West Ham United's stars of 1980 reflect on their FA Cup final win over Arsenal at Wembley 40 years ago, on the day they celebrated with tens of thousands of supporters during an open-top bus parade through east London...
Where to start? Following their marauding march to Wembley, the Hammers side that lifted the FA Cup for the third time in the Club’s distinguished history was the last all-British XI to win football’s oldest cup competition, while no other team outside the top-flight has claimed the trophy in the past four decades.
Recalling the 1-0 victory over cup-holders Arsenal, Claret & Blue captain, leader and legend Billy Bonds – a veteran of 799 outings for the Club - insists: “We may have been in the old Second Division, but our 1980 FA Cup team that beat Arsenal was the best side I ever played in.”
Back between the posts, Phil Parkes insists: “We were determined to give the East End their day out and knowing we were a good side, were so full of belief. Arsenal were flying and some of our fans probably hoped in their hearts that we’d win, while thinking in their heads that we’d lose. But as players we knew we’d beat them - both in our hearts and our heads. Arsenal were more worried about us than we were about them.”
Right-back Ray Stewart, who top-scored with his three goals on the way to Wembley contends: “Despite being so-called underdogs, we played with freedom and certainly didn’t disappoint on that afternoon and, although Trevor Brooking deservedly got the limelight thanks to his memorable header, we produced a great all-round team performance to beat Arsenal. I’d won my first-ever medal, which I treasure to this day.”
On the other side of defence, Frank Lampard later revealed: “Let’s be realistic, West Ham were never going to win the league so two FA Cups was the next best thing. The 1975 final just passed me by so quickly - I soaked it up a little bit more in 1980 and enjoyed the Arsenal game most because I remember a lot more about the whole day. We had to be organised after Trev nicked the early goal but we held on.”
In the heart of back four alongside skipper Bonzo, Alvin Martin continues: “Arsenal were a good defensive unit and scoring against them wasn’t going to be easy so Trevor’s early goal gave us all a massive lift. We all knew what we were doing and looking around at our defence, Parkesy had been in great form, Ray Stewart was rock solid, Frank Lampard was Mr Experience, while Billy Bonds had done it all before five years previously. Over in the dug-out, we had John Lyall at the helm, too, and Arsenal were now going to have to do something very special if they were going to come back into the match and beat us.”
Moving into midfield, it is open to debate but Alan Devonshire modestly argues: “Personally, I didn’t feel that I played that well. I’d been performing at a good level all season but maybe I’d worn myself out and it was a game too far? People always remind me that it was my left-wing cross that led to Trevor Brooking’s header, though, and it was an unbelievable feeling to beat Arsenal. It’s fantastic to have an FA Cup winner’s medal.”
Record-breaking Paul Allen who became the youngest-ever Wembley finalist aged 17 years 256 days insists: “As players, we felt very confident because we could control our own performances but I sensed my family were very nervous. I’m not sure they enjoyed the afternoon until the final whistle signalled that we’d emerged unscathed and won the Cup.”
Ever-dependable Geoff Pike reveals: “A fortnight or so after the final, Ronnie Boyce asked: ‘Have you put your name down to take the FA Cup home?’ My entire family – including my nan, my late cousin Michael and my baby niece - came over to our house and I treasure the precious, priceless photographs of them holding or even sitting (!) in the trophy. It was simply surreal. If the kids in Gorseway, Rush Green had known what was going on that day, they’d have been queuing down the street.”
Playing an instrumental role in the Hammers match-winner, Stuart Pearson confesses: “I only made 51 appearances for West Ham but I always seemed to play in their big games and it was certainly great to be involved in our goal. Trevor maintains he knew what he was doing, when he steered his header into the net, while I contend that I picked him out with an inch-perfect cross. The truth’s probably somewhere between the two!”
Unselfishly sacrificing himself in the biggest game of his career, lone-striker David Cross, who tirelessly covered every blade of the Wembley grass on a sweltering May afternoon says: “At 2.45, John Lyall asked me to go it alone up front and I was so disappointed because I wanted to be an Alan Taylor. ‘Psycho’ wanted to be West Ham’s cup-winning hero but all I managed was one shot in the build-up to Trevor's winner. John must’ve been the first to go 4-5-1 in a final but he was so far ahead of the pack. Arsenal’s Don Howe was the most respected coach in England but he didn't know what day it was. Twenty years later, John came up to me and said: ‘I only played you there because I knew you could do it.' That meant a lot.”
Substitute Paul Brush, who unluckily found himself on the Wembley bench as Frank Lampard’s experience won the day admits: “After playing in every round of the FA Cup – including both semi-finals – I was devastated. It’d obviously been a difficult decision for John Lyall. I played 186 games for West Ham yet the one I missed is the match everyone wants to talk about! Now, 40 years on, the disappointment’s gone. If I’d played for just one minute, it would’ve made all the difference but I can’t ever change things. All I know is that at our 1980 FA Cup winning reunions, I’m treated equally by my team-mates and the Hammers fans. It’s comforting that my overall involvement is recognised and that I’m also seen as part of something very special.”
After masterminding victory and seeing his tactical masterstoke of playing Cross as lone-striker reap huge dividends, manager John Lyall recalled the scenes at the Hammers jubilant celebration banquet at the Savoy Hotel: “Whenever I saw Trevor that evening he was in a stooped or crouched position, re-running his goal. He headed the ball only once that season – thankfully it was on that day at Wembley!”
And the final word must go to Hammers legend, Trevor Brooking, whose match-winner had brought the famous old trophy back home to an ecstatic East End for that third-time: “Hammers fans, taxi drivers, Arsenal supporters…not one week goes by without mention of that header – a constant reminder of the enormity of what it means to everyone. 10 May 1980 was a very special day, indeed.”
