The First and Last Englishman. West Ham United in the 1960’s

The young men who played in West Ham’s FA Cup Final victory over Preston North End in 1964 were all born and raised in England. In each tie from the third round, only English players had had worn the Hammers over their hearts. This feat has not been repeated since and is unlikely to be replicated in the future. A year later West Ham fielded another all-English team to win the European Cup-Winners’ Cup, something no other English club has ever done. Thus, the West Ham players of 1964 and 1965 were The First And Last Englishmen, and this is their story. It is a tale told partly from the point of view of Irons striker Alan Sealey, who was right in the middle of the action, and his team-mates. But the voice of the supporters is just as important in this epic. West Ham’s rise to European glory is portrayed through the memories of those who played and of those who watched. It is a compelling book about a unique time in English football.