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Stags nostalgia: Mansfield Town humble West Ham United’s World Cup winning stars
In the summer of ‘66 West Ham United footballers Martin Peters, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst turned themselves into national icons when they guided England to that famous World Cup win over West Germany at Wembley Stadium.
But less than three years later the England stars were on the wrong end of a very different cup result as their West Ham United side were sent crashing out of the FA Cup by unfancied Mansfield Town.
The lowly Third Division side overturned all the odds to humiliate the First Division ‘allstars’ 3-0 and seal one of of the most famous nights in the club’s history.
It looked like it would be a routine trip north for the fashionable London side, which also featured Harry Redknapp and Trevor Brooking, after they took control of the early exchanges.
The Hammers created an excellent opening on 10 minutes as Brooking moved through the middle to tee up Redknapp. But the winger blazed over to the relief of the Field Mill faithful.
World Cup hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst was then guilty of the miss of the match as West Ham continued to pile on the pressure.
Tricky Trevor Brooking again caused bother down the wing before his crossed picked out the Hammers hitman.
But with the goal gaping from just six yards out, Hurst somehow blazed wide and Mansfield lived to fight another day.
And Stags took full advantage of their let off to stun the top division side on 22 minutes.
Dudley Roberts was once again the hero as he turned the ball into the net after Raymond Keeley, Jimmy Goodfellow and Dominic Sharkey had made light work of the West Ham backline.
The visitors looked for a swift response with their international stars looking threatening.
Hollins only just kept out an effort by Martin Peters, before Bobby Moore tried his luck with a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
But Stags once again showed their resolve and gained a commanding two goal cushion on 37 minutes thanks to a superb effort by Keeley.
Ferguson managed to punch the ball off the head of Roberts as he went up for a cross from Goodfellow. But the ball fell invitingly to Keeley, who hit a first-time volley into the net.
Stags sensed one of the shocks of FA Cup history was in the making and began the second half like a train.
Roberts headed over a Sharkey corner, before the quick reactions of Howe denied a powerful Sharkey effort.
But just four minutes into the second half Sharkey was not to be denied as he set the seal on an historic night with Mansfield’s third goal.
Goalkeeper Ferguson, diving at Sharkey’s feet as he moved through on the left, appeared to have cut out the danger, but Sharkey won the ball back before shooting into the far corner of the net to the delight of the home support.
Moore moved up several times with the West Ham frontmen in a desperate bid to salvage something from the cup tie.
But it was all too little too late as Mansfield bravely held on to clinch one of the greatest victories in their history.
Thrilled Stags boss Tom Eggleston praised his battle side after the game for writing themselves into Mansfield Town history.
He said: “It was a very good display all round. The boys really fought well.
“We ran and fought to the last dance and that is what counts in this sort of game.
“Tactically we played better than they did. We threw the ball forward, they tried to play it too short.”
After the game legendary Hammers boss Ron Greenwood also paid a glowing tribute to the heroic Mansfield Town grafters.
“We didn’t play badly,”he said. “So they must have played very well to beat us. They are a great team. They thoroughly deserved their victory.”
More than four decades after the cup classic, Stags fan John Doughty still remembers the great occasion vividly.
“The atmosphere was full of anticipation. I had just turned 22 and stood in the North Stand just behind the goals, where we were all packed like sardines,”he said.
“On 22 minutes Dudley Roberts scored and the cheers went up. It got better when Ray Keeley hit a first-time volley into the net to lift the roof off the north stand.
“Moore, Hurst and Peters were having no luck as our brilliant defence marshalled by Stuart Boam held firm.
“Nick Sharkey scored the third at the Quarry Lane end to complete a marvellous night.
“Some people were still celebrating in the streets at 3am the next day.”
MANSFIELD TOWN: Hollins, Pate, Hopkinson, Quigley, Boam, Waller, Keeley, N. Sharkey, Ledger, Melling, Goodfellow, D. Roberts.
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Weather for Mansfield
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Comments
There are 11 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
clevertrevor
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 07:05 AMme and my mate geoff were 13 and we ended up in the quarry lane end and we climbed over the fence at the front and sat on the piles of straw that had been used to cover the pitch( if we did that now we would be thrown out) we were right behind the goal and the ball would have hit us when sharkey scored if the net had not stopped it ive been going to the mill all my life and that game still brings me out in goosebumps when i think about it. on the current squad they might still get us to wembly for a play off place my fingers are firmly crossed for another wembly trip to help erase the memory of the last visit
former "wood us lad"
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:28 PMsorry readers it was rodney fern who got the goal but once again a game not to be forgotton in stags history ,will these days ever come back we can only hope ,keep up the history memories how about when the floodlights were put on the game against cardiff city comes to mind and i think billy wrighjt did the honours in a game which i think finished one all
former "wood us lad"
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 07:47 PMgreat night great result,great team,great boss and only to loose to leicester city at home 1 nil to a len glover goal and on match of the day also can't be bad, any fans out there know if the west ham game was put dvd via vhs ?? seasons like this have long gone ,o forgot dr took us to wembley last year ,happy memories ,would like to know "where are they now " the players who played against west ham ? as for harry redknapp we all know were he's going don'y look to much into that pc.
skegvegas
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:55 PMI was 15 years old, and for me it was and still is the best night ever at field mill, have you ever noticed it never gets mentioned on any fa cup upsets programe (i wonder why) and yes colinthe stag i did see nick sharkey, great memories of watching the stags, lets hope theres lots more to come, 43 years a fan and still counting c,mon u stags.
stagsfan48
Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 09:33 AMGreat memories! The game had been postponed about 3 times because of snow if I remember right? As a season ticket holder I had no problem getting a ticket for the North stand to the right of the goal. If my daughter had been a boy her name would be Dudley! Lucky escape methinks!
colinthestag
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:51 PMSpelling mistake on Post 5 sorry!!!
colinthestag
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:48 PMI was there! Iwas on night shift at the time and had to leave 15 mins before the end of the game to get to work for 10pm. Even though we had a 3 goal lead I was not confident,I was a physical wreck by the time I found out the final score at about 1030!!! Did any of you see Nick Sharkey on the box last wek?
skegbymick
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:39 PMMy girlfriend was in the North Stand, dont know how that happened! Cor, what memories
skegbymick
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 07:36 PMMy dad couldnt get in the ground, he was on his way home when he bumped into 2 West Ham fans, and they said "do you want a ticket mate?". Only sat with the suits in the new West Stand didnt he! I was cramped in the Quarry Lane end and he was up there smoking cigars with the Landeners! LOL
Steve Wilson (The Real DerbySTAG)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 03:04 PM17 6 Cushion seat for me in the partly built West Stand (guinea for the Leicester game). One of the best ever nights at the Mill in my long obsession supporting the STAGS.
skegbymick
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 02:14 PMI was behind the goal, Quarry Lane, brill. Named my son after little Nick Sharkey.!! Quigley, Boam , Waller, etched in my mind forever that trio.
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