Originally posted by Tony Hanna in 2013 on WHTID Re-posted today to mark the 40 year anniversary of our FA Cup two nil win over Fulham.
In March 1974 our most famous player and captain, Bobby Moore, left the club and joined second division Fulham. Later that year in September, John Lyall took over from Ron Greenwood as manager of West Ham. The changing of the guard was to unveil a new chapter in our clubs history. Two months later John Lyall signed an unknown striker from Rochdale. His name was Alan Taylor and he was signing on his 21st birthday. Alan had been injured and unable to play in Rochdale’s two FA Cup games that season but his ten goals in five league matches had caught the eye of the astute new West Ham boss. All these events were to work together in a mysterious way and eventually unfold on a wonderful day at Wembley just a few months later.
The Hammers started their cup run in January 1975 in uninspiring fashion. An away 2-1 win against Southampton saw us pitted against Swindon Town in the 4th round. A home 1-1 draw had everyone holding their breath for a Cup shock, but a late Billy Jennings goal in the replay saw us safely through by the odd goal in three. In the 5th round another 2-1 victory, this time at home to QPR saw us drawn away to Arsenal in the quarter final. By now Taylor had made a handful of 1st Division substitute appearances but John Lyall put him straight into the line up at Highbury. Taylors earlier injury at Rochdale had ensured he was not cup tied so he was eligible to play for West Ham. His two goals that day ensured a memorable 2-0 win against the odds. Ipswich Town awaited in the semi final and the match played at Villa Park ended goalless. The replay 4 days later at Stamford Bridge saw Taylor score another brace in a 2-1 win. We were going to Wembley!
Meanwhile, on the other side of draw, second division Fulham, who had signed ex England and Spurs player Alan Mullery as well as Bobby Moore, had made it to the final as well. The days leading into the big game at Wembley had many West Ham fans just a little perplexed. Whilst we wanted our team to win, did it have to be at the expense of a defeat to Bobby Moore, on the one day of the year the whole football World would be watching?
It was a lovely day on the 3rd May 1975 as Wembley was bathed in sunshine. However, as the two teams filed out of the tunnel things did seem very strange. John Lyall in his first season as manager and our new captain, the swashbuckling Billy Bonds led the Hammers out. It had seemed forever that Ron Greenwood and Bobby Moore had filled those two roles. And then of course in the Fulham line out there was Bobby Moore, and he was not even captain – the task being given to Alan Mullery. The first half was a tense affair and Moore was playing a blinder as Fulham were asking a lot more questions of West Ham’s defence than we would have liked. But the second half saw that man Taylor score yet another brace to bring the Cup back to the East End. A shot from Billy Jennings on the hour and another from Graham Paddon four minutes later were both only parried by Fulham keeper Mellor, and on each occasion Alan Taylor was there to knock the rebounds home. Thousands of Hammer fans ran onto the pitch at the end of the game to celebrate but the FA were to make sure that this was the last time such antics would be seen again at a Wembley final.
It was a fantastic day to be a Hammer fan, but even the most die hard would not have felt a touch of sadness for that great man Bobby Moore as he trudged off the Wembley turf for the last time. Even though he played in white that day he was always a Hammer in our hearts. John Lyall had won the Cup in his first season at the club and his signing of Alan Taylor had proved to be a master stroke.