On this day - 21 April

Classic match

West Ham United 8-1 Newcastle United
Division One
21 April 1986

The Boys of '86 continued their charge to a third place finish in the top flight with a remarkable 8-1 victory over Newcastle United on this day 29 years ago.

Remarkable not only for the scoreline, but for the fact that Alvin Martin bagged a hat-trick against three different goalkeepers!

The first stopper Martin Thomas was nursing a shoulder problem and he was picking the ball out of the net with just five minutes on the clock after Martin volleyed home Alan Devonshire's free-kick into the six-yard box.

The hapless Thomas was then beaten by speculative long-rangers from Ray Stewart and Neil Orr before Glenn Roeder inexplicably flicked the ball into his own net. With both his shoulder and pride hurting profusely, Thomas failed to emerge for the second period.

Rookie midfielder Chris Hedworth pulled on the green jersey for the restart but he was soon in trouble, too, after falling awkwardly and cracking his collarbone.

Midway through the half, Martin headed in Tony Gale's flick-on following Mark Ward's corner and as the brave Hedworth returned outfield before subsequently retiring, Peter Beardsley donned the gloves. Although Billy Whitehurst pulled one back for the visitors, Paul Goddard and Frank McAvennie then made it 7-1.

With six minutes left, a Roeder handball gave Martin the chance to claim the match ball and make it 8-1 to the Hammers.

Despite his later claims that his England team-mate was Beardsley was pulling funny faces at him, the Mexico 86-bound Scouser successfully stroked in from the spot.

Complete record - 21 April

1923 West Ham United 1-0 Fulham (Division Two)
1924 West Ham United 2-2 Sheffield United (Division One)
1928 Bolton Wanderers 4-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1934 Bradford City 2-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1951 Grimsby Town 0-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1952 Brentford 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1956 West Ham United 2-4 Lincoln City (Division Two)
1962 West Ham United 3-3 Arsenal (Division One)
1969 West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal (Division One)
1973 Derby County 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1979 Charlton Athletic 0-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1981 West Ham United 3-0 Queens Park Rangers (Division Two)
1984 Southampton 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1986 West Ham United 8-1 Newcastle United (Division One)
1990 Oldham Athletic 3-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
2001 West Ham United 0-2 Leeds United (Premier League)
2003 West Ham United 1-0 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
2007 West Ham United 1-0 Everton (Premier League)

Played 18, Won 6, Drawn 6, Lost 6, Scored 27, Conceded 27