Middlesbrough v West Ham
FA Cup Semi Final
4pm, Sunday 23 April 2006 
Villa Park
Live on BBC 
Winning club receives £900,000 

West Ham and England legend Martin Peters is backing his old club to bring back memories of 1964 by reaching The FA Cup Final.

Peters was just a 20-year-old lad when the Hammers won the Cup 42 years ago, beating Preston 3-2 at Wembley.

He didn't even play in the game, having been left out of the starting XI. But he still remembers the way West Ham got there - and believes it could provide some lucky omens for the current squad.

Speaking in his role as an ambassador for The FA Cup sponsors Nationwide Building Society, he said: "It’s going to be a tough game against Middlesbrough on Sunday for both sides but I'll be cheering for West Ham and I hope they can do it.

"Both teams rested players on Monday in the Premiership and Middlesbrough won. But that doesn’t mean anything. When you play a Semi Final it’s another kettle of fish.

"I remember when I was at West Ham in 1964 we had a Semi Final against Manchester United and played them in the league a few days before at Upton Park.

"Man United fielded a below-strength side but still beat West Ham 3-1. But in the Semi Final, when both teams had all their players back, West Ham won 3-1 and got to the Final where we beat Preston 3-2.

"I was only 20 at the time and I was on bench - and unfortunately they didn’t have substitutes in those days so I couldn’t come on. But I’ll always remember the way we got there and I hope West Ham can do the same this time."

Peters, who also played for Tottenham, certainly made his mark in the years following West Ham's Cup success back in '64. He helped them to Cup Winners Cup glory the following year and then famously helped guide England to World Cup glory 12 months after that.

"They were great times," he said. "When I was left out of the FA Cup Final side I was disappointed and worried that I would never get to play at Wembley. But then we got to the Cup Winners Cup Final the following year and it was played at Wembley too, against 1860 Munich. And a year later it was the World Cup itself.

"I hope there are more good times around the corner for West Ham again. If they get to the Final they are guaranteed European football and that will be very important for the club.

"Alan Pardew has done a great job there and the future looks very bright."

Stay with TheFA.com as we build up to this weekend's FA Cup Semi Finals.