West Ham United 1964 FA Cup Final Retro Shirt

Manager Ron Greenwood and Captain Bobby Moore led West Ham United to the clubs first major trophy in a thrilling 3-2 FA Cup Final victory versus Second Division Preston North End under the Twin Towers at Wembley Stadium. In a great game that ebbed and flowed Preston took the lead in the 10th minute when Howard Kendal - at the time the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup Final  - started a move that led to Doug Holden opening the scoring. A minute later 18 year old John Sissons - at the time the second youngest player to appear in an FA Cup Final - actually became the youngest player to score in an FA Cup Final when he drilled home a cross shot to equalise for The Hammers. Alex Dawson put Preston back in front in the 40th minute before Geoff Hurst crashed a header in, off the underside of the crossbar for West Ham's second equaliser early in the second half.

With extra time looming it was Hurst to Brabrook to Boyce for a deft 90th minute headed winning goal by 'Ticker' for The Irons. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles rang around Wembley as Ron Greenwood's 'Full English' XI paraded both the FA Cup, and a giant Claret and Blue Hammer, around the Empire Stadium. West Ham had won The FA Cup with a team of Englishmen, 7 of whom: Jack Burkett; Ken Brown; Eddie Bovington; Bobby Moore; Ronnie Boyce; Geoff Hurst and John Sissons had graduated from the West Ham Academy of Football, and Manager Ron Greenwood had played the same eleven in every FA Cup tie from Upton Park in January to Wembley in May.

The Claret and Blue Road to Wembley had begun with a 3-0 victory versus Charlton Athletic in the 3rd Round at The Boleyn Ground with Geoff Hurst, Peter Brabrook and John Sissons on the scoresheet. The 4th Round tie away to Leyton Orient saw an astonishing 34,343 cram into Brisbane Road to witness a 1-1 East London draw with Peter Brabrook scoring for The Irons. Four days later under the Upton Park lights Hurst (2) and Johnny Byrne gave West Ham a 3-1 passage to Swindon Town in the 5th Round where again Hurst (2) and Johnny Byrne scored in a 1-3 win at the County Ground in Wiltshire. Burnley were overcome 3-2 in the 6th Round at Upton Park, and this time 'Budgie' scored the brace with Sissons bagging the other goal. And so to Hillsborough, for the semi-final versus FA Cup Holders Manchester United with Law, Best and Charlton - The Old Trafford Holy Trinity - all in the team. On a quagmire of a pitch in front of 65,000, West Ham simply outclassed Manchester United. Ronnie Boyce only ever scored two goals in a game on one occasion for The Hammers, and this was the day. Geoff Hurst sealed the deal in the 3-1 victory after Denis Law had pulled a goal back, and Bobby Moore was immaculately imperious on the Sheffield semi-final mud heap.

With 33 goals in all competitions Johnny Byrne was 1964 Hammer of the Year. Bobby Moore was the 1964 Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year. Goalkeeper Jim Standen spent the summer topping the First Class Bowling Averages with 52 wickets at an average of 14.42 as he helped Worcestershire win the County Championship, and in August at Anfield, the West Ham United 'Full English' FA Cup Winning XI (with Martin Peters as non playing substitute) drew 2-2 with Football League Champions Liverpool to share the  Charity Shield, and Bobby Moore, alongside Liverpool captain Ron Yates, lifted another trophy.

Score Draw Official Retro Shirt Match:

West Ham United 3 v 2 Preston North End. 

Saturday 2 May 1964.

FA Cup Final.

Wembley Stadium.

Attendance 100,000.

West Ham United: 1.Jim Standen. 2.John Bond. 3.Jack Burkett. 4.Eddie Bovington. 5.Ken Brown. 6.Bobby Moore. 7.Peter Brabrook. 8.Ronnie Boyce. 9.Johnny Byrne.  10.Geoff Hurst. 11.John Sissons.