On this day - 15 March

Anniversary

Frank Neary
Date of birth: 6 March 1921
Died: 17 November 2004
Clubs: Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers, Millwall, Gravesend

Few, if any, players in the history of West Ham United have found the net as regularly as Frank Neary.

The Aldershot-born centre forward (pictured) scored an amazing 15 goals in just 17 appearances for the Hammers between February and September 1947, bagging one hat-trick and scoring twice in a match on no fewer than five occasions.

The aforementioned hat-trick came along on 15 March 1947 - 66 years ago today - in a 3-2 home Division Two victory over West Bromwich Albion. Neary had joined the Hammers from Queens Park Rangers for £4,000 in January of the same year, replacing Joe Payne, who had departed for Millwall.

Neary made an electric start to his career in claret and blue, scoring twice in 3-0 home wins over Newport County and Swansea Town before hitting his treble against the Baggies. The former Army PT instructor ended the 1946/47 campaign with 15 goals in 14 league starts.

After playing three times at the start of the following season, during which he failed to score, Neary departed for Division Three South club Leyton Orient for a fee of just £2,000. Rumours abounded of the reasons for his sudden exit, with one story that emerged following his death suggesting the forward had been allowed to leave after an on-field altercation with an opponent was spotted by Chairman WJ Cearns.

Whatever the truth of the matter, Neary departed, but the goals continued to flow - 44 in 78 league appearances for Leyton Orient, five in 19 for QPR and 50 in 123 games for Millwall. On dropping into the non-league ranks, he bagged 17 in the same number of matches for Gravesend before hanging up his boots in 1954.

Classic Match

West Ham United 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
FA Cup fifth-round replay
15 March 2006

West Ham United continued their march to the 2006 FA Cup final with a dramatic extra-time win over Bolton Wanderers in the sixth round on this date seven years ago.

Current Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen put the home side in front when Nicky Hunt's clearance deflected off him and into the net, only for Kevin Davies to level matters 14 minutes before half-time with a swerving drive.

Jaaskelainen made amends for his earlier own-goal by making a good save from Yossi Benayoun to ensure the teams went in level at half-time. Into the second period and both teams had chances to win the game - Benayoun heading wide for West Ham and Kevin Nolan, substitute Henrik Pedersen and Davies all coming close to putting Bolton in front for the first time.