West Ham are enjoying a memorable run in the 2021/22 Europa League.
While previous good seasons in the Premier League have not been rewarded with European football – that bloody Astra Giurgiu – this time around the Hammers have not let any opposition stand in their way.
They suffered only one defeat in the group stages this campaign, finishing ahead of Dinamo Zagreb, Genk and Rapid Wien in first place. Europa League heavyweights Sevilla were put to the sword in the last 16 before Lyon suffered the same fate in the quarter-finals.
Standing between West Ham and a first major European final are Eintracht Frankfurt, who shocked Barcelona in the last eight to blow the competition wide open.
Just before we start, we’re not counting the Intertoto Cup. Those strikes from Trevor Sinclair, Frank Lampard and Paulo Wanchope against Metz remain as memorable as ever, but it’s just not as prestigious as the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
It’s a competition which holds excellent memories for Irons fans of a certain generation, with the likes of Bobby Moore, Alan Sealey, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst bringing the trophy home to London in 1965.
They later had an excellent run in 1975/76, having won the FA Cup in 1975 to qualify.
Finnish side Lahden Reipas were beaten in the first round 5-2 on aggregate, with another victory coming against Armenian outfit Ararat Erevan.
Their first scare of the competition came in the quarter-finals against Dutch side ADO Den Haag. An Aad Mansveld hat trick and Lex Schoenmaker’s strike gave Den Haag a 4-0 lead by half time of the first game, but Billy Jennings’ brace gave the Hammers their all-important away goals.
They proved crucial as West Ham bagged a 3-1 win at the Boleyn Ground courtesy of efforts from Billy Bonds, Frank Lampard, Sr and Alan Taylor, going through on away goals after an aggregate score of 5-5.
That took them to the semi-finals where they would meet – yep, you guessed it – Eintracht Frankfurt.
A brilliant start in the away leg saw Graham Paddon smash in a 30-yarder for the opening goal, but retorts from Willi Neuberger and Wolfgang Kraus saw the german side take the lead by half time of the tie.
However, the return game at the Boleyn Ground produced one of West Ham’s greatest ever nights.
On a sodden pitch, Trevor Brocking proved to be the Hammers’ hero. He first headed in Lampard’s cross before sending a ball over the top for Keith Robson to net the second. With 12 minutes left, Paddon played a through ball for Brooking to all but secure a place in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, though Frankfurt did net a consolation through Klaus Beverungen.
That final against Anderlecht didn’t quite go to plan. John Lyall’s side had taken the lead through Pat Holland, but Rob Rensenbrink and François Van der Elst put the Belgians ahead. Robson pulled the Irons back level to 2-2, but Rensenbrink’s second and Francois Van der Elst’s late effort saw Anderlecht lift the trophy West Ham previously had in 1965.
