On This Day: Hurst's hat-trick humbles Hereford

 

Taking a look back at a classic West Ham United moment on this day in history, in association with Basset & Gold..

Sir Geoff Hurst had little time for the romance of the FA Cup on Valentine's Day in 1972, as he hit a memorable hat-trick for West Ham United to see off non-league Hereford United.

The original fourth round tie had been played the prior week - on Wednesday 9 February - and ended in a goalless draw at Edgar Street.

Many Hammers may have subsequently expected a Monday night under Boleyn Ground's lights, but under the Government's emergency regulations designed to combat the '70s energy crisis, the replay saw a rare 2.15pm weekday kick-off take place.

Despite the unorthodox starting time, the national three-day week in operation ensured the game would prove a sell-out occasion, with 42,271 supporters packed inside the ground - just 51 below the all-time Boleyn Ground record - and thousands more late comers clamouring to enter.

So keen were they to cheer on their heroes, in fact, that a number of them clambered up to the roof of the flats behind the North Bank, yielding an iconic image in West Ham United history.
 

West Ham United fans crowd onto the roof against Hereford in 1972


As for the match itself, a starting eleven chock-full of Hammers royalty - including Hurst, Frank Lampard Snr, Harry Redknapp and Sir Trevor Brooking, as well as captain Bobby Moore - well and truly put the Lilywhites to the sword.

Hurst notched all three of the Hammers' goals in a 3-1 win - the legendary striker's final treble in Claret and Blue.

Despite the impressive victory, Ron Greenwood's West Ham side would go on to fall at the fifth round away to Huddersfield Town, before Hurst and Redknapp departed the Club for pastures new that summer. 

Basset & Gold are West Ham United's official sleeve sponsor and eSports partner. Their mission is to challenge the market and create investment opportunities that are easy to understand, transparent and continuously control risk, while maintaining market-leading returns that meet investment goals. Click here to find out more.
 

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