Anniversary
West Ham United 3-2 Bristol City
FA Cup third round
4 January 1969
West Ham United hosted Bristol City in the FA Cup third round on this date in 1969. Just a few months before man landed on the Moon, the Hammers needed their own world-beaters to defeat their Division Two visitors at the Boleyn Ground. FIFA World Cup winner Martin Peters scored two goals, while fellow 1966 Wembley hero Geoff Hurst also hit the target as the Hammers started their quest to lift the world's most-famous cup for the second time in front of 32,526 supporters.
Ron Greenwood's side would go on to defeat Huddersfield Town 2-0 away from home in the fourth round before going down to a shock 3-0 fifth-round defeat at Division Three side Mansfield Town. Chelsea would go on to life the FA Cup, beating Leeds United after a replay at Old Trafford in May 1970.
Classic Match
Southampton 1-2 West Ham United
FA Cup third round
4 January 1975
West Ham United began their ultimately-successful quest for a second FA Cup at The Dell on this day in 1975. A Frank Lampard free-kick and a goal from striker Bobby Gould put the Hammers two goals up in front of a 24,615-strong crowd on the south coast. Gould's day would be ruined by a broken leg that would rule him out of action for the following six weeks.
The Saints, who were then in Division Two, halved their deficit through Mick Channon from the penalty spot after Bobby Stokes had been fouled, but the visitors would not be denied their place in the fourth round. West Ham would, of course, go on to lift the trophy by beating Fulham 2-0 at Wembley. Southampton would follow John Lyall's side by winning the FA Cup themselves in 1976.