1960-61 Football League : First Division

STOKE CITY : F.A. Cup (Third Round)

Upton Park 2 - 2 (Dick, Dunmore) 7 January 1961 Att: 21,545

Rhodes Bond Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Smillie Woosnam Dunmore Dick Musgrove

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

After missing a chance to go ahead in the first minute we succeeded in scoring our first goal following 35 minutes of varying fortunes, Dave Dunmore netting from an angle into the top far corner. Stoke had made several threatening raids and looked dangerous near goal, but it came as a complete shock when a 30-yard speculative "poke" by Don Ratcliffe found its way into our net with the Hammers looking on. Had we been ahead at the interval instead of on level terms it is likely that we would have held our advantage, but after the resumption we had to plod away at the task of again getting through the visiting rearguard. We finally did so when Malcolm Musgrove got away on the left and shot, for O'Neill to parry the ball into the air; John Dick dived to head, and there we were - in the lead again. Unfortunately it was an advantage that couldn't be held, and after escaping with an "offside" decision that brought a disallowed "goal" for the City our defence got into another tangle that finally left Ron Andrew to shoot home from close range with but seven minutes to go. Again inspired, the Potters more than held their own. and earned the right to replay on their own midden, despite over-robust methods that earned some of their players warnings from the referee.

STOKE CITY : F.A. Cup (Third Round Replay)

Victoria Ground 0 - 1 11 January 1961 Att: 28,914

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Grice Woosnam Brett Dick Musgrove

28,914 turned out at the Victoria Ground for the FA Cup 3rd round replay. Three pre-match pitch inspections and another during the interval were necessary to convince referee Ken Seddon that the game should carry on, but it was apparent that the ridged surface was a decisive factor in deciding the outcome. Eventually, extra time became necessary, but only one minute after it began Denis Wilshaw lobbed home the ball to give his side a 1-0 victory.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 Dick) 14 January 1961 Att: 20,650

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Dunmore Dick Musgrove

CHELSEA : Football League First Division

Upton Park 3 - 1 (Dick, Obeney, Woosnam) 21 January 1961 Att: 21,829

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

There was uncertainty surrounding whether the First Division clash with Chelsea would take place on Friday the 20th or Saturday the 21st. The Football League had given notice to clubs to provisionally bring forward Saturday's fixtures to Friday. This was another move in the current dispute over players' wages and conditions of contract that was eventually settled some time later. The weekly wage being considered was £40 - plus! It was another blank day for Chelsea marksman Jimmy Greaves; he had failed to score in six matches for the Stamford Bridge club, and even had his penalty-kick diverted against an upright by Brian Rhodes after being "shadowed out" by Andy Malcolm for much of the game. The Blues scored first through Frank Blunstone, but Malcolm Musgrove helped to lay on the goals scored by Harry Obeney, Phil Woosnam and John Dick in our 3-1 win.

BLACKPOOL : Football League First Division

Bloomfield Road 0 - 3 4 February 1961 Att: 9,947

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Obeney Dunmore Musgrove

Blackpool:

West, Armfield, Garrett, Hauser, Gratrix, Durie, Campbell, Kelly, Charnley, Crawford, Parry.

The visit to Bloomfield Road Blackpool was most unsatisfactory as far as we were concerned. An extract from the first edition of the new Sunday Telegraph summed it up as follows: "Sheer hard work, uncompromising determination to get goals, and a good slice of luck bought Blackpool two vital points which could just tip the scales and prevent relegation. The whole team played with the urgency facing a side second from the bottom and without a win since Christmas. But the fact remains that in the first half Blackpool had no more than three or four real chances. However the Lancastrians made the most of them, and Ray Parry put the Tangerines in front by crossing a ball in the 21st minute for Bruce Crawford to head home via an upright; at the time the Hammers' John Lyall was out of action, lying injured on the ground. A solo from Parry ended with him netting from a narrow angle four minutes short of the interval and the 'Pools third goal was by Ray Charnley a minute from time. At the other end Tony Scott was always the master of left-back Tom Garrett, but many openings he created went begging. Nevertheless it took much good work by opposing skipper Jim Armfield to stop some dangerous moves, and 17-year-old Gordon West made two excellent saves from Harry Obeney in the closing stages.

EVERTON : Football League First Division

Upton Park 4 - 0 (Obeney 2, Dick, Musgrove) 11 February 1961 Att: 22,322

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

This game had the rather surprising ending of a 4-0 victory for us. We say "surprising," as pre-match forecasts were of the opinion that if we were to win it would be by a narrow margin. However, it must be remembered that prior to our meeting Everton had lost six successive games. The answer is undoubtedly: " Money doesn't always buy success." This has probably proved as great a disappointment to the Everton board of directors as it has to many others in the past, and the " Bank of England ' team on this occasion were made to look very ordinary by a Hammers' side which made the most of its opportunities. Harry Obeney put us on the road to success by heading home Tony Scott's corner in the fifth minute, and he got another opportunist goal seven minutes after the interval by following up to net a rebound after Phil Woosnam's shot had hit a defender and then the bar. The best move of the match between Woosnam, John Dick and Obeney ended with another Woosnam shot striking the post, but we were consoled six minutes from time when Dick ran through to score after Malcolm Musgrove had made the opening. Musgrove got the fourth after his penalty-shot had been saved by Albert Dunlop. So far our report has mentioned only our forwards, but we must in all fairness add a word of praise to our defence for their efforts in keeping Everton scoreless. Ken Brown in particular had a great game, and never put a foot wrong.

19 February 1961

JUSTIN FASHANU (1989) Born this day Hackney, London

Clubs: Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton (loan), Notts County, Brighton and Hove Albion, Los Angeles Heat, Edmonton Brickmen, Hamilton Steelers, Manchester City, West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Toronto Blizzard, Torquay United, Airdrieonians, Trelleborg, Heart of Midlothian, Atlanta Ruckus, Miramar Rangers

Few former West Ham United players represented as many different clubs during their careers as Justin Fashanu. A striker who made his name at Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, the Hackney-born player would make just two appearances in claret and blue. Fashanu, along with brother John, spent their formative years in a Barnardo's children's home before being fostered at the age of six. As an athletic youngster, he would excel as a boxer before deciding to pursue a career as a professional Footballer. After impressing with his goalscoring exploits at Norwich, Fashanu became England's first £1m black Footballer when he joined Forest in August 1981. From there, however, his career took on a nomadic appearance, criss-crossing the Atlantic Ocean as Fashanu attempted to rediscover his best form. Fashanu would arrive at the Boleyn Ground in November 1989, making his Hammers debut in the 1-0 League Cup fourth round win over Wimbledon. However, after two Division Two appearances, he was on his way again, joining Ipswich Town on trial. Fashanu died on 2 May 1998 at the age of 37.

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football League First Division

St. Andrews 2 - 4 (Musgrove, Scott) 25 February 1961 Att: 16,856

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

The BBC Grandstand service teleprinter sent out the result of our away match as Birmingham City 4, West Ham United 7. All viewers were probably astonished, but were quickly brought back to normal by being advised that the teleprinter was wrong and that the score was 4-2 in favour of the home side. That the 4-7 scoreline could well have come true if our team had maintained their earlier scoring-rate, as we were two up in ten minutes. The Hammers (like many other teams) were playing with two wingers at that time; each of ours netted a goal that afternoon, Malcolm Musgrove in the third minute and Tony Scott with a 20-yard shot after beating three opponents. The Blues' replies were from Dick Neal (18 mins); Jimmy Harris (a 29th minute penalty and another counter seven minutes after the interval); and finally a long-range left-footer by Jimmy Bloomfield - who later became a Hammers' player before his appointment as Orient manager. The mud-and-water surface was not conducive to good soccer, but the teams provided a most entertaining 90 minutes that deserved a larger attendance than 16,856 (the smallest of the season at St. Andrews).

WEST BROMWICH ALBION : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Dick) 4 March 1961 Att: 21,607

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Dunmore Dick Musgrove

Those of you who were, among the 21,607 attendance at the fixture against the Albion are only too aware of the poor standard reached by both sides. Judging by comments that floated across the Boleyn Ground opinions were almost unanimous that the play was well below that expected in a First Division game, and it was hard to believe that we were watching a Hammers' team which had produced several sparkling displays this season; equally difficult to digest was the fact that the opposition were the remnants of a team which only last April was slogging it out for talent money in the senior section! Despite their rocky defence conceding a goal after seven minutes (John Dick lobbing a through pass over the advancing Wallace) the Throstles fought back valiantly. Contrawise our own XI appeared content to hold on to their narrow lead, and it came as no great surprise when the visitors equalised before half-time through debutant 20-year-old centre-forward Jack Lovatt; the lanky Lovatt literally "went through the card" in this game, having miskicked, hit the bar with another shot, scored, been knocked out by a clearance and generally having quite a time before he ended 90 minutes of honest endeavour. Another young Throstle sealed our fate - Bobby Hope converting from close in after Clark had taken the ball to the bye-line before laying it back past our split defence. Encouraged by their unexpected success the Midlanders remained on top, and frankly we hardly looked like salvaging even one point after that.

PRESTON NORTH END : Football League First Division

Deepdale 0 - 4 11 March 1961 Att: 12,084

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Brett Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

With Harry Obeney fit again we brought him back into the side at centre-forward, and included Ron Brett on the right-wing following his recent successes as a winger in the Reserves. Unfortunately the hoped-for increases in our "goals for" column did not result from these changes, but in fairness to both these players it is only right to add that they were in no way more to blame than their colleagues for the lack of finish which ended in a reverse at the hands of foot-of-the-table North End. In the first half-hour the soccer was unbelievably poor, and the Hammers contributed their share by missing three good scoring chances. The Lancastrians were obviously as surprised as we were disappointed, but recovered from their shock in ample time to gain their fourth win in five matches. The first goal came nine minutes before half-time, Sneddon sending across a low ball which Thompson had merely to tap home. An equally simple finale to cross from the wing one minute after the resumption made ft 2-0, FuIham beading in the ball which had been nodded on to him by Alston. Alston got the next with another header from Mayers' corner-kick (66 mins.) and the Whites completed a "hat-trick" of headers when Fullam put them 4-0 up with 22 minutes to go. There was no further scoring, but the Deepdale boys kept on top for practically all the rest of the time until the final whistle.

FULHAM : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Obeney) 18 March 1961 Att: 18,742

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Grice Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

"Three-quarters of the play, one-third of the goals"... that could well be a fair summary of the Hammers in this "London derby" that ended with the West Londoners gaining a 2-1 success and a pair of most valuable points. After a rousing start we gained a 1-0 advantage in the 2Ist minute through Harry Obeney heading home a Mike Grice centre, and appeared likely to add to it at any time thereafter. The game went that way until a couple of minutes before the interval, when after a fierce shot had teen saved the ball ran loose for Maurice Cook to shoot home from close range and bring the Cottagers a rather unexpected equaliser. What proved to be the winner came a quarter-of-an-hour after the interval when Jim Langley converted a penalty awarded for hands, but even at that stage we could have secured the spoils had we been able to press home our constant attacks. But it was not to be... for with Johnny Haynes playing a defensive game and various other members of the Fulham team adopting "stop at any price" tactics we were certainly "up against it." It was most unfortunate that the referee did not adopt sterner measures until the match was nearly over, for had he awarded us a penalty which we consider should have been rightly conceded at an earlier stage we might well have saved the day.

BLACKBURN ROVERS : Football League First Division

Ewood Park 1 - 4 (Woods [og]) 20 March 1961 Att: 13,953

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Grice Woosnam Beesley Smillie Musgrove

A series of defensive errors was largely responsible for the 1-4 defeat we sustained in this re-arranged fixture, and in view of that we could not complain about the final outcome. Thirty-five minutes of Rovers' pressure elapsed before their first goal, this following a speculative drive by Fred Pickering which struck John Bond and then shot high into the air; the ball was not properly cleared and Alec McLeod gratefully took the chance to convert. We went in at the interval one down. Eighteen minutes after the restart we were level; Bond sent in a drive to the far post and this time it was the turn of the home 'keeper to err, as he pushed out the ball for it to rebound from Matt Woods' head across the line. However, we were only on level terms for ten minutes before the avalanche, although during that time we played our best soccer. A mishandled ball wide of the post was seized upon by Pickering, his centre being easily pushed home by Peter Dobing into a vacant net, and Dobing and Douglas soon afterwards carved an opening for McLeod to hit a 20-yard "swerver" into the top corner. Our badly-shaken defence was by now powerless to stop the Rovers getting another goal two minutes from time, Andy McEvoy being the scorer on this occasion.

20 March 1961

TREVOR MORLEY (1989-1995) Born this day Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Clubs: Nuneaton Borough, Northampton Town, Manchester City,

West Ham United, SK Brann, Sogndal

Nottingham-born front man Trevor Morley joined the Hammers in 1989, as both he and Ian Bishop made the switch from Manchester City. In only his second season at the Boleyn Ground, Morley plundered 17 goals to fire West Ham to promotion to the old First Division. Though relegation followed, Morley struck a further 22 times back in the second tier, as the Hammers won promotion to the top flight for a second time in three seasons. In the club's first season in the Premier League, Morley racked up 16 goals, to top the Hammers' scoring charts for a third time in just four campaigns, with Billy Bonds' side finishing a creditable 13th. His goalscoring feats also earned him the prestigious Hammer of the Year prize. However, for all the success of the previous year, the 1994/95 campaign was to prove his West Ham swansong as the return of Tony Cottee saw him make just ten starts, without scoring. He was subsequently allowed to depart, joining Reading, including intermittent spells with Norwegian side Brann. Morley ended his spell in east London having netted 70 times in 215 appearances.

21 March 1961

TED FENTON steps down as West Ham United manager

ARSENAL : Football League First Division

Highbury

0 - 0

25 March 1961

Att: 27,505

Rhodes

Kirkup

Bond

Hurst

Brown

Moore

Grice

Woosnam

Obeney

Dick

Musgrove

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

Arsenal:

Kelsey, Bacuzzi, McCuIloch, Charles, Neill, Groves, Henderson, Eastham, Herd, Barnwell, Haverty

This game was - to say the least - difficult to summarise; in fact, it could almost be described as a " reporter's nightmare." There was a pale-tinted background of below-par soccer, but in sharp contrast there were incidents that in a more colourful surrounding would have provided the highlights of what could well have been a real thriller. As it was, the spectators probably left Highbury with a feeling that a goalless draw was a result that gave justice to both sides.

Our team showed changes from that which lost against Blackburn Rovers; Andy Malcolm missed his first game since last August (Geoff Hurst taking over at right-half) while Harrv Obeney and John Dick returned to the forward-line.

The first half was mostly in favour of the Gunners, whose attack looked more likely to score than our own. However, some excellent saves by Brian Rhodes and clever covering by the Hammers' rear-guard, in which Ken Brown was outstanding, kept the score-sheet blank, and we went in at half-time with the feeling that an improvement in our forward-play could well lead to a most welcome win.

The improvement was forthcoming after the interval, and by the closing minutes we had gained the upper hand and were playing with far greater confidence. In fact with only four minutes to go it looked certain that we were to reap the reward of persistence when John Dick shot from ten yards past the advancing Jack Kelsey.

LEICESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 0 (Dick) 31 March 1961 Att: 22,010

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Grice Woosnam Obeney Dick Musgrove

The only really satisfactory item about this game from the Hammers' viewpoint was that an eighth minute goal kept both the points at the Boleyn Ground. For the remainder of the time we squandered opportunities that came on several occasions through good approach work; it was thus all the more ironical that this solitary score should come as a result of a long down-field clearance that bounced over a Leicester defender's head to give John Dick the chance to gather the ball and run on to lob it past the advancing Gordon Banks. Of the visiting attack not a great deal was seen, but it was generally conceded that in defence they could present quite a problem to the Spurs' forwards in the Cup Final.

NEWCASTLE UNITED : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Musgrove) 1 April 1961 Att: 18,997

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Hurst Brett Cartwright Obeney Dick Musgrove

With Phil Woosnam unable to play plus the decision to make other changes we brought in Geoff Hurst at left-half and formed a new right-wing of Ron Brett and John Cartwright (the latter making his first League appearance of 1960-61). The changes appeared to have had effect when Malcolm Musgrove got his head to a low-centred ball from Cartwright and diverted it into the net to give us a one-minute lead. However this promise was short-lived, as seven minutes later Albert Scanlon headed home Bell's long lob with our surprised defence caught off balance, and it was 1-1. For most of the remainder of the first half is was "all Hammers," and in a quarter-of-an-hour period just before the interval the Northerners' goal underwent amazing escapes when we hit defenders and woodwork. However that was almost the last of the excitement, and the remaining 45 minutes provided a generally uninteresting spectacle with each side in turn making bad passes and similar mistakes. Ivor Allchurch was one of the few exceptions to this, but he must have been considerably disappointed with the poor response from his Newcastle colleagues who threw away excellent chances of going home with more than one point.

LEICESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Filbert Street 1 - 5 (Kirkup) 3 April 1961 Att: 23,776

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Hurst Scott Boyce Sealey Dick Musgrove

ALAN SEALEY makes his Hammers debut against LEICESTER CITY at Filbert Street

For the return against the Cup Finalists we made forward changes. Tony Scott and Ron Boyce forming the right-wing and Alan Sealey making his debut in First Division soccer. Our debutant centre-forward did quite well, but it was his opposite number who got the star rating on the afternoon's play, for young Hugh Mcllmoyle (also making his initial appearance in City's First Team) began the second-minute move which ended in Albert Cheesebrough putting the Blues ahead. Mcllmoyle continued to play well, and had the satisfaction of netting his side's fourth goal a quarter-of-an-hour from the end. In the interim Joe Kirkup had also got his first goal in League soccer when he raced upfield and took a pass from John Bond to put us on level terms. We held the City to 1-1 until two minutes from the interval, but in the space of a minute Cheesebrough and Riley gave their side a useful lead. Mcllmoyle's goal put City 4-1 in front, and the finale came near the final whistle when Cheesebrough completed his hat-trick.

A disappointing report it is true, but the following final paragraph from one press review is not without significance: "West Ham have problems, but they will not be so obvious against other teams. Leicester were back at their best." We sampled City's defence in the first game: this time it was their attack which caught the eye, and we confirm our previous remarks that Spurs may find a harder task than was expected in the Final.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football League First Division

City Ground 1 - 1 (Dick) 8 April 1961 Att: 23,083

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Sealey Dick Musgrove

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

Phil Woosnam returned to the team after undergoing a sinus operation and had a good game, being very unlucky not to score in the second half when his shot struck a team-mate with the ball on its way to the net. Phil's forward-line colleagues were all well in the picture, and gave the home defence a harrowing time. However, we found teen-age Peter Grummitt in grand form between the sticks for Forest, and he kept us out except when John Dick headed home one of Tony Scott's many fine centres after play had been in progress 16 minutes. That goal looked good enough to give us full spoils, for play fell off in the second half and there were no real threats to our goal. It was thus rather an anti-climax when nine minutes from time Forest got the equaliser.

11 April 1961

RON GREENWOOD becomes West Ham United's the fourth managerial appointment as successor to TED FENTON

Newspaper coverage courtesy of Richard Miller

West Ham United announce the appointment of Mr. Ron Greenwood as Manager - Coach and know that he will carry with him the best wishes of all Hammers' fans and his many other friends in soccer.

Ron Greenwood needs little introduction to Londoners, for until a few days ago he was Assistant Manager to Arsenal F.C. In addition, he has played for three other London clubs - Brentford, Chelsea and Fulham - as well as for Bradford (Park Avenue) When still playing as a centre-half Ron qualified as an F.A. coach, and upon retiring from League soccer became manager of Eastbourne United in the Metropolitan League; during his spell at Princes Park he was also appointed manager of the England Youth Team in September 1957. His immediate success brought him an offer from Arsenal, and three months later he became chief coach at Highbury. Within twelve months Ron's status was raised to that of Assistant Manager, and when Billy Nicholson gave up the position of Manager to the England Under-23 Team (to take his present job at Tottenham) Ron succeeded him there.

In both these national team appointments and on several F.A. coaching courses Ron has become acquainted with West Ham United players, so he is no stranger to the Hammers' playing-staff while our administrative side of course knows him very well. Therefore it was not as a stranger that we approached Ron with a view to him becoming our Manager - Coach, and we are very pleased to record our thanks to those who assisted us in doing so, especially to Arsenal F.C. who readily released Ron to take this appointment. We feel sure that this step will be to mutual advantage.

Ron will be solely in charge of the playing-staff and will be freed of administrative duties in order to give him full scope in that direction. This entails certain internal administration adjustments, and as a result our Secretary, Eddie Chapman, will now deal with the whole of this part of our set-up.

12 April 1961

PHIL WOOSNAM 8th WALES cap

NORTHERN IRELAND Home Championship Windsor Park, Belfast 5-1

MANCHESTER CITY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 1 (Sealey) 15 April 1961 Att: 17,982

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Sealey Dick Musgrove

The City were thankful for the point which took them nearer safety, but they certainly "got away with it" when the referee did not award a penalty for what appeared to be the most obvious "bringing down" of the season; at the time we were leading by 1-0 through a goal by Alan Sealey (his first in Division I), who had been unfortunate earlier on to see one of his shots strike the leg of the diving Bert Trautmann and then divert over the bar. There were other occasions when it seemed certain we must score, but stalwart work by the City defenders covered a below-par Trautmann, and we could not add to that solitary counter. In the circumstances it was not surprising that the visitors kept hopefully prodding at our own rear-guard, and their efforts were rewarded five minutes from time when Colin Barlow got the equaliser. The City were to be commended for sticking to their task, and on that count alone perhaps earned their share of the spoils in a match which on a number of occasions rose well above the standard usually associated with "relegation duels."

BURNLEY : Football League First Division

Turf Moor 2 - 2 (Musgrove 2) 18 April 1961 Att: 11,609

Rhodes Kirkup Bond Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Boyce Sealey Dick Musgrove

With Phil Woosnam due to play for Wales on the following day, we brought in Ron Boyce for his third League game of the season, and John Lyall took over from the injured John Bond. In the early stages Burnley made most of the running on a pitch made difficult by rain, but our defence covered well and repulsed them until six minutes after the interval when an " own goal " gave the home side a lead. Then in the 71st minute Ray Pointer headed home a corner from John Connelly - and from the 11,609 spectators' point of view it looked as if Burnley would coast to victory. However, the Hammers had other ideas, and with wingers Tony Scott and Malcolm Musgrove spearheading our attack we came back, to force a draw. On each occasion it was Scott who made the opening and Musgrove who applied the finishing touch ; within a minute of us being two in arrears Scott went down the right wing for his centre to be converted with a left-foot drive, and seven minutes later it was from the left touchline that the centre came for Mai to almost walk the ball home.

19 April 1961

PHIL WOOSNAM 9th WALES cap

SPAIN World Cup Qualifier Ninian Park, Cardiff 1-2

CARDIFF CITY : Football League First Division

Ninian Park 1 - 1 (Dick) 22 April 1961 Att: 9,549

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Moore Scott Woosnam Sealey Dick Musgrove

Image courtesy of Richard Miller

Once more we came back in the second half after being a goal down at the interval. It was to some extent a match of two parts, with the exchanges in favour of the Bluebirds until the 37th minute. A couple of minutes before that City had taken the lead with a shot from Donnelly, and they earnestly appealed for another goal soon afterwards when Baker's free-kick rebounded into olay. However, from thence onwards our XI showed up better on the muddy surface, and we might well have gained full spoils. Tony Scott's square centre ended with John Dick crashing the ball past Vearncombe for the 69th-minute equaliser, and after that there were many exciting spells with the Hammers generally having the better of the exchanges. But taking all things into consideration it was a fair draw, for in our defence Brian Rhodes made several good saves and Ken Brown well held Tapscott, while at the other end Phil Woosnam was unfortunate to see one of his shots hit an upright. Certainly the tussle merited a better attendance than the official return of just under 10,000.

BURNLEY : Football League First Division

Upton Park 1 - 2 (Woosnam) 29 April 1961 Att: 18,759

Rhodes Kirkup Lyall Malcolm Brown Hurst Scott Woosnam Sealey Dick Musgrove

13 May 1961

RALPH MILNE (1990) Born this day Dundee, Scotland

Played only 22 minutes after coming on as a 98th minute substitute in extra time in the Littlewoods Cup replay against Derby County at the Baseball Ground on the 24th January 1990 which ended 0-0, whilst with the Hammers' on a month’s loan from Manchester United. This was to be the sum total of Ralph's playing time for West Ham's First XI. The 28 year old Scot, started his footballing career with another future Hammer Ray Stewart at Dundee United. Spent 10 years with the Scottish club before moving to Charlton Athletic in 1987. Ralph made 22 League appearances for The Valley club before joining Bristol City on loan, then transferring to them on a more permanent agreement. Ralph's demise followed his transfer to Manchester United, in 1989, he managed to score 3 goals in 22 First Division games, but was not really given an opportunity by Alex Ferguson to show what he could do. Later played for Sing Tao FC (Hong Kong)

15 May 1961

DALE BANTON (1979-1980) Born this day Kensington, London

Banton made his Hammers' debut as substitute for Stuart Pearson in the Second Division fixture with Chelsea at Upton Park in a 0-1 defeat on the 20 August 1979. Highly-promising midfielder, who was reluctantly allowed to leave the Boleyn owing to intense competition for places. The former Middlesex Schools star grabbed the headlines when scoring five goals in one match at the end of the 1982-83 season for Aldershot, the club he joined on leaving Hammers. He then teamed up with F.A. Cup giant-killers York City in the 1984-85 season, but later rejoined the "Shots" and was named as sub when they visited West Ham in an F.A. Cup 3rd round match in 1990-91.

20 May 1961

CLIVE ALLEN (1992-1994) Born this day Whitechapel, London

West Ham became his sixth London club when he joined on the eve of the March 1992 transfer deadline from Chelsea for £250,000. Scored on his debut - ironically, at Stamford Bridge in a 1-2 defeat on the 26th March - but hamstring problems restricted him to just four games before the season's end. Allen, whose cousins Paul and Martin also both played for the Hammers, continued his prolific goal-scoring record the following season. Very sharp in and around the penalty box, capped five times by England and in 1987 was voted the PFA's Player of the Year after netting 49 goals for Tottenham. Played on the losing side for Queens Park Rangers and Spurs in the 1982 and 1987 F.A. Cup Finals. Scored the decisive goal in the final game of the 1992-93 campaign against Cambridge United at Upton Park to insure West Ham's place back amongst the elite in the Carling Premiership. Injuries restricted him to nine appearances during the second half of his stay, Clive knew that his Hammers' career was over when he was not involved in the ill-fated F.A. Cup quarter-final at Luton in March 1994. Clive's two-year spell with the Hammers ended when he joined Millwall for £75,000 on transfer deadline day March 1994.

28 May 1961

PHIL WOOSNAM 10th WALES cap

HUNGARY International Friendly Nepstadion, Budapest 2-3