Celebrating West Ham's European Cup Winners' Cup triumph 55 years ago

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Tom Doyle19 May 2020

England great Sir Bobby Moore captained West Ham to the European Cup Winners' Cup on this day 55 years ago after a 2-0 victory over 1860 Munich in the final at Wembley Stadium.

A brace from Alan Sealey secured the triumph as the Hammers got their hands on major European silverware in 1965 for the first and only time in their proud history.

Speaking to West Ham about that night Brian Dear - who lined up in attack - tells of how a tip from Moore helped him land his favourite ever photo.

Dear said: "Well it was on that night Bobby came round and said: 'Stag, you'll be alright tonight won't you?' And I said: 'Lovely Bob, I'm not nervous.'

"He said: 'Well, walk behind me in the line-up then.' And I said: 'Well, why?'

"He said: 'If you come out walking behind me, you'll definitely get your photo taken.'

"And I've got in my kitchen at home a photo of me and 'Moore', 'Boycey' behind and 'Hursty' and it's the best photo I've got in my life with the best fella that I ever knew in my life."

Regarding the performance, Dear said: "It has been mooted about that that was the finest performance some people have seen from a West ham side that night at Wembley.

"Everything just went really well and it was a fantastic evening.

"We went nowhere afterwards. We had a sandwich and a cup of tea and came back to Upton Park. And I got £30 a week then!

Getty Images

"We got an £800 bonus for winning and a £100 appearance fee.

"I bought my dream house like footballers do today for £5,200 in Hornchurch, £25 deposit with Woolwich Building Society, £7-a-week rent and I begged for my dinner from somewhere."

Watch the highlights above, and scroll through the gallery at the top of the article to relive that famous day in Hammers history...

Additional reporting by PA.

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