The lad was born in Barking in October 1948 and was to go on to achieve 11 “O” levels and 2 “A” Levels, followed by two FA Cup final wins, five Hammer of the Year awards, 47 England caps, an MBE, elevated to a CBE, followed by a knighthood and a stand at the Boleyn named after him. Sir Trevor Brooking. Without doubt the best midfield player ever to play for the Hammers. Sir Trev played 647 games for West Ham over 17 seasons – 1967 to 1984 and scored 102 goals. Before signing for West Ham he was courted by many other clubs but the Hammers were the only ones that would allow him to continue his studies whilst doing his football apprenticeship. Despite better offers, in particular from Tommy Docherty at Chelsea, Trevor signed for West Ham on the 24th July 1965.
He made his debut nearly two years later against Burnley at Turf Moor. Whilst I am happy to say I saw Trevor’s only ever hat trick against Newcastle in 1968, I must also confess that whilst I have never booed my team or any West Ham player, I was amongst many who used to groan when Trevor’s name was called out just before the teams came out to play at Upton Park. In his early years Trevor was playing inside forward. He was weak and slow. Why was he being picked each week? Groan!
But in the early seventies a set of circumstances, Martin Peters sold to Spurs and Tommy Taylor reverting to a defensive position, allowed Trevor to move to a midfield position. And how he blossomed. The slow and weak inside forward became a midfield player of guile and grace – a truly World class player. The transformation was like an ugly duckling to a beautiful swan. What we were seeing at Upton Park each week was mind boggling and it seemed like an age for the England hierarchy to finally catch on and pick him for the National team. Trevor eventually played 47 times for England and during that time he enjoyed a similar telepathic relationship with Kevin Keegan as he had developed at West Ham with Alan Devonshire. On the home front or the International stage, Trevor followed in Bobby Moore’s footsteps. He was a true gentleman of the game.
Sir Trevor Brooking was one of the last of a dying breed. The one club footballer. Despite being one of the best footballers in the World, when West Ham were relegated in 1978 he insisted on staying. Two years later he would head home the only goal of the FA Cup final against Arsenal and bring the cup back to the East End. It was the last time that a team outside the top flight were to win the trophy. To stand testimony to his love of the club he still attends many matches to this day – and this after two care taker manager spells where his presence in the dressing room alone saw the teams that played under him in difficult circumstances win 9, draw 4 and lose just once in 14 games. Trevor Brooking only ever lowered his head twice – to head home that famous winner in the 1980 Cup final and for the Queen to make him SIR TREV.