MACARI, BONDS & REDKNAPP

Frank McAvennie left the club in September 1987, and had a spell of 18 months with Celtic, but brought him back in March 1989 in a failed attempt to bring some goal power and escape relegation, but it did not work out, and the Hammers went down, with Frank failing to score in 8 games. In the new season of 1989-90, with now installed as the new manager, and with the club back in the second division, much was expected of the Scottish striker against lower quality opposition. Sadly, Frank did not get that fresh, early season opportunity to make a difference, because he was cut down in the 55th minute of the opening match of the season at Stoke, where City’s made a crunching tackle on Frank that resulted in a broken leg. In Frank’s autobiography, he alleges that as Kamara stood over his prone body, the City player yelled ‘Get up you Scottish bastard. This is a man’s game.’ Despite the pain Frank was suffering, he was more furious at Kamara’s remarks than anything else, and would have got up and decked his opponent had he been able to. The referee Mr G. Aplin did not even book the Stoke player, which was an oversight, to put it mildly. Frank did not play again until 6 months later, but he made just 4 substitute appearances. He was never quite the same player, and although scoring 10 goals in 34 outings in the following promotion season of 1990-91, he scored just 6 from 20 in 1991-92 where three of those came amazingly as a second half substitute in the final game of the season against Forest at Upton Park. It was in the away fixture with Hull City in September 1989, that David Kelly, who now had responsibility as the main striker, was sent off for fighting with Stephen Doyle, who was also dismissed. With just 4 minutes left on the clock and the game all-square at 1-1, a free kick was awarded to the Hammers outside the Hull box. There were a number of elbows flying around as the kick was taken and then made a challenge on the Hull ’keeper as the ball came over. Hull’s Doyle immediately punched Allen to the ground and kicked him. David Kelly, not normally known for getting involved, rushed in and pulled Doyle away from Allen, and then both had a bit of a scrap. As a consequence both players had an early bath. Probably the most consistently violent game ever at Upton Park took place in November 1989 during the short-lived Lou Macari reign. It happened when Wimbledon came to the East End for a 4th Round Football League cup clash. And clash it certainly was. The nicest way to describe the attitude and style of the visiting team was ‘rigorous, uncompromising and bloody-minded’. Now mix that with three explosive Hammers in , Mark Ward and Martin Allen who could all be expected to ‘get stuck in’ fairly at best, or exact revenge to add a few sparks, at worst. There was bound to be fireworks, and it was a bit like lighting the blue touch-paper and not moving away. Fouls were too numerous to mention and intimidation was the name of the game, causing a major brawl involving no less than 17 players just before half time, and it was expected that the break would calm things down. Only it didn’t. When Martin Allen lifted his boot, studs up into the nether regions of Eric Young, there was another scuffle between players, and Allen was booked. Dicks protested unnecessarily and was also given a yellow card. Then he turned that into a red by tackling with a scything tackle that saw the ’Dons’ player’s legs go in different directions. The redeeming moment of the game came when Martin Allen, using his right boot for a more positive purpose, scored with an absolute screamer to put the Hammers into the Quarter Finals. The referee was Alf Buksh who had been the official in charge two years previously when Ward was dismissed for fouling Wise. There was so much furore in the media over the manner in which the match was played that the F A, on video evidence, fined both clubs £20,000. The Quarter Final of the Football League Cup at Upton Park against Derby County also turned out to be quite a competitive and frenzied affair. Early on County lost Stephen Cross when George Parris tackled recklessly and at speed into him, and he was stretchered off. George was lucky just to receive a ‘talking to’ by the referee Mr Callow. Then Hammers’ brought down Dean

48 Saunders in the area. It certainly looked a penalty, but the official waved play on. In the second half Martin Allen was quite rightly dismissed for a highly dangerous two-footed lunge at Derby’s Mark Patterson. Allen looked for all the world as if he was taking part in the Olympic long jump as he sped across the pitch and then ‘took off’ with both feet at the opposing player. Before the end of the game Derby’s Mel Sage, who had ‘put himself about a bit’, flew at David Kelly with a cross-buttock attack that took the striker up in the air. Although the offence was not as dangerous as the Martin Allen foul, it was worthy of a red card, but Sage stayed on. The result of the game was a 0-0 draw and it took 2 replays for to go through to the Semi-Final, although it may have been better had they not, remembering the 1st leg at Oldham and the 0-6 fiasco that is forever known as the ‘Valentine’s Day Massacre.’ It was only 4 days after the Oldham game that manager Lou Macari, who had been employed to take over from John Lyall, walked out on the club after a short playing period of just over 6 months. Macari, who had lifted Swindon Town from the Fourth Division to the Second in 3 years, had a difficult act to follow in Lyall, and within the club there developed a definite split between those who liked and got on with Lou, and those who didn’t, with surprises in both camps. The reason that Macari resigned and left West Ham was not over results, but over illegal Martin Allen betting accusations at his former club, and it is difficult, because of his short time at Upton Park, to assess how he would have fared as manager over a longer period. There was certainly no time for any fans to lift a banner with ‘Macari Out’. was installed as the man ‘in charge’ at the club, and in the West Ham United v Sheffield United 2nd Division fixture at Upton Park, the Hammers, already a goal to the good, were awarded a penalty when was pulled down by , the visitor’s goalkeeper, although video evidence proves that the offence was outside the area, with Morley falling inside. Technically, with the goalkeeper being the last man, he should have been dismissed by the referee Gerald Ashby. Throughout the game, with the visitors kicking everybody and anything that moved, Bill Whitehurst, at least should have received a red card for persistent offences culminating in clawing at Ludek Miklosko’s face as the ’keeper grabbed the ball. Sheffield United did get a 5-0 drubbing after all, with Stuart Slater providing an electric display of tremendous speed and trickery, laying on 3 of the goals against a side that would eventually gain promotion as runners-up. Earlier in the season when West Ham were the visitors at , goalkeeper Tracey brought down Slater (Dicks missing the penalty by hitting the bar) and then up-ended Eamonn Dolan but Ward scored from the spot. Mr K. Redfern, the referee, did not send Tracey off, and not only that, he failed to book him! As early as the third game of the 1990-91 season, opposition players began to give Hammers’ Stuart Slater rough treatment, as his lightning pace began to run opposing defences ragged. Watford’s Gary Williams was the first of the season to get his marching orders at Upton Park. In a niggling encounter, after already being booked in the first half, his second bookable offence came after a crude body check and dangerous trip on the quicksilver Hammers’ forward, When former West Ham manager John Lyall made his first return to Upton Park with his Ipswich side in September 1990 he must have been satisfied with his team’s showing as they led by a single goal at half time. Hammers’ manager Billy Bonds made a double substitution on 58 minutes that included swapping the disappointing McAvennie for Jimmy Quinn, and 4 minutes later West Ham were level via a goal from . The visitor’s downfall began when substitute Neil Thompson was

49 handed a red card by Gerald Ashby in the 78th minute for hauling back Trevor Morley en route to goal. Quinn scored a peach of a goal by lifting the ball over Ipswich ’keeper Craig Forrest and diving forward to head into the empty net, and Morley added another before the end. Why do West Ham United struggle in Cup ties against lowly opposition? Fourth Division Aldershot came to Upton Park for an F.A. Cup 3rd round tie in January 1991 and the Hammers were riding high at the head of the old second division and heading for the top flight at the end of the season. Aldershot were in financial trouble and would be expelled from the Football League in just over 12 months time. All this mattered little to the Hampshire side on the day, and they fought gallantly to draw the game 0-0. In order for the ’Shots to benefit financially, the replay was also scheduled to be played at West Ham. On this occasion the Irons made no mistake, and recorded a 6-1 victory, after leading 4-1 at the break. Although it made little difference to the outcome, the visitors lost central defender John Flower in the second half. We have all heard of the ‘passion flower’ but the Aldershot player showed far too much of it as he initially lashed out at Jimmy Quinn and then Ian Bishop to receive a booking. Not content with that he jabbed an elbow to the back of Morley’s head, which went unnoticed by the referee Mr H. King. Continuing his assaults Flower was booked for planting a waist- high tackle on Stuart Slater, and off he went. Frank McAvennie was not the same player after he broke his leg at the start of the previous season, but he was still a great favourite with all Hammers’ fans and whatever his form he was fully committed to the team at all times. When City came to the East End, City’s full back Andy Llewellyn had already put Stuart Slater out of the game with a high tackle. (Another battering for poor Stuart). It was most likely out of a sense of revenge for his team-mate that McAvennie tussled with Llewellyn and struck him with an elbow. There was a subsequent set-to between them, and referee Paul Alcock had no hesitation in dismissing them both in the 60th minute, and as the pair went off the pitch and into the tunnel they had to be separated by other players. West Ham won the match by a single goal scored by a Tony Gale free-kick, but McAvennie’s suspension, which was not immediate, like suspensions are now, meant that he would miss the team’s F.A. Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. It could be said that West Ham were deprived of the second division championship due to a linesman and referee’s decision in the league match at Oldham Athletic, in late March 1991. For the Lancashire side would eventually claim that honour at the Hammers’ expense. With West Ham already a goal to the good there was a scramble in front of the Oldham goal with the ball pinging around between players. Ian Dowie, in only his second appearance for the East club, stabbed the ball home just inside the right-hand post. The referee, Mr G. Alpin, awarded a goal at first, but then agreed with a linesman who had flagged for offside. This was most contentious because McAvennie who was adjudged to be the culprit, had fallen on the goal line by the left- hand post and was in no way interfering with play. Oldham went on to claim a draw with a disputed penalty 3 minutes from time, and on the last day of the season won the championship with a last minute penalty at Sheffield Wednesday, whilst the Hammers inexplicably lost to Notts County at home. When Tony Gale was dismissed against Nottingham Forest in F.A. Cup Semi-Final at in April, it was probably one of the worst refereeing decisions in the history of the F.A. Cup. Tony Gale’s FA Cup dismissal A hopeful punt from inside the Forest half saw the ball drifting in an almost diagonal line towards the left hand side of the pitch and high over Tony Gale’s head. Whilst the ball was in the air Gary

50 Crosby, who was originally behind Gale, caught the West Ham defender on the turn and squeezed past to get to the ball that by now was moving in front and to the left of the penalty area. Gale was directly behind Crosby and trying to get to the ball, but the Forest forward appeared to be slightly backing into Gale at the same time in an effort to keep it. With the momentum of the two players together and both contesting possession, Crosby stumbled and fell forward. With referee to the rear the book came out immediately. Bearing in mind the incident appeared accidental to everyone, most of all Gale, it was a shock to see Hackett produce not a yellow, but a red card, and Gale left the field in a distressed condition. To spectators and all the media present this was an overzealous decision. Firstly, if it could in any way judged to be a foul at all, it was not deliberate. Secondly, if the referee considered that Crosby had been denied a direct goalscoring opportunity, because Gale was the ‘last man’, that was incorrect, because the incident occurred when both players were running away from the goal itself in a diagonal direction, more towards the left hand side of the area, and outside it. The timing of the dismissal was crucial as it happened in the 26th minute of the first half and the Hammers were handicapped for such a long period. After a goalless first half Forest capitalized on their numerical superiority and hit 4 goals in the second half. The game however, is remembered mostly at West Ham for the continual chanting of the Hammers’ fans rendering of ‘Billy Bonds claret and blue army’ for the last 25 minutes of the game, when the team were already two goals down. As for Tony Gale, it was the first and only time that he had been sent off in his career which overall ran into over 600 league and cup games. He came to West Ham from Fulham having made 300 league appearances for the West London club. Considering Tony was a central defender he was a most cool and polished performer who had no need to resort to any ‘rough stuff’ because it was his positioning and the timing of his interceptions that were his assets counteracting any opponent who had a turn of speed. He was exceptionally good in the air, which in addition to his defensive duties helped when moving up for near post flick-ons at corners. Before the new campaign of 1991-92 began in earnest the club arranged a friendly with Brazilian side Botafogo. Only 6,131 fans turned up for a game that was entertaining, with the visitors showing their usual Brazilian skills. At half time the game was level at 1-1 with no signs of ill-temper. That situation changed in the 56th minute. Frank McAvennie had complained to the referee Graham Poll that he had received a violent tackle from Botafogo’s centre back Francisco, and having already had his leg broken he didn’t want that repeated. Poll told Mac to ‘get on with the game’. A minute later Francisco whacked Frank in the face with his elbow, and the West Ham striker lost his temper and retaliated. In the following fracas the Brazilian Roberto kicked McAvennie and both players were sent off. Frank was suspended for 3 matches but also lost his place in the side to new signing Mike Small. Following the above friendly it was a return after two seasons to the top flight for West Ham United, but as early as the third game the omens were not good after a 0-2 reverse at against Wimbledon, where controversial ’Dons’ striker John Fashanu more than ‘put himself about a bit’. He had a rare tussle with West Ham’s central defender Colin Foster and in one clash Fashanu broke Foster’s nose, for which he received a caution. After the game, he had the audacity to call Foster a racist, which the West Ham man categorically denied, as he had ‘roomed ‘ with several black players in the past, and currently had with both Mike Small and George Parris. Not content with that, Fashanu continued to foul, and his second bookable offence came when he clattered Hammers’ keeper Miklosko with a boot into his chest, which meant the red card from referee Mr I. Wiseman The punishment doesn’t always fit the crime in football. Just a few weeks later, in the home fixture with Manchester City, and another defeat (1-2), Colin Foster himself was penalised for handling in the area, which appeared ‘ball to hand’, and despite protests to referee Mr K. Barratt, he was redcarded. When such a situation is in some doubt, surely the penalty itself is sufficient? Considering the ‘rough house’ tactics in the Wimbledon game this appeared very harsh, although suspensions for violent conduct cover a longer period than those for lesser misdemeanours.

51 When ’Spurs came to the in late October 1991 the Hammers were down to 17th position in the table. A tense competitive encounter resulted in a rare home victory by 2 goals to one. ’Spurs had been pulled up for several fouls throughout the game and eventually received a booking. He was consistently barracked by the West Ham fans with their chanting of ‘Chelsea reject’ and in general had an unhappy afternoon. It came to a head in the very last minute of the match. Feeling aggrieved for what he considered a push in the area from Tim Breaker, he ran out at speed to Stuart Slater in order to get to the ball, but lifted his foot high up on the Hammers’ player’s leg and the speed of the action felled Slater like a log. For this offence Durie received a ‘straight red’. There was no doubt that Stuart Slater was on the receiving end of many a challenge in his final season at Upton Park. His dribbling ability and pace on the ball was a thorn in the side of many opposing teams who seemed intent on kicking him out of the game. At the end of West Ham’s worst ever campaign he left to join Celtic, where he sadly did not have much success. From there he returned to to join Ipswich and Johnny Lyall, and later Watford, but he never did produce the form and quality that he did at West Ham. One red card that should have been produced but wasn’t, came on the visit of Sheffield Wednesday in November. Martin Allen had been on the bench the whole of the first half, and had seen Wednesday’s running the show for the visitors. Added to that was the fact that the Owl’s manager was who was in charge of QPR when Allen was a player there. Francis had been infuriated that Allen had attended the birth of his son against his manager’s wishes. Martin Allen admitted that everything had boiled up inside him and within 20 seconds of him coming off the bench for the second half he tore into a tackle on Carlton Palmer, studs up into his knee, which resulted in Palmer being stretchered off, with fears of a suspected leg fracture. It was a mystery why referee Mr C. Wilkes did not dismiss Allen. Fortunately the leg was only badly bruised, and the West Ham later apologised to Palmer for the tackle. Manager Billy Bonds however, after studying video evidence fined Allen a week’s wages. It fell to full back Tim Breaker to have the dubious distinction of being the only West Ham player in the league campaign to have blotted his copybook with a dismissal due to fouls, after two bookings at in December 1991 where Everton ran riot. The home side were already three up when Breaker hacked down Paul Hinchcliffe just before half time. , who was in direct opposition to Breaker, had been the instigator of many of Everton’s attacks, and Tim obviously frustrated, got his marching orders after bringing down his tormentor with 20 minutes remaining. The Irons were already 0-4 down at the time, and were fortunate that ten men did not concede again in a disastrous performance. Breaker’s full back partner Mitchell Thomas also receiving a booking. It had now undoubtedly become the most critical season in the club’s history. Events on the pitch were very often overshadowed by those off it. Sometimes they were inexorably intertwined. What should have been a season of celebration at a return to football in the top-flight was ruined, not just by results and performances on the field, but by the ill-timed and ill-fated Bond Scheme. In order to implement the requirements of the Taylor Report, which meant that all top division clubs would need to re-develop their grounds into all-seater stadia, there had to be the finances in place to carry it out. Unfortunately the West Ham United board, in their wisdom, decided that it would be the supporters and fans of the club who would foot the bill. They were soon to discover that they were overwhelmingly mistaken. Striving to find the amount of £15.5 million that was needed, season ticket holders were requested to pay, according to their seat positions £975, £750 or £500 for a Bond on top of the following campaign’s cost of a season ticket. If they decided otherwise they would be denied any right to purchase a season ticket at all. This was nothing less than blackmail. The amount of opposition to the scheme from the fans was phenomenal, and it was unexpected by the West Ham board. Enormous pressure went into what can only be described as a resistance movement orchestrated largely by Fanzines, led all the way by the popular ‘Over Land and Sea’. With pitch demonstrations and a ‘red card’ scheme, not issued by a referee on the field, but by thousands on

52 the terraces waving their own red cards in anger at the West Ham board of directors, matters came to a head in the period from January to March 1992, and the club issued a modified plan which also found little favour. In the final analysis the whole project was a failure as only 808 bonds were purchased from an original projection of 19,301 leaving the Royal Bank of , in the main, responsible for the underwriting of the scheme. All the trials and tribulations off the pitch adversely affected the players on it although the bitter truth is that the team had just not performed in the league before the New Year when they were languishing in the bottom three. The pitch demonstrations and general disruption by the fans did not occur in earnest until January, but from then on there is no doubt that the players must have been unfavourably influenced by the atmosphere at the ground. Avoiding making errors, combined with the fear of trying anything ambitious lest it failed, must have put pressure on their performance. The first red cards that were wielded by the fans on the terraces in demonstrations against the West Ham board, came at half time in the fixture at Upton Park against Sheffield United in late December, which strangely coincided with the final red card on the field of play in matches where West Ham were concerned, when the visitors’ Brian Gayle was dismissed. Not much went right for the Hammers in this awfully depressing season (both on and off the field), but they were lucky to receive a helping hand in the 70th minute by referee Michael Pierce who deemed incorrectly that he had been sworn at by Gayle, and the Sheffield United defender got his marching orders despite protests, but it later transpired that Gayle was ‘badmouthing’ one of his colleagues, not the ref. The visitors scored through in the 84th minute and looked to be heading for 3 points until Kenny Brown and Sheffield’s Cowan tackled together in the Blades’ penalty area. To everybody’s amazement Pierce pointed to the spot. Deluged by the visiting defenders the referee who, without any doubt on this occasion, was sworn at by , who led the protests, but the decision stood, and West Ham equalised from a thundering spot-kick by Julian Dicks, back in the side after 14 months out through injury. A point gained, courtesy of Mr Pierce. The defining moment for both players and supporters alike, came in the home match against Everton on 29th February 1992. Firstly, thousands of red balloons were released by the fans in a protest, and then, with the visitors two goals up, and no less than four balls having gone into the crowd and not having been returned, Everton’s Martin Keown went down injured and was receiving treatment, when an individual ran on to the pitch, picked up a corner flag, and stuck it in the centre circle. He then sat cross-legged, whilst Julian Dicks retrieved the flag and Martin Allen crouched down and pleaded with the guy to move. His reluctance had the effect of influencing a few hundred more to run on to the pitch and demonstrate in front of the Directors’ box. Mr A. Smith, the referee, halted the match and the players went off until it was clear to resume. The club were indeed fortunate that the F.A. did not take any action, but from that point on the Bond Scheme was a ‘dead duck’, but slowly and agonisingly so was West Ham’s tenure in the top flight as the team remained bottom losing nine of the remaining fourteen fixtures. On a much lighter note for West Ham fans, but maybe not for the neutral, there were some amusing moments to lighten the mood when Arsenal visited Upton Park in March. With the Hammers bottom of the table and certain to stay there, Arsenal’s Perry Groves had complained to the referee that Stuart Slater had dived on Groves’s challenge. Julian Dicks was infuriated at this, and subsequently sought him out. After being heavily tackled by Dicks, Groves began to complain to the referee that he wanted protection. Just two minutes into the second half Dicks was booked for his 5th foul on Groves, and the Arsenal player kept as far away from Dicks as he could. However, near the end of the game Groves had the bravery to tug at Julian’s shirt, for which he received a booking. What he also received, was an elbow in the gob in retaliation which referee Brian Hill appeared not to notice. Groves was then subbed, presumably for his own safety!

53 Despite a traumatic season humour still pervaded the terraces, especially in the chicken run area and above. This was typified near the season’s end after the end of one game when the club announcer came over the tannoy with ‘If you people don’t stop running on the pitch at the end of the game, we will have to put fences up!’ From the back came an instant reply — ‘Yeah, and while you’re about it stick up some blinds as well!’ With the renaming of the top-flight league in English football from the First Division to the the Hammers had found themselves at the beginning of the 1992-93 campaign, despite relegation, back in the First Division, but by name only, as it was the second flight in reality. Now, since 2004-05, it is known as the Championship. Striker Mike Small who had been caught offside more times than West Ham had scored goals during the previous disastrous season, was caught out yet again on the first day of the new campaign at Barnsley. His frustration got the better of him and his continual ‘mouthing off’ to the assistant referee resulted in a dismissal from referee Mr R. Nixon in the 83rd minute in a game that the Hammers won more comfortably than the 1-0 score suggests. In a campaign that was to result in a quick return to the top flight, now under the new title of the Premier League, Julian Dicks was a vital piece in the jigsaw. On occasions that piece, unfortunately, went astray. In the meeting with Newcastle United at St James Park, Dicks, who had already been booked, was sent off after 75 minutes. On the touchline, Newcastle’s Franz Carr, was hustling Dicks from behind in an attempt to get the ball. Trying to shake him off Dicks brought round his right elbow and struck his opponent firmly in the face, and Julian was on his way to the dressing room courtesy of referee Mr W. Burns. The Hammers were seventh and Wolves were third when the two teams met at Molineux in October 1992., and in a niggling encounter a goalless draw resulted. There had been a few run-ins between Julian Dicks and as the game progressed, and in the second half Dicks had the ball deep on the left when Paul Birch, on Wolves right flank, flew into him with his foot very high. This was immediately followed up by a heavy and violent charge on Dicks by Bull. Julian half threw Birch over at the same time, and Bull writhed around on the ground as if he had been the victim. The referee Mr D. Allison issued yellow cards to both Dicks and Bull. Late in the half, Bull burst through with the ball and was just a shade past Dicks when the West Ham man stretched his leg chest high to reach the ball which was at that level, but did not make any contact with it, or the Wolves player. Bull directly stumbled to the ground rolling about and holding his shin. This was a disgraceful attempt to get Dicks dismissed, and it worked as Julian was shown the red card. As for Bull, he clearly got away with his acting. What he should have got was a red card and an Oscar to go with it. Now in third place, West Ham met Swindon Town in the latter part of October at the Boleyn Ground. The visitors were even higher in runners-up spot. With Swindon’s through on goal with only Ludek Miklosko to beat, he was tripped by George Parris from behind and George was rightly red-carded by the referee Mr I. Borrett. George Parris was enraged at the official for not awarding a penalty and persistently confronted him, but he was lucky not to have been throttled by both and Tim Breaker who were pushing him away. The referee was correct in awarding a free-kick as Ling was fouled just outside the box, but fell inside. Sadly for the Hammers it resulted in a goal for Swindon anyway, who went on to win the game by that single goal.

54 Considering that promotion was the chief aim of the club, they competed by invitation, in the Anglo-Italian Cup, with 5 other clubs from their league, along with 6 Italian clubs from Serie B. This would mean more fixtures and the possibility of injuries, but it was considered of extra benefit to the club’s finances. West Ham United successfully got through the preliminary rounds eliminating Southend United and Bristol Rovers, before competing with Italian sides Cremonese, AC Reggiana, Cozenza and Pisa in Group B. Unfortunately, through poor attendances and travelling expenses, it was hardly worth the bother, and the Hammers had two men dismissed into the bargain. The first came in the encounter with Reggiana at Upton Park. It had been an aggravating affair from the start, and it was as early as the 18th minute when striker Trevor Morley, who had suffered some rough treatment from defender Gianluca Francesoni, took a swipe at the Italian. Morley said that he expected an assault from his opponent and ‘got in first’, and there was also talk of a head-butt, but whether it was one or both Trevor got his marching orders from referee Graziano Cesari, after consultation with a linesman. So the Hammers played 72 minutes with ten men but won the game with two goals in the second half. It was fortunate that in this rather pointless competition any suspension did not count in the English league as Matthew Rush was also dismissed in the home match against Pisa when he had a ‘set-to’ with Fasce, and the Italian referee Signor Cardona sent both players packing. The game finished goalless and the Hammers were eliminated. Although attendances were down, due to relegation and the hard-bitten attitude of the club’s board during the previous season, the team itself were enjoying a good campaign. The Hammers had maintained their third spot in the table when they met Derby County at the Baseball Ground in January 1993. On a mud-heap of a pitch, Julian Dicks made it a hat trick, not of goals, but dismissals in one season. He was certainly living up to the nickname of ‘Terminator’ that the fans had given him, but his appearances were being terminated at the same time. West Ham were already 2-0 up after 15 minutes, and with Derby back on the attack, Dicks lunged at Ted McMinn from behind and flattened him, and was rightly booked. In the 30th minute McMinn received the ball on the touchline, but before he had time to progress down the flank Dicksy, varying his challenge from behind in the first incident, decided on a frontal onslaught on this occasion, and the surprise and speed of his approach combined with a powerful sliding tackle lifted his opponent high into the air just like the line from the old song ‘the daring young man on the flying trapeze’. McMinn fell to earth face first in the mud. Referee Alan Wilkie, had no option but to present Julian with a second yellow card. Some thought this should have warranted a straight red, but Mr Wilkie must have recognised that the tackle, because of its speed and power looked much worse than it was, because at no time did Dicks ‘go in’ high or with studs showing. Dicks himself went into Julian Dicks a raging fit, and had to be restrained by Bonds and Redknapp. It was fortunate that the incident took place very close to the tunnel — a convenient escape route. As for the game itself the Hammers maintained their two goal lead, which lifted them into joint second place, but it was a superb performance with some of the one touch football in difficult muddy conditions a joy to watch. West Ham combined their obvious skill with tremendous speed, determination and an aggression not normally associated with the club. Apart from the obvious bookings it was also a match where no quarter was asked or given, with some pretty dodgy tackles shared out, and the referee had to be praised for letting the game flow when he was able.

55 The Hammers’ home fixture in February with Newcastle United was a top-of–the-table affair and despite the 0-0 scoreline the frenetic play combined with an abundance of skill provided great entertainment. Both Martin Allen and Julian Dicks however, let their enthusiasm get the better of them, and had the referee, Mr Cooper, taken a sterner line both players would have been in worse disciplinary trouble. As early as the 5th minute Allen literally threw himself at Newcastle’s Stephen Howie with a high, flying two-footed challenge that looked like an attempt to cut his opponent in half! Just a booking was handed out by referee Mr K. Cooper, but in reality it should have been worse. The game would have suffered of course because Allen’s contribution to West Ham’s overall performance was outstanding. His busy, determined play, along with that of Peter Butler in midfield over the season, did much for the team that would gain promotion to the Premier League. Martin Allen’s valuable addition of 14 goals scored in 27 appearances was more than a bonus for a player who was not a striker. As for Dicks, in the first half of the game he flew into Robert Lee with a lunge, up into the thigh, which earned him a yellow card, but made a similar assault again before half time, and everyone thought he might be off for a fourth time in the campaign, but only a free-kick was given. Julian Dicks’ disciplinary record almost suffered further in a pre-season testimonial match for Leyton Orient’s Kevin Hales at Brisbane Road. Dicks claimed he was smacked in the mouth by Orient’s Warren Hackett after the Hammers’ full back had gone in with a sharp tackle. Julian’s explosive response in retaliation could well have resulted in a dismissal, but not wishing a testimonial game to be marred by such a decision, referee John Moules ordered Billy Bonds to substitute the player instead. In the new season of 1993-94 proper, West Ham’s first in the new Premier league, the team lost their opening two games. Events that occurred during the encounter with Coventry City at Highfield Road in their next match proved the catalyst for the club to part company with the fiery Dicks. The Hammers’ full back had floored Coventry’s Sean Flynn with a bad tackle in first half injury time, and was booked by referee Steve Lodge. Many, including West Ham assistant manager , thought the offence warranted a red card, and he suggested to Billy Bonds in the dressing room at half time to take Julian off for the second half, but after Dicksy had thrown his shirt down in anger and disgust, Billy calmed it all down and he carried on. Within another month however, the deal taking Dicks to in exchange for David Burrows and took place. It would take just 13 months for ‘The ‘Terminator’ to return to the fold. In 18th place in the table when they visited St James Park to face Newcastle United in late September, the club had acquired Dutch striker Jeroen Boere from Go Ahead Eagles. He came on as substitute midway through the second half for his first appearance, and in the 85th minute with the Irons two goals down, jumped up after a long clearance from Ludek Miklosko, and in so doing flicked his hand into Kevin Scott’s face. The ball ran loose, and following it up Boere then lunged with a high kick at Barry Venison. Referee Mike Reed dished out a yellow card for the Venison foul. Before play recommenced the lineman flagged and got Reed’s attention, as he had obviously not seen the incident with Kevin Scott. After consultation, the new West Ham striker received a straight red. The following week Chelsea came across London for a visit with the ‘little charmer’ Dennis Wise now playing for the ’Blues’. The controversial midfielder, never often out of the news, off the field or on it, was deservedly dismissed by referee Mr R. Hart for an awful ‘studs up’ attack on David Burrows that brought the West Ham player to his knees and sent the ex-Wimbledon player down the tunnel. His offence did little to help his team as the Hammers grabbed 3 points in a single goal victory. Oldham Athletic were struggling near the bottom of the table when they came to Upton Park in late November, and went away pointless after a 2-0 defeat. Visiting full back Chris Makin did not exactly improve his team’s chances after being yellow carded by referee Mr D Allison for a bad tackle on Tim Breaker in the first half. Not content with that Makin did a replica of the offence in the second half, and was directly makin’ his way to an early bath.

56 There is no doubt that was a great goalkeeper both for Arsenal and for England, and before the Gunners came to Upton Park for a midweek floodlit fixture they had conceded just 2 goals in the previous eight away games. By the 85th minute of the contest Seaman’s goal was still intact with a scoreless draw in prospect, but then the Arsenal ’keeper, with no other defender around, ran just outside the area and body-checked Trevor Morley as he was going through on goal. This did not quite have the desired effect, and as Morley managed to half-ride it, Seaman brought his arm round Morley’s neck and threw him back, rather like a rag doll. The West Ham striker’s action was quite apt, as the fans had dubbed Trevor ‘rag doll’ from early on in his stay at Upton Park. Because it was so late in the game, the sending off of Seaman by referee Paul Durkin gave no advantage to the Hammers at all. Had Morley not been obstructed he would have scored to seal a victory, but as it was the Gunners had yet another clean sheet away from home. Fortunately West Ham’s form improved overall, and the club finished in mid table position come the campaign’s end. After the management team of Billy Bonds and his assistant Harry Redknapp had been unable to keep the expensive new signing Joey Beauchamp at the club no further than the 1994-95 pre-season games, the split came between Billy and Harry with the former leaving the club, leaving Redknapp as sole manager of team affairs. After the surprise departures of Lyall in 1989 and Macari in 1990, albeit for different reasons, the resignation of Billy Bonds came as an even bigger shock. Billy was another in the mould of John Lyall, an honest individual and a real gentleman. Taking over from Lou Macari he took the club to promotion twice, with a relegation in between that was very much influenced by the dreaded Bond Scheme that had a disastrous effect on the players and fans alike and hampered Billy’s management severely. As a player Bonds gave nothing less than 100%, and having played for so long under Lyall’s stewardship he was very much like his predecessor in his approach to the game, and there was very little criticism of his management style from the Hammers’ faithful. It was at the onset of the season of 1992- 93 that Billy brought in Harry Redknapp as his No.2 at the club, and in a great partnership, promotion was achieved by the end of the campaign. It was on the eve of the 1994-95 campaign that it all went sour when Redknapp declared that his former club Bournemouth were after him as their manager. He stated the West Ham board wanted to give him the job as manager and move Billy up to a type of Director of Football role. Bonds has always believed that there was more to it than that, and the situation was something of a done deal without his previous knowledge. When approached by the board Bonds resigned as a matter of principle. With Redknapp now on his own, he signed three main players, firstly the combative from Swindon Town, from Liverpool, and the other being ex-Hammers’ striker , returning after six full seasons at fellow club Everton. Cottee’s eventual contribution of 1 goal in every 3 league games justified Redknapp’s decision Cottee’s initial game was against Liverpool at . Keen to make an impression on his return to West Ham, his enthusiasm got the better of him after he appeared to have been fouled by Rob Jones, but referee Paul Danson ignored the appeal. In his frustration Cottee immediately scythed down the same player by the touchline, and was sent off after 55 minutes. The Hammers managed a draw, but with eleven men would they have gained their first win at Liverpool since 1963-64? It’s sad to admit it, but probably not. For the second year running Chelsea had a player sent off against the Hammers, this time at Stamford Bridge. It was defender Steve Clarke, many years later to become chief coach at West Ham United. When Clarke first failed to win the ball from Martin Allen, he chased him across to the touchline and took his man and not the ball, and referee Mr P. Don sent him for a ‘not too early bath’ as this occurred after 87 minutes. It mattered little to the outcome as the Irons were 2-1 up at the time and that’s how it finished.

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