Guest Post From Little Fork
Who can inspire and motivate our team like Dicksy? Do we have someone today who can get the team “up” and battle ready?
On a filthy wet evening at Upton Park on Monday 24th Feb 1997 the Irons met Spurs. With our team having been entrenched in the bottom three with only one win in 14 games , Spurs were odds on favourites to win. ‘Arry had made a couple of purchases (£7.3+m was considered a “staggering” amount). Paul Kitson and John Hartson were to make their debuts but the Hammer’s skipper, Julian Dicks, with his hair fiercely cropped was the inspiration that night.
Dicksy was everywhere on the pitch that night. He was the best defender, best midfield player and certainly played his part up front as well. He rallied the troops, I wish I’d been there to hear the pre match dressing room rousing speech, as the team came out with what seemed a new found confidence. For me, the packed house and of course the Monday night SKY audience, this was the match of the season. It was end to end, topsy turvey stuff…….in East End parlance “a right ol’ ding dong” of a game.
It was our new attacking coach Sherry who scored first for Spurs with a stunning header. But the Hammer’s response was forceful to say the least. From a Michael Hughes corner in the 21st minute Dicksy powered in a header to get us back on terms. About 2 minutes later the atmosphere really ignited when Paul Kitson on debut scored with a header from another Hughes corner. Joy was short lived however when Darren “sick note” Anderton lobbed Ludo to get spurs on level terms. Hartson then captured the hearts of the hammers’ fans when in the 37th minute he headed us back in front again, this time from a superb cross from Dicksy.
Sheringham, however, wasn’t to be upstaged, though, as he cleverly blocked off Dicks to allow Howells to make it 3 each. This was a rather poignant moment for Howells who had just suffered a family bereavement (his Dad) but had decided to play the match. Our bubbles anthem was heard right across London that night I am sure, as the game swung one way and then the other.
Dicksy sensed that a win was possible and pushed his battle weary troops forward for what seemed one last effort. I think the crowd had settled for a point, but not Dicksy.
When Howells was judged to have fouled the irrepressible Hartson in the box, who else would step up to take the penalty? In front of the Bobby Moore stand, I have never seen a penalty struck with such force before. Ray Stewart was the former penalty “king” but Dicksy’s penalty blasted into the net with such ferocity and velocity, it felt the whole of the Park would explode!!
What a captain that night, what a performance, and what a result.
West Ham 4 Spurs 3.