Exactly 60 years to the day since they shared glory together on the hallowed Wembley turf, members of West Ham United’s 1964 FA Cup-winning team enjoyed an emotional reunion at London Stadium.
To honour the diamond 60th anniversary of their memorable 3-2 victory over Preston North End on Saturday 2 May 1964 at the Twin Towers in front of a crowd of 90,000 and millions watching around the world, match-winner Ronnie Boyce, his fellow goalscorer Sir Geoff Hurst, centre-half Ken Brown, left-back Jack Burkett and midfielder Eddie Bovington were hosted by the Club to enjoy a celebration lunch, where they lifted the famous old trophy again together.
They were joined in a surprise video call by their two former team-mates who are based overseas - goalkeeper Jim Standen, from Fresno in California, and winger and third goalscorer in 1964, John Sissons, from his home in Cape Town, South Africa.
Also in attendance at London Stadium were family members of the five Hammers heroes from that day sadly no longer with us - legendary manager Ron Greenwood, our greatest captain Bobby Moore, larger-than-life right-back John Bond, brilliant forward Johnny ‘Budgie’ Byrne, and the man who provided the cross for Boyce’s 90th-minute headed winner, right-winger Peter Brabrook.
The special guests were warmly welcomed to London Stadium by Sporting Director Mark Noble, who shared his admiration and respect for the men who secured the first major trophy in West Ham United’s history, and paved the way for the halcyon days of the mid-1960s that led to European Cup Winners’ Cup glory a year later and catapulted the profile of the Club to new heights.
Noble said: “It was an honour and a privilege for me to welcome the players and family members of the 1964 FA Cup-winning team to London Stadium.
"Once I knew that this event was taking place, I asked to come along to meet everyone and spend some time with the guys who played, because it was so important for me to acknowledge and respect their contribution to the Club, and everything they gave for it.
“Winning the FA Cup, for any player, in any generation, is something that you dream of. Back then, it was considered the greatest prize in football, and for West Ham United to win it for the first time was a huge moment.
“The image of Bobby Moore lifting the trophy alongside his team-mates is iconic for this Football Club. To be able to celebrate that moment exactly 60 years on, with some of the men who achieved it, is fantastic and it was so special to see the bond that these guys still share after so many years.
“The more years that pass, the more important it is to honour these milestones in our history, so that our young supporters and the future generations know just how important they were in helping to build the Club to what it is today.”
