s anger as they lost this Anglo-Italian Cup Winners’ Cup Final.
The Italians made an ideal start with a goal after 19 minutes and then held on easily to take the trophy. The skill and tactics of the Italians were a constant reminder to West Ham that there is a long way to go before they win the Cup Winners’ Cup. It must have also been very depressing for the watching Don Revie to see one of our best teams struggling to break down an ordinary Italian side. Revie was beginning his Italian dossier for England’s World Cup qualifying matches. But he only saw what he knew already. England international Trevor Brooking, vital to West Ham’s attacking rhythm, couldn’t find a way through and they never looked like getting the three goals needed to win after that early Italian goal. It came from £600,000 striker Walter Speggiorini, who raced through to beat Mervyn Day after Galdiolo’s through ball had beaten Tommy Taylor.
West Ham manager John Lyall said: “We did what you must never do against an Italian team – let them score first. “Then they defended so well and it was frustrating to play against. But it has proved a tremendous experience. Ten minutes later, Speggiorini almost put through his own goal and that was the closest West Ham came to scoring. In the second half, West Ham replaced Johnny Ayris with teenager Alan Curbishley, who almost scored with his first touch. But West Ham couldn’t score and Fiorentina led by Giancarlo Antognoni, the new golden boy of Italian football, were happy to use their superb skill to keep West Ham out. They didn’t have another shot at goal and yet won comfortably. That is another lesson for West Ham.
BURNLEY
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STOKE CITY
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IPSWICH TOWN
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LIVERPOOL : FA Cup (Third Round)
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MANCHESTER CITY
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LIVERPOOL
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COVENTRY CITY
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LEEDS UNITED
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MANCHESTER UNITED
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DEN HAAG (Holland) European Cup Winners' Cup Quarter Final 1st-leg
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West Ham refused to let a series of astonishing decisions by East Germany’s 1970’s World Cup referee Rudi Glockner, at the Hague, push them to the brink of European oblivion. They live on in the Cup Winners’ Cup thanks to two second-half goals by Billy Jennings and despite one of the poorest refereeing displays ever seen in Europe. Three of the four goals Den Haag scored in the first amazing half of this quarter-final were deeply questionable.
Keith Robson and Kevin Lock were both booked for dissent in those first 45 minutes. And on each occasion it was difficult to understand why. Twice Glockner threatened to stop the game for crowd disturbances that were not immediately noticeable. A crazy night?
Well, Den Haag’s Dutch international sweeper Aad Mansveld grabbed a hat-trick – and two of the goals were from penalties. Fireworks thrown on the pitch by fans delayed the start by two minutes. It was nothing to the explosions to come. In less than a quarter of an hour this incredible and bizarre match had blown up in West Ham’s shocked faces. Mansveld’s first dagger blow gave no indication of what was to follow. In the 12th minute a shot by Henk van Leeuwen rebounded from a forest of West Ham legs. The ball bobbed about before Mansveld pounced and hammered it in.
Three minutes later, Mansveld scored again. Mick McGiven was judged to have handled a long ball by Mansveld. As West Ham stood utterly stunned, Mansveld moved up to score coolly from the spot. Police had moved into the crowd where the majority of West Ham’s 1,500 fans were congregated before West Ham were made to suffer again. In the 38th minute. Simon van Villet was pulled down by Lock a yard outside the penalty area – and fell a yard inside. Referee Glockner’s decision was another spot-kick – for Mansveld to complete his hat-trick.
A minute from half-time Glockner let Rob Ouwehand play a drop-ball as West Ham’s players stood around in total confusion – and Lex Schoenmaker went on to beat the despairing Mervyn Day. West Ham replaced McGiven with Keith Coleman at the start of the second half and immediately hit the revival road. It was very much the Jennings show – with Graham Paddon in a major supporting role. In the 52nd minute a long Paddon run and cross ended with Jennings scoring. Goalkeeper Ton Thie got to his shot but couldn’t hold it. Seven minutes later, another Paddon cross gave Jennings the chance to score with a firm header. Even so, it needed a spectacular goal-line clearance by Tommy Taylor in the dying seconds to leave West Ham with a result that gives them a nail-biting chance of progress in the second-leg at Upton Park.
BIRMINGHAM CITY
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LEEDS UNITED
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NEWCASTLE UNITED
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DEN HAAG (Holland) European Cup Winners' Cup Quarter Final 2nd-leg
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West Ham rediscovered their goal flair last night to reach the semi-finals of the Cup Winners’ Cup. They needed just eight exciting minutes in the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Dutch side Den Haag to win a place in the last four on the away goals rule.
The path they trod seemed like a minefield after they had trailed 4-2 in the first leg. Commitment to attack needed to be tempered by a realisation that the Dutch were ready to exploit any openings left by West Ham’s need to meet the emotional demand of a 29,828 crowd. The Hammers had not won since January 24 and had not scored more than one goal in any game since December 20, but in Trevor Brooking West Ham produced an individual to inject life not only into his team but into everyone’s hopes for England’s international future. His subtle orchestration from midfield offset the more competitive element brought to the game by men like Frank Lampard and Keith Robson on a night when West Ham buried their reputation as the “soft touch” of English football.
Den Haag emerged after the interval as a side prepared to try and intimidate West Ham into submission. That they failed is a testimony to the Londoners’ growing awareness of the needs for success in Europe. Manager John Lyall said: “Everything was right for us tonight. I have never seen a team soak up so much pressure as Den Haag did in the first half.
The breakthrough came, rather scrappily, in the 29th minute, Brooking produced a shot which goalkeeper Ton Thie could only partially stop and Alan Taylor managed to force home the loose ball. Five minutes later Brooking squared the ball to Frank Lampard, whose left foot shot from 30 yards produced a goal as thrilling as any you will see in Europe. And you would not have given a Dutch guilder against West Ham when, in the 37th minute, Alan Taylor was brought down by Joop Korvaar inside the box, leaving Bonds the opportunity to drive a penalty in.
The Dutch pulled back a goal in the 58th minute. Mansveld drove a free kick high to Mervyn Day’s left and, as the West Ham’s keeper punched the ball clear, Lex Schoenmaker picked up the loose ball to make it 3-1. But West Ham survived to underline that even if they are out of the Championship race they are very much a live force in Europe.
ARSENAL
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NORWICH CITY
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EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (West Germany) European Cup Winners' Cup
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West Ham tamed the shrew of West German football with a performance of steely dedication and gritty purpose more often seen in Europe from the likes of Leeds or Liverpool. Now they stand a great chance of qualifying for the final of the Cup Winners’ Cup they won 11 years ago – particularly if they carry over to the second leg the massive confidence that appeared in their game, especially in the last half hour.
For long spells, the Frankfurt side’s slick football looked like tearing the Hammers apart, but the East End lads battled with grim resolve and, on the hour, you could see the Germans losing heart. West Ham got off to a dream start – stunning the trumpet-blasting, flag-waving 45,000 crowd to silence with a sensational goal after only nine minutes. Pat Holland pounced to punish loose play by Eintracht defender Neuberger, and slipped the ball through to Trevor Brooking, who rolled it into the path of Graham Paddon. And, as Eintracht awoke to the danger, Paddon hit a left-foot drive from 30 yards that blurred past veteran goalkeeper Kunter. Within three minutes, Neuberger, out to redeem his error, hit a 20 yard shot past the West Ham defence against the foot of a post.
The attack-minded Eintracht men began to pour forward relentlessly, marshalled by former World Cup star Grabowski. The West German pressure paid off in the 28th minute when Neuberger came up from the left, cut inside and fired a low ground shot past Mervyn Day. The Day was lucky not to concede a penalty and get sent off as well when he brutally elbowed Korbel in the face after a corner. But Russian referee Rudnev failed to spot it, and three minutes later, Day, who had an outstanding match, did well under pressure to turn a cross from Grabowski over the top. He then made a first-class save from Wenzel after another decisive pass from Grabowski. The second half was only two minutes old when Eintracht went ahead, Nickel starting the move when he danced past Lampard. A dummy run by Korbel dragged two West Ham defenders out of position and, when Wenzel feinted to play the ball, another gap was created for midfield man Kraus to crash it in. West Ham looked for a spell as though they were going to lose their cool. Holland was booked for failing to retreat 10 yards for a free-kick, and McDowell followed him when he dragged Nickel down by the shirt.
As Eintracht, driven on by their fans, poured one relentless attacking wave after another against the West ham defence, only bad finishing, prevented them from taking a substantial lead. But when Paddon cleared off the line from Nickel, Eintracht flagged. West Ham then hit back with a series of counter-attacks, and, in the 70th minute, Brooking raced away after Grabowski lost the ball but saw his shot saved by Kunter. Six minutes after that, some fine work by Paddon set up a chance for Robson, but, although he hit his shot well. Kunter pulled off a tremendous save. But West Ham go into the second leg with just what they wanted. That away goal will count double should the aggregate score end level. They would have settled for that without even kicking a ball.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
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SHEFFIELD UNITED
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EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (West Germany) European Cup Winners' Cup
Semi-Final 2nd leg
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Trevor Brooking was a two-goal superstar as west Ham reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup on a sea of mud and to a torrent of East London cheers. A day that started with Brooking being named by Don Revie for England’s series of summer games ended with him destroying Eintracht in world-class style. So, a decade after Bobby Moore led West Ham to success in the FA Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup in successive seasons, skipper Billy Bonds is on the brink of a repeat performance. But he will willingly concede that a magnificent match, fought out in atrocious conditions, belong very much to brilliant Brooking.
Brooking twice played a part in the goal shot by Keith Robson, and gave a performance of such skill, strength and perception that his ability to do a job for England cannot be questioned. In what had to be supporting roles, bonds, Mervyn Day, Frank Lampard and John McDowell were outstanding. If West Ham refused to flag after a goal-less first half in which Eintracht competently defended their 2-1 lead from the first leg of this semi-final, the same has to be said for their fans. They ignored the rain to roar on West Ham to the May 5th final against Anderlecht in Brussels with a deafening barrage of sound.
Eintracht’s counter-attacking ability meant that West Ham were unable to leave themselves without cover at the back as they went at breath-taking pace for an early goal. Lampard had a shot blocked by Relchel and flashed a drive over the bar as West Ham pressed forward. In the 15th minute, Robson got the ball in the net – only fro Swiss referee Walter Hungerbuhler to point firmly for a foul on goalkeeper Peter Kunter.
The break-through that meant so much to west Ham came four minutes into the second half. Lampard crossed from the left and Brooking out jumped Beverungen to send a header dipping into the corner of the net. Suddenly, with the exit sign staring them in the face, we saw the best of Eintracht as an attacking side. Rudiger Wenzel forced Day to a brilliant save. Then he hit a post, and followed it with a shot that Robson appeared to handle off the line. West Ham gathered themselves and scored again in the 67th minute. Brooking’s pass from the left found Robson and he drove the ball past Kunter from fully twenty-five yards. Ten minutes later a roar of approval threatened to lift the roof of the Upton Park stand as Brooking scored again. Beverungen finally put the ball past Day two minutes from time. But it was too little, too late.
ASTON VILLA
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IPSWICH TOWN
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EVERTON
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ANDERLECHT (Belguim) European Cup Winners' Cup Final
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For while his shattered team tried to regain composure in the dressing room Lyall had to face a barrage of searching questions from an army of pressmen. Lyall started to answer the first, obvious question: “Yes, we are disappointed, particularly after the way it went in the first-half and Pat Holland’s goal. “We could well have had the game won by half time, “But all credit to Anderlecht for coming back and attacking us as they did after the interval. “I hope and believe we have shown the world that an English team can be entertaining and skilful.” Rapidly the gloves were off, A European journalist asked: “What is your opinion of Robbie Rensenbrink?” Lyall said simply: “He is a world-class player.” The follow-up was biting: “You had seen him before. Why then did you not take more steps to counter him?” Lyall countered: “That is why he is a world-class player.
We knew the danger he could present and, in the first half, we did things to minimise it. “But because he is a world-class forward, Rensenbrink thought about what we had done during the interval and came back to provide his own counter and offer problems. “He began to drift away from defenders and to use the natural ability which makes him world-class – just as Van der Elst did.” The logic was unanswerable. The Dutch star’s second-half contribution had been incalculable. Just how much that was the result of the equaliser Resenbrink had been gifted two minutes before half-time is one of the many imponderables of this swaying, incident-filled final. Anderlecht had appeared a completely demoralised outfit – until one tragic moment…
Frank Lampard, immaculate as ever, allowed the ball to pass over his head rather than risk giving away possession with a headed clearance. He turned to complete the tidying up with a back-pass to the already advancing Day. But the pass was horribly under-hit. Ressel was up on it in a flash and, Day hesitated and then tried to get back, the ball was switched into the middle for Rensenbrink to hammer home, despite Tommy Taylor’s despairing attempt to cover the line. When making the back-pass, Lampard felt his groin go and that made him hesitate slightly. The next tackled finished it.
The loss of Lampard for the second half was more vital than the goal he gave away. McDowell moved into the vacant spot, Holland into midfield, and substitute Alan Taylor into attack. Anderlecht boss Hans Croon did not regard that gift equaliser as the end of his team’s problems for the night. He said: “I thought the game could still have gone either way after West Ham pulled back to 2-2 in the second half. “But almost at once we got the penalty to go back in front. “After that, they had to attack us even more and gave us the chance to counter-attack into the space left – which Rensenbrink and Van der Elst did so well.” It was the youthful Van der Elst, almost anonymous before, who staggered Hammers by racing on to his team-mate’s excellent long pass and putting Anderlecht ahead within three minutes of the restart.
West Ham had, in less than five minutes, gone from a dominant lead to 2-1 down. The equaliser arrived after 68 minutes, Brooking was behind it. Despite his injured back, he twisted his way around his man out on the left and crossed perfectly for Keith Robson to drop almost to his knees and glance a header wide of the stranded Ruiter and in off the far post. Five minutes later, Rensenbrik’s pace took him through on the left. Trojan Holland got back to cover, diving in to slide the ball for a corner. But the contact was enough for the Dutch forward to sprawl… and M. Wurtz to signal a penalty. Rensenbrink got up to blast the spot kick past Day and from then on despite commendable spirit, we know it was not going to be a West Ham glory night. Two minutes from time an exhausted, pain-racked Brooking lost possession as he tried to battle through the Belgians’ penalty area.
The break-out caught Hammers with almost no one in defence. Taylor’s bid to play off-side failed and Van der Elst streaked away to apply the coup de grace. Seconds later it was over. The Hammers, weariness accentuated a million-fold by defeat, slumped to the turf. Several clearly battled to blink away the tears that Tommy Taylor did not trouble to disguise.