There were many memorable goals scored during our first
season back in the Premiership and march to the FA Cup final, but
which one did you consider to be the best?
Well, now is your chance to decide, by taking part in the whufc.com official Goal of the Season award for 2005-06. We are asking all Hammers fans to pick their favourite goal from the short-list of 10 selected by our editorial team.
And what's more, all who vote will be entered into a free prize draw to win a VIP day out at the Club's Chadwell Heath training ground, where they will present our award to the winning player and enjoy lunch with Alan Pardew and the rest of the first-team squad.
Simply take your pick from the short-list of contenders below
and click through to our Poll page to cast your vote.
To cast your vote for the Goal of the Season, you have to be a
registered user on whufc.com. Registration is free, quick and easy,
and will also enable you to access our exclusive members area. To
register, simply click here. If you have already
registered, simply ensure you are logged in before submitting your
vote. Registered users can only vote once.
The closing date for all votes is 5.00pm on
Wednesday, June 14, 2006.
Goal of the Season contenders:
Goal 1 - Nigel Reo-Coker v Blackburn, Aug 13,
2005
Having seen Andy Todd give Rovers a half-time lead, Hammers were in
need of some inspiration in order to prevent their return to the
Premiership beginning with defeat. Teddy Sheringham's neat
equaliser early in the second half got Alan Pardew's men back
on track but it was the crucial second from Reo-Coker that really
got Upton Park firing again. Collecting a square pass from Matthew
Etherington, the young midfielder strode towards the edge of the
penalty area before firing a simply unstoppable rocket that ripped
into the top corner of the net. Hammers went on to add a third and
the victory was to set the tone for the entire season.
Goal 2 - Yossi Benayoun v Aston Villa, Sep 12, 2005
After making an impressive start to his Hammers career, our Israeli
midfielder really established himself as an Upton Park favourite
thanks to his first goal for the Club. While this game was best
remembered for Marlon Harewood's magnificent hat-trick, it was
Yossi's individual effort in the closing minutes that was the
pick of our four goals against David O'Leary's beleaguered
side. Collecting a measured pass from Teddy Sheringham on the
left-hand side of the penalty area, the midfielder turned his
marker Aaron Hughes one way, then the other, before finding a yard
of space to fire the ball across Sorensen and into the bottom
corner of the net.
Goal 3 - Bobby Zamora (second goal) v Sheff Wed, Sep 20,
2005
Having waited patiently for his chance behind Harewood and
Sheringham, our play-off final hero grabbed his first goals of the
season with a superb brace in our 4-2 win at Hillsbrough in the
Carling Cup second round. Zamora's first strike was impressive
enough - finishing well from close range after being released by
Mark Noble inside the opening two minutes - but it was his second
goal on 62 minutes that really had the travelling Hammers fans
singing his praises. Latching on to a poor headed clearance from
Wednesday defender Coughlan, Bobby unleashed a dipping volley from
25 yards out with his weaker right foot that looped over David
Lucas and into the far corner of the net.
Goal 4 - Bobby Zamora v Birmingham, Dec 5, 2005
In what was considered to be a vital away win - only our second in
the Premiership at that stage - it was Zamora's wonderful
equaliser just before the break that inspired Hammers to victory
and proved that the former Spurs striker had the quality required
to perform at the highest level. Collecting a throw from Marlon
Harewood with his back to goal, Zamora created something out of
nothing by flicking the ball over the head of Martin Taylor,
surging towards goal and then expertly cutting inside a desperate
lunge from Damien Johnson before poking the ball through the legs
of Maik Taylor from the tightest of angles. A strike that was
deservedly short-listed for Match of the Day's Goal of the
Month award.
Goal 5 - Hayden Mullins v Norwich, Jan 7, 2006
Not one renowned for his goalscoring exploits, Hayden certainly
deserves some credit for what turned out to be his one and only
goal of the season. Hammers had been tipped as a possible FA Cup
scalp against their Championship opponents at Carrow Road, but it
was the defensive midfielder's fifth-minute strike that set up
a 2-1 victory and signalled the beginning of what was to become a
memorable FA Cup campaign. After some good work from Zamora on the
left, the ball was touched back to the edge of the penalty area,
where Hayden was on hand to fire in a fierce effort that crashed
past England goalkeeper Robert Green and into the net off the post.
Goal 6 - Anton Ferdinand v Fulham, Jan 23, 2006
With the live Sky TV cameras present at Upton Park for the visit of
our west London rivals, Anton chose the perfect setting to claim
his one and only goal at home this season, and what a goal it was.
After Matthew Etherington's deep corner had only been cleared
to the edge of the penalty, the danger appeared to be over as
Marlon Harewood nodded the ball square. However, in one swift
movement, our young defender swivelled his body and connected with
an unstoppable right-foot volley that gave Antti Niemi no chance as
it ripped into the top corner of the net. As his stunned team-mates
chased after him, there was no stopping the ecstatic Ferdinand,
either, as he celebrated with a trademark dance of delight. Surely
one of the greatest goals scored by a defender at Upton Park.
Goal 7 - Yossi Benayoun v Fulham, Jan 23, 2006
A night to remember for the Upton Park faithful, who were treated
to two wonder strikes within the space of 10 minutes. The crowd
were still recovering from Anton Ferdinand's amazing strike
when Etherington found Benayoun with a square pass across the edge
of the penalty area. The Israeli midfielder jinked past Bocanegra,
one way and then the other, before executing a sublime chip that
left Niemi rooted to the spot as it dropped into the net behind
him. A goal that only very few players are capable of producing,
and another sign of the vision and quality provided by Benayoun.
Goal 8 - Dean Ashton (first goal) v Man City, Mar 20,
2006
With Hammers aiming to reach their first FA Cup semi-final in 15
years, a touch of inspiration was going to needed during a tough
quarter-final clash at the City of Manchester stadium, and it was
provided by Dean Ashton, who went some way to proving just why Alan
Pardew splashed out more than £7million for his services in
the January transfer window. Creating the move that led to his
superb first goal against Stuart Pearce's men, Ashton swapped
neat passes with Reo-Coker and Etherington before cleverly jinking
past Richard Dunne and beating David James at his near post with a
clinical left-foot strike.
Goal 9 - Marlon Harewood v Middlesbrough, Apr 23, 2006
Hammers fans will never forget the goal that secured our place in
the FA Cup final for the first time in 26 years and ensured UEFA
Cup football next season - and it was a strike fitting of such an
achievement. With just 12 minutes left on the clock, Anton
Ferdinand's searching cross-field pass from right-back was
flicked on by Ashton to the feet of Harewood who, with one touch,
muscled his way past Gareth Southgate and then fired a blistering
left-foot strike past the despairing dive of Boro's substitute
goalkeeper Brad Jones. Cue a shirt-off, emotion-filled celebration
from Marlon down in front of the delirious Hammers fans at Villa
Park, and a victory that will go down as the one of the most
memorable in our modern-day history.
Goal 10 - Carl Fletcher v Tottenham, May 7, 2006
Making only his sixth Premiership start of the campaign, midfielder
Carl proved himself to be an able replacement for the suspended
Hayden Mullins, producing an all-action performance against a
Tottenham side feeling slightly 'under the weather' and
claiming his first goal in the top flight to set us on our way to a
memorable 2-1 victory against our arch-rivals. Just 10 minutes in,
Fletcher broke up play some 40 yards out, before advancing toward
the edge of the penalty area and unleashing a low, swerving effort
that caught England number one Paul Robinson by surprise as it flew
into the bottom corner of the net.