On this day, January 9, 1979, Newport County pulled off a memorable FA Cup shock with a 2-1 victory over West Ham United at Somerton Park in the third round.
It was a night to remember for the Fourth Division side, who stunned their Second Division counterparts in front of a packed crowd of 14,124.
The two sides had only met twice before, both times in league action in the 1946-47 season. The Hammers had won 3-0 at Upton Park in the first match and drawn 1-1 at Somerton Park in the second encounter. But this was their first cup meeting, and Newport were ready to make a statement.
Newport’s cup run had already seen them advance from the second round with a 2-1 win at Worcester City. The originally scheduled game against West Ham had been postponed due to heavy snow, forcing a rescheduled fixture on a freezing Tuesday night in February. Despite being two divisions below West Ham, Newport’s reputation for giant killings was well-established, and the stage was set for another famous upset.
The match started with a bang for the home side. Howard Goddard, a former Bournemouth and Swindon forward, headed Newport into the lead after just 14 minutes. But the visitors quickly responded, and West Ham's legendary striker, ‘Pop’ Robson, leveled the score just seven minutes later with a superb long-range strike.
As the game wore on, both sides had their chances, but it was Newport who would make the decisive move. In the 81st minute, West Ham goalkeeper Mervyn Day made a hash of dealing with a cross, and Eddie Woods was on hand to pounce on the loose ball, tapping home the winning goal to send Somerton Park into raptures.
Newport’s victory secured a fourth-round tie against Third Division Colchester United, but their cup adventure would end there. A goalless draw in the first leg at Somerton Park was followed by a 1-0 defeat in the replay at Layer Road.
It was a stunning victory for Newport on a night when West Ham's usual composure seemed to evaporate under the pressure. The Hammers, managed by John Lyall, were a side full of talent, including their top scorer of the season, Robson, who would net 26 goals in 42 appearances before leaving the club at the end of the season.
While Newport's FA Cup journey would be cut short, this historic win over West Ham remains one of the club's finest moments, and a reminder of the magic of the Cup and the unpredictability of football.
To set the scene of 1979, YMCA by The Village People was sitting atop the UK charts, Jaws 2 was the top film at the box office, and Michael Aspel had just launched ITV's Give Us A Clue. It was truly an unforgettable night at Somerton Park, a fitting stage for one of the most dramatic FA Cup giant-killings of the era.
Club Connections
Players who have represented Newport County and West Ham United include:
Defenders: Alf Lee, Phil Brignull.
Midfielders: Bobby Weale, Bill Edwards.
Strikers: Tudor Martin, Wilf James, Frank Nouble.