If anyone can offer tips on how to inspire West Ham United to an away win at Tottenham Hotspur, it is Steve Jones.
The striker, who was famously plucked from non-league Billericay Town by manager Billy Bonds, scored a memorable goal in the Hammers’ 4-1 Premier League victory at Spurs in April 1994.
It turned out to be Jones’ fifth and final goal in Claret and Blue, but nobody can ever erase his memories of climbing off the substitutes’ bench, collecting Ian Bishop’s pass and firing past Ian Walker and in via the base of the post to send the traveling West Ham fans behind the goal wild.
Two goals from Trevor Morley either side of future Hammer Teddy Sheringham’s penalty, and a late volley from Mike Marsh ensured the visitors would leave north London with local bragging rights and three important points secured in their bid to climb the table.
“I remember that we beat them 4-1, we played so well it could have been six, seven or eight that day, as we really tore them to shreds, so it was just one of those days that it clicked, really!” he smiled, clearly replaying the best afternoon of his career in his mind as he spoke. “It was brilliant. I slid on my knees and I can still see the crowd behind the goal, where we’d filled it. They were bouncing and it was really good!
“Funnily enough I was a sub that day, Peter Butler got injured on the right side and I came on after about 20 minutes and played on the right wing in the first half, so it was a bit strange, really, but it was a great day!
“You have got to go there and believe you can beat them. They obviously had some good players like Sheringham and this, that and the other, but on the day I think we overpowered them right across the pitch and they couldn’t really live with it. They had a penalty, which Sheringham scored, but other than that they weren’t really in it.
“It was good to see the Spurs fans leaving after 55 minutes and the West Ham fans dancing around the ground – that was good stuff!”
Nearly 29 years on and the Irons are in need of another inspirational performance in N17 this Sunday, and Jones is backing two forwards who have risen from non-league to Premier League to inspire their team to another unforgettable win over their local rivals.
“Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen have proved it can be done,” he observed. “Youth teams and Academies are much stronger and squads are bigger than when I was coming through, so it is more difficult, but there are still very good players who come into the game late and if they’re good enough, they will get a professional club like I did.
“I think I’d love to have played up front with Antonio as he gets about and knocks defenders about and creates holes and spaces for you. He’s decent in the air and good to feet, and Jarrod can obviously play up front as well, so hopefully we can get a couple of goals from them.
“We need to go to Spurs and have a go at them and hopefully we can get another win.”
