Sunday 1 January 2017 19:52, UK
West Ham will leave the Boleyn Ground following their match against Manchester United on Tuesday. Here, we take a look at five memorable matches that have graced the famous east London stadium…
If ever there was a game West Ham needed a boisterous, loud and vociferous home support, it was this one.
Trailing Ipswich 1-0 from the first leg of their Division One play-off semi-final, the Hammers faced a tough challenge to secure a place in the Millennium Stadium showpiece. What followed was one of the greatest nights under the lights at the Boleyn Ground in recent history.
A rousing rendition of Puccini's 'Nessun Dorma' prior to kick-off set the tone for a passionate red-hot atmosphere and West Ham responded by producing a rip-roaring turnaround.
Matthew Etherington set West Ham on their way early in the second-half with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty box before captain Christian Daily poked home to complete the comeback.
Though West Ham would go on to lose the final to Crystal Palace, the victory over Ipswich and the style in which it was achieved will live long in the memory for Hammers fans.
West Ham 1-1 Manchester United - Premier League - May 14, 1995
West Ham have made a habit of spoiling a party over the years at the Boleyn Ground. Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United will know all about that.
A Kenny Brown strike had condemned United to a 1-0 defeat in 1992 and all-but ended their chances of winning the Division One title. So, when United arrived in east London on the final day of the 1994-95 season needing a victory to stand any chance of pipping Blackburn to the Premier League title, they didn't have to be reminded of the threat posed by West Ham.
United's worst fears were confirmed when Michael Hughes volleyed West Ham in front midway through the first-half. The Boleyn Ground was bouncing. The home support celebrated Hughes' strike as if it was a goal that would crown them champions of England.
A Brian McClair equaliser early in the second half and news of Blackburn faltering at Anfield would give United hope of a turnaround at the top. But they hadn't counted on West Ham goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko producing a simply heroic performance to deny them.
United threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the West Ham goal in the closing stages, only for Miklosko to produce save after save to prevent them getting the winner they needed.
West Ham 1-0 Aston Villa - FA Cup sixth-round - March 8, 1980
The last time West Ham tasted major cup success, Dexys Midnight Runners topped the charts with 'Geno' and England were preparing for the European Championships under the management of former Hammers boss Ron Greenwood.
But there was an incredible 16-year spell when West Ham won the FA Cup on three occasions (1964, 1975 and 1980) as well as the European Cup Winners' Cup (1965).
This slender sixth-round victory over Aston Villa was a critical moment in West Ham's run to winning the FA Cup at Wembley in 1980.
Villa arrived at the Boleyn Ground as the heavy favourites to progress to the semi-finals, having lost just one of their previous 13 matches. West Ham, then a second division side, were the rank outsiders for the cup and a daunting replay at Villa Park looked to be on the cards as the minutes ticked down with the score locked at 0-0.
But with just a minute of normal time remaining, Villa defender Ken McNaught inexplicably handled in the penalty box, giving West Ham the chance to claim victory. West Ham's trusted penalty taker Ray Stewart made no mistake from 12 yards out, sparking wild celebrations around the Boleyn Ground.
West Ham 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt - European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final second leg - April 14, 1976
West Ham reached their second European Cup Winners' Cup final in front of a rapturous full house.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in West Germany, the Hammers turned the tie around with a superb display on a boggy Boleyn Ground pitch.
Three brilliant second half goals, two from Trevor Brooking and one from Keith Robson, took the game away from Frankfurt, who could only muster a later reply from Klaus Beverungen.
Brooking's first, one of his rare headed goals, came from an excellent Frank Lampard cross and, for his second, he skilfully cut inside the last defender before placing his shot low past the rooted Frankfurt goalkeeper.
Sandwiched between these two goals, the midfielder produced a magnificent cross field diagonal pass that led to Robson's sensational 25 yard curling shot into the top left corner of the net.
West Ham 7-0 Leeds United - League Cup fourth-round - November 7, 1966
Leeds United were known for their toughness and uncompromising professionalism throughout Don Revie's reign as manager. Defeats like this one just did not occur. But Revie's side, which included the likes of Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter, were left utterly mesmerised by a dazzling West Ham display under the Boleyn Ground floodlights.
Leeds had won 1-0 at Arsenal two days earlier, but they were no match for West Ham, who had put six past Fulham in the build-up to this cup clash.
Johnny Byrne was the architect of an outstanding Hammers performance, which Leeds midfielder Peter Lorimer could only describe as "awesome" in the aftermath.
Just months after heroics for England in the World Cup final, Geoff Hurst bagged another hat-trick, while Leeds defender Hunter refereed to John Sissons' hat-trick as "one of the finest he had ever seen". Martin Peters also scored as West Ham swept Leeds aside with some simply breathtaking football.
