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Farewell to an old favourite - Yorkshire’s highs and lows at Upton Park
November 2002: Ian Pearce and Paolo Di Canio step in as tempers flare between Tomas Repka and Mark Viduka.
By Leon Wobschall
Published: 13:02 Tuesday 10 May 2016
ENGLISH football says goodbye to another old faithful later today - in the shape of Boleyn Ground - with West Ham staging the final game at the famous stadium this evening when they host Manchester United.
West Ham relocate to the Olympic Stadium next season, with the Boleyn Ground, or Upton Park as it is more commonly known to supporters, set to become a venerated piece of footballing history alongside the likes of Highbury, Maine Road, Roker Park, The Dell, Vetch Field, Filbert Street and Highfield Road - along with the former Yorkshire grounds of Leeds Road, Boothferry Park, Ayresome Park, Millmoor and Belle Vue..
What of Yorkshire’s memories of the Boleyn?
There have been many.
Here are 10 famous games - for better or worse ...
West Ham 2 Hull City 1, March 26, 2014
Ex-Hammers boss Sam Allardyce famously cupped his ear to home supporters, who booed his side at the final whistle despite beating the ten-man Tigers 2-1.
A calamitous James Chester own goal gifted the Hammers victory over Hull, with the hosts taking the lead through Mark Noble’s penalty after visiting keeper Allan McGregor was sent off for bringing down Mohamed Diame.
Nikica Jelavic - who later joined West Ham - fortuitously deflected in to level, but Chester diverted Guy Demel’s cross in minutes later.
West Ham 2 Middlesbrough 1, May 24 2009
Newly-promoted Middlesbrough are busy savouring a return to the Premier League after a seven-year absence - with their last top-flight game being one that Boro supporters would prefer to gloss over as their relegation was confirmed at Upton Park at the end of 2008-09.
It was a must-win game for Gareth Southgate’s Boro, who went behind when Carlton Cole netted. Despite Gary O’Neil levelling, Junior Stanislas netted a soft winner for the Hammers.
West Ham 3 Leeds United 4, November 10, 2002
Terry Venables’ Leeds, after being knocked out of the League Cup in embarrassing fashion at Sheffield United, triumphed in a thriller in East London, producing a devastating opening half which yielded four goals - and then repelling a stirring comeback from the hosts to take a huge three points in their survival quest.
United goals came from Nick Barmby, Harry Kewell (2) and Mark Viduka, with Paolo di Canio (2) and Trevor Sinclair on target for the Hammers.
West Ham 5 Bradford City 4, February 12, 2000
The relegation-haunted Bantams went down 5-4 in one of the most remarkable Premiership games ever, Frank Lampard wrapped up victory with a goal seven minutes from time in a thrilling see-saw contest.
Harry Redknapp’s men looked to be down and out when they trailed Bradford 4-2 with 25 minutes left - only to stage a miraculous rally to take the points.
City’s goals came from Dean Windass, Peter Beagrie (pen) and Jamie Lawrence (2), with home goals arriving from Trevor Sinclair, John Moncur, Paolo di Canio (pen), Joe Cole and Lampard.
West Ham 0 Leeds United 0, May 14, 2000
Leeds qualified for the Champions League, despite being held to a goalless draw at Upton Park - with David O’Leary’s side having West Yorkshire neighbours Bradford City to thank for helping them secure third place in the final Premiership table after they beat Liverpool 1-0 to guarantee their own status in the top-flight.
West Ham 2 Emley 1, January 4, 1998
The gallant Yorkshire non-leaguers - backed by 2,000 travelling supporters - gave Premier League West Ham a massive scare by equalising at Upton Park before losing 2-1, John Hartson netting an 82nd-minute winner.
The White Rose club looked like pulling off the improbable when Paul David - a supervisor at a hairdresser’s - scored with a header in the 56th minute to level the scores at 1-1 to cancel out an early opener from the young Frank Lampard. But Hartson cruelly ended their hopes of a deserved replay.
West Ham 7 Hull City 1, October 6, 1990
Hammers defender Steve Potts famously scored the only goal of his professional career in a heavy beating of the Tigers, with Jimmy Quinn (2), Julian Dicks (2), George Parris and Trevor Morley also on the scoresheet.
West Ham 0 Leeds United 1, October 7, 1989
A strike from Vinnie Jones midway through the first half - the midfielder’s first goal on the road for Leeds - saw Howard Wilkinson’s side move into the top three of the old Second Division with an accomplished victory.
Jones - barracked by home supporters throughout the game - side-footed home following an accurate low cross from Mike Whitlow, to the delight of the 5,000 visiting contingent.
West Ham 2 Leeds United 2, April 2, 1970
This match may have been meaningless given Everton’s securing of the Division One title the previous day, but it proved a fateful one for Paul Reaney.
United, who had just seen the first part of a historic treble dashed, drew 2-2 with West Ham, the game infamously remembered for Paul Reaney suffering a broken leg which ruled him out of the forthcoming 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Reaney was injured at the start of the second half, with United - for whom Allan Clarke struck twice - finishing the game with ten men, with Terry Hibbitt already on as a substitute.
West Ham 7 Leeds United 0, November 7, 1966
Featuring the likes of Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter, Leeds were swept aside by some quite breathtaking football by the hosts, with John Sissons and Geoff Hurst grabbing hat-tricks and Martin Peters netting the hosts other goal as the Hammers progressed to the fifth round of the League Cup with a real swagger.
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