For many football fans, owning a piece of unique memorabilia related to your club is a dream.
For lifelong Hammer Mick Jennings, that dream came true when he successfully bid for the match ball used in West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over Fulham in the 1975 FA Cup final after two-goal hero Alan Taylor put his collection up for auction.
Following discussions with his family, Taylor, 71, decided to sell his mementos from that historic Saturday afternoon at Wembley Stadium 50 years ago and put the proceeds towards enjoying the remainder of his life with wife Jeanette and provide for his son Garry and his family.
Jennings, whose company NWVA has been the Club’s Official Vehicle Recovery Partner since 2022, also successfully won Taylor’s Golden Boot recognising his match-winning goals, the tracksuit tops he wore for the 1975 FA Cup and 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup finals, and an embroidered Claret and Blue cap commemorating the FA Cup triumph.
Taylor and Jennings have become friends through the legendary striker’s role as a matchday ambassador at London Stadium, and the former No9 was delighted to learn that the items will go on display in Jennings’ executive box.
“I spoke to Alan and to his son Gary and they said they want to enjoy the proceeds while they can, so when they told me the auction was on down at Stacey’s [Auctioneers and Valuers in Rayleigh, Essex], I thought I wanted to get something and frame it so that it remains local,” said Jennings.
“There was only one ball in those days and it was signed by the whole team. Alan told me Billy Bonds managed to prise it off the referee and got all the team to sign it and they awarded it to him. So that’s a lovely bit of history – it’s 50 years old and it still looks good!
“It’s fantastic. Alan has signed the ball and other items and they’ll be framed and pride of place. Alan is a hero and a legend and a top man.”
Taylor himself explained that, while the items will always hold sentimental value, he was comfortable with his decision to part ways with them.
“I made the decision to sell for family reasons,” said the Norfolk-based great, who still works as a pallbearer for a local funeral director. “My son Gary is 46 now and he came to his Mum and me and said ‘Dad, why don’t you think about selling your memorabilia and enjoying what you deserve from your footballing days?’ So it was a family decision and we thought it was fitting to do it as it’s been 50 years.
“It wasn’t a decision taken lightly. We spoke about it for 12 months and felt that it was a good time to do it. I’m really, really pleased and it’s a great milestone for me to mark 50 years and I hope the family can enjoy it.
“They’ve been on display every day in the cabinet at home and I think my wife Jeanette is pleased that they’ve gone because she doesn’t have to keep on cleaning them! We were married the month after the FA Cup final, so it’s a big celebration year for us all.
“I’d like to thank Mick for what he’s bought, and I hope he enjoys the items as much as I’ve enjoyed them.”
Jennings himself also explained how being an official partner of the Club he loves has also been great for his business, which provides vehicle assistance and recovery for vehicle manufacturers, insurance and accident management and after-care companies and other organisations.
“We started off in the Great Briton lounge with a table of four and we wanted something a little bit more with the Club, and we ended up moving to the Arnold Hills, then we talked more and ended up becoming a partner of the Club and it’s been fantastic for our business and brand awareness,” he confirmed.
“People recognise us. I had a meeting with a big car manufacturer recently and he said ‘I saw you at West Ham and that’s why I phoned you, so it does work and it does come back and it’s nice when they tell you that they saw you at West Ham.”