When you write about your favourite West ham game you tend to have to get your brain working because other than the Play-off final win over Blackpool there has not been too many games in recent times to remember.
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Many peoples favourite games tend me London derbies that West Ham have won (not that there are too many) but for reasons unbeknown to me I remember a games versus Manchester United. While I reminisce over the first one that comes to my mind a 1-0 win with Paolo Di Canio being the scorer that’s not my favourite.
It’s the 96/97 season and a wintery December day, as always Man Utd were the overwhelming favourites featuring a frontline of Cantona and Solskjaer and a midfield of Beckham, Giggs and Poborsky.
West Ham started the game brightly having lots of possession but as with the story of the season so far they failed to find any cutting edge and for all of Ian Dowie’s hard work he never looked like scoring.
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Going into the game having not won in 5 and only scoring 2 goals in those games getting to half time 0-0 was probably a relief amongst other things but at least it was something to build on.
Ludo was masterful in goal as he always was against Man Utd saving once from Solskjaer but he could do nothing about the goal in the 54th minute when put through by Cantona. David Beckham doubled the lead with 15 mins left curling into the top corner and the echo of boo’s that had been around Upton Park for the two previous games were there again. But West Ham were still working hard and were inspired by a piece of strength by a surprising source, substitute Florin Raducioiu outmuscled Ronnie Johnson after a Dicks pass and ran into the box and curled the ball past Schmeichel.
Two minutes later Michael Hughes was brought down by Schmeichel and up stepped Dicks with the penalty, he ran up to the ball with typical anger and hit the shot with so much velocity that the ball hit the top left corner before he even moved.
The roar throughout the stadium was deafening, the folk hero scored the equaliser and we drew 2-2 with the future champions!
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This was my first ever Hammers game…also my favourite!!! Although SJH and Tricky Trev scoring to beat the spuds was a great game also!!!
As a reasonably young hammer at the age of just 20 i find my favourite, and most gripping, the FA cup final against liverpool in 2006. Although we lost on penalties it has far been the best game of football and the best FA cup final i have ever seen.
Favourite games, 1965 ECWC final, beating Man United 4-2 last game of the season to stay up in 76/77, beating Man United 2-1 at Upton Park in 75/76 – easily the most violent afternoon I have ever spent in a football ground, 1975 FA cup semi final replay at Stamford Bridge kicked off despite a blizzard, also great great games against QPR and Arsenal in the same cup run. 4-0 win at white Hart Lane with psycho scoring all 4.
BUT-nothing, repeat nothing, comes remotely close to the ECWC semi final home leg against Eintract Frankfurt in 1976. I still feel the hairs stand up when I remember the atmosphere that night. Watch the video and be amazed. But really you had to be there. Match days now seem so tame compared to then.