Kicking off a series looking at former Hammers, I decided to run with Geoff first because he is a player who is easily overlooked. In fact, younger fans might not know much about him. The greats are rightfully lauded and any fan worth the title will know about the brilliance of Brooking, the steel of Bonds, the predatory instincts of Cottee, the power of Hurst, the intelligence of Peters, the mastery of Moore...but the likes of Geoff Pike fade into the background, barely outlined character sketches behind the star performers.
Geoff made his debut as long ago as March 1976, coming on as a sub in a 2-1 home defeat to Birmingham City. Not the most auspicious of beginnings perhaps but his first start was in a game we Hammers remember with a little more relish, a 5-3 home victory over Tottenham no less! The side that day brings back so many memories for guys of my age and, because of two names, has a strong link with recent events: Day; Bonds; Lampard; Curbishley; Lock; Taylor; Devonshire; Pike; Jennings; Brooking; Pop Robson. How is that for a team of West Ham cult figures?
It is typical of Pike that his name would probably be the last that anybody would come up with if asked to name the side that day. You can imagine the discussion in the pub. Brooking and Devonshire of course. And Bonzo! Lampard would have been at left back, Lampard was always at left back, and Taylor wearing the number 5. Pop Robson up top presumably and you can bet your life he scored! What about alongside Taylor? 76-77? Moore was gone. Kevin Lock perhaps? In goal? Guess it would have been Merv. Alongside Robson? Tough one. Was it Cross? Or the other Robson? Gould was gone wasn't he? How about Billy Jennings? And midfield? Curbishley? Yes, thought so. But who else? No don't tell me, it's bugging me this one. Paddon? Holland? Bonds in midfield perhaps...Pike? Really? That early!
Pike was one of those players. He started in 1976 and played until 1987 and it is a fair bet that, throughout that era, his name would be one of the last somebody would come up with if asked to nominate the team for any individual game. He was the Mullins of his age, a bits and pieces player who did his job with the minium of fuss and allowed others with more ability to play around him. Curbishley flounced off in a huff because he wasn't given the starring role in our midfield, but Pikey was happy to play second fiddle, knitting the midfield together as Devonshire went on mazey runs, Brooking bemused the opposition, Ward skinned a left back, Dickens floated in and out of the game, Keen dropped a shoulder and dinked in a pass, Ince powered through a game, Paul Allen shed his nappies, Liam Brady graced Upton Park and Patsy Holland danced past a marker. As that list shows, not only did he knit together the midfield, he also knits together eras, crossing over generations that link Ferguson to Parkes via Day, Pop Robson to Cottee & McAvennie, via Goddard, Lock and Taylor to Tony Gale & Martin via Billy Bonds. Look at that team against Tottenham and the one that took the field in Pikey's last game, and only Billy Bonds survives. But Billy Bonds played in every game West Ham ever played didn't he?
Did Pikey play in the Cup Final victory over Arsenal? Of course he did! But the midfielders that most remember from that day are Brooking, Devonshire and Baby Faced Allen. But Pikey was there, Pikey was always there, it's just that not a lot of people noticed. Well, not a lot of people but one very good judge did. Commentating on the Final for ITV, one Brian Clough picked out Pike as the key man in the West Ham side! Was Pikey there in the two League Cup Final games against Liverpool? You bet he was, but not everybody remembers. Was Pikey in the team when we finished third in the old First Division? He started 10 games and was in the team when we beat Chelsea 4-0 at the Bridge and the Mancs 2-1 at Upton Park.
My fondest memory of Geoff Pike goes back to the 16th of May, 1977. We went in to the final game of the season needing to win to avoid relegation - and the opposition? Only Manchester United! The team that day read: Day: Bonds; Lampard; Pike; Taylor; McGiven; Radford; Pop Robson; Devonshire; Brooking; Taylor. We won, 4-2, preserving our top flight status! And the scorers? Well Pop Robson of course! He got two! And wasn't that when Frank Lampard scored? That's right! And the other scorer? Hang on, it will come to me...Brooking? Devonshire? Taylor? Nope. Step forward and take a bow Geoff Pike, a great club servant!
Any personal memories of Geoff Pike? Would be great to hear them!
12 comments:
I remember as one of the players in the picture you have the FA cup, which is last trophy that the hammers one (unless you count the intertoto).... Also notable is that that team were the first team (and the last to date) that were of a lower division beating a higher division team in the cup final (the statistic may help you in a pub quiz sometime....)
Also the last game you went to live was when geoff pike was playing notrealhammersfan.
Hotshot mate, if I used that fact I would lose the quizz. Second Division Sunderland beat the mighty Leeds in the Cup Final before that game!
Anon1924, my last West Ham game was this season actually, as can be verified by at least 2 guys on the Org who were along with me!
Fanno, correction the hammers were the last team outside the top flight to have won the fans cup....
A curious fact before the Final with Liverpool is that every FA Cup Final featuring West Ham since the war featured a side from outside the top division. Preston in 64, Fulham in 75 and ourselves against the Arse!
I have had a soft spot in each generation for a player I felt was an underrated stalwart of our club and Geoff Pike was one of those. If I had possessed a shirt with a name on the back down the years, they would have gone..Ronnie Boyce, Patsy Holland, Geoff Pike, Steve Potts. But of course the game changed and the solid pro who comes through the youth team and commits his career to HIS team, is virtually a thing of the past.
If you ask anyone who played in the teams that Pike played in you will find that team-mates are astonished at how little he was appreciated. He was constantly given a hard time by the supporters, but I don't think he cared. It was enough for him to do his job and know that his team mates were well aware of his contribution.
I was also a big Hayden Mullins fan for just that reason. He saw off contender after contender for his midfield role, yet no one ever rated him. Did he ever complain? No, he just got on with doing a good job for the club. You like a statistic Scotty, I would wager that the team performed better statistically with Mullins in the team, than it did without him.
Geoff Pike would probably not make my all time hammers team, but he would be in the squad.
I don't think he could get into an all time team Marty because Bonds would play that role surely, with Stewart at right back and...well quite a few contenders for the number 5 alongside Moore.
Like you, I admire the bits and pieces, play for the team players. You could include George Parris in that group and Paul Goddard perhaps. What they lacked in class, they made up for in commitment.
George Parris, of course! I left him off my list. I said he wouldn't get my all time team not that he would!
I can remember Geoff Pike missing a penalty in an evening game against Man U at Upton Park. I think we were 2-1 down at half time but we went on to win. Is that the same 4-2 game you mention? My fondest WHU memory that night as I went with a schoolmate who supported Man U. Awesome atmosphere - I think about it alot!
Wow Clifford, you went back in the site's history to find this one! Not sure if it was the same game tbh, I was very young at the time!
Yeah I was doing a search for Geoff Pike and found it. I'm pretty sure the score was 4-2 and it must have been around 1977 - I was 16 - but I don't recall it being the last game of the season and it was DEFINITELY a midweek evening fixture.
16th May 1977 mate. 4-2. Kept us up. Pike scored. Not sure about the missed penalty though!
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