London Stadium steward Harinder Dhillon ran the line on a famous night at the Boleyn Ground 31 years ago!
Today marks 31 years since West Ham United’s memorable 8-1 victory over Newcastle United during the famous 1985/86 campaign, and the event that became a compulsory trivia question for any self-respecting football quizmaster over the years.
All Hammers fans over a certain age will recall that Alvin Martin became the only player to score three goals against three different goalkeepers on a crazy evening at Upton Park, when John Lyall’s side stuffed the Magpies on their way to a highest-ever league finish.
Less commonly known is the fact that a current long-serving member of staff at London Stadium also made a rather unique and significant contribution to that unforgettable encounter near the end of the record-breaking Boys of ‘86 year.
Harinder Dhillon, known to his friends and colleagues as Harry, is a familiar, friendly face as one of the security stewards based in the players’ tunnel on matchdays, ensuring that the area is kept clear and safe as the two teams and officials enter and leave the playing arena.
However, he is also a qualified Class One referee, and was handed his officiating ‘debut’ in top flight professional football thanks to another quirk of fate on that balmy April evening at the Boleyn Ground back in April 1986.
Taking up the story, Harry, now 64, recalled: “I used to play and manage a local amateur team. But I didn’t enjoy the managing so I took up refereeing, getting my qualification in 1981. After that it was a case of climbing up the ranks and going through the process to achieve Class One, allowing you to officiate in the professional game.
Next thing I know, they’re telling me to take the flag and get ready for the second half! So I was a straight substitute for the linesman and did the second half in front of the Chicken Run, which was an experience!
Harinder Dhillon
“At half-time I was in the referee’s dressing-room, making the tea, ready for him and his two linesmen. Then one of the linesman comes in and said he’s twisted his ankle. So they called for the West Ham physio, Rob Jenkins, who took a look and said he’d better not carry on.
“Next thing I know, they’re telling me to take the flag and get ready for the second half! So I was a straight substitute for the linesman and did the second half in front of the Chicken Run, which was an experience!
“I was running the line at the Newcastle defensive end, so I was up there for Alvin’s penalty against Peter Beardsley. It was an amazing game, and West Ham could have had even more than eight.
“After the game, the assessor came in and said he hadn’t even noticed the change, which was obviously nice to hear and meant I’d done a decent job. Later on, I got a nice letter from the Football League and a cheque for £20, which was a bonus!”
Despite working on the security staff at West Ham for over 15 years, Harry’s unique connection to the match only came to light recently when he bumped into Alvin prior to a fixture at London Stadium and recounted the story to the legendary Hammers defender, who responded with typical wit and humour.
“Blimey, I thought I was the only one who had a good story to tell about that game!” laughed Alvin.
Harry’s surprise introduction turned out to be his one and only appearance as an official in the old First Division, but he went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career refereeing at non-league level, covering games in the Ryman League and Essex and Herts Border Combination, and still referees park football now.
“I was doing senior football when some of the current Premier League officials were starting out,” said Harry. “Some of them remember me when they come here to do games, so it’s nice to have a bit of banter with them and there are a few double-takes when they see me standing in the tunnel in my uniform!”
“We joined the Club together when the new main stand at the Boleyn Ground was built in 2001,” recalls Harry. “Our friendship goes back much further than that though. We first met as kids in 1965, when we lived next door to each other in Rosebery Avenue, Manor Park. I lived at number 36 and Jegta lived at number 34.
“We went to school together and have been friends ever since. We first went to West Ham together as fans in the late ‘60s – we used to go in through the gate for the second half when they opened it to let people out!”
Jegta, just a few months older than his great friend at 65, says: “I came to this country at the age of 13, in 1964, the year West Ham won the FA Cup. I met Harry the following year and we’ve been inseparable ever since. It was Harry who persuaded me to go for the security job at West Ham with him.
“At the Boleyn Ground we worked up in the hospitality lounges, and started in the same role together when we moved over to the new stadium last summer.
“Then the positions in the tunnel became available, and we were asked to take up that role. I think everyone realises that we come as a pair!”
Keep checking whufc.com for more stories about some of the people who make West Ham United much more than just a football club. #WeAreWestHam