Frank Lampard, Ray Stewart, Trevor Brooking and Stuart Pearson celebrate after Stewart scored from the penalty spot
West Ham United v Aston Villa
1980 FA Cup Quarter Final
Upton Park
Football
08/03/1980
Photo: Frank Baron
© Sporting Pictures (UK) Ltd
Tel: 020 7405 4500
Fax: 020 7831 7991
www.sportingpictures.com
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Sporting Pictures

Today’s picture is one of my favourites and comes from 1980,

The Boleyn Ground rocked as the underdogs beat the Villains on our way to a Semi-Final meeting against Everton.

An all ticket crowd of over 36,000 cheered on as the Hammers won due to perhaps a dubious penalty decision, smashed home by Ray Stewart in his first season at the club after signing from Dundee United. At the time of his arrival he was the most expensive teenager signed between British Clubs with the fee paid being £430,000.

Ray Played in all eight Cup games on the way to West Ham lifting the trophy and was our top scorer in the competition with 3 goals, 2 of which were penalty’s.

In the pic Stewart is mobbed by three of the elder statesmen of the team, Lampard Brooking and Stuart Pearson, with Paul Allen and Geoff Pike, who both failed to watch the penalty taken running in to join the celebrations with victory virtually assured as the penalty came in the last minute of the game. Jimmy Rimmer is the Villa keeper with his back to the camera

Unfortunately for me, I missed the goal as my uncle who took me to all the games at that time liked to leave early to miss the traffic, we heard the goal on the car radio.

More information and match highlights from the next days Big Match can be found at reelhistoryofwhufc.com with interviews with both managers after the game.

Words and pictures from lifelong supporter Nigel Khan with grateful thanks

Follow on twitter @mywhufc