WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
A Pictorial History
John Lyall
#0528
BILLY JENNINGS
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A former England Youth international that had progressed through the Watford ranks at Vicarage Road. The quick-silver striker whose £110,000 arrival from the Hornets on 5 September 1974 coincided with a distinct revival of fortunes for the Hammers, culminating in the 1975 F.A. Cup Final win over Fulham at Wembley.
Made a scoring debut two days after signing against Sheffield United at Upton Park but finished on the losing side 1-2. The following 75-76 season, West Ham got to the Final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, with Jennings scoring two goals in the away leg of club's Quarter-final. The second-leg home game against Dutch side Den Haag saw Hammers score three, to bring the aggregate score to 5–5, and go through on away goals.
In the summer of 1977 he had a short loan spell in America with NASL side Chicago Sting, playing 19 games and scoring 6 goals. Returned for the start of 1977-78 season but picked up an Achilles injury which restricted his appearances and he failed to hold on to a regular place in the team. After 125 league and cup appearances and scoring 39 goals he took the well-trodden path between Upton Park and Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road ground on 11 August 1979. Jennings scored 26 goals in 78 appearances for Orient before moving to Luton Town.
Although he retired after 2 substitute appearances for the Hatters, he later played for non-league Dagenham, Bishop's Stortford and Heybridge Swifts and later worked as a football agent.
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KEITH ROBSON
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Keith Robson played his youth soccer with Newcastle United before progressing to their first XI in 1971. West Ham signed this no-nonsense utility player from St James’ Park in September 1974 for the princely sum £55,555 plus a further £20,00 after making 20 first team appearances, for the Hammers this was money well spent as the likeable but temperamental Geordie got his Boleyn Ground career off to a flying start, scoring 5 goals in his first five appearances in a claret and blue shirt.
A member of the club’s successful cup squad of the mid-seventies, but missed out in the 1975 FA Cup final against Fulham due to injury. He partly made up for that disappointment when won a Runners-up medal in 1976 finding the net in the 4-2 defeat to RSC Anderlecht in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final and in doing so became one of only three West ham players who have had the honour of scoring in a major European final. Alan Sealey at Wembley in 1965 and Pat Holland along with Robson in the Stade du Heysel, Brussels final.
Robson moved to Cardiff City in August 1977, having scored 19 goals in 89 appearances for the Hammers. His Bluebird career yielded 5 goals from 21 games before teaming up with Ex-Hammers Alan Taylor, Graham Paddon, Martin Peters and John McDowell at Norwich City in February 1978. The £25,000 signing scored 13 goals in 65 games for the Carrow Road club. Later played for Leicester City and Carlisle United followed by a brief spell in Hong Kong with South China Athletic Association. A spell as assistant manager with Wroxham before retiring from the game and work for Norwich International Airport.
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ALAN TAYLOR
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Alan Taylor began his apprenticeship with Preston North End in October 1969, but was allowed to drift into non-league football following the club’s relegation. Playing first for Lancashire City, but it was the goals he scored for Morecombe that prompted Third Division Rochdale to sign him in May 1973. By the time Taylor had shown up on the West Ham radar, the Spotland Stadium side had dropped a Division into the Fourth, but this didn’t discourage manager John Lyall from paying £45,000 to bring him to the Boleyn Ground in November 1974.
This speedy whippet-like striker made the transition from the Fourth Division in true "Roy of the Rovers" fashion, by scoring twice in the FA Cup Sixth Round victory over Arsenal at Highbury, poached another brace in the Semi-Final Replay against Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge, and did the same again in the Final at Wembley against Fulham.
Sparrow made his initial debut as a substitute for Billy Jennings against Leeds United at Upton Park in a 2-1 victory on the 7 December 1974. Although he played in Irons' 1976 European Cup Winners' Final appearance against Anderlecht in Belgium, his style of play made him very susceptible to injuries, which restricted his First XI outings.
Thirty-six goals in 124 appearances were enough to persuaded Norwich City to invest £90,000 in his services when he joined the Canaries in August 1979.
He later joined Cambridge United after a spell with Vancouver Whitecaps. Was given a free transfer by Hull City at the end of 1983-84 and then back in the claret-and-blue for a different cause with Burnley in June 1984.
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ALAN CURBISHLEY
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Schoolboy prodigy who was reluctantly allowed to join Birmingham City 11 July 1979 for a huge £225,00 fee after a dispute over his role in the side. Curbishley made his Hammers debut against Chelsea at Upton Park on 10 March 1975 finishing on the losing side 0-1.
In addition to starring at schoolboy level he also won six caps for England Youth and was a member of Hammers' side which reached the F.A. Youth Cup Final in 1975. Joined Brighton and Hove Albion after spells with Aston Villa and Charlton Athletic, which he later became manager in July 1991 steering them to Premiership status. He left his position with the Addicts in May 2006 and after a short spell away from the game, which was augmented by work as a television pundit, Curbishley returned to management in December 2006 when he was appointed as manager of West Ham United. Resigned his post in September 2008 after a dispute over the club’s transfer policy. In December 2013 Curbishley was appointed technical director with Premier League side Fulham, but following the arrival of Felix Magath was was released less than two months into the role.
#0532
YILMAZ ORHAN
Born: 13 March 1955, Nicosia, Cyprus
Signed: 16 February 1973
Debut: 24 March 1976 Queens Park Rangers (H)
Last Game: 30 October 1976 West Bromwich Albion (A)
Appearances: 9
Goals: 0
Transferred: Team Hawaii (USA)
Date: 31 March 1977
Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, and of Turkish parentage, Yilmaz came to England and attended Clissold Park Comprehensive School, Hackney. The would-be lawyer was spotted by ex-Hammers’ player Terry Matthews playing for local side Averley F.C.
In addition to first-team appearances for the Athenian League club he also represented Essex County Youth. Orhan played a few games for Southend United before joining the ground-staff at Upton Park at the end of October 1972 and made a scoring debut in the 2-0 win for the South East Counties League side against Fulham at Chadwell Heath on 4 November.
After progressing to Football Combination football, Orhan signed professional forms on 16 February 1973. The 20-year-old made his First Division debut in the 1-0 win at the Boleyn Ground against Queens Park Rangers on 24 January 1976.
Manager John Lyall commented on his performance afterwards by say “Yilmaz showed plenty of potential and a lot of individuality, he also showed composure and, most of all, ability in the box.” With a bit more composure, he might even have crowned his league debut with a goal.
In his nine senior appearances for the first-team he failed to get on the scoring-list and left the Hammers on a free transfer on 31 March 1977 for Team Hawaii of the North American Soccer League.
Orhan later played for Houston Hurricane and San Diego Sockers before joining a host of American clubs playing in the Major Indoor Soccer League between 1980 and 1987. After his playing days were over he worked in a casino in Las Vagas.
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GEOFF PIKE
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This whole-hearted endeavour and perpetual motion of this key midfield man did much to cushion the blow of losing Patsy Holland through injury. A similar type of player to Pat and his predecessor Ronnie Boyce, Geoff made a major contribution to the club's promotion back to the top flight in 1981. Making his League debut at Upton Park as a substitute for Yilmaz Orhan in a 1-2 defeat by Birmingham City on the 6th March 1976, he played much of his early soccer in Thurrock District and later with Gidea Park Rangers, well-known providers of football talent. A member of Hammers' Youth side which reached the F.A. Youth Cup Final in 1975, against Ipswich Town.
Pike had to wait a further five years for his first senior honour an F.A. Cup Winners medal in 1980 against Arsenal at Wembley. He followed it up with a League Cup Runners-up medal and Second Division Championship memento's the next year. Transferred to Notts County in the summer of 1987 for £50,000 also given the responsibility of club captain. Later he joined near London neighbours Leyton Orient.
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BILL GREEN
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ALAN DEVONSHIRE
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ANTON OTULAKOWSKI
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#0537
JOHN RADFORD
Born: 22 February 1947, Pontefract, Yorkshire, England
Signed: Arsenal
Date: 14 December 1976
Fee: £80,000
First game: 18 December 1976, Liverpool (H)
Last game: 26 November 1977, Leeds United (H)
Transferred: 23 February 1978
Appearances: 30
Goals: 0
A famous name from Arsenal's "1971 double season" and notched up 481 appearances, scoring 149 goals. Radford signed for West Ham United for £80,000 on 14 December 1976 to aid their fight against relegation. Hammers’ manager John Lyall declaring on the day he put pen to paper “even when he’s not scoring goals he’s helping to make them, and because he’s good in the air it means we can put in some high crosses.” The ex-Gunner made his Hammers debut four days later in the 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Upton Park.
However, the West Ham manager came to rue his earlier words, as the Highbury polific centre-forward, was dogged by almost unbelievable bad luck in a Claret and Blue shirt. In 30 senior outings over two seasons he did everything but score; at times it seemed gremlins were at work to prevent him doing so.
As if by magic, his move to Blackburn Rovers on 23 February 1978 saw him regain his scoring touch with ten strikes in 38 appearances. However his 30 games for Hammers without scoring a goal must remain something of a record for a recognised striker. After retiring, he became a pub landlord in Thaxted, Essex, and enjoyed several spells as manager of Bishop's Stortford in the late 1980s and early 1990s and worked as a youth coach with Queens Park Rangers.
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PAUL BRUSH
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DEREK HALES
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DAVID CROSS
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ALVIN MARTIN
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PHIL PARKES
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NICKY MORGAN
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BILLY LANSDOWNE Jnr.
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PHIL BRIGNULL
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STUART PEARSON
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DALE BANTON
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RAY STEWART
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JIMMY NEIGHBOUR
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PAUL ALLEN
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MARK SMITH
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PAUL GODDARD
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