Iconic Moments in Football No.66
This week’s ‘Iconic Moment’ comes from the 1980 FA Cup Final between West Ham United and Arsenal.
Arsenal were red-hot favourites going into the Final as West Ham were a Second Division side at the time. All the pressure was off the East London club and they managed to pull off a historic FA Cup shock.
West Ham had won the FA Cup five years earlier but were relegated three years later. They had some great players in their team such as Phil Parkes, Alvin Martin, Trevor Brooking and a young 17 year old called Paul Allen.
Paul Allen started the match against Arsenal and became the youngest player to play in an FA Cup Final at the age 17 years and 256 days.
After 87 minutes and West Ham leading 1-0, Allen found himself through on goal with only Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings to beat. The fairytale was about to be written, the youngest player to also become the youngest goalscorer in a Final.
Arsenal’s Willie Young had other ideas though. The Arsenal fans would sing “We’ve got the biggest Willie in the land” in tribute to the defender. He would become the pantomime villain of the 1980 Final.
After Trevor Brooking beat Young to the ball and flicked the ball square to Paul Allen, the 17 year old went past Graham Rix and was suddenly clean through.
Willie Young was closing in on Allen and quickly realised that he didn’t have the pace to keep up with the teenager. Young jumped in and hacked the Allen from behind, sending him sprawling on the Wembley turf.
The West Ham fans from the terraces voiced their displeasure at Young, who was given a yellow card by referee George Courtney. After this incident, the rules were changed so a challenge by the last defender became a red card offence.
As well as winning the FA Cup, The Hammers also had a great run in the League Cup. They reached the Quarter Final before losing 3-0 to eventual European Cup winners Nottingham Forest. Arsenal went on to to lose the European Cup Winners Cup Final four days later, losing 5-4 on penalties to Valencia.
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