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ted fenton 6:50 Tue May 19
50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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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
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
lab
6:56 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Nice post Ted. How we all hope for a team to be proud of again.
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Monk~koknee
6:58 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Must have been great to have been there, Ted.
I can remember watching it on the old black and white TV and being so happy with the result.
I think many of us felt that this was going to be the start of a golden era of success but sadly it was not to be.
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ted fenton
7:04 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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As said before Monk I had my teacher to thank for the ticket and my dad for the funds :-)
Yes I went on my own but from Goodmayes station to Wembley all you could see was claret & blue.
Still got programme and stub.
WOW :-)
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Monk~koknee
7:17 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Half price tube fare to Wembley Park 1s 3d plus hot dog (with onions) 6d?
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terry-h
7:19 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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I think Les Sealey our ex goalkeeper and coach was Alan's nephew,ted. He also died young(43 only) of a heart attack.
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icwhs
7:19 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Would have loved to seen that Ted,
Would have been difficult, as i was born shortly after
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ted fenton
7:21 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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terry-h 7:19 Tue May 19
Correct sir.
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Banjo
8:01 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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I was nine and went with my Dad and a coach load of dockers and their boy's. It was fantastic and to be honest, difficult to remember in detail.
Bubbles ringing out load and clear, Munich 1860 supporters waving their big flags and banners, being lifted above the heads of men and passed down the line with other youngsters leaving the stadium. Wearing my rosette to school, showing other kids the massive programme and dreaming of playing for West Ham at Wembley every night thereafter for years. Still do on the odd occasion!
It was magical.
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dicksie3
8:09 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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The 60s, 70s & 80s must've been a great time being a West Ham United fan - FA Cup wins, European success and other Cup Final appearances...
Still, according to our manager; we're a fucking nothing club and are on the same level as Crystal Palace...
Maybe one fine day we'll be as big as Southampton, Swansea City and Stoke City...
We can only dream...
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oioi
8:17 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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I was there with my dad and his workmates from Cape Asbestos in Barking. Best West Ham night ever.
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Crassus
8:41 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Lovely post Ted
Before my time but I lived in the aftermath and that must have been some era of watching WH - what with the WC and a League Cup run too
Something rarely mentioned of that game, it was the first pan European live tv club broadcast, and given how we played is one of the primary reasons, what with the WC a year later when viewers were familiar with our lads, that elevated our status globally.
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Ronald_antly
9:03 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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I was enjoying reading that until I got to this bit "With the 50-year anniversary not far away ..".
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stirlinghammer
9:17 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Great post Ted. Thanks.
Compare this to the lap of dishonour last Saturday. Sam mocked the history, thank god we only have 90 mins of the anti football/west ham traditions.
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Sven Roeder
9:31 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Good stuff Ted.
Reckon many including me are jealous of you being there on that great day.
50 years .... blimey
Think most on here would be happy to have a team that at least tried to play like that even if winning a European trophy again seems a pretty distant dream.
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Far Cough
9:32 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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It was recognised as one of the best European finals, don't know if it still is?
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SurfaceAgentX2Zero
9:33 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Thanks Ted. But some might argue West Ham's greatest night was eighteen months later on 7th November 1966.
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ornchurch ammer
11:17 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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My mum and dad were there that night as they were for the 1964 cup final. Must have been great times to have been a Hammers fan.
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the coming of gary
11:20 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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... and that was my first birthday !! .. happy fifty - first to me today :-)
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ted fenton
11:49 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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Happy Birthday Gary what a brilliant day to be 50.
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,
11:51 Tue May 19
Re: 50 Years Ago Today West Ham’s greatest ever night 19/05/1965
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At the match with my mate and both our fathers.
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