ALAN TAYLOR was West Ham’s FA Cup final hero 50 years ago – scoring both goals in their 2-0 win over Fulham.
He remains the only player in FA Cup history to net doubles in the quarter-final (versus Arsenal), semi-final (against Ipswich) and final en route to lifting the trophy.
Now half a century on, Taylor is parting with his football treasures — in particular his prized No 9 shirt from the final and FA Cup winner’s medal.
His Hammers memorabilia goes under the hammer at Stacey’s Auctioneers in Chelmsford on April 28, with his shirt and medal expected to fetch at least £10,000 each.
An emotional Taylor, 71, said: “For 50 years I have cherished these items. I’ve had them on display in my house and admired them every day.
“But at my time of life you start looking at different aspects — and my memorabilia was one of those things.
“I didn’t like the thought of them gathering dust up in a loft somewhere.
“I have a son who doesn’t have children to pass them on to.
“In fact, it was Gary who suggested offering the items to collectors who will, hopefully, enjoy them as much as we have.
“Sadly, West Ham don’t have a museum — they could have kept them so all fans had access to them.
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Alan Taylor’s collection up for sale
- His 1975 FA Cup final No 9 shirt and winner’s medal
- The actual Cup final match ball
- Alan’s Cup final tracksuit top
- His PMD Golden Goal award for his Cup final exploits
- Alan’s 1975 Charity Shield runners-up plaque
- Runners-up medal from the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup final
- His 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup tracksuit top
- Runners-up medal from the 1975 Anglo-Italian Cup
“Hopefully, they will go on display publicly somewhere. I want them to go somewhere where they are as loved as they have been for 50 years.
“I have often taken some items to the stadium when I’ve taken charge of tours there. It’s incredible the joy it brings to so many supporters.
“Fans take pictures, reminisce about that time and provide some of their own memories, which is fascinating.
“It makes me emotional when my son Gary talks about how my achievements made him feel so proud.
“But he says it doesn’t matter if I have the memorabilia or not — he feels exactly the same. That’s what made my mind up.
“For 50 years, the shirt has been framed and, with the rest of the collection, been in a cabinet in our lounge.
I didn’t like the thought of them gathering dust up in a loft somewhere.
Alan Taylor
“Each night it has been lit up and been very much part of the furniture.
“It’s going to be empty without them — they have taken pride of place.”
As well as his ambassadorial role at West Ham, Taylor continues his unusual line of work as a funeral pallbearer.
He said: “I’ve worked in the funeral business for 13 years. It’s the worst time for people but, hopefully, I’m able to make sure everything runs as sensitively and smoothly as possible.
“I lost my mother-in-law last year and it was no less painful for me and my family.”
Taylor was just 21 and at Rochdale when he was snapped up for £40,000 by John Lyall at West Ham, in 1974.
Rochdale played in the earlier rounds of that 1974-75 FA Cup campaign but, as fate would have it, Taylor had been injured — meaning he was not cup-tied for the Hammers.
It was not until the night before their quarter-final at Arsenal that the striker found out from manager Lyall that he would be playing his first full game.
Norfolk-based Taylor said: “I had just been a lad enjoying playing football in the fourth tier at Rochdale.
“But, out of the blue, Lyall and West Ham came in for me. Within six months I had scored two goals in the quarter-final, semi-final and final — and had helped the club win the FA Cup.
“I will never forget scoring that first double at Arsenal. We played in the most diabolical conditions at Highbury. But what a result.”
Taylor still thrives on his match-day role at West Ham.
He added: “I love it. I had five of the most enjoyable years wearing claret and blue, so to be part of the hospitality on a match day means so much.
It’s going to be empty without them — they have taken pride of place.
Alan Taylor
“However, seeing the team struggle this season has been a tough watch. But it seems so much better since Graham Potter has taken over.”
Taylor accepts it is a different world for players in the top flight today.
But he said: “I still love the fact a player like Jarrod Bowen has come through the ranks at Hereford — just as I had done at Rochdale — and is now captain at West Ham.”
What is set to change for Taylor, wife Jeanette, son Gary and daughter-in-law Julie, is that there will be a desperately sad empty cabinet in their lounge after the Chelmsford auction at the end of this month.
He added: “It’s going to be very emotional but if someone gets half as much love as we have had for 50 years, then I could not be happier.”
Taylor fires Irons to glory
March 8, 1975 Quarter-final, Highbury
Arsenal 2-0, Taylor scores both
April 9, 1975, Semi-final replay, Stamford Bridge
Ipswich 2-1, Taylor scores both
May 3, 1975, Final, Wembley
West Ham 2-0 Fulham, Taylor scores both
West Ham squad: Mervyn Day, John McDowell, Frank Lampard Sr, Billy Bonds, Tommy Taylor, Kevin Lock, Billy Jennings, Graham Paddon, Alan Taylor, Trevor Brooking, Pat Holland. Sub: Bobby Gould.
Manager: John Lyall
Fulham: Peter Mellor, John Cutbush, John Fraser, Alan Mullery, John Lacy, Bobby Moore, John Mitchell, Jim Conway, Viv Busby, Alan Slough, Les Barrett. Sub: Barry Lloyd.
Manager: Alec Stock
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
