Anniversary
George McCartney
Date of Birth: 29 April 1981
Clubs: Sunderland, West Ham United, Sunderland, Leeds United (loan), West Ham United (loan), West Ham United
Former West Ham United left back George McCartney celebrates his 34th birthday today.
The Belfast-born defender started his career at Sunderland before joining the Hammers in 2006. He made 69 appearances in two seasons, scoring once against Bolton Wanderers in a 1-1 draw. At the end of his second season he was became Hammer of the Year runner up behind Robert Green.
McCartney then rejoined the Black Cats in 2008 before being loaned back to the Hammers for the 2011/12 season where he played a major part in getting the Hammers promoted, making 43 appearances that season.
The following season he joined the Hammers permanently, playing 39 times in two seasons under Sam Allardyce before he was released in June 2014.
McCartney won 25 international cap for Northern Ireland before retiring in from international football in 2010.
Classic match
Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham United
29 April 1977
Division One
West Ham United earned a valuable point at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park to boost their survival prospects on this day 38 years ago.
The Hammers had sat rock bottom at the start of April, but were showing signs of life with just one defeat in their last eight outings prior to this trip to the north-east.
Bryan Robson had netted three days earlier in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road and he was at it again here, as John Lyall's troops battled to another 1-1 stalemate. Britain's first half-a-million pound footballer, David Mills, was on target for Boro.
Of their final four fixtures, West Ham would win two and draw two to end the campaign in the relative comfort of 17th spot, two points and three places above the drop zone.
Pop Robson, meanwhile, netted a further three times before the season's end, to finish the 1976/77 campaign with a total of 14 league goals.
Complete record - 29 April
1922 West Ham United 0-2 Blackpool (Division Two)
1933 West Ham United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Division Two)
1950 West Ham United 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Division Two)
1961 West Ham United 1-2 Burnley (Division One)
1977 Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1978 West Ham United 0-2 Liverpool (Division One)
1980 Oldham Athletic 0-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
2000 West Ham United 0-1 Middlesbrough (Premier League)
2005 West Ham United 1-2 Sunderland (Championship)
Played 9, Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 5, Scored 6, Conceded 12