Hammers fans enjoyed a night to remember on Friday, May 20, when members of the 1964 and 1965 cup-winning teams came together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club's greatest-ever triumph in EX Magazine's Gala Dinner.

On an evening of wonderful memories and pure nostalgia at the Britannia International Hotel in London's Docklands, more than 200 guests turned up to pay tribute to the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup winning side - of which seven surviving players were present, along with three colleagues who appeared in the 1964 FA Cup final victory against Preston North End that made our European glory against TSV Munich 1860 the following year possible.

Hosted by another Hammers legend, striker Tony Cottee, the evening began with the introduction of the VIP guests, who came in one by one to the cheers of the crowd. First in was goalkeeper Jim Standen, who had flown all the way from California in the US to attend the occasion, followed by his reserve during the 60s cup successes, Alan Dickie.

Then came the full-backs, John Bond, right-back in the 1964 FA Cup triumph, followed by Joe Kirkup, who took Bondy's place a year later against TSV Munich. Joe had travelled from his home in the south of France to be at the event. Next in was Jack Burkett, left-back in both finals, followed by Eddie Bovington, who appeared in 1964 but broke his kneecap the following season, an injury that ruled him out of the European final.

Then came centre-half Ken Brown, the only man to have played in both finals AND West Ham's 1958 promotion-winning campaign, followed by right-winger Peter Brabrook, who missed out against Munich but had played a starring role in 1964, creating the winning goal for the man who followed him in to the room, Ronnie Boyce - a key member of both cup-winning sides.

Next came two players who missed out in 1964 but played an influential role in the European triumph. First up was Brian Dear - top scorer in the Cup Winners' Cup campaign with four goals - followed by World Cup winner Martin Peters, considered by many to be the best player on the pitch during the classic match against TSV Munich.

The last player to receive a hero's welcome was flying winger John Sissons - another star in both finals - who came all the way from South Africa to meet up with his old-team-mates. Finally, there was a special entrance for Barbara and Anthony Sealey, wife and son of the late Alan Sealey - our two-goal match-winner against TSV Munich. A moment's silence was observed for Sealey and other absent friends, Bobby Moore and Johnny Byrne, while mention was also given to Sir Geoff Hurst, who unfortunately couldn't be at the event due to a prior engagement.

After a delicious three-course meal had been served, the evening's entertainment began, with guest speaker Martin Peters taking to the stage to reminisce about the glory days of the mid-60s before paying tribute to each of his team-mates in detail and then kicking off an interesting and amusing question and answer session with the players present.

That was followed by Tony Cottee's 1964-65 Cup winning quiz, a raffle draw and memorabilia auction that helped to raise a substantial sum for the Bobby Moore cancer fund. The players spent the rest of the evening signing hundreds of autographs and chatting to guests long into the night.

EX Magazine editor and organiser of the gala dinner, Tony McDonald, said: "The evening was a tremendous success and, from what I can gather, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended. It was an honour to see these great players come together for the first time in many years and I would like to thank them for helping to make the occasion such a memorable one.

"As many of the ex-players said to me on the night, though, they were genuinely honoured themselves by the reception they received, and I would like to sincerely thank all the EX readers and Hammers fans who supported the event and turned up to give these players the tribute that they deserved."