WEST HAM UNITED
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Memorabilia through the Decade
A Pictorial History
Ron Greenwood
#467
LAWRIE LESLIE
Born: 17 March 1935, Edinburgh, Scotland
Signed: Airdrieonians (Scotland)
Fee: £14,000
Debut: 19 August 1961, Manchester United (H)
Last Game: 18 May 1963, Manchester City (H)
Appearances: 61
Goals: 0
Individual honours: Hammer of the Year (1962)
Transferred: Stoke City
Date: 30 October 1963
Fee: £14,000
Died: 4 June 2019 (aged 84)
As a small boy Lawrence Grant Leslie had an unfortunate accident when he was run over by a truck and was told he would be lucky to walk again, he confounded the doctors to reach the pinnacle of his profession.
Leslie began his football career with local clubs Hawkhill Amateurs prior to turning semi-pro and signing for Newton Grange Star in the early 1950s. Leslie served in the Royal Artillery before signing professional forms with Scottish side Hibernian in 1956 and was in the Hibs side that reached the 1958 Scottish Cup Final, which they lost 1–0 to Clyde. After playing 98 matches for the Easter Road side he moved to Airdrieonians in November 1959 for £4,475. At Airdrie he was appointed club captain and earned five caps for Scotland, making his international debut against Wales in Cardiff in October 1960.
The courageous goalkeeper broke almost every bone in his body before arriving at Upton Park on 21 June 1961; Ron Greenwood made the outstanding goalkeeper his first signing as West Ham United manager, spending £14,000 to bring him south.
Leslie made his Football League debut in the opening game of the 1961/62 campaign on 19 August against Manchester United at Upton Park in a 1-1 draw. Leslie’s second appearance came in front of 50,000 fans in a 2-2 draw with local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The new man between the sticks quickly endeared himself to the fans and at the end of his first campaign he was voted ‘Hammer of the Year’, thus becoming the first keeper to win the accolade.
Leslie’s worst playing injury occurred at the Boleyn Ground on 3 November 1962, when he sustained a broken leg whilst repelling a Bolton Wanderers attack. Although he made a remarkable recovery to regain his place in the First XI for the final four matches of the season. The 'keeper toured with the Hammers in the USA during the summer of 1963, but he was passed over for the start of 1963/64 in favour of Jim Standen and requested to be placed on the transfer list.
Although playing well for the Hammers' Football Combination side he hankered for a return to the first team, he jumped at the chance when Stoke City offered him a regular First Division spot. After 61 league and cup appearances for the east London club, Leslie joined the Potters on 30 October 1963 for an identical £14,000 fee. After three successful seasons at the Victoria Ground, where he featured in a League Cup final, Lawrie returned to the East End with Millwall in the summer of 1966 and went on to record 67 appearances for The Lions over two seasons before finishing his playing career with Southend United.
After hanging up his gloves, Leslie coached at the Roots Hall club and later took on a role as trainer-coach with Millwall before going on to coach in schools football.
#468
IAN CRAWFORD
Born:
Signed:
Fee:
Debut:
Last game:
Appearances:
Goals:
Transferred:
Fee:
Hughie
#469
RON TINDALL
Born:
Signed:
Fee:
Debut:
Last game:
Appearances:
Goals:
Transferred:
Fee:
Hughie
#470
JOHNNY BYRNE
Born: 13 May 1939, West Horsley, Surrey
Signed: Crystal Palace
Date: 8 March 1962, Fee: £65,000 + Ron Brett
Debut: 17 March 1962, Sheffield Wednesday (A)
Last game: 11 February 1967, Sunderland (H)
Appearances: 206
Goals: 108
Transferred: Crystal Palace
Date: 17 March 1967
Fee: £45,000
International:
England (10 caps),
England Under-23 (1 cap),
England Inter-League (2 caps),
Inter-League (4 caps)
Individual honours: FA Cup Winner (1964),
Hammer of the Year (1964),
Charity Shield (1965),
Football League Cup Runners-up (1966)
Died: 27 October 1999, Cape Town, South Africa (aged 60)
Trophy Cabinet
(Click Picture Link)
John Joseph Byrne was born in West Horsley in Surrey and played non-league football with Epson Town and Guildford City Youth, before signing a professional contract with Crystal Palace in May 1956. The goalscoring centre-forward with silky skills made his debut in October against Swindon Town. His early years at Selhurst Park saw Palace struggle but their fortunes improved and in 1960-61 his 30 goals helped them win promotion from Division Four.
In 1961 'The Big Book of Football Champions' proclaimed 'The discovery of the season: Johnny Byrne of Crystal Palace, the only Fourth Division player to gain international honours'. This statement was in recognition to Byrne winning an England Under-23 cap. By the end of the season, 'The Glaziers', as they were known then, were runners-up in the old Fourth Division and were promoted to the Third Division.
As a Third Division player 'Budgie' - nicknamed for his ceaseless chatter on the field - earned his first full international cap against Northern Ireland at Wembley in November 1961. The elevation to international recognition drew huge admiration and he inevitably became a target for the bigger clubs, including West Ham United.
In March 1962, after six seasons with the south London club, making 220 appearances and scored 95 goals Ron Greenwood paid a British record transfer of £65,000 for Byrne, the fee being made up of £58,000 plus ex-Palace inside-forward Ron Brett valued at £7,000.
Nine days later, Byrne made his Hammers debut at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday in a 0-0 draw. Scored only once in the remaining eleven games of his first season, against Cardiff City in a 4-1 win. However, his strike ratio for the Hammers' would speak for itself, with a better than a goal every other game.
‘Budgie’ won an FA Cup winners medal and Hammer of the Year in 1964. He missed out on place in the victorious 1955 European Cup Winners Cup side due to a knee injury. In his time at the Boleyn Ground ‘Budgie’ was awarded ten England caps and was also tagged the ‘English Di Stefano’ by West Ham manager Ron Greenwood. After making 206 appearances and scored 108 goals he returned to Crystal Palace on 17 February 1967 for a £45,000 fee, not a bad return for six seasons.
Now past his best ‘Budgie’ made a further 39 appearances for the south Londoners before joining Fulham in March 1968 for only £18,000. At Craven Cottage he played as a half-back, recording 19 games before moving to South Africa in June 1969 to sign for Durban City where he played in 69 league games and scored 22 goals. He later became their manager and then in 1973 he joined Hellenic as manager where he spent 22 years with them before being sacked in October 1995.
#471
MARTIN PETERS
Born: 8 November 1943, Plaistow, London
App: 1 May 1959
Pro: November 1960
Debut: Cardiff City 20 April 1962 (H)
Last game: Ipswich Town 14 March 1970 (H)
Transferred: Tottenham Hotspur
Date: 16 March 1970
Fee: £200,000 + Jimmy Greaves
Appearances: 364, Goals: 100
Died: 21 December 2019, Brentwood, (aged 76)
Hughie
#472
ALAN DICKIE
Born: 30 January 1944, Charlton, London
App: 29 July 1960
Pro: 30 January 1962
Debut: 28 April 1962, Bolton Wanderers (A)
Last: 2 October 1965, Fulham (A)
Transferred: Coventry City
Date: 9 March 1967
Fee: £3,000
Appearances: 15
Goals: 0
If you don’t ask you don’t get! Born in Charlton in 1944, Alan Dickie wrote to his local club Charlton Athletic and West Ham United asking for a trial. Only the Hammers replied, the budding goalkeeper turned up at the clubs training headquarters at Grange Farm in Chigwell. The fifteen year-old ‘keeper impressed and was selected to take part in evening sessions coached by both Phil Woosnam and Noel Cantwell.
As part of the youth side at that time, home matches were played at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford, at the end of the season Dickie was taken onto the West Ham United ground-staff. He made the step up to the clubs South East Counties League team and featured for the first time against Millwall at their Greenwich pitch on 2 January 1960. Although he was on the losing side that day, he signed apprentice forms on 29 July 1960. In 1960/61 he alternated between the sticks for the Colts in South East Counties games and the Metropolitan ‘A’ team League fixtures. On his 18th birthday the tall goalkeeper signed professional forms on 30 January 1962.
Easter time 1962, Dickie got his big break, on Good Friday, first-choice ‘keeper Lawrie Leslie kept goal for the Hammers at home to Cardiff City in a match that Bobby Moore took over the captains armband for the first time. The following day at the Boleyn Ground against Arsenal, Leslie was injured and took up an outfield position for the remainder of the match, John Lyall deputising between the posts. On Easter Monday, in the away fixture at Ninian Park against Cardiff City, reserve ‘keeper Brian Rhodes was taken off injured with Martin Peters taking over the green jersey.
With both first and second choice keepers out injured in consecutive games, Alan Dickie was thrown in at the deep end on 28 April 1962, making his debut against Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park. Having kept the Bolton forwards at bay and just seconds remained between the final whistle and clean sheet, the Trotters dashed the keeper's fairy-tale start to his first-team career with the only goal of the game.
Dickie travelled with the first-team squad as twelfth man during the clubs victorious European Cup Winners' Cup campaign of 1964/65 making one appearance in the Preliminary Round second-leg against Belgium side La Gantoise.
After making 15 first team appearances the understudy keeper was transferred to Coventry City for a £3,000 fee on 9 March 1967 after performing well against the Midland club in an invitation Winston Churchill Trophy match six days earlier.
Dickie played just the two first-team games for the Highfield Road club before moving to Aldershot the following year making 7 appearances. After hanging up his gloves Dickie pursued a career with the Metropolitan Police and later worked in the Coroner’s Office at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent.
#473
JACK BURKETT
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#474
BRIAN DEAR
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#475
PETER BRABROOK
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#476
JIM STANDEN
Born: 39 May 1935, Edmonton, London
Signed: Luton Town
Date 19 November 1962
Fee: £6,000
Debut: Sheffield Wednesday 24 November 1962 (A)
Last game: 2 December 1967, Sheffield United (H)
Appearances: 236 - Goals: 0
Transferred: Detroit Cougars (USA) 1968
Died:
Born in Edmonton in north London, Standen joined Arsenal in 1953, aged 18. He initially found his first-team opportunities limited, first by National Service and then by the presence of Wales international Jack Kelsey in the Arsenal goal. Standen made his Gunners’ debut in December 1957 before deputising for the injured Kelsey in 1958-59. The two shared net minding duties when he returned the following season, Kelsey regained the number one shirt outright at the start of 1960-61 and Standen left Highbury for Division Two club Luton Town in October 1960 having made 38 appearances.
At Kenilworth Road, Standen found himself playing second-fiddle, this time to England international Ron Baynham and, after failing to force his way into the side, he joined West Ham United on 19 November 1962 for £6,000 as an emergency replacement for the injured Lawrie Leslie who suffered a broken leg.
Standen made his West Ham United First Division debut in the 3-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on 24 November 1962. On Leslie's return, Standen kept his place and was a virtual ever-present over the next four seasons under Ron Greenwood. In 1963-64, his performances helped West Ham to reach the League Cup semi-finals and the FA Cup final, where they overcame Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley to lift the Club's first major trophy.
The following May, Standen and his team-mates were back at Wembley, with the goalkeeper keeping a clean sheet to inspire the Hammers to a 2-0 victory over German side TSV 1860 Munich in the European Cup Winners' Cup final. Standen remained No.1 during the 1966-67 season, but lost his place to Bobby Ferguson at the start of the following campaign.
After making 178 league and 58 cup appearances for West Ham he took the decision to move to North American Soccer League side Detroit Cougars in 1968. He returned for the 1969-70 season to play eight games for Millwall before signing a two-year contract with Portsmouth.
After 13 appearances between the sticks for Pompey he hung up his gloves in 1972. A dual-sport star, Standen also excelled at cricket. Primarily a right-arm medium pace bowler, he won a County Championship winner's medal with Worcestershire in 1964. He took 313 first-class wickets between 1959 and 1970 at an impressive average of 25.34.
After his retirement, he owned a sports shop in Camberley, Surrey, before set up home in the United States where he was a goalkeeper coach at Fresco State University.
#477=
JOHN CHARLES
Born: 20 September 1944, Canning Town
App: May 1962
Debut: Blackburn Rovers 4 May 1963 (H)
Last game: Leeds United 2 April 1970 (H)
Appearances: 142
Goals: 2
Died: 17 August 2002 (aged 57)
Charles played for West Ham, Essex and London Boys, reaching the English Schools Cup final with the former in 1960, before signing his first professional contract at the Boleyn Ground in May 1962.
The talented left-back came through the Academy of Football ranks and captained the West Ham Youth Cup-winning side of 1963. Capped five times at youth level, Charles was also the first black player to represent England at any level, further cementing his position as a true pioneer not just for West Ham United, but for the entire country.
‘Charlo’, as he was affectionately known, made his League debut along with Martin Britt and Johnny Sissons against Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park, a 0-1 defeat on the 4 May 1963.
It would be during the 1965/66 season that Charles became a first-team regular under manager Ron Greenwood, making 36 appearances in all competitions, including seven as the Hammers reached the League Cup final – including his first senior goal in a fifth-round tie at Grimsby Town in November 1965 – and four in the club’s run to the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals.
Charles remained Greenwood’s first-choice left-back for most of the next three seasons before the emergence of a man with whom he shared a birthday, Frank Lampard Senior, and increasing injury problems saw him call time on his career in the early part of the 1969/70 season. At just 26, he shocked the Hammers faithful with his decision to quit football and join his father-in-law as a greengrocer.
However, by then, Charles’ place in West Ham history was already assured, paving the way for future black players to star in Claret and Blue, including his younger brother Clive and teammates Clyde Best and Ade Coker.
#477=
MARTIN BRITT
Born: 17 January 1946, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Sign: Junior, July 1961
Debut: Blackburn Rovers
Date: 4 May 1963
Appearances: 26
Goals: 7
Transferred: Blackburn Rovers
Date: 14 March 1966
Fee: £17,000
International: England Youth (3 caps)
Martin Britt was spotted playing youth team football for Essex and London schoolboys. Aged fifteen the youngster was invited by West Ham scout Wally St Pier and manager Ted Fenton to participate in evening training sessions, the duo was so impressed, he signed apprentice forms in July of that year.
On 10 August 1961 before the upcoming campaign kicked-off the youngster was included in the first pre-season ‘Practice’ match at Upton Park, playing for ‘Club Colours’ against ‘The Whites’, Britt got off to the perfect start, scoring a hat-trick in his side’s 9-4 win.
The forwards first competitive match in Claret and Blue came for the ‘A’ teams Metropolitan League encounter with Arsenal at their London Colney training ground, the match ended with both sides sharing eight goals. Britt’s elevation to the Reserves side was swift, making his Football Combination debut against Ipswich Town at Upton Park on 7 October 1961. The stars of the 6-3 victory were Eddie Bovington and Britt, both scoring a brace of goals.
Britt’s first professional forms were signed on 17 January 1963, and in the same year had the distinction of scoring in each of his three England Youth internationals, the first against Switzerland at Stade de Frontenex in Genève on 19 March 1963 in a 3-0 win, another, also against the Swiss two-days later in a 7-1 victory, and his third goal at Tottenham’s, White Hart Lane enclosure in a youth tournament 2-0 win over Russia.
On 4 May 1963, Britt along with John Sissons and John Charles all stepped up to make their first-team debuts against Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park. At the end of the month he was an FA Youth Cup final winner. After losing 3-1 to Liverpool in the first-leg at Anfield, the second-leg at Upton Park was the scene for an amazing game of football. At half-time it looked all over as The Red’s stretched their aggregate lead to 5-2, but the 13,200 in attendance were treated to a spectacular comeback as the young Hammers rallied to score four unanswered goals in the second half to take the FA Youth Cup!
The star of the show was Martin Britt, who scored four of the goals, all of them headers – in view of this he was presented with the match ball, which he still cherishes today at the age of 78.
On his second first-team appearance, in October that year, he scored his first goal against Aston Villa in a 2-0 League Cup win at Villa Park. However, the centre-forward found the competition for places in the free-scoring West Ham attack of the mid-sixties a stumbling block for his advancement.
Over three seasons he made 26 appearances and scored 7 goals. An indication of his potential can be found in his transfer to Blackburn Rovers, who splashed out £25,000 to take him to Ewood Park. Sadly his career was prematurely cut short due to a knee ligament injury and the fee caused a major dispute between the two clubs. Blackburn claimed West Ham had not made them aware of his injury; his fee was later adjusted to £17,000. He remained with Rovers for eighteen months in a coaching capacity. After leaving football behind, he started his own successful textile business.
#477=
JOHN SISSONS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#480
DAVE BICKLES
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#481
ROGER HUGO
Born: 6 September 1942, Woking, Surrey
Signed: October 1960
Debut: Leicester City 18 March 1964 (A)
Last game: Stoke City 31 March 1964 (A)
Appearances: 3
Goals: 2
Transferred: Watford
Date: May 1965
Died: April 2024, South Africa
Roger Hugo first pulled on a Claret and Blue shirt for West Ham United on 4 September 1958 against German side Hessicher Fussball Verband at Woodford Town’s Snakes Lane ground in a junior international club friendly match. His first competitive match for the Hammers came nine day later, playing in the South East Counties League against Southend United at their Waterworks Ground.
The inside-forwards progression through the ranks was steady and signed his first professional contract with West Ham United in October 1960. Hugo has a unique scoring record at senior level for the Hammers – scoring twice in three appearances, all away from home at Midlands based club; Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.
He is a member or a select group of Hammers who scored on their debut – nabbing one in a 2-2 draw at Leicester City in his first senior match on 18 March 1964. Ten days later he followed that up with the only goal against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.
His first team opportunities were limited due to a surplus of candidates for the inside-birth and never got a chance to show the Boleyn Ground crowd his undoubted skill at senior level and transferred to Watford in May 1965. During his time at Vicarage Road the inside-forward made 26 appearances, scoring 6 goals.
In 1966, Hugo’s next port of call was with Port Elizabeth City. The South Africa club was the first to employ players as full-time professionals and had their best season in 1967, winning the National Football League. It was in South Africa that he set up a successful film rental business and where he passed away in April 2024.
#482
PETER BENNETT
Born: 24 June 1946, Hillingdon Middlesex
App: July 1963
Debut: Bolton Wanderers 4 April 1964 (H)
Last game: Newcastle United 19 September 1970 (H)
Appearances: 47
Goals: 3
Transferred: Orient
Date: October 1970 - Tommy Taylor
Died: 22 march 2024 aged 77
A midfielder, Bennett joined the Academy of Football as 15-yeaar-old apprentice in 1961, having been spotted playing alongside John Sissons while playing for Middlesex Scoolboys by scout Charlie Faulkner. In 1963, both started alongside the likes of Harry Redknapp and John Charles as Martin Britt’s four second-leg goals saw the Hammers stun Liverpool to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time. Bennett made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in a First Division fixture against Boulton Wanderers at the Boleyn Ground on 4 April 1964.
His first victory in Claret and Blue came in a famous win over Don Revie’s Leeds United in August 1965. Scored his first goal came later the same season, in April 1966 fixture at Chelsea, he followed that with further top-flight strikes away art West Browich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur in April 1967 and august 1970 respectively.
A valuable member of Ron Greenwood’s squad during the Club’s golden era, Bennett played 47 times between 1964-70, and scoring three goals as a trusted and reliable deputy for regular No.8 Ron Boyce.
The adaptable inside-forward who found it difficult to hold a regular place in the senior side and spent the best part of the 1970s at Brisbane Road after signing for the O’s in October 1970 in a deal that brought Tommy Taylor to Upton Park.
He also had a loan spell in the United States with North American Soccer League club St. Louis Stars in 1978, before a leg injury forced him into retirement in 1980 at the age of 33 and he took a job on the O’s coaching staff.
#483
EDDIE PRESLAND
Born: 27 March 1943, Loughton, Essex
Signed: Juniors 1959
Professional: 3 October 1960
Debut: 27 February 1965, Liverpool (H)
Last game: 4 September 1965, Sheffield United (A)
Appearances: 6
Goals: 1
Transferred: Crystal Palace
Date: 13 January 1967
Died: 1 August 2021 (aged 78)
Eddie Robert Presland played schoolboy soccer for East Ham, London and Essex before joining the Academy of Football as an apprentice junior in 1959. Presland’s first claret and blue appearance was for the Colt side in the South East Counties League against Crystal Palace, the 3-1 win was played at West Ham’s Green Silley Weir training ground on 4 April 1959.
The young defender was also a fine cricketer and capped for England Boys and joined Essex County Cricket Club as a professional (1962-1970). Presland progressed through the junior ranks at Upton Park and signed his first professional contract on 3 October 1960.
With the likes of John Bond and then Jack Burkett holding down the left-back position, the tall, adventurous defender had to wait patiently for his chance to play for the first team. When his debut did arrive, whilst covering the defensive duties vacated by the injured Jack Burkett, the 21-year-old marked it in style, scoring a 48th minute the equaliser as West Ham came from behind to defeat Liverpool 2-1 in the First Division in front of 25,780 fans at the Boleyn Ground on 27 February 1965. The win consigned Liverpool’s 21-match unbeaten run to the bin, and also ends Hammers’ run of defeats.
Presland kept his place for the next three First Division matches but was then replaced by Martin Peters and made just two more appearances in Claret and Blue the following season, at Sunderland and Sheffield United at the start of September 1965. With Burkett firmly established in the left-back role, Presland moved across London and joined Crystal Palace on 13 January 1967.
Under manager Bert Head, he spent three seasons as a first team regular and helping the Glaziers win promotion from the Second Division in 1968/69.
With the Selhurst Park club he clocked up 61 appearances before moving to Colchester United on loan in 1969 playing 5 games, before he rounded out his career with spells at Southern League sides Chelmsford City and Wealdstone, either sides of a stint with South African National Football League club Jewish Guild in Johannesburg.
After hanging up his boots, Presland took up a career in non-league management, taking charge at Wealdstone, Dulwich Hamlet, Hendon, Gravesend and Northfleet and finally Dagenham, where he enjoyed great success.
Under Presland’s management, Dagenham won the FA Trophy in 1980, defeating Northern Premier League champions Mossley 2-1 at Wembley Stadium. He later took up scouting roles, working with his former West Ham teammate John Lyall at Ipswich Town, and then for Tottenham Hotspur.
#484
TREVOR DAWKINS
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#485
HARRY REDKNAPP
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Harry Redknapp’s relationship with West Ham United began in 1962, when he joined the Club as a 15-year-old schoolboy. In August he made his initial Claret and Blue appearance at Chadwell Heath in a South East Counties League fixture against Millwall.
A former England Youth international, he was a member of the Hammers' sides which lifted the London Minor and FA Youth Cups in 1963. Signing professional forms on 5 March 1964, and made his senior debut the following year against Sunderland on 23 August 1965 in a 1-1 draw at Upton Park. Although not always a first team regular, ‘Arry-Boy’ was a popular ‘Chicken-Run’ favourite who combined old-fashioned wing play with his own particular brand of artistry to win over the Upton Park faithful.
The nearest Redknapp came to winning a major honour was as a member of the Hammers' team that featured in the League Cup Semi-Final marathon with Stoke City in 1972, failing by a whisker to reach Wembley after four epic games against the Potters.
The Poplar-born midfielder spent a decase with the Hammers as a player, making 175 appearances and scoring 8 goals, before a £31,000 transfer fee took him to AFC Bournemouth on 10 August 1972. He then had a short spell with Brentford and NASL side Seattle Sounders.
Redknapp began his managerial career as an assistant with the Sounders in the late 1970s before taking on the same role as Bobby Moore’s No.2 at non-league Oxford City. He became a manager in his own right at Dean Court with Bournemouth, where he made a brief comeback as a player in 1982/83 season for a League Cup-tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford. With the south coast side, he won the Division Three title in 1987, but suffered relegation three years later.
In the summer of 1992, he departed and took on the role of former team-mate Billy Bonds’ assistant at West Ham. The pair steered the club into runners-up position and were promoted to the Premier League. Redknapp took over from Bonds in August 1994, beginning a seven-year reign at the Boleyn Ground. Helped by a superb group of Academy products that included nephew Frank Lampard Jr, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick, the new manager moulded an exciting squad that mixed youth and experience, including veterans like Christian Dailly and Stuart Pearce.
Redknapp also became known for his interest in the overseas transfer market, bringing in a large number of foreign players from all over the world. Among the most notable successes of his tenure were maverick Italian forward Paolo Di Canio, Croatia pair Igor Stimac and Slaven Bilic, Czech defender Tomas Repka and Mali centre forward Frederic Kanoute.
At the same time, Redknapp also brought a number of players to the club from overseas who did not prove to be so successful, including Romania duo Florin Raducioiu and Ilie Dumitrescu, Portuguese forward Paulo Futre and Dutch striker Marco Boogers.
With dozens of players coming and going throughout his seven years at the helm, Redknapp’s reign was one of the most unpredictable and exciting in West Ham history. Overall, however, the results were positive, with the Hammers finishing eighth in the Premier League in 1997/98 and a record-high of fifth the following season. The summer of 1999 also saw West Ham win the UEFA Intertoto Cup and qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time since 1980.
After leaving east London, Redknapp became the Director of Football at Portsmouth where he managed them to the Division One title in the 2002-03 season and promotion to the Premier League, replacing his former club West Ham. He resigned as manager after a disagreement with owner Milan Mandaric in November 2004. A few weeks later he took up the managerial reins at Pompey’s rivals Southampton but was unable to keep the Saints in top-flight football and returned to Portsmouth in December 2005 and guided the club to an FA Cup Final victory over Cardiff City in 2008.
In October 2008 he agreed to take over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Despite leading them to a League Cup final in March 2009 and two fourth-placed finishes in three years, Redknapp was sacked on 13 June 2012 after failing to agree a new contract. On 24 November 2012, he was appointed manager of Queens Park Rangers and later resigned in February 2015 claiming he could not give 100% to the job.
In March 2016, Redknapp was appointed manager of the Jordan national team, followed by a short-spell with Birmingham City. In October 2017, Redknapp confirmed his retirement from management after 34 years in the dugout.
#486=
DENNIS BURNETT
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#486=
JIMMY BLOOMFIELD
Born: 15 February 1934, Notting Hill, Kensington
Signed: Brentford
Date: 30 September 1965
Fee: £6,500
Debut: Fulham 2 October 1965 (A)
Last game: Borussia Dortmund 13 April 1966 (A)
Appearances: 14
Goals: 1
Transferred: Plymouth Argyle
Date: 26 September 1966
Died: 3 April 1983 (aged 49)
On 30 September 1965, four months after winning the European Cup Winners Cup at Wembley Stadium the Hammers made their first transfer signing in over three years when manager Ron Greenwood snapped-up midfielder Jimmy Bloomfield from Third Division Brentford. Bloomfield’s signing from the Griffin Park club was as replacement for the injured Ron Boyce and to help strengthen the playing squad.
Born in Notting Hill, North Kensington on 15 February 1934, he began his career as a youngster with non-league club Hayes, and had a short spell with Walthamstow Avenue before joining Second Division club Brentford in October 1952. After the Bee’s were relegated in 1954, he was snapped up by Arsenal for £8,000 and played 227 times for the Gunners, scoring 56 goals. Bloomfield joined Birmingham City in November 1960 before returning to Brentford for a second spell in the summer of 1964.
Primarly signed as a back-up player, Greenwood’s £6,500 acquisition from the Griffin Park club made his West Ham United debut in the absence of Martin Peters against Fulham at Craven Cottage in a 0-3 reverse on 2 October 1965. Scored his one and only Hammers’ goal in the 3-3 draw at home to Blackburn Rovers in a 4th round F.A. Cup match 12 February 1966.
Bloomfield's last appearance for the first-team came in the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg tie against Borussia Dortmund at Rote Erde Stadion in April 1966. Unable to dislodge either Martin Peters or Ron Boyce for a permanent first team spot his stay at the Boleyn Ground lasted four-days short of a year, contributing just 14 Claret and Blue league and cup appearances before transferring to Plymouth Argyle on 26 September 1966.
After two years and 25 league appearances with the Home Park club he moved back to east London to join Leyton Orient as player manager whom he guided to 1969-70’s Third Division Championship title.
Following this success it was no surprise he progressed his managerial career with Leicester City taking over from fellow ex-Hammer Frank O’Farrell at Filbert Street. In his six years with the Foxes he kept the club in Division One and steered them to a FA Cup semi-final in 1973-74 where they lost to Liverpool in a replay.
In September 1977 he moved back to Brisbane Road where he worked a minor miracle by steering the Division Two club to a FA Cup semi-final. A major disagreement with the O’s chairman over the transfer of a player led to Jimmy resigning in May 1981.
In October that year he briefly returned to football with Luton Town in a scouting and coaching role until his premature death in April 1983 aged 49.
#488
BOBBY HOWE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#489
COLIN MACKLEWORTH
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#490
GEORGE ANDREW
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#491=
BILL KITCHENER
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#491=
PAUL HEFFER
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#493
TREVOR HARTLEY
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie
#494
DOUG EADIE
Born:
Signed:
Debut:
Career:
Appearances:
Goals: 0
Transferred:
Died:
Hughie