Amazon.co.uk Review
Fortune's always hiding, I've looked everywhere. I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air.
The 1966 England 11 featured three West Ham players--captain Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst--but only an ageing Moore remained by the 1973-74 season when this excellent 25-year record begins, and it was to be his last season at Upton Park.
While a mixture of international stars and East London legends--Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard amongst them--were to succeed those World Cup winners, it's a mark of how West Ham have faired in subsequent years that this is still the club's most significant footballing achievement.
But Hammers fans who have long been in the habit of making the most of thin pickings will enjoy the FA Cup wins in 1975 and 1980, the European adventures (whatever happened to Zurich Grasshopers?) and an extraordinary 85/86 season: a club record 3rd in the league.
Those dark days of bouncing between the top two divisions and hoping to string out a cup run are being left behind, for now, by Harry Rednapp's blend of journeymen and boy-wonders. A brisk flick through this book, and West Ham's surely unparalleled record of getting turned over by football's "lesser" lights, will put things in perspective.
With every fixture, result, line-up, substitution and goal scorer, this is the definitive statistical record of the Academy--illuminated by David Powter's entertaining season-by-season narrative--and a bittersweet treat for any bubble blower. --Alex Hankin
Synopsis
A 25 year record of West Ham United.
