LEIGH EDWARDS traces Close Connections Between the Hammers and
Monday night's opponents Aston Villa.
TREV & FRED
Goals by Trevor Sinclair and Fredi Kanoute gave West Ham United a 2-2 Premiership draw on Aston Villa's last League visit to Upton Park on 12th April 2003. The Hammers' last League victory at home to Aston Villa was 2-1 on 29th November 1997 with two goals from John Hartson. Villa's last League win at West Ham was 2-0 on 4th December 1996 with strikes by Ugo Ehiogu and Dwight Yorke.
ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL
England international goalkeeper David James was capped while at both Aston Villa and West Ham. Moving to Villa Park from Liverpool for £1,800,000 in June 1999, he played for Aston Villa in the 2000 FA Cup Final and made 67 Premiership appearances prior to joining West Ham for £3,500,000 in July 2001. He was ever-present as the Hammers battled vainly to avoid relegation in 2002-03, playing 91 League games before being sold to Manchester City for £1,300,000 in January 2004. Ex-Aston Villa goalkeeper Les Sealey had two spells at West Ham United and was also Goalkeeping Coach at Upton Park.
TWO SPELLS
Former Aston Villa striker Frank McAvennie had two spells at West Ham United. Initially moving to Upton Park from St Mirren for £340,000 in June 1985, he was leading marksman as the Hammers finished third in the top-flight in 1985-86 and joined Celtic for £800,000 in October 1987. The Scotland international rejoined West Ham in March 1989 and helped regain top-flight status in 1990-91, netting 49 goals in 153 League games overall prior to joining Aston Villa in August 1992. Making three substitute appearances in the Premier League, he moved to South China in November 1992.
IRISH INTERNATIONAL
Republic of Ireland international midfielder Ray Houghton played for both West Ham United and Aston Villa. Signing professional at Upton Park in July 1979, he made his solitary First Division appearance as substitute for George Cowie in West Ham's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in May 1982 and moved to Fulham in July 1982. He joined Aston Villa from Liverpool for £900,000 in July 1992 and was an experienced figure in their 1994 Coca-Cola Cup final triumph, netting six goals in 95 Premiership games before being sold to Crystal Palace for £300,000 in March 1995.
CUP WINNER
Ex-West Ham right-back Gary Charles was an influential figure in Aston Villa's 1996 Coca-Cola Cup final triumph. Moving to Villa Park from Derby County for £2,900,000 in January 1995, the England international suffered a serious ankle injury in Aston Villa's 1-1 draw against the Hammers in April 1996 and netted three goals in 79 Premiership games before being sold to Benfica for £1,500,000 in January 1999. He joined West Ham for £1,200,000 in October 1999 and made five Premiership appearances whilst at Upton Park until injury problems forced his retirement.
WING WIZARD
England Youth international winger Tony Scott played for both West Ham and Aston Villa. Signing professional at Upton Park in May 1958, he made his League debut in the Hammers' 4-2 victory over Chelsea in February 1960 and netted 16 goals in 83 First Division games for West Ham before reuniting with Phil Woosnam at Aston Villa for £25,000 in October 1965. He was unable to prevent relegation from the top-flight in 1966-67 and scored three times in 50 League outings while at Villa Park prior to joining Torquay United in September 1967.
IN SAFE KEEPING
Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Mervyn Day was a key figure in West Ham's 1975 FA Cup final success. Signing professional at Upton Park in March 1973, the England U-23 international also played for the Hammers in the 1976 European Cup Winners' Cup final and was twice ever-present, making 194 League appearances before being sold to Orient for £100,000 in July 1979. He joined Aston Villa for £25,000 in August 1983 and contested a first-team slot with Nigel Spink, playing 30 First Division games prior to joining Leeds United for £30,000 in January 1985.
WELSH INTERNATIONAL
Welsh international inside-right Phil Woosnam was capped while
at both West Ham and Aston Villa. Moving to Upton Park from Leyton
Orient for a then record £30,000 in November 1958, he helped
the Hammers finish sixth in the top-flight that season and netted
26 goals in 138 First Division games prior to joining Aston Villa
for £27,000 in November 1962. He featured prominently as they
reached the League Cup semi-finals in 1964-65, scoring 24 times in
106 League outings before becoming player-coach of Atlanta Chiefs
in January 1966.
TOP-FLIGHT
Former West Ham United winger Tommy Southren played top-flight
football with Aston Villa. Moving to Upton Park from Peartree Old
Boys in December 1949, he made his League debut in West Ham's
5-3 defeat at home to Sheffield United nine months later and netted
three goals in 64 Second Division games prior to joining Aston
Villa in December 1954. He featured in their marathon FA Cup fourth
round tie against Doncaster Rovers that season and scored six times
in 63 League outings while at Villa Park before moving to
Bournemouth in October 1958.
CUP FINALIST
One-time Aston Villa midfielder Alan Curbishley played for Hammers in the 1975 FA Youth Cup Final. A former apprentice at Upton Park, he made his First Division debut in the Hammers' 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea five months before turning professional in August 1975 and netted five goals in 85 League games prior to joining Birmingham City in July 1979. The England Under-21 international joined Aston Villa in March 1983 and scored once in 36 League outings before moving to Charlton Athletic in December 1984. Wing-half Fred Norris played for both clubs during the inter-war era.