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ted fenton 6:50 Tue May 19
50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

It was May 19, 1965, that’s almost 50 years ago when West Ham United had arguably the greatest moment in their history.

Having won the FA Cup the previous season, the Hammers took the European Cup Winners’ Cup by storm and in the final at Wembley against TSV Munich 1860 came that finest hour.

Bobby Moore was there, so was Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, but it was an unlikely hero that was to win the day as outside right Alan Sealey scored both goals in a brilliant victory and a memorable final.

Like Moore, Sealey was to die tragically early at the age of just 53 in 1996, but his son Anthony grew up in Collier Row, Romford, with a father who was a West Ham hero.
Not that he was too aware of it. “My dad was a very modest man, he didn’t like to blow his own trumpet,” said Anthony, who works as a PE teacher at Ripple Rise School in Romford.

“If he was asked about it then he was happy to talk, but I didn’t go to school with everyone coming up to me and saying, ‘your dad won the cup for West Ham’, it just wasn’t like that.”

Sealey’s first goal was a stunning strike after he received a pass from Ronnie Boyce, while the second soon after came from a Boyce free-kick as it fell for him to score from close range.

“He was very proud of that day. He grew up just round the corner from the ground in Walton Road, so this was his team and by just playing for them he was fulfilling a dream,” added Anthony.
“But to score two goals on the greatest night in West Ham history meant he lived out his greatest dream that night.

“He belongs in the great tapestry of this club and his first goal was a superb one against a great goalkeeper – he certainly knew how to strike a ball.”

Tragedy was to strike Sealey though as his son recalled.

“I was about eight or nine, at home, when I heard an almighty crash upstairs and my dad had fallen down and was vomiting blood,” said Anthony, 37.
“He was in the hospital for about eight weeks and from then on we knew that the time we had with dad was a bonus.

“He was very clean living and I think that is why he lasted as long as he did with the cancer. He died when I was 17 or 18.”

It was an untimely death. There was a minute’s silence before the next game which was beautifully observed, but Anthony remembers a tribute to West Ham’s greatest player – Bobby Moore, which meant just as much.

“On the opening of the Bobby Moore stand, we were invited along and dad was introduced to the crowd on the pitch with others,” he said.
“When he got to the centre circle, he turned and bowed at the Bobby Moore stand – he had so much respect for Bobby. He’d always want to talk about Bobby rather than himself.”

With the 50-year anniversary not far away, Anthony is hoping that the club are going to celebrate it properly.

“Now is the time to right a few wrongs about the players from the past,” said Anthony.

“The way Bobby was treated in the past and my dad too was not right.

West Ham and all the retro stuff is fashionable again now and I just hope that comes through in whatever they do to mark this anniversary.”

Whatever is planned, it can’t be as dramatic as Sealey’s greatest ever night. The night when West Ham beat the Germand and won a European trophy.


One of the greatest nights of my life.


http://www.london24.com/sport/football/clubs/west-ham/west_ham_s_greatest_ever_night_1_3924585

NHD 10:08 Wed May 20
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Great post mate, cheers.

Kiwi Hammer 3:12 Wed May 20
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Ted - many thanks for this reminder - wow 50 years.
yep My Dad and I attended - me 11 years old - . Can remember the Sealey goals as if it was yesterday scored in front of us (who said the second was offside - who cares). It's been said a few times 'the team that day could have beaten anybody' - just brilliant. Like many youngsters at the time I also thought its like this every year - FA Cup, ECWC - World Cup - whats next - oh for those times.

easthammer 1:04 Wed May 20
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

It was a great night but in my youthful ignorance I rather took it for granted. I thought this is what we did. Won cups played great and had some of the country's best players. Little did I know

Eastside surge 10:20 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

My dad was there , told him tonight it was fifty years ago he couldn't believe it was that long ago

Hugh Monteith 8:02 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Thanks Ted

ted fenton 2:50 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Here's a taster Dudley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ4slggRdZU

ted fenton 2:43 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

I can also remember listening to the Zaragosa away leg in bed on my transistor radio.

Haha Monk and me.

Dudley Moore 2:10 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Wish I were old enough to remember the glory days.

Must have been superb.

I think it was Eddie Bovington who said there must have been a million people lining the streets of East London after we won the cup in '64.

If I had a time machine.......

SurfaceAgentX2Zero 2:06 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

ted fenton 1:21 Tue May 19

Won a County Championship medal with Worcestershire and topped the national bowling averages in 1964, mate. Along with an FA Cup Winners Medal. Not a bad summer.

Monk~koknee 2:03 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Just read through the reports on the link posted by GreenStreet. Surprised to see that Sir Geoff didn't get on the scoresheet in the whole ECWC campaign.

I can also remember listening to the Zaragosa away leg in bed on my transistor radio.

yngwies Cat 2:00 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Cheers Ted, nice story.

I was away with the family a few weeks back, we packed a few dvd’s for my 7 year old stop him getting bored. I Came down for breakfast one morning and he’d put on the game (sent as part of member pack) thought he’d get bored, but he watched the whole thing, he loved it. Was asking loads of questions, thinking I was there. He’s a right little hammer now, and I’m well proud. Just hope the club get to do something again like that in our lifetimes. Life time Must have been quite a night!!

ted fenton 1:21 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

lab 1:14 Tue May 19

Amazing man as he also played county cricket for Worcester.

Cheezey Bell-End 1:16 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

And 3 years ago today we won the playoffs.. I actually remember that one..

lab 1:14 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Ted, I think it was Jim Standen who went on to open up a sports shop in Camberley, I use to pop in now and then , we had a Nick standen in our year at school , good footballer, tall lad . I'm not sure if it was jims son, but definitely related, I still remember him being talked about.

Grumpster 1:14 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

The oldies are kidding themselves if they think those nights were as good as games under the lights against the likes of 10 man Hull last season and the feast of football dished up on such occasions!!! ;o)

Myself like others born in and around 1974 can only ever dream of such nights, as we were either too young to know much about the FA cup wins in 75 and 80 or like me, were born in to a family who didn't like football (damn you dad) and so I wasn't even interested in the Hammers properly until my mates dad took me aged 12 and so have only ever really known misery.

If only we could be transported back to those happier times.

ted fenton 1:00 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Nice to see you posting Herm hope you're feeling better.

Hammerhermit 12:42 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Fenton and I would be balling our eyes out if we had a few. FATSATIC night fantastic team.

ted fenton 12:28 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

62

I was Jim Standen's paper boy for a while when he lived in Seven Kings.

62Hammer 12:15 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

I was 12 and remember my Dad picking me up from school and driving to Wembley. I've still got one of the blue and white Munich 1860 flags that one of their supporters gave me on the way out at the end of the game.
My boyhood hero was Jim Standen, who had a terrific game.

the coming of gary 11:58 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

thanks Ted mate :-)

GreenStreetPlayer 11:53 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965

Pictures and articles on the online museum.
http://theyflysohigh.co.uk/ecwc-50th-anniversary/4589035089

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