We all know them, the players that do the effective, unspectacular jobs for the sake of the team. The players that do not get the praise or reputation of their more talented or their higher profile team mates. Then there are also the players who came to West Ham and played a short, but significant part in our history and then as quickly moved on again.
Thinking about the more recent decades of Hammers history I have identified a number of players who genuinely were unsung heroes. In the 1950s there was Andy Malcolm, one of the best defensive right-halves ever to wear the claret and blue jersey. He shielded the centre halves and won and released the ball to our more creative forwards. He was an expert man to man marker and invariably marked more exalted players like Jimmy Greaves (in his Chelsea years) completely out of the game. The 1957-58 team was built upon this rock at the centre of midfield.
In the 1960s we have a defensive right-half who was right up there with Bonds and Malcolm as amongst the very best we have had in that role. Eddie Bovington did the hard graft for the 1963-64 cup winning team, winning tackles and distributing the ball. It is often forgotten that when Bovington came in to the team at Boxing Day 1963 the team had just suffered a record 8 goal Christmas Day home defeat to Backburn Rovers, but we then went up there for the corresponding holiday fixture and turned them over 0-3 with Bovington running the show. He displaced Martin Peters in the team and was to keep him out all the way to the 1964 FA Cup Final.
In the 1970s we have Patsy Holland and Bobby Gould. Holland was a real workhorse who also had considerable skill. He could play in central or on the left side of midfield. He frequently deputised for Billy Bonds in the centre, but made the greater number of appearances wide left. This useful dynamo, with the ability to score vital goals, won a late place in the 1975 FA Cup Final team and famously scored our first goal in the 1976 ECWC Final.
Bobby Gould was a 28 year old journeyman striker who Bill Shankley somewhat unkindly observed ‘could not trap a wet bag of cement. ’ However, Ron Greenwood knew better, he was convinced that Gould had untapped potential that that his coaching could help him realise it. When he joined us in 1974-75 we had an absolutely dire start to the season. Gould, along with fellow new recruits Billy Jennings and Keith Robson, transformed our fortunes with a 6-0 defeat of Tranmere in the League cup, 6-1 demolition of Leicester City and a ultra efficient 3-0 destructions of Wolves and Middlesboro. He played his very best football at West Ham, glorying in Greenwood’s later observation that he had been transmuted in to a player worthy to wear the West Ham shirt. Gould later stated if he had joined West Ham as a youngster he might have gone on to play for England, such was his rate of improvement at the famed Academy of English Football. He was a key player in the 1975 FA Cup run, scoring a vital winning goal at Southampton in the fourth round, but was 12th man in the final. He moved to Wolves on in 1976-77 and played for a number of other clubs before retiring.
In the 1980s Neil Orr and Geoff Pike did the hard graft for the 1985-86 team. Covering the pitch, breaking up attacks and winning and distributing the ball. Orr joined from Scotish football and played unconvincingly as a centre back in the last games of 1984-85, but it was in midfield that he found his true role in that memorable campaign. He left in 1986-87 and returned from whence he came. Pike was another skilled workhorse. His greatest hour was probably the man marking job that he did on Liam Brady in the 1980 FA Cup Final, one of the decisive engagements that delivered us victory. In 1985-86 he deputised for Orr and put in some very effective shifts.
In the 1990s we have Trevor Morley and Matty Holmes. Morley was a striker who came to Upton Park from Man City, via Northampton Town, in part-exchange for Mark Ward. It was probably the best thing that Lou Macari did in his short reign as manager. Morley became a fixture for West Ham throughout the 1990s and his goals were crucial in the two promotion campaigns under Billy Bonds and later in establishing the club in the premiership under Redknapp.
Matty Holmes was one of Redknapp’s bargain basement buys that really came off. He joined from Bournemouth and was an all-action midfielder with very good technique and vision. He was played a key role in midfield in 1994-95 to stave off relegation with some fanastic results in the run in (including beating champions elect Blackburn 2-0, Liverpool 3-0 and holding Man Utd to a 1-1 draw to deny them the title). He left the club in 1996-97 in a transfer to Blackburn that saw Robbie Slater arrive in part-exchange.
In the period 2000-09 we have Sebastian Schemmel and Shaka Hislop. Schemmel was a player recruited by Redknapp from French football who won Hammer of the year in 2000/01 with some barnstorming displays at right-back. Alas, he was to have a falling out with Glen Roeder and be exiled to the reserves, before being shipped out at the first opportunity. Schemmel was a player that was harshly treated, but not the only or most high profile Hammer to suffer thus under the Roeder regime.
Shaka Hislop was a shot stopper par excellence, another very good Redknapp acquisition. He saved us countless league points with saves that defied belief. He was another who fell out of favour under Roeder’s management, losing his place to David James before being transferred. Shaka prophetically stated on leaving that he did not know why the club had wasted £3-4m on James when there were other positions that were an higher priority for strengthening. Too true, like another striker for instance!!!! Shaka was destined to have a great swan song with the Hammers, later being brought back by Alan Pardew to provide goal keeping cover. He starred again in 2005-06 and kept goal in the famous 2006 FA Cup Final.
Shaka saw his last action for the club in the losing penalty shoot out against Liverpool. If there was one man that deserved to be on the winning side that day, and receive a much deserved winners medal, it was the admirable Shaka Hislop!
So, who were your unsung Hammers Heroes? For every artist like Brooking, Devonshire, Peters or Di Canio there is an artisan, such as Bovington, Holland, Orr or Pike doing the hard graft and making the team work as a unit. In difficult times it pays to remember these players and the fact that guts, spirit, hard work and application do pay dividends! Exactly the qualities that we need now to underpin the undoubted ability of our squad and get the season back online and moving in the right direction!
SJ Chandos.
Malcome Allison! Class player!
Was treated like absolute crap by West Ham after falling ill! (VERY ill)
Great, funny guy! And superb defendert!
Serhiy Rebrov!
lol
1 in 27 goals to games ratio!
The Milkman Alan Taylor won us the 1975 FA Cup on his 2 goals a game!
Anton Otalokowski, brilliant 20 year old winger whose career was cut short by 'Chopper' Harris during the 70's
I think you mean Johnny Ayris
Sorry PhilF, yes I do. Whatever made me say that?
I remember seeing Edie Coker on the Big match getting a few goals and that left a big impression on me as a kid. Others I can think of would be Best, Bishop, Parkes,Alvin Martin, Miklosko,Pop Robson was always putting them away, fantastic. There have been some great players down the years at this great club and the list could go on.
Your list is not of unsung hero's and it was Ade Coker
Stevie Potts. No frills. Hard working. Nice fella too.
I totally agree Munky, one of the Hammers very best, all-time servants. Very under-estimated, he started off as a right-back and later become a very unlikely fixture at centre back, Potts’s pace and positional & tackling ability compensating for a lack of height for a player in that position.
Just googled him. According to Wikipedia (yes, I know) he is now driving a black cab. Somebody tell me that's a wind-up!
you got there before me. Potts always came in with a performance when you needed him.
From the Redknapp era I though Mark Keller was excellent for us, Technically very very good and had an excellent reading of the game. He played wingback and even bagged the odd goal. I never under stood why he didnt get more game time for us as he always looked useful when he did play.
He was a very intelligent player and went on to take up technical director roles with Strasbourg and Monaco.
I'm certain I saw him score from a corner as well
Best cameo under Redknapp was Hannu Tihenen, joined on a short term deal and was outstanding in his debut against ManU when we beat them at old trafford in the FA cup.
I was also a huge Martin Allen fan, he gave me his shin pads after I watched the team train at chadwell heath when in London during my easter holidays. He wasnt the most gifted of players but he made up for it with commitment and tenacity and not being afraid to kick the odd opponent!
I agree with the Martin Allen choice. If ever there was a less modern flashy player doing a job, it was him. One of the last old school players who worked and worked…
http://www.inzolawetrust.com
I agree with the Martin Allen choice. If ever there was a less modern flashy player doing a job, it was him. One of the last old school players who worked and worked…
http://www.inzolawetrust.com
The magician the great Jonny Ayris ruined by Chopper Harris planted him into row Z ,George Parris a grafter and the phenomenal wing play of one MARK WARD nearly with MCcavennie won us the league!
What about David Cross 4 goals at white hart lane in 1981 psycho really give it to em The man who scored penalties Ray Stewart what about Paul Goddard!loved em all happy days these guys 100% every game.
James Collins – solid in the tackle, commanding in the air,.and good consistency. Shambolic defending against Man City shows how much we'll miss him.
How about Alan Sealey used to score many a goal just when you needed it, also was instrumental in Hammers winning a Cup final along with Geoff Hurst and of course that boy Bobby Moore. My wife remembers him from her school days in Plaistow, he used to be a mikman or paper boy, played a few games for England, but broke his leg whilst training fell over one of those benchs they used for jumping over. Does anyone know what became of him?, he reminded me of Dean Ashton the way he played.
Bobby06, Alan Sealey’s fate was pure tragedy! He had scored the winning double in the 1965 ECWC Final and there was every prospect that he would have gone on to consolidate his place in the first team. The freak leg injury in training, caused by falling over a bench whilst playing a friendly game of cricket, was to effectively dash his hopes and finish his career.
My Uncle later worked with him for a firm that delivered racing sheets to the capital’s bookies. He allegedly told my uncle that when the chances fell to him in the ECWC Final he just closed his eyes and hit it!! He was obviously a very modest and unassuming man, as anyone who has seen the match will know that he knew very well what he was doing in converting the chances.
Regardless of the fact that his career was pre-maturely curtailed, the 1965 ECWC Final goals guarantee his inclusion in the Pantheon of Hammers heroes!
Another unsung Hammers hero from the 1970s that I greatly admired was Mick McGiven. Mick was in Sunderand’s 1973 FA Cup winning squad and joined us the same year, in a double deal with right-back Keith Coleman. Remarkably McGiven was recruited by Greenwood to fill the enormous defensive void created by Bobby Moore’s departure to Fulham.
McGiven came in to a struggling West Ham side and was an instant success. He was a ball playing centre back, strong in the tackle and with a heart as big as himself. This was best demonstrated in his first season, 1973-74, in a fixture against Liverpool at Anfield, when an opposition boot in the mouth knocked his top teeth back at a right angle to their former position.
Mick got himself cleaned up and insisted upon finishing the game in considerable pain! Could you imagine the defensive toughies of today, like Chelski’s John Terry, doing that! It only takes a missed penalty to make them cry!!
Unfortunately, the bright start to McGiven’s Hammers career was undermined by injury in 1974-75. When fit, later that season, he found that the newly emerged Kevin Lock had made the No6 shirt his own. Regardless, Mick proven an able deputy and remained at the club, later joining the coaching staff under John Lyall.
What about Brian Dear and his rapid 5 goal haul against WBA in 1965-66! A member of the 1965 ECWC Final team, Dear achieved a remarkable and unique goal scoring feat in that match!
I agree with a lot of the comments here. Stevie Potts for sure.
Another player who never really got the credit he deserved under Redknapp was Steve Lomas.
Steve Lomas! Good shout.
http://www.inzolawetrust.com
Tomas Repka is a player I have always been a fan of and I thought played a key role for us in defence in the later part of his time with the Hammers. Sent off in his first game and thereafter either had the worst of games or was totally amazing! He was singled out for his failures when we went down in 2002/03 but become a consistant defender after that and I was sad to see him leave. Wonder where he is now? I know he returned to Sparta Prague which is the team we bought him from for a club record of £5.5m – it was Glen Roeder in 2001 if I remember rightly.
Alan Devonshire pure genius,John Radford the only centre forward employed NOT to score John Mcdowell a buccaneering type of player.
stevie potts no arguements.by the way why no players performance votes for man city or is that a silly question
Pop Robson an instant hit,Slaven Bilic commanded the defence and the Portuguese player Dani scored in the wet monday night win over the spuds but did not go on to much what about big Phil in goal an absolute legend and Alan Dickens not consistent enough but memory lane is brilliant!
Collins my unsung hero,challenged for everything that came his way,getting rid of him was a big mistake,now we are shipping 3 goals a games, decision could cost us our premiership status,must be replaced by a strong vocal center half in january .
i think there are plenty of undung heroes. i think zamora got a lot of stick, but he gave everything, and we have missed his work rate and passion for the club since he has gone – he was never a fantastic player, but he did his bit for the club, including scoring the goals in the play-off's that got us to the final and then promoted! until cole started pulling his weight we really missed zamora, and even now i think zamora and cole upront, both quick and strong, would cause any defence a real problem
In the sixties Ronnie Boyce was a key player who hardly ever got the headlines playing in a team with Moore, Hurst, Peters etc except for the 1964 cup final where he scored the winner.
With players like Hurst, Moore, Peters & Budgie Byrne around, Boycie did not hit the headlines and certainly rates as an unsung hero. His nickname "Ticker" was the engine of the team. Only scored a handful of goals but I remember well his two in the SF against ManU in 1964 and of course the winner against PNE in the final.
Good choice. Seem to remember a great goal, ironically against Man City, which he hit from the halfway line. (Hope I've got that right)
In the sixties Ronnie Boyce was a key player who hardly ever got the headlines playing in a team with Moore, Hurst, Peters etc except for the 1964 cup final where he scored the winner.
Mark Keller. Maybe Hugo Porfirio? Would Foe be classed an unsung hero, he was excellent for us and we missed him badly when he left the next season.
I'm sorry, SJ, I'm not having McGiven, dreadful defender!
Geoff Pike was also much better class than Neil Orr. I agree with Pat Holland, but my favourite unsung hero from midfield would be the late Graham Paddon. Superb passer of the ball and hard working.
Unsung defenders? McDowell – not far short of international class. Schemmell could have been a legend. Potts, definitely and, off course, Tony Gale.
Up front? Billy Jennings. Excellent target man and great in the air considering his height.
How about a list of players that never reached their potential?
Slater, Barnes & Williamson to kick off with.
And where is the Player ratings thread- I'm champing at the bit……
Football is, as they say, a game of opinions Devo. Yours is obviously not the same as mine on McGiven!
I will take on board your suggestion about a thread on players that did not reach their potential. Also, I will ask Iain about the Man City Player Performance thread.
Man City Performance thread to follow!
Right now, I don't think this guy gets all the credit he deserves around the premiership, but West Ham fans acknowledge his work rate and effort, his incredible tackling, his reliability – Scott Parker.
What a great player.
James Collins too, we should never have sold him.
In thinking about it… Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora were never world class but they did a great job for us that first season back. I'd have them back now. I'd love them back now.
your right. harewood scored over 50 goals for us, and bobby scored the all important play-off goals.
they were (especially zamora) shipped off rather quickly, without much recogniton what they did for us – and in my opinion we could still be using someone like zamora in our (light) squad
Some people on here have mentioned players such as Devonshire and Martin. Surely these are not “unsung” heroes, these are players in everyone’s best ever West Ham team?! Many of my favourite true unsung heroes have been mentioned…mad dog Martin Allen, genius passer Ian Bishop, and of course the consistent Steve Potts; 3 absolute superb players. Other players from the 90’s to throw in the mix – George Paris, Kevin Keen, Keith Rowland, Tim Breaker, Danny Williamson, Mark Robson, Eyal Berkovic…alot of players there that hardly ever grabbed the headlines, but put in regular decent performances.
quote from carlos today,
"I've decided not to celebrate my goals out of respect to West Ham. They were my first club in England and, in my heart, part of me will always be a Hammer."
steve potts for me was the greatest unsung hero for west ham.He was at the arsenal game with his boy at the emerates when zamora scored.he got a great reception and great to see him with the fans and not with the prawns.old school west ham through and through.
Well if that's the case, COME BACK CARLOS!
Lesbian Jon…totally agree about Potsy. Played over 500 times for WH and probably never grabbed a headline. But who cares…total pro.
Still a top bloke as well, it seems. In 2008 he ran the London Marathon in aid of the charity Children with Leukaemia, raising £22,082 in the process. Class act.
He did win HOTY 2 or 3 times, so wasn't completely unheralded.
Great pro. Stood in front of me once in a fish & chip shop!
Me.
Nigel,i'm afraid you only qualify for the unsung bit. hero is stretching it a bit after you ruined it for yourself. Full credit for coming on here tho and yes, I do believe its really you.
new keyboard please, Nige
When Malcom allison became ill in 1957 (needed a lung replaced) he gained full recovery and was able to play again to his full extent, but West Ham asked him to leave, he said no I want to stay!
It was a club he supported from a kid and said he would play for free, which he did! Then West Ham stuck him permenantly in reserves and loaned him indefinitely to Romford and took a fee for his services *which they could then! Unooficially of course)
He was eventually told that if he didn't leave, the club would make sure he never played professional top-flight football again!
terrible actions from our beloved club!
Aussie Graham… totally agree with Johnny Ayris. He could have been a great player for us, but for Harris, and only around 20 as well. Such a shame
Bobby Gould was also a very good dressing room character, he may not have been the most gifted player in the world but he was brilliant for moral – one of those people who can naturally lift people – the team invariable played better when he was in the side/squad<dl>
John Sissons a great little left winger for us
Agree about Ronnie Boyce, was truly an unsung hero who was a great play maker and hard working mid fielder, very much in the Scott Parker mould.
Zola is calling for thunder on Sunday I hope he means if we are losing the elements will be the saviour off us anyone forgotten the less greedy Aussie Stan Lazarides, Skippy,he out in a consistent game dont forget dare I mention Redcrap he could motor!
I am surprised no one has mentioned Leroy Rosenior, surely an unsung hero. The goal he scored at Highbury in an FA Cup replay will always be in my memories.
Agree with Graham Paddon. How about Keith 'Animal' Robson !
Change of topic have we managed to attract a buyer for the club yet and if not why?
Not yet Aussie, at least nothing that we know of. the only possibility is the Gold/Sullivan combo once Yeung has completed takeover of Brum
but they are keeping tight lipped at present about what they are proposing to do.
I cannot understand why we have not interested any parties unless CB/Straumur are asking too much on the table
Even Portsmouth have been taken over but that is still suspect to me as they appear to be in as a similar financial state as we are despite Sheik mohammed ensuring that funds are available. The Fa fit & proper person test is still out for a review in my opinion
On another topic and yesturdays topic The ManCity fan who ran on the pitch at the M derby has been fined £220 and given 3yr ban
If this is anything to go by does this give ussome sort of a prececdent on our situation???
Reo-coker to the gunners according to reports I would have thought he was not in AW calibre of player for Arsenal. just paper talk maybe to Fulham but not Arsenal
Timmy Breaker, he was pacy, solid, and reliable down the left flank.
Luca Toni to WH? a step nearer as he was left out in CL last night
He could arrive in Jan TW
Watch this Space!!!Lol!
Paul Hilton, Steve Potts, Lero Rosenior. Does anyone remember Leroy Rosenior getting sent off as the players went off at half-time in a West Ham v Chelsea match? I think it was for smacking an abusive centre half called Steve Clarke. West Ham won 4 – 1. Also I think it was Leroy who scored the one goal against Lpool in 1989 at Anfield (we lost 1-5 and were relegated) but that meant that Arsenal won the league on goal difference later that week. I don't like Arsenal, but Scouse discomfort is always amusing.
lets not forget Hugo Peferrio's contribution in the 96 – 97 season!
I agree with a few on here – has to be Pottsy! – He was a great defender for us & also a great guy away from football.
Went to his testimonial cricket match against Essex several years back – and he could turn his hand to that too!!
Another of my heroes from the sixties was a young winger called Harry Redknapp who was a real crowd favourite. Don't know what happened to him after that.