'Automatic promotion brought a massive sense of relief' - Clive Allen recalls a dramatic final day win for West Ham United

 

Taking a look back at a classic West Ham United moment on this day in history, in association with RoadX Tyres...

West Ham United went into their final game of the 1992/93 old Division One season knowing victory could secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

The Hammers kicked-off at home to relegation-threatened Cambridge United level on 85 points with Portsmouth, but narrowly ahead of Pompey on goal difference.

While the Hampshire side defeated Grimsby 2-1, West Ham clinched a 2-0 victory over the U's, with goals from David Speedie and substitute Clive Allen securing the win and promotion.

Exactly 28 years on, Allen remembers an unforgettable afternoon at the Boleyn Ground...

"Sitting in second spot, going into that last match of the 1992/93 campaign against Cambridge United, we were level on points with third-placed Portsmouth, who faced Grimsby Town," recalled the former England striker.

"Ahead of Pompey on ‘Goals Scored’ by 79-78, we needed to maintain our one-goal margin over them as an extraordinary game unfolded on an extraordinary day.

 

 

"My chances of making it through 90 minutes were slim so I watched from the bench alongside the Hammers supporters in the crowd of 27,399.

"Following a goalless first-half, David Speedie put us ahead just after the interval and, on the hour, I replaced Mark Robson before Pompey then took a late 2-1 lead at Fratton Park to set up a nervy finish.

"But in the dying moments, Julian Dicks went on one last rampaging run upfield and I sprinted forward knowing that I had to get into the path of his final ball.

"Fortunately, I made good contact and my 90th-minute goal sparked sheer pandemonium as the crowd ran onto the pitch to celebrate.

"Many of them couldn’t get back over the wall and, in crazy scenes, we continued playing with the supporters standing along the touchlines.

"They were everywhere. Having scored my 18th goal of the season, I was thinking: ‘Blimey, this game might not get finished!’

"At full-time, though, automatic promotion brought a massive sense of relief because we’d all put so much effort into our season.

"With matches currently being played behind closed doors, sadly we’re experiencing a surreal time for football right now but days like that show just why the crowds make our English game so, so special."

RoadX Tyres is West Ham United's Official Tyre Partner. RoadX Tyres is a new tyre brand which successfully launched around the world at the end of 2019. The company focuses on providing comfortable and durable high-performance tyres and is backed with the highest level of testing, manufacturing, and research and development capabilities.