FOOTBALL: HISTORY LESSON

If recent experience is any guide, Emley's UniBond League side might just have a chance against West Ham in the FA Cup this afternoon.

Last season, Harry Redknapp's team lost a third-round replay 1-0 at home to Wrexham, while another Welsh club, Newport, then of the Fourth Division, claimed West Ham's scalp in 1979.

The East London club have needed replays against lower-division opponents several times in the last 30 years.

Six years ago, Farnborough were beaten by a last-minute Trevor Morley goal in a replay at Upton Park. Twelve months earlier West Ham had needed two matches to beat Aldershot.

In 1972 Hereford, then of the Southern League, lost to a Geoff Hurst replay hat-trick at Upton Park. When they met again two years later, Hereford were in the Third Division and won a replay at Edgar Street 2-1.