West Ham United 1 Blackburn Rovers 0 Football League War Cup final, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 8 June 1940
West Ham United ended their first season of war-time football victorious, as captain Charlie Bicknell lifted the War Cup trophy at Wembley Stadium.
The Hammers had accounted for Chelsea, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City and Fulham on their way to the Twin Towers.
Following an even start that saw action at each end, it was ambulance-builder Sam Small who 'pocketed the leather' in the 34th minute to defeat Blackburn Rovers by the only goal of the game.
Stan Foxall and Len Goulden linked up well and when Rovers goalkeeper Jim Barron failed to hold George Foreman's punchy shot, Small pounced to slam the ball into the net.
Goulden and Archie Macaulay went close to doubling the Londoners' lead, while the defensive line kept the Lancastrians at bay at the other end.
Blackburn forced a series of goalmouth scrambles, but in the end Small's strike was enough to bring some war-time cheer to East London, which would be devastated by The Blitz just a few months later.
West Ham United: Conway, Bicknell ©, C.Walker, E.Fenton, R.Walker, Cockcroft, Small, Macauley, Foreman, Goulden, Foxall
Goal: Small
Blackburn Rovers: Barron, Hough, Crook, Whiteside, Pryde, Chivers, Rodgers, Butt, Weddle, Clarke, Guest
Referee: G.Dutton
Attendance: 42,399