Ronnie Boyce, fondly known as Ticker, played for the Hammers for twelve years after making his professional debut in October 1960. He was a one club man and made 342 appearances which included the FA Cup final win in 1964 and the European Cup Winners Cup final the following year. Following on from his last game in 1972 he worked under John Lyall on the coaching staff during which time West Ham won two FA Cups in 1975 and 1980. His last five years at the club were in the role of chief scout, a position he relinquished in 1995. His most important goal was almost certainly the last minute winner in the 1964 FA Cup final which brought the prized trophy back to the East End for the first time in the clubs history.
One of the most amazing goals I have ever seen was also scored by Ronnie Boyce. It was a game away to Manchester City and it was played on a mud bath. West Ham had just swapped Martin Peters for Spurs player Jimmy Greaves, plus a sum of cash, a deal most Hammer fans were more than a little sceptical about. The Hammers won 5-1 that day and Jimmy Greaves scored twice on debut. However when City keeper Joe Corrigan moved to the right sided edge of the box and kicked clear, Ticker from 40 yards out volleyed the ball straight back into an empty City net!
Ronnie was a firm favourite with Hammer fans in the sixties. The nickname “Ticker” was given to him because of his work rate and how he blended the team together – he made the team “tick”. He was born in West Ham and supported the team from behind the goals when he was a boy. He played twice for England schoolboys and was courted by Arsenal before being signed by Wally St Pier. Ron was also a big worrier. He always worried before games that he would not be picked. Then later he would have trouble sleeping after games as he relived every moment of the day’s match in his head.
Like many players, he liked to stick to the same pre-game ritual. He would always be first to the ground and would pop chewing gum into his mouth before he went into the dressing room. He was always first to change (once he knew he was in the team), and always sat in the same spot in the changing room. Ron also made sure he was right behind Bobby Moore when the team ran out onto the pitch.
In today’s game where all too often agents rule and players move from club to club, it is nice to remember “Ticker”. He was 15 when he first trained with the Hammers and it was 37 years later that he said his last goodbyes as an employee of West Ham. He even managed to be caretaker manager for a single game in 1990 after the infamous Lou Macari reign had come to an end. Ron is 70 now and I am sure he is not forgotten by fans who watched him play.
Enjoy a trip down memory lane and I wonder how City’s pitch curator felt when he came to work the following Monday?