On the day before tomorrow, I find myself remembering the best of times and the the worst of times in true Dickens (not Alan!) fashion. For the best of times, I go back to April 1, 1972, the day a young kid by the name of Ade Coker made fools of Tottenham Hotspur. For the worst, the 2nd of February 1987, when Tottenham humbled us 5-0 at the Lane in a League Cup replay.
In 72 I was just 13 and was inside that magic bubble you feel as a kid when you see your heroes take the field. It was an early kick off from memory, probably 12 or 1.00, and we always got to the ground 2 hours before kick off to get in the queue for tickets before it snaked down Green Street. We were only just inside the gates as it happens, and I was worried sick we might not get in, despite the assurances of my now dead Dad to the contrary. Tottenham finished 6th that season, we ended up in 13th so we probably went into the game as slight underdogs. The team that day will be mostly familiar to older Irons fans: Grotier, McDowell, Clive Charles, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Ayris, Best, Coker, Brooking and Pop Robson, with Kevin Lock coming on as a sub for Ayris. That side would have been remarkable at the time for one thing – the inclusion of THREE black players. Ron Atkinson like to boast about what he did to bring through black players in the English game but we were well ahead of him! The side must have been put together for tuppence happenie! McDowall came from Norwich, Bonds from Charlton, Taylor from Orient and Robson was the “big money buy” from Newcastle at £120,000! The rest were home produced. Coker stole all the headlines with a chirpy performance and a goal in our 2-0 victory. After this performance, there were high hopes that he could be something special but sadly, they came to nothing – he wasn’t quite a one game wonder but he did not have many memorable games for West Ham. The other scorer was Brooking with, as I remember, a lovely curled shot from just inside the box on the left hand side. A brilliant day!
In 87, I went to the game with a Tottenham fan, a work colleague, and ended up in the Tottenham section of the crowd (how appropriate some will say!). Three things stick in the memory – the brilliance of the Tottenham side that day (Waddle, Allen, Hoddle, Clausen), a Tottenham wag spotting a supporter in a wheelchair being pushed up the touchline before kick off and yelling, “It’s Billy Bonds on his warm up” and coming very close to punching a guy who was leaning on my back (no seats!) yelling “Easy, easy” as the fifth goal was being celebrated. Yes the fifth goal, we were thumped 5-0. The team sheet read Parkes, Bonds, Parris, Gale, Martin, Devonshire, Ward, McAvennie, Orr, Cottee, and Stewart Robson with Donkey Hilton coming on for George Parris. On paper, that team looks good but, the truth is, too many had ticked past their prime. We were murdered on the day.
Anybody else have personal memories of these or other West Ham and Tottenham encounters?
We should have beat them at home last season, but were lacklustre in front of goal. Their first goal came late, and the second was just icing. This season they are coming into Upton Park full all cocky and full of themselves. NEVER A BETTER TIME TO TAKE THEM DOWN. Got to admit they have great players, especially in their attack. So West Ham need to come out fighting. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, LADS! West Ham to stun the cockyfools 2-1.
ReplyDeleteIm not as ancient as u but in resent memory it has to be the 3-4 result a few years ago. The way the smug faces of west ham supporters was quickly replaced by frowns was classic.
ReplyDeleteworst of times definitely 4-3 a few years ago
ReplyDeletebest of times Lasagne:D
as a spurs fan my favourite moment was the 4-3 victory which at the time looked like the final nail in your relegation coffin.
ReplyDeleteim suprised you didnt mention the final day lasagna-gate of a few seasons ago. i still believe if we had won that day and made the champions leage things would have been so very different.
My favourite memory was going on a club supporters coach (those were the days)to watch Crossie put four past them at shite hart lane only my 2nd ever away game having been to Cardiff the previous season (I arrived on these shores in '81) A truly memorable night and confirmed for me I had done the right thing left behind an awful regime (apartheid still at its height) and found following West Ham was everything I had been imagining it to be for the last 10 years
ReplyDeleteWas that the night they introduced the 2 boxers before the game they were due to fight soon one from West Ham (was it Mark Hayter or something not a huge fight fan I'm afraid do enjoy it tho)the other for Tottenham if not that was a good one too Memories are hazy at this age another was losing the youth cup final there but winning on aggregate 2-1 over the moon barry