Two generations of Hammers heroes are pictured together to mark the day Bobby Moore surpassed Jimmy Ruffell’s record league appearances for the club in February 1973.
It was believed at that time that Ruffell had played 509 games for the Hammers but that has since been downgraded to 505 meaning that Bobby had actually already gone past Ruffell’s record four games before.
Moore went on to set the record at 544 which has since been passed by not only the current record holder Billy Bonds (664) but also Frank Lampard Senior (551), Ruffell sits fifth now with Trevor Brooking splitting him and Moore.
Jimmy Ruffell was born in Doncaster in 1900 but his family soon moved down to the East End of London and he joined the club in 1920, helping the club to promotion and the FA Cup final of 1923,short video here http://www.mywhufc.net/f.a-cup-final-1923.html.
It is reported that Ruffell disappointed in the game, hampered by the huge mass of crowds that hugged the touch line of the pitch. West Ham preferring to play with wingers out wide while Bolton preferred the more direct down the middle game.
He managed six games for England as well in the late 20s, and would stay at the club until 1938 when he left for a short stay at Aldershot before retiring.
His brother Bill was for a short time also on the books of the club but he never broke into the first team.
Jimmy lived to the grand old age of 89 before passing away, but he is forever remembered by the club for his place in Boleyn History as being in the top five club appearances record holders.