Teddy Sheringham marked his home debut for West Ham United with the winning goal in a 1-0 Championship victory over Reading on this day in 2004.
Signed from Portsmouth and 38 years young, Sheringham had been brought in by manager Alan Pardew to add experience to what both hoped would be a promotion-winning campaign.
The former England forward and boyhood Hammer made a dream start to his career in Claret and Blue, too. While he and his new team had been blanked in the season opener at Leicester City, drawing 0-0, it took less than ten minutes for him to open his account on home turf.
Luke Chadwick’s low cross eluded the Royals defence and Sheringham showed the knack he had shown throughout his whole career, coolly finishing with an accurate first-time finish to score his first West Ham goal and give the Irons the three points.
It was a performance that earned Sheringham praise from both Hammers manager Pardew and Reading boss Steve Coppell, and one that fondly remains in the former player’s mind.
“Going into that first home game, of course, there are a few nerves,” he reminisced. “You worry about not being up to it anymore, but I still felt good and it was exciting for me. I was like a little kid in a sweetshop because I was playing or the Club I supported as a boy.
“Scoring on my home debut, that was great. When you’re a striker, you want to get off to a quick start. Scoring in front of your home fans is very important to do. The last thing you want to do is go two or three games without scoring because otherwise people start asking a few questions. It is always important for a striker to get off the mark, so I was delighted.
“It was a nice little goal as well. I remember Chaddy going down the right and pulling it back. I made a nice little movement in the box and got my half-a-yard before whipping it across the ‘keeper. It was a nice goal.”
Sheringham went on to score 20 times in the Championship as Pardew's side rode their luck to win promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs.
The veteran was crowned Hammer of the Year, signed a new contract and would remain at the Boleyn Ground until the end of the 2006/07 season.
Relive his first goal for West Ham, 18 years on, right here.
