West Ham’s last run to a European final was an archetypal 1970s tale of controversial decisions, World Cup stars and problems behind the Iron Curtain.
The Hammers, who won the European Cup-Winners’ Cup under Bobby Moore, returned to the competition in 1975-76 and came close to glory before losing 4-2 to Anderlecht.
After progressing past Finland’s Reipas Lahti in the opening round, John Lyall’s FA Cup winners were drawn against Ararat Yerevan, then part of the old Soviet Union though now in modern Armenia.
Travel was more complicated than hiring a private plane, as the club would do now.
‘We had to fly Aeroflot to Moscow and then change for another long journey south,’ says midfielder Pat Holland. ‘Things didn’t get any easier on arrival. Airport security took so long studying my picture I didn’t think I was going to get in. When we finally reached the hotel, it was infested with cockroaches.’
Pat Holland made 245 appearances for West Ham United across the spell of 12-year period
Holland reflected on his own European final with West Ham in 1976, ahead of the club’s monumental Europa Conference League final clash with Fiorentina next Wednesday evening
West Ham beat Yerevan and then Dutch side Den Haag in the last eight. Semi-final opponents Eintracht Frankfurt were strong, boasting German World Cup winners from two years earlier, Bernd Holzenbein and Jurgen Grabowski
Frankfurt won the first leg 2-1 but then succumbed 3-1 at a raucous Upton Park. ‘Trevor Brooking had one of those nights and scored twice,’ says Holland. ‘He was our most creative player. The secret was having workers around him, getting goal-side and giving him the space and freedom to play.’
Holland, pictured during an FA Charity Shield match, recalls the agony and ecstasy from their 4-2 defeat against Anderlecht in 1976
The next day’s headlines proclaimed ‘Terrific Trevor’ as West Ham booked their place in the final at Brussels’ Heysel Stadium.
On the chaotic night of May 5, 1976 there were plenty of thrills and spills. ‘I scored first after 28 minutes — a collector’s item with my left foot,’ says Holland. ‘I’d started wide and was struggling to get into the game so I decided to gamble on Bonzo [Billy Bonds] winning a flick-on and it paid off. ‘Anderlecht had the great Dutch players Rob Rensenbrink and Arie Haan but it flattered them to equalise just before half-time.
‘Frank Lampard pulled up and couldn’t get the ball back to goalkeeper Mervyn Day and Rensenbrink nipped in to score.’
Lampard went off and Holland was involved in the game’s key moment when the scores were locked at 2-2 with 17 minutes left.
‘Rensenbrink went into the box and I got a toe-end to the ball to hook it away. He got up straight away, not appealing for a penalty, but the referee still pointed to the spot,’ said Holland.
On TV, commentator David Coleman told the watching millions, “There will be arguments about that” and Holland says: ‘These days VAR would have looked at it. I definitely know I got the ball and he came over the top of my foot. It was a big turning point in the game.’
Rensenbrink scored and Anderlecht later added a fourth to leave the Hammers desolate.
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‘We still had a reception at East Ham Town Hall,’ says Holland. ‘The previous year, tens of thousands turned up after we’d beaten Fulham to win the FA Cup. This time Green Street was empty, hardly anyone there. It shows that getting to finals is great but you still have to win.’
There are striking similarities between the 1976 team and the current one. Like Moyes’ side, West Ham struggled in the league that season, finishing 18th in a 22-team division, but saved their best form for Europe. Billy Bonds was an inspirational captain; like Declan Rice, and on the pitch Rice’s job as midfielder enforcer was undertaken by John McDowell.
It is 43 years since West Ham’s last major trophy, winning the 1980 FA Cup final against Arsenal. Holland, now a part-time scout with Millwall, missed the game through injury to give 17-year-old Paul Allen his chance. ‘I still live in Essex and know how desperate West Ham fans are to win another trophy — it’s been too long,’ he says.
And this time, VAR will be there in case any debatable decisions go against them.
