The Final Upton Park Kit – How does it compare?
Article by Tom Burford
So, after over 100 years at the Boleyn Ground, it’s finally time to say goodbye as The Hammers make the short trip to Stratford to tenant the Olympic Stadium.
So many memories have been created down the years at this historic ground, and I’m going to be absolutely devastated to leave it behind.
In recent weeks many fans have discussed their favourite memories, games, players and managers from the past but I wanted to take a look at what is a real passion of mine, the best kits we’ve ever seen at Upton Park.
As an avid collector of retro football shirts I was delighted to learn that this season’s shirt would closely resemble that of the first kit ever worn in E13 in 1904. The shirt seems to have gone down an absolute storm with the fans, although I am a little disappointed that Umbro didn’t include the lace up collar as seen on the 1904 home and away strips. But how does it compare with some of the garments we’ve seen down the years? I got in touch with Campo Retro, a fantastic website who specialise in retro football shirts, to help me look into my 5 favourite kits that have been worn during West Ham’s time at Upton Park.
1964 F.A. Cup Final Long Sleeve Shirt
As some of you may have gathered from my previous articles, I haven’t been around to watch West Ham as long as some. Born in 1989, I’ve seen more than my fair share of downs with the occasional sprinkling of euphoria, but after my first game in 1997 (a 5-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Upton Park) I wanted to completely educate myself in all of West Ham’s history. I accomplished this, largely thanks to my Dad’s huge video collection of West Ham season reviews, cup finals and historical subjects.
One area in particular I do remember is the story of the 1964 F.A. Cup Final, swiftly followed by the 1965 ECWC Final narrated beautifully in ‘West Ham United: The First Hundred Years’. It was a video introduced by David Essex and regular season review presenter in the early 90’s John Gubba and with archive footage described by legendary commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme, it told the story of how West Ham went from F.A. Cup winners, to European Champions. The key moment that sticks in my head are Johnny Byrne’s ‘rolly-pollys’ after Ronnie Boyce headed a last minute winner in the ’64 cup final. What an era, what a shirt.
Campo Retro stock the shirt with, then captain, Bobby Moore’s number 6 on the back. The long sleeve shirt is available for £25.00.
1966 West Ham Away Shirt
Over the years, the sky blue with claret hoops away shirt has become almost as iconic as the club’s home colours. One of my favourite pictures of Bobby Moore was taken with him in this shirt, holding onto the near post preparing to defend a corner.
I’m always delighted when West Ham revert to the famous ‘claret hoops’ as their away strip.
Campo explain the shirt was released “In honour of the great man.
In 2008, the season that marked the 50th anniversary of the late, great Bobby Moore’s debut for the club, West Ham United officially retired the No.6 shirt in his honour. During well over 500 appearances for the Hammers, Bobby became one of English footballs’ greatest ever players, representing England in the 1966 World Cup and leading his country to an unforgettable victory.”
It includes Moore’s famous number 6 on the back and is available at Campo for £20.00.
Boys of ’86 Away Shirt
‘The Boys of 86’ achieved West Ham’s highest ever league finish (3rd in the old Division 1) which to this day remains unbroken. It was a very difficult decision for me to pick the away shirt over the home shirt, and actually goes against everything I said in the previous section.
The reason I went for the away kit is based purely on one game, a 4-0 away win over London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It’s another game from before my time, but it’s one I remember as clear as day from the ‘First Hundred Years’ video. On one of the muddiest pitches you will ever see, West Ham destroyed the Blues with goals from Alan Devonshire and arguably West Ham’s greatest strike partnership Frank McAvennie and Tony Cottee, scoring once and twice respectively.
This was one of the first retro West Ham shirts I purchased, and it still serves me well on the terraces to this day!
It’s available at Campo Retro for £24.00 with personalisation available.
1994 Bobby Moore Memorial Shirt
Probably my favourite of the lot. This shirt was only ever worn once, in a memorial game raising money for the Bobby Moore Family Trust and Imperial Cancer Research.
West Ham played against a Premier League XI featuring one player from each of the other 21 Premier League clubs and also former West Ham midfielder Liam Brady. The side also included former striker Tony Cottee and legendary left-back Julian Dicks.
West Ham won the game 2-1 with goals from Clive Allen and the late Jeroen Boere.
Campo Retro describe the replica shirt as a ‘Tribute to a Legend’. “Featuring a special crest, this shirt was worn during a memorial match held in tribute to West Ham and England legend Bobby Moore, and marking the official opening of the new ‘Bobby Moore Stand’. One year after his death, an all-star Premiership XI took on West Ham at the Boleyn Ground, watched by Hammers’ legends of the past and a crowd of over 20,000.”
The shirt is available from Campo Retro for £20.00
1995-1997 Centenary Home Shirt
This is a smashing shirt from the ‘Pony’ days. The shirt features hundreds of embroidered bubbles containing the number 100 to mark the club’s centenary year.
This was the kit worn during my very first game I attended and was worn on numerous occasions by current manager Slaven Bilic and first team coach Julian Dicks, you can even personalise the shirt with their old names and numbers on the back.
The shirt is available from Campo for £20.00
All of these shirts are available from www.camporetro.com
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