Eurosport - Mon, 06 Jul 11:16:00 2009
In our weekly series during the close season, we let you decide who is the greatest player to have played for some of England's top clubs. We continue with a selection of West Ham legends.
Here is our shortlist of eight greats with the Eurosport-Yahoo! top three at the bottom.
So leave your thoughts below, vote in the online poll and we'll give you the final joint verdict on Saturday.
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Billy Bonds (1967-88)
While Trevor Brooking was the flair player in the West Ham midfield, Bonds sat alongside him and proved to be the perfect foil with his tough tackling and strength. Bonds played an incredible 793 appearances for the Irons, which included one run of 124 consecutive matches. He was awarded the captaincy following Bobby Moore's departure in 1974, and had immediate success, captaining the club to the 1975 FA Cup and the 1976 Cup Winners' Cup Final. Bonds dropped back to defence in the late 70s and captained the club to one more FA Cup final victory. He was won the Hammer of the Year award four times.
Trevor Brooking (1967-84)
Brooking won two FA Cups with the Irons, scoring a headed winner against Arsenal in 1980, which is funny, because Brooking he didn't score many headers, as he never tires of telling us. Trev was never a player to get involved in the physical aspect of the game, being most at ease with the ball at his feet, scoring 102 goals in 636 appearances. He won Hammer of the Year award on five occasions.
Paolo Di Canio (1999-03)
The Italian arrived at Upton Park under a cloud of shame after shoving over referee Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday. He soon re-built his career and became one of the most popular players in the country. He had outrageous skill and flair and was the sort of player that you could not take your eyes off him. In 2000 he scored a spectacular scissor kick volley against Wimbledon which won the goal of the season and was probably the greatest goal in Premier League history. He won the Hammer of the Year award in his first full season at the club.
Julian Dicks (1988-93, 94-98)
If you were to stereotype an east-end hard man, you would get Julian Dicks, even though he was born in Bristol. He was nicknamed 'The Terminator' for his tough tackling ways, which usually led to him getting in trouble as his eight red cards and 112 bookings would testify to. But when his left foot wasn't kicking people, it was scoring goals. For a left-back he scored an incredible 61 goals, mainly free-kicks and penalties, and lies 17 on the all-time list of West Ham scorers. He played 315 times for the Irons, winning the Hammer of the Year award four times.
Sir Geoff Hurst (1959-72)
Hurst of course scored three goals in the 1966 World Cup Final, which means that he is guaranteed television face time at every England home international and on every unsuccessful English World Cup bid. His first Wembley goal was an equaliser in the Hammers' 1964 FA Cup final win. He then added the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup medal to his collection. He was successfully converted into a forward by Ron Greenwood, scoring 252 goals in 502 matches. He won the Hammer of the Year award on three occasions.
Alvin Martin (1977-96)
Martin was the scouser who the cockneys took to their heart. In the 80s, 'Stretch' partnered Bonds in the centre of the Irons defence and he picked up an FA Cup winners' medal in 1980. In April 1986, Martin achieved the rare feat of scoring a hat-trick against three different Newcastle United goalkeepers. He amassed 496 appearances for the Irons, winning the Hammer of the Year award on three occasions.
Bobby Moore (1958-74)
Moore's ability to read the game, time tackles and marshal his defence made him a world class defender and captain. In 1964 he successfully battled testicular cancer while leading West Ham to victory to FA Cup victory over Preston. That year, he was also named the Footballer of the Year and was awarded the England captaincy. The following year, his West Ham team beat 1860 Munich in the European Cup Winners' Cup. He won the Hammer of the Year Award on four occasions.
Phil Parkes (1979-90)
Parkes became the most expensive goalkeeper ever when John Lyall brought him to Upton Park for a fee of £500,000. The money was well worth it and Parkes was the Irons' number one for ten seasons. He kept a clean sheet in the 1980 FA Cup final in the Irons' 1-0 victory over Arsenal. Parkes lies 13 in the all-time West Ham appearance record, picking up the Hammer of the Year award in 1981.
Honourable mentions: Joe Cole, Tony Cottee, Alan Devonshire, Frank McAvennie, Ludek Miklosko, Martin Peters, Steve Potts, Ray Stewart, Carlos Tevez, Vic Watson.
Eurosport-Yahoo! verdict
How can it not be Bobby Moore? He captained both his club and country through their most succesful eras, and is the only West Ham player to have his shirt number retired by the club. For his silky skills, Trevor Brooking is in second place and for his longevity, Billy Bonds is in third.
1 - Bobby Moore
2 - Trevor Brooking
3 - Billy Bonds
Comment 25 - 44 of 44
peter butler
ZAMORA!!! LOL !!!!
only keep weat ham girlies in prem cause we all like thashing them! its a turkey shoot!! GUNNERS TOP TEAM IN EUROPE THIS SEASON !!!
NONE OF THEM!!! none good enought 2 get into any ARSENAL team past or present!!
ducan edwards died 1958 never sore the best of him telant
bobby moore
Definitely No 1 Bobby Moore
2 Trevor Brooking
3 Billy Bonds
4 Alvin Martin
5 Steve Potts
6 Phil Parkes/Jim Standen
7 Frank Lampard [Srn]
8 Alan Devonshire
9 Geoff Hurst
10 Martim Peters
11Tony Cottee
12Frank MCavenie
Never saw Bobby Moore play..but Brooking was the classiest midfielder I ever saw (better than an midfielder in the prem today) and when Devonshire had the ball, you knew he would always beat his man. The most skillful? That would be Paolo..he could do the outrageous and Glen Roeder (the biggest moron to ever work at the club!) dropped him and we got relegated! As for Bonzo..the most competitive player by miles!
I'm a Leeds fan and remember the late 60's and early 70's very well. and Bobby Moore is the only Englishman along with Gerrard that could walk into any England team of any era, no question! You have some class players over the years but none come close to. Even Jack Charlton said he was the best, and he'd played alongside some real talent and witnessed others later as a pundit and manager. R.I.P. King Bobby.
WHAT ABOUT ROY KEANE HE WAS THE GREATEST UNITED HOTHEAD MIDFIELDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Of course Bobby Moore should win it... But my personal favourites have generally been associated with midfield - Brooking, Devonshire et al. My favourite duo were Bishop and Moncur, but I also believe that Slaven Bilic could have become legendary at West Ham if he'd stayed longer...
Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore was not just the greatest West Ham player but probably Englands greatest also, a class act on and off the field todays players can't hold a candle to the likes of him.
Pure Class Act !
SIR Bobby easy then paolo then sir geof hurst the best 3 players ever for us
Moore, Brooking, Peters... nuff said!
clear no. 1 bobby moore
2 billy bonds
3 trevor brooking
4 martin peters
5 alan devonshire
6 julian dicks
7 phil parkes
8 geof hurst
9 alvin martin
10 frank lampard snr
dont need a poll,so obvious.Bobby Moore (dignified captain, and beckham and terry worth 2 bob in comparison),Geoff Hurst (perfect hat-trick in wc final,left foot,right foot,header).Trevor Brooking (enough said)Di Canio (looney but lovable)Billy Bonds(blind england managers)Julian Dicks(more blind england managers)Phil Parkes(even more blind england managers although he had a bit of competition then)
1. Bobby Moore
2. DiCanio
3. Billy Bonds
my top 6 would be
1. Julian Dicks - total commitment to the game. A little too much at times. Was great to watch.
2. Paolo di Canio - joined West ham under a dark cloud but proved himself a master of the game. The game v Everton (I think) remains with me when he caught the ball from a corner coz the ref didn't blow up for an injury.
3. Bobby Moore - Never seen him play but my dad showed me the skills and commitment he had in each match.
4. Billy Bonds - Himself and Alvin were like a wall protecting the West Ham goal
5. Steve Potts - For his stature he was an excellent defender. Another one club man.
6. Alvin Martin - Giant of a man in the defence. Nothing kept him down not even getting a wisdom tooth removed
Am sure this wouldn't be everyones top 6 but they all bring back happy memories for me. Come on the Irons!!!!
Doesn't anyone remember Alan Devonshire.. Not even mentioned, what did they ask Tottenham supporters for...
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