West Ham FA Cup 1964. 

Although not a football fan, like all of West Ham I got fired up over the 1964 FA Cup Final, remembering the last time West Ham got there was the `White Horse` Final in 1923.

But unlike today were you would just go and buy poster flags etc, a lot of items were hand made at home.

First thing was the team photo (normally cut out of the local Paper), to be displayed in the window.

Then the window would be `dressed`.

Your old football would be washed. Then a cup was found, anything from one for growing roses to the 110 yard dash!, which was then placed on top of the ball.

The local market (Rathbone) would have a clothes stall, which would supply miles of Claret and Blue ribbon. This would be used to make rosettes, and draped across the window.

Windows were left open so passing people could hear the match on the radio (if you were lucky, somebody had a television).

When West Ham beat Preston North End it was like carnival time, total strangers spoke and shook hands.

On the Sunday I think the whole of West Ham went to line the Barking road to cheer on `our` team`.