May 2 - May 8

Take a look back at the dates in Hammers history that saw Ronnie Boyce secure West Ham United's first ever FA Cup final triumph, and Alan Taylor become the hero as we won it for a second time 11 years later.

May 2

1964 - Ronnie 'Ticker' Boyce's last minute winner gave the Hammers a 3-2 victory over Preston North End at Wembley in the FA Cup final, to bring the trophy back to Upton Park for the first time in the club's history. Underdogs Preston put up a brave fight, twice taking a first half lead, but strikes from winger John Sissons and Geoff Hurst drew the Hammers level. With just seconds remaining, Peter Brabrook's deep cross from the right was met by the head of Boyce and the Hammers were triumphant.

May 3 

1975 - Lightweight striker Alan Taylor, affectionately known as the 'Rochdale Whippet' became an unlikely hero as his two second half goals gave the Hammers their second victory in the FA Cup final, this time against Fulham, who had Upton Park legend Bobby Moore in their side. Taylor had already hit a brace in both the quarter-final against Arsenal and the semi-final against Ipswich and took his tally in the competition to six for the season when he grabbed two in the space of three minutes at Wembley. They were they only FA Cup goals he ever scored for the club.

May 4

1935 - A 2-0 win against Oldham Athletic on the final day of the season was not enough to secure promotion to the top flight for the Hammers, who finished in third place in the second division - one point behind Bolton Wanderers, who had sealed a vital victory over Charlie Paynter's team a week earlier. The Hammers weren't to get a better chance of promotion for another 23 years.

May 5

1976 - Having reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final for only the second time in their history, the Hammers crash to a 4-2 defeat against Belgian giants Anderlecht at the Heysel stadium in Brussels. Goals from Pat Holland and Keith Robson aren't enough as Anderlecht - led by future Hammer Francois van der Elst - win the trophy on home soil.

May 6

1939 - Although they weren't to know it at the time, West Ham's 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Upton Park proved to be the last Football League match they would play for six years, as the Second World War engulfed Europe. Scorer of the winning goal for the Hammers that day was Cliff Hubbard, playing what proved to be his one and only match for the club. Had war not began, Hubbard had been strongly tipped to go on and become a first team regular at Upton Park for some time.

May 7

1932 - A 3-2 defeat at Chelsea on the final day of the season consignes the Hammers to relegation from the First Division. Goals from Barrett and Yews are not enough as Syd King's men finish one point adrift of Grimsby Town at the bottom of the league after losing their last seven matches of the campaign. Relegation signals the beginning of the end for manager King, who the following season is sacked and later commits suicide.

May 8

1993 - The Hammers face Cambridge United at Upton Park on the final day of the season knowing that a win against the U's will secure promotion to the elite of the Premier League. With Portsmouth on level points though, one slip up could prove fatal. With the scores locked at 0-0 at half-time, nerves are jangling around the ground, until loan striker David Speedie crashes home from a corner to put Billy Bonds' men in the driving seat. In the dying seconds, Julian Dicks sets up Clive Allen to tap in a second and the Hammers are promoted to the big-time on goal difference.