Grimsby 1 - 5 West Ham (1981) - did anyone go?

I was there - in the Constitutional corner. I was only 8 at the time and remember being very upset at the score.

Of all the matches I've seen over the years this one has always stood out most. I feared every time Cross got the ball -he was that outstanding on the day ! One goal in particular was scored from barely a yard inside our our half. I cannot recall any other striker taking Town to bits the way he did. And of course happy memories of the Barrett stand.

This was my 1st ever Town game, my 9th birthday!

In the open corner between Pontoon and Main, I thought it was an overcast day but can't remember it raining that much.

I was,  in the Main Stand, West Ham were decent, Town not so bad either at the time.

I was at this one in the Pontoon as ever (and also went to the away game too the previous Autumn when we featured on MOTD and what a nervy experience that was at Upton Park!!    )

As I remember it in the home game, West Ham went at us and deservedly took a two goal lead then we pulled one back and in trying to go for an equaliser we were punished in that Bobby Cummings Cumming had to go off and then with us being a man down and more or less done for after that, they ripped us apart

It was certainly no disgrace to lose to them and they did deserve the victory but (and maybe I'm deluding myself here) the scoreline didn't totally reflect the circumstances

If that was when the return game was on MOD, then I was also at that game.

We went on the train, then underground. Very scary! All the West Ham skinheads around the ground before & after.

We were loosing 2-0 with seconds to go, so we left to get away, John Stone scored in injury time, but we missed it, & didn't get home in time to see it on MOD.

Going to away games then you were taking a huge risk at places like Upton Park.

That was a great season for Town (until that game). We didn't start the season that well put from November/December time we went on a great run and at one time we could have been the first team to go from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons, a feat which has still never been achieved and more than likely never will. We weren't overly high scorers but we had a hell of a defence.

We dropped away after the West Ham game and only won 1 of our last 7 games. Still, I think we finished 6th or 7th and only missed out on the top three by 4 or 5 points I think. There were no play-offs back then so it was always the top 3 who were promoted.

Quoted from Les Brechin

That was a great season for Town (until that game). We didn't start the season that well put from November/December time we went on a great run and at one time we could have been the first team to go from Division 4 to Division 1 in consecutive seasons, a feat which has still never been achieved and more than likely never will. We weren't overly high scorers but we had a hell of a defence.

We dropped away after the West Ham game and only won 1 of our last 7 games. Still, I think we finished 6th or 7th and only missed out on the top three by 4 or 5 points I think. There were no play-offs back then so it was always the top 3 who were promoted.

You have a good memory Les.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

You have a good memory Les.

The Fishy database is always a good way of checking though Chris.  

http://www.thefishy.co.uk/story.php?id=7988363