Monday 4 April 1994 was the day another of Steve Jones' dreams came true.
Plucked from non-league obscurity with Billericay Town by manager Harry Redknapp, lifelong Hammer Jones waited patiently for his opportunities to shine in Claret and Blue.
The striker had played a minor role as West Ham United gained promotion to the Premier League in 1992/93, and had featured sparingly in the top flight the following season.
However, when Peter Butler was injured early in the Easter Monday derby at Tottenham Hotspur, Jones took his opportunity, scoring West Ham's opening goal in a thumping 4-1 win that Irons supporters - including the 50-year-old himself - are still talking about 26 years on.
We’d gone to Tottenham Hotspur and beaten them 4-1 in their own back yard but, to be honest, it could’ve been 10-1 with the chances that we made
Steve Jones
"The year 1994 was proving to be a great one and our victory at Tottenham Hotspur on Easter Monday lives long in the memory for the Hammers fans who made the trip to White Hart Lane," Jones recalled, with a smile. "On 22 minutes, I came on as substitute for Peter Butler and, within a quarter-hour, I put us ahead, after Ian Bishop broke upfield and I sent a low shot past Ian Walker, in off the post.
"Trevor Morley’s penalty doubled the lead after the break before Teddy Sheringham pulled one back for Spurs from the spot, too. But we were killing them on the break and Bish and Mike Marsh were running the show in midfield.
"Trevor then got his second goal before Marshy finished it off. We’d gone to Tottenham Hotspur and beaten them 4-1 in their own back yard but, to be honest, it could’ve been 10-1 with the chances that we made.
"Their supporters walked out, while our fans formed a huge conga. David Cross netted all four goals at the Lane in a 4-0 win back in 1981 and you can’t ever beat that but, for me it didn’t get any better than scoring there for the Hammers.
"It proved to be my fifth and final goal for the Club and, by October 1994, I found myself joining AFC Bournemouth where I had two fantastic seasons playing with a great group of lads under a great manager, Mel Machin. The club was struggling financially but they would really improve me as a footballer."
Jones returned to West Ham in the 1996/97 season and made eleven further appearances, meaning he totaled five goals and 33 appearances for his boyhood club.
Now living in Essex, the former forward is a popular matchday ambassador at London Stadium, where he never tires of talking about his famous Easter Monday striker White Hart Lane!
