Farewell Boleyn: The 60s

The 2015/16 season will be like no other. Our plans are beginning to take shape and we intend to make sure that the Boleyn Ground bows out in style ahead of the move to our stunning new home in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

With over a century's history to honour, West Ham United are determined to ensure that, with your help, the Boleyn gets the send-off it deserves.

So over the coming weeks and months we will be reaching out to all of our fans to gather your thoughts on how best to bid farewell to the ground we have called home since 1904.

We begin with our golden generation, the glory years, the 60s. It was a decade that heralded domestic and European cup success, not to mention a World Cup win. To get the ball rolling, West Ham TV caught up with Hammers and England legend Sir Geoff Hurst MBE at the Boleyn Ground, who recalled just how special those cup triumphs were.
 

"It was a wonderful ten, 12 years here at the Club," he confirmed. "Winning two cup competitions was fantastic, for a Club that had just come up. Imagine coming up from the Second Division today, winning the FA Cup and then winning a European competition. It's astonishing and so to be a part of that and part of a terrific era for the Club was a fantastic time for me."

Sentiments echoed by Evening Standard correspondent Ken Dyer, who watched Sir Geoff and co from the terraces in those days.

He added: "It was just a great time to be a West Ham fan. The team was doing well, they played great football and they had some great players. Just at that time, in the mid-60s, I feel really fortunate and really privileged to have come into supporting West Ham regularly."

First up, we want you to pick your favourite player from the period and we are inevitably spoilt for choice. There is the World Cup trio of Bobby Moore OBE, Sir Geoff and Martin Peters MBE, 1964 FA Cup final heroes John Sissons and East Ham-born Ronnie Boyce or perhaps Alan Sealey gets the nod for his Wembley double the following year.

Away from cup glory, who can forget Sir Geoff's six-goal haul in an 8-0 mauling of Sunderland in October 68? Whoever it is and whatever your reasons, we want to hear them. You can vote via our poll on whufc.com, or alternatively tweet us your winner with #Boleyn60s. Here is our 60s shortlist:

John Bond, Eddie Bovington, Ronnie Boyce, Peter Brabrook, Ken Brown, Jack Burkett, Johnny Byrne, John Dick, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore, Malcolm Musgrove, Martin Peters, Alan Sealey, John Sissons, Jim Standen.

And then it's open forum. Favourite game, favourite goal, send them our way, either on twitter or via email at [email protected]. They need not necessarily be famous Club moments, just those that are pertinent and personal to you.