HAMMERS ACADEMY REWARDS
WEST Ham fans who were there will never forget the day top-flight football returned to Upton Park after 26 years – and their Academy stars outplayed the champions.
The Academy of Football was the idea of Ted Fenton, who played for the Hammers for 14 years before becoming manager in 1950.
“The only way to build the club was from youth,” remembered Fenton in his autobiography, ‘At Home With The Hammers.’ “There were lots of good players around, but I had no money to buy the players I needed. There was always the problems of running a club on a shoestring.”
The Academy proved to be the answer.
West Ham reached the FA Youth Cup final in 1957, losing over two legs to Manchester United, and Academy graduates John Smith, Ken Brown and Andy Malcolm helped the Hammers win the Second Division the following season.
Promotion ended a run of 19 successive seasons in the second tier, stretching back to 1932-33.
The first home game back in the top flight brought champions Wolves, led by England captain Billy Wright and managed by Stan Cullis, to Upton Park on Monday, August 25, 1958.
West Ham were not intimidated by their reputation in front of a bumper Bank Holiday crowd.
The Hammers had been formidable at home on their way to the Second Division title, losing only one of 21 games at Upton Park, and were soon on the attack against the champions.
Wolves struggled to contain wingers Malcolm Musgrove and Mike Grice and keeper Malcolm Finlayson was called upon to make several saves to keep the home side at bay.
But Finlayson was beaten a minute before the break. Musgrove and Vic Keeble combined to set up John Dick and he fired home.
Hammers keeper Ernie Gregory barely had a save to make as Fenton’s side stayed in control in the second half and it was no surprise when they doubled the lead after 73 minutes.
Musgrove was the provider again, teeing up 19-year-old Smith for a 25-yard shot that flew past Finlayson.
West Ham might have had more, hitting the woodwork three times, and the result was no fluke.
The Hammers went on to finish sixth, while Wolves retained the title, finishing six points clear of Manchester United.