Marlon Harewood ensured his legendary status among West Ham United fans by scoring an unforgettable FA Cup semi-final winner against Middlesbrough on this day in 2006.
The centre-forward scored 22 goals as the Hammers won promotion under Alan Pardew, before netting 14 more as the Irons established themselves back in the Premier League, including a hat-trick in a 4-0 win over Aston Villa in September 2005.
Having drawn inspiration from that Monday night treble at the Boleyn Ground, it was the single goal he scored and his memorable celebration at Villa Park eight months later that made him a Claret and Blue hero for the rest of his life.
“After scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa, I got my confidence back and went on to score 14 Premier League goals that season, 2005/06,” Harewood, now a matchday ambassador at London Stadium, recalled.
“It was probably my FA Cup goal in the semi-final win against Middlesbrough that everyone remembers, though, and I’ll never tire of talking about it.
“I can feel that moment every time I think about it. If anyone scored that goal, I think their emotions would have been exactly the same, because we had such a strong bond between us all in the dressing room.
“When I celebrated, all the boys jumped on top of me and I was lying at the bottom of the pile and I could feel the ground shaking underneath. I’d never felt that sensation before.
“I was just thankful that I could get the goal to put the lads into an FA Cup final to top off how well we had done that season.
“If we had lost that game to Middlesbrough, it would have been forgotten about how well we had played after being promoted.”
Harewood’s goal was not the only memorable moment on that April afternoon, as he also remembers the thousands of West Ham supporters singing in tribute to former manager John Lyall, who had passed away five days previously at the age of 66.
“I also remember the fans singing in memory of John Lyall that day, which was very moving,” said the striker.
“Scoring that goal seemed to be a release for everyone at West Ham and I am privileged to have scored that goal for the Club.”
West Ham went on to face Liverpool at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, where they led 2-0 and 3-2 before being pegged back to 3-3 and ultimately losing a thrilling final in a penalty shootout.
