THE visit of Blackburn Rovers to Upton Park always rekindles many
great memories and standing tall amongst them is the 1940 War Cup
final which took place at Wembley in front of 42,399 fans. On the
day it was Sammy Small's goal that ensured the claret and blue
faithful enjoyed a little relief from the European conflict. Any of
you with the good fortune to possess a copy of the programme will
be pleased to know your investment is now worth around £400.
Even a printed replica sells for over £20.
For both Blackburn and Hammers fans the game between the clubs on
Boxing Day 1963 stands as a landmark in the history of these proud
teams. It was on this occasion when West Ham United suffered their
heaviest ever defeat, 8-2, to a rampant Blackburn team. The
programme sells for just a few pounds but far more valuable is the
memory of Ron Greenwood replacing Martin Peters with Eddie
Bovington to shape a team which remained unchanged throughout the
successful 1964 FA Cup winning run. West Ham returned to Ewood Park
just two days after the Boxing Day debacle to win 3-1 which
provided an early indication of the club's changing
fortunes.
Perhaps the greatest memory Blackburn fans hold involving West
Ham United comes from the match between Hammers and Manchester
United in 1995 when Ludo Miklosko somehow, some way, kept
United's frontline at bay to ensure the Premiership trophy went
to Kenny Dalglish's Blackburn Rovers. I wonder if Harry ever
received that case of champagne promised to him?
Blackburn fans will be pleased to know that memorabilia from their
club's great achievements is appreciating in value. A replica
Alan Shearer shirt from the Premiership championship season signed
by the whole team recently sold for a few hundred pounds while the
programme from the 1960 FA Cup final versus Wolves is now
commanding £20 if including the original song sheet.
There was a smashing old postcard of the victorious FA Cup winning team of 1928. The win against the mighty Huddersfield was the sixth time that Rovers had lifted the F.A. Cup and they remain the only club in existence to have won it three times in succession, 1884,1885,1886, and almost repeated the feat when they won in 1890 and 1891.
The Charity Shield from 1994 versus Manchester United is also selling for around the £20 mark while the away programme against Legia Warsaw in Blackburn's only Champions League appearance can be snapped up for £25 pounds.
Perhaps the biggest bargain for Blackburn fans is the programme
from their victorious League Cup final victory over Spurs in 2002.
Priced at a giveaway £5 the memory is as pleasing to both sets
of fans at Upton Park on Saturday!
Let's hope today's programme will be part of a successful
season for both teams.
Until the next time keep your eyes open and your wallets fat!