West Ham United 1986 Retro Football Shirt

West Ham United 1986 Retro Football Shirt

The 'Boys of 86'. One of the greatest West Ham United teams ever. West Ham United's highest league finish ever. Third in the 1985-86 Football League Division One Championship with 84 points, finishing four points behind Liverpool, two points behind Everton, and eight points ahead of fourth placed Manchester United. The 'Boys of 86' were in the title race with Liverpool and Everton right until the end, and all the more remarkable bearing in mind The Hammers won just one of their opening seven matches. 

John Lyall's new signings Mark Ward and Frank McAvennie made their West Ham United debuts in the season's opening day inuaspicious 1-0 loss against Birmingham City at St Andrews, made worse by the injury suffered by striker Paul Goddard. Goddard's injury left Manager John Lyall with no option but to move McAvennie upfront alongside Tony Cottee. Serendipitous. McAvennie scored twice in the 3-1 Upton Park win against QPR, and at the end of August scored another brace in the 2-2 Upton Park draw with Liverpool, then claimed the West Ham goal in the 1-1 draw with Southampton at The Dell, and then on Saturday 8 September Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee appeared on the scoresheet together for the first time in the 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, and now, led by Alvin Martin, West Ham began to motor. Newcastle United were beaten 1-2 at St James' Park. McAvennie and Cottee. Aston Villa were thrashed 4-1 at The Boleyn Ground. McAvennie (2) and Cottee (2). Ipswich Town were beaten 0-1 at Portman Road.  Cottee. Reigning champions Everton were beaten 2-1 at Upton Park. McAvennie (2). In December Daily Express journalist Joe Melling was describing the 'Boys of 86' as the "Best team in the land". In February 'Top of the Table' Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at The Boleyn. Mark Ward and Cottee. On the Saturday of Easter weekend Chelsea were dismantled and demolished 0-4 in a 'Boys of 86' masterclass on a Stamford Bridge mud heap. Alan Devonshire, Cottee (2), and McAvennie. Two days later on Easter Monday Spurs were beaten 2-1 at Upton Park. Cottee and McAvennie. Then, West Ham, chasing the title, went into a schedule of nine games in April, and that's worth repeating. Nine Football League Division One games in April! The 'Boys of 86' won seven of them including the 8-1 victory versus Newcastle United at Upton Park on Monday evening 21 April 1986 when West Ham Captain Alvin Martin scored a hat-trick for The Irons with each goal scored against a different Magpies goalkeeper. 1).A close range volley from a Mark Ward flighted free-kick scored against  Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Thomas. 2).A header from a Tony Gale flick-on scored against replacement goalkeeper Chris Hedworth. 3).A penalty hammered home against the replacement goalkeepers' replacement goalkeeper Peter Beardsley. Ray Stewart, Neil Orr, Glenn Roeder with an own goal, the returning Paul Goddard, and a Frank McAvennie header from a Tony Cottee cross completed the eight. Despite Newcastle United's acknowledged injury trials and tribulations that night at Upton Park Robert Armstrong, writing in The Guardian, described "an extraordinary performance even by the high standards of skill, pace and finishing power The Hammers set themselves". Newcastle United's England striker Peter Beardsley was due to report for Bobby Robson's England squad the day after keeping goal in the latter stages of the Mags' 8-1 defeat at The Boleyn and had arranged to stay overnight in London with a friend. The friend? Alvin Martin of course.