On Sunday, West Ham United head to Hillsborough to face League One title-chasers Sheffield Wednesday.

Back on 14 March 1964, the Hammers made the long journey north to Yorkshire for an ever more daunting-looking FA Cup tie - a semi-final meeting with Division One high-fliers Manchester United.

West Ham were also a top-flight club at the time, but went into their last-four clash as outsiders against a Red Devils side that were the current FA Cup holders and included Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best.

The Hammers were no mugs themselves, however, possessing the likes of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and former England winger Peter Brabrook. The stage was set for a titanic semi-final struggle on a pitch turned into a quagmire by heavy rain.

Against the odds, West Ham reached their first FA Cup final since 1923 courtesy of two goals from Ronnie Boyce and one from Geoff Hurst, while Law was on target for Manchester United. Brabrook, for one, will never forget a victory achieved in front of 65,000 supporters.

"What I can remember about the semi-final at Hillsborough against Manchester United is that it never stopped raining for the whole two days we were in Sheffield!" said Brabrook, now 74 and still working in a scouting role for the Hammers.

"The game should not have been played because the conditions were absolutely horrendous. The pitch was like a swimming pool and was the worst I ever played on.

"Luckily enough, the game was played and we ended up winning 3-1. There was a massive crowd and the occasion was an FA Cup semi-final, which was the furthest we'd been for a long while.

"They had a star-studded side and were a short-price favourite to beat us and get to the final, but we played really well and adapted to the conditions. I didn't think they would suit our game because the ball stuck in the mud, but it didn't help the likes of Charlton,  Best and Law either. Boycey got two goals and Hursty got the other."

While the FA Cup may not have quite the same magic it possessed back in the mid-1960s, Sunday's trip to Hillsborough conjures memories of the competition's golden days.

"Sheffield Wednesday against West Ham is an old-fashioned cup tie," confirmed Brabrook. "The FA Cup is still a massive competition. A few clubs might put out weakened teams early on, but once you get through to the latter stages and are sniffing a final, everyone wants to play at Wembley and puts their big guns out.

"Back in 1964, everybody put their best sides out and there were two very good teams out there on the pitch that day when we played Manchester United. That was probably the best side we've probably ever had.

"I'm pretty sure Sam Allardyce will take it seriously because he will want to make his name in the FA Cup anyhow. It's a massive trophy and not one to forget about, which some teams do in the early rounds. If we can get through, then it will be a great thing for the football club.

"The FA Cup is special to West Ham because of what we did in 1964 and others did in 1975 and 1980 and it would be great to win it again."