Ken Tucker, one of the oldest surviving ex-Hammers, has given EX a revealing and controversial interview for issue 32 ­ on sale in March.

Tucker, now 80 and living happily with his wife in Shoebury, Essex, scored a sensational hat-trick on his West Ham United debut against Chesterfield at the Boleyn in October 1947.

It was a dream start...but things soon turned sour for the outspoken Cockney character.

Due to competition for places and, more significantly, an ongoing rift with manager, Ted Fenton, the powerful winger made only 14 more appearances in the next four years, although he did retain a regular place in season 1955-56.

"I didn't get on with Fenton at all," Tucker tells EX. "He told me once that all his troubles at West Ham were down to me, but HE was the problem as far as most of the players were concerned.

"When I left West Ham to join Notts County, it was on condition that I would be allowed to continue to train at Upton Park with my old team-mates. But Fenton tried to put the block on it, so I drove round to chairman Reg Pratt's place and got him to intervene."

The wealthiest West Ham player of his generation, Tucker was the first player to own a motor car ­ a sparkling black and chrome American Chrysler that was the envy of his colleagues.

To read more of this riveting interview with the forthright Tucker, a key witness to the formation of the famous Academy at the club in the 50s, don't miss issue 32 of EX Magazine for a compelling insight into Hammers history...