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https://www.whufc.com/en/video/untitled ... t-14-41-22

I remember was sitting in a pub on Canvey Island watching that game. Kanoute was making his debut, and that team was probably my favourite period of following West Ham.

Team that day was (although the setup is somewhat a guess): Substitutes

J Cole
N Ruddock
M Keller
P Wanchope
I Feuer

We were an up and down side, but for me it was a great period...talented players, a team setup to get mavericks and entertainers on the pitch, cult heroes, up and coming youth hopes, and money coming into the game but not having totally ruined it.

Halcyon days.

I was in the Bobby Moore Upper. I might be mistaken but could have been the first time we sang the Paolo Di Canio song at home. Definitely the best goal I’ve seen live.

I was in the west lower so had the perfect view of it, you knew it was special straight away. It was a strange game in that we only won 2-1 but dominated them, I recall it also being the best debut I’ve ever seen someone have - Kanoute. He was superb that day, the crowd were chanting very early on “Harry sign him up, Harry harry sign him up”

Yes, that was an era when home fans applauded spectacular goals by the opposition. West Ham fans used to regularly applauded wonder goals by the opposition at Upton Park back in the day.

Another bit of class that has long gone from the game, like applauding the opposition goalkeeper when defending the goal pre half. We used to regularly do that back in the day in the Bobby Moore Lower at Upton Park.

I wasn't there for his equally brilliant effort against Chelsea so others may be able to confirm but if you watch it on You Tube it seems even a proportion of the Chelsea fans applaud. Say what would like about Harry and he did buy some crap but he did bring in some quality and it was entertaining one way or the other.

Happy Birthday Massive, for yesterday?
You're young to be on here!

As said it was Kanoute’s debut (on loan) & after 5 mins the crowd were calling for us to sign him
My recollection is that we absolutely battered Wimbledon yet only won 2-1
It was one of those goals as said where there is stunned silence before the celebration as people can’t believe what they’ve seen
The other one like that was the Payet free kick v Palace

I agree with COYI, I think the goal at Chelsea might actually be better.

I wasn't at the game for PDCs wonder strike but I've seen some cracking goals there, one in particular was Martin Peters volley that bent Leicester City's Peter Shilton backwards.

It's exactly like Boleyn8420 describes that mad buzz that went around the Boleyn after he scored it. Everyone looking around at each other grinning like Cheshire cats saying "did we all just see that?!"

We played peak Redknapp free-flowing expressive Football where Tricky Trev, Di Canio and all were all in tune. Finished 9th but really should have been 6th after finishing 5th the season before.

I was in the bobby moore lower. Usually the roar went up as soon as the ball hit the back of the net, but there was a pause for a second or so, like time stood still, before everyone celebrated. It was a bit eerie.

Or perhaps i was pissed.

Fabulous goal.viva parlo.

So many great memories of Paolo a genius who often appeared to be verging on the brink of insanity.

That fa cup goal at Old Trafford and his histrionics in that 4.3 game against Bradford.being another couple.

I actually paid for a Paolo Di Canio ringtone on the old Nokia 2110 

Happened the day on the eve of my 18th birthday and was fortunate enough to be dead in line with him as he made contact with the ball sitting in the upper part of the Chicken Run with a perfect view of majestic beauty. It was as if Di Canio knew and said have some of this as your perfect birthday gift son! Bellisimo

For me it is what Football should be all about and you can stick all your i-pads, set-piece coaches, low block tactics, time wasting anti-Football shit up your arse! 

Cannot believe that was 26 years ago!

Come On You Irons" wrote: ↑27 Mar 2026, 11:31 I have always considered Di Canio's 30 years volley screamer at Chelsea in September 2002 to be the better

It's such a shame Roeder relegated that team that season. And that Brown and the tight-fisted board hired him to replace Redknapp. Classic West Ham.

I have always considered Di Canio's 30 years volley screamer at Chelsea in September 2002 to be the better (or my favourite at least) goal of his. The volley against Wimbledon was majestic but I just love that screamer at Chelsea. Especially as it contributed to a memorably 2-3 away win there.

It's such a shame Roeder relegated that team that season. And that Brown and the tight-fisted board hired him to replace Redknapp. Classic West Ham.

Was a week after my dad had died suddenly and the goal raised the first smile in a week. Dad would have loved that goal. Great goal all around. Most clips just show Sinclair's cross and Di Canio's volley but Foes cross field ball was a peach as well. 26 years FMOB.

Stunning goal, no doubt. However if I had to choose only one goal over my 51 years of supporting this club to watch on a loop it would be Bowens vs Fiorentina closely followed by Lanzinis vs Spurs but Paolo would definitely be third

One of the few goals in my life where even watching it, I couldn't believe it went in first time, and it took me a moment to realise the ball was actually in the net.

The other notable one I remember where I felt like that was Ronaldinho's goal against Chelsea for Barcelona.

The one thing that stuck out for me was the buzz around the ground after all the cheering subsided as if to say did we actually see him do that. Never heard a buzz like that for any other goal since and quite confident I never will with the sanitised, robotic shit we watch nowadays.

Goosebump stuff.

I remember being there for that one and also a stunner against Derby.

He was the player that always had you on the edge of your seat with his genius and unpredictability.


 

To think that Roeder relegated us three years later with the bulk of that team. That relegation set us back years as a club.

that cross field ball from trevor, class. I loved that team

Had a great view of it from the West Upper