Germans are being tamed wherever you look at West Ham’s training ground in Romford.
Inside the media room, the old boys are watching back grainy footage of the night they defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 in their European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final second leg in April 1976 – the greatest win in the Boleyn Ground’s history.
There are chuckles when they see how wet it was, with goalkeeper Mervyn Day saying there was ‘a lake’ in his penalty box. A collective ‘oof’ as Keith Robson watches himself whip the ball into the top-left corner. Admiration as Trevor Brooking bags their third goal. A sigh of relief as the referee blows the final whistle, confirming West Ham had completed the comeback after losing the first leg in Frankfurt.
Pat Holland pouring a glass of champagne for team-mate Trevor Brooking after West Ham reached the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1
Outside the media room and at that very moment, club captain Mark Noble is walking by with his two pet German Shepherds. A cute little coincidence, as West Ham look to repeat history on Thursday night at the London Stadium.
This is the club’s first European semi-final since 1976. They beat Frankfurt back then and as fate would have it, David Moyes’s men will need to do so again if they’re to reach the Europa League final in Seville on May 18.
Day, Robson and Pat Holland gathered to reminiscence about the soggy night they got the better of the Germans. Brooking couldn’t make the reunion, and nor could Billy Bonds, captain for that famous win 46 years ago.
As they watch back the game, they’re struck by nostalgia.
‘When the draw came through, we were gobsmacked at the weirdness,’ says Day. ‘We’ve got a connection with it. From our point of view it’s a better game than Barcelona – and one West Ham have a better chance of winning.
‘It’s a long time. For a club like this, which has had a cup-winning and European history, it is disappointing. Forty-six years is too long.’
The first leg in Frankfurt didn’t go to plan as West Ham lost 2-1. ‘Their ground was quite open with a running track around it,’ Day adds. ‘But they came to Upton Park and everyone was squeezed in there.
West Ham inflicted a hostile night on frightened Frankfurt in best Boleyn Ground win in 1976
‘The Chicken Run was literally a yard away from the pitch. It was a real hostile, horrible night that was tipping down with rain and a pitch you’d see over Hackney Marshes. It all conspired to give us an advantage. The crowd were massive for us on the night.’
The stands were so close to the pitch that an opposition player taking a throw-in might have the ball snatched from his hands. ‘You looked around at your opponents in the tunnel and they were frightened,’ says Robson. ‘You go over to the Chicken Run to take a throw-in and suddenly they’d have the ball. The Germans weren’t used to that. It was so compact.’
Holland adds: ‘Old pros who played at Upton Park found it really intimidating. They were so close to you. That area was so narrow. That was a major influence on the game. For us it was (the greatest atmosphere they’d ever experienced). It was like ‘whoosh’. The fans were really up for it.’
It was 0-0 at half time in that second leg but soon West Ham led 3-0 thanks to two goals from Booking and Robson’s rocket. Klaus Beverungen set up a nervy finish in the East End mud, but the Hammers held on to secure a final with Anderlecht.
West Ham fans pictured in 1976 – their side went on to lose to Anderlecht in the European final
‘The quality of some of the play was exceptional,’ says Day. ‘The one and two-touch passing, the movement off the ball, to do that on a pitch like that was fantastic. In the first leg, Graham Paddon’s 30-yard shot swerved into the top corner. All four goals we scored were top quality.’
Patting his pal on the back, he adds: ‘Robbo’s was the best, though, I have to say. I mean that.’
Records say there were 39,202 fans in attendance but these former Hammers suspect a few more sneaked in. Is the London Stadium capable of recreating that atmosphere?
‘The Sevilla game was absolutely incredible,’ Robson says. ‘I had hairs standing up at the back of my neck. That was like Upton Park. You could see we wanted a goal and when we got it, you wouldn’t have believed it.’ Holland: ‘It is very difficult to explain it, but the crowd can carry you. They are extremely loyal.’
Declan Rice and Co can immortalise themselves by winning the entire competition this time
There’s some ribbing between Robson and Holland over missed chances against Frankfurt, at which point Day jokingly rolls his eyes and starts to snore. Cue laughter.
‘It just took over you, that night,’ says Robson, smiling. ‘I can’t remember a night like that,’ adds Holland.
None of these men’s houses are filled with memorabilia. That’s not their style. ‘Was it Loyd Grossman on Through the Keyhole?’ Robson says. ‘If he came in my house he’d think I was a dog trainer! I’ve got pictures of my Labrador and my kids and me getting married!
‘I gave my shirt away from the European Cup Winners’ Cup final. I tried to give my medal away, too. I said, ‘Nobody remembers losers’.’
With that, these men are heading into the main building to meet Moyes for a chat.
These three will be at the London Stadium on Thursday night to see if West Ham can beat Frankfurt like they did in 1976. Do that and maybe Declan Rice and Co can immortalise themselves by winning the entire competition this time around.
