Taylor made at Wembley

19 May 1975
FA Cup final
Wembley Stadium
West Ham United 2-0 Fulham

Alan Taylor started his fairytale season with Rochdale and ended it as West Ham United's unlikely two-goal FA Cup-winning hero in only the second all-London final.

Joining the club in autumn 1974, the 21-year-old striker all but repaid his £40,000 fee with match-clinching doubles in the quarter-final at Arsenal and the semi-final replay against Ipswich Town. And another two-goal spree at Wembley helped the all-English Hammers to victory over Alec Stock's second division Fulham.

The underdogs, with former Boleyn Ground legend Bobby Moore marshalling their defence, held firm during the first half. But on the hour, The Cottagers' goalkeeper Peter Mellor could only parry Billy Jennings' powerful shot, leaving 'Sparrow' to swoop and ram the loose ball between the hapless Mellor's legs.

Five minutes later, the cup was well and truly on its way to the Boleyn Ground. This time the distraught Mellor could not hold Graham Paddon's screamer, and Taylor was there in a flash to rip a close-ranger high into the roof of the net.

West Ham United: Day, McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, T. Taylor, Lock, Jennings, Paddon, A. Taylor, Brooking, Holland.
Sub not used: Gould.