The Irons have been drawn to meet Belgian club KAA Gent in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-finals.
And that will bring back happy memories for us veterans who will remember us beating the then Belgian Cup winners 2-1 on aggregate in the first round of our glorious 1964/65 European Cup Winners’ Cup run.
It’s a game which will prove a whole lot tougher than the outing we have had so far in the competition with Gent currently sitting in fifth position in a more competitive league. However, it is probably a better draw than either of Fieronitina, Basl, Nice or Anderlecht
We will travel to the Belgian Pro League side at Ghelamco Arena in the first leg on Thursday 13 April, before hosting the return leg under the London Stadium lights on Thursday 20 April.
Final confirmation of the dates and kick-off time are yet to be decided.
This season, the Belgians recovered from a 4-0 aggregate defeat by Cypriots Omonia Nicosia in the UEFA Europa League play-off round to defeat Molde of Norway and Shamrock Rovers of the Republic at home on their way to finishing second in Europa Conference League Group F behind Djurgårdens of Sweden.
They were then too strong for Qarabag of Azerbaijan in the knockout play-off round, and then despatched İstanbul Başakşehir of Turkey in the round of 16 thanks to the goals of young Nigerian striker Gift Orban.
Should we defeat Gent, David Moyes’ side will take on AZ Alkmaar or RSC Anderlecht in the semi-finals, with the first leg to be played at London Stadium on Thursday 11 May and the return leg at either AFAS Stadion or Lotto Park on Thursday 18 May.
The final will take place at Eden Arena in Prague, Czechia, on Wednesday 7 June.
The full draw details are as follows: (home club in first leg first)
Quarter-finals
Lech Poznań (POL) v Fiorentina (ITA)
KAA Gent (BEL) v West Ham United (ENG)
AZ Alkmaar (NED) v RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
FC Basel (SUI) v OGC Nice (FRA)
Semi-finals
Lech Poznań/Fiorentina v FC Basel/OGC Nice
KAA Gent/West Ham United v AZ Alkmaar/RSC Anderlecht
Final
Winner of semi-final 1 vs winner of semi-final 2
Gent are a much better team than Anderlecht. Strong and fast down the left side particularly, which will be an issue for us given our problems at right back. Even so, fifth in Belgium should not be an issue if we are on our game. Their defence looks wobbly.