Greatest Matches

1964 - West Ham United 3-2 Preston North End

1964 - West Ham United 3-2 Preston North End

West Ham United 3 Preston North End 2

FA Cup final, Wembley Stadium, Saturday 2 May 1964

West Ham United: Standen, Bond, Burkett, Bovington, Brown, Moore, Brabrook, Boyce, Byrne, Hurst, Sissons

Preston North End: Kelly, Ross, Smith, Lawton, Singleton, Kendall, Wilson, Ashworth, Dawson, Spavin, Holden

Ronnie Boyce's last-minute winner helped West Ham United to secure the first major trophy of their history after a titanic battle at Wembley.

Second Division Preston North End had started the match as underdogs against Ron Greenwood's men, but that counted for nothing as they twice took the lead and virtually matched the Hammers all the way.

After just ten minutes, Preston opened the scoring when Howard Kendall - at 17 the youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final - started a move that was finished by Doug Holden after Jim Standen had failed to hold Ally Dawson's shot.

The Hammers hit straight back, though, when Johnny Byrne fed John Sissons and the young winger scored with a cross-shot.

1964 Preston 2

Byrne then missed a great opportunity to put the Hammers in front and five minutes before the break Preston restored their advantage thanks to a powerful header from Dawson.

However, the Hammers replied again just seven minutes into the second half when Geoff Hurst's header hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down over the line.

As the game wore on and legs became tired, it was clear that the next goal would be all-important and, with just minutes remaining, the Hammers scored it.

Hurst rode several tackles to find Brabrook wide on the right and the winger sent over a cross that Ronnie Boyce met perfectly to nod into the corner.

West Ham United had won the FA Cup for the first time in their history - and the Hammers fans partied like never before.