Ray Stewart: Penalty king

Admittedly it doesn't take much, but my mind immediately rewound to the 1980s as I watched Rangers' James Tavernier fire home two penalties against St Johnstone recently. Tavernier's expertise from the spot was clear for all to see, his goals sealing a 3-0 win for Rangers that took the club to the top of the Scottish Premiership. The second penalty that day was Tavernier's 64th success from the spot. Not bad for a right back. 

But a right back who enjoys taking penalties is nothing new. For in the 1980s there was a man who was prolific from 12 yards out, a player renowned for this ability from the spot. A Scottish full back that will forever be remembered for his penalty prowess. Step forward Raymond Strean McDonald Stewart.

Stewart had scored two penalties for Dundee United in the Scottish Premier Division, but it was his 12 year spell at West Ham that saw his reputation grow. Scoring 76 penalties in his time at the club, Stewart played a significant role in West Ham's achievements during the 1980s under John Lyall's management.

Covering all of Stewart's penalties at West Ham would be a long and drawn out affair. So here are some of the highlights, including FA Cup success, League Cup drama, promotion, demolition, the Boys of 86, and despair. 

(Just Like) Starting Over

Making his West Ham debut in September 1979, Stewart had already scored five penalties at his new club by the end of the decade. West Ham would fail to gain promotion to the top flight, yet the FA Cup provided a delicious consolation.

Stewart scored twice against neighbours Orient in the fourth round - inevitably one of those via a penalty - but it was the quarter final against Aston Villa that emphasised Stewart's temperament and technique from the spot.

With a minute remaining, West Ham were awarded a penalty after Ken McNaught handled in the box. Stewart had missed a penalty the week before against Luton - he scored the rebound - and team mates Paul Brush, Alvin Martin and Geoff Pike could not watch as Stewart approached the ball.

They had nothing to worry about, as Stewart smashed the ball emphatically past Jimmy Rimmer. "He strode up and blasted it home, a boxer delivering the KO," wrote Julie Welch in the Guardian. "I knew I could win the game," Stewart explained. "But I also knew if I missed I'd never take another penalty for West Ham."

Under Pressure

Stewart also revealed after the Villa match that he had stumbled into his role. "They [Dundee United] let me take a penalty as a last resort one day and I've taken them ever since." Volunteering at West Ham in the absence of regular penalty taker Pike, Stewart never looked back.

West Ham upset the odds to win the FA Cup in 1980 - they were priced at 10/1 after the semi-final draw - and the club made it back to Wembley a year later to take on the might of Liverpool in the League Cup final. Trailing to a controversial Alan Kennedy strike in the 118th minute, Stewart would be put on the spot once more.

Denied by Ray Clemence from a free kick just outside the box, Stewart had a chance for instant revenge when Terry McDermott handled Alvin Martin's header from the resulting corner. "It was an obvious penalty but Stewart was as cool as you like," Kennedy said after the final.

"Once you start thinking about these things they are very easily missed," Stewart stated. Generally Stewart's approach to penalty duties was to thump the ball as hard as possible. But at Wembley, he calmly opened his body to send Clemence the wrong way. Balls of steel.

That's Entertainment

Liverpool would win the replay at Villa Park, yet Stewart and West Ham would enjoy a stellar season in Division Two. Losing just four league matches - and none after Boxing Day - West Ham won the title at a canter.

Stewart bookended West Ham's season at Upton Park, scoring penalties against Luton in an opening day defeat and a 1-0 win over Wrexham, as the club returned to the top flight after three years in the second tier. Stewart's fine season would be rewarded with an international call up, and he marked the occasion with a goal in his second match against Northern Ireland.

Victims

Stewart would score again from the spot on the opening day of the 1981/82 campaign and in total he scored 23 penalties over the next two seasons, as West Ham established themselves back in the First Division.

Eight more penalties followed in the 1983/84 season, one coming in 10-0 drubbing of Fourth Division Bury in the League Cup second round second leg. With West Ham winning 3-1 on aggregate, Bury defender John Bramhall struck the post from the penalty spot. It wasn't as easy as Stewart made it look.

Later Stewart would show Bramhall how to do it, scoring the, ahem, crucial eighth goal of the evening. It may not have been the cleanest strike, yet Stewart's accuracy saw him strike the inside of the same post Bramhall had hit earlier as Bury were humbled. However, this didn't stop Lyall buying Bury centre back Paul Hilton four months later.

The Edge Of Heaven

Seven penalties followed in the 1984/85 season that saw West Ham narrowly avoid the drop. It was hardly a sign of what was to follow. Lyall's Boys of 86 achieved their highest league position and were in contention for the title on the final Saturday of the season.

As the season drew to a close, Stewart scored vital penalties against Oxford United, Manchester City, Ipswich and West Brom. Sadly, his penalty at the Hawthorns did not keep West Ham's dream alive, as news filtered through that Liverpool had won the title at Stamford Bridge. 

Strangely, Stewart's only goal not scored via a penalty in 1985/86 was in the mad 8-1 win over Newcastle. In a match that saw centre back Alvin Martin score past three different keepers, Stewart stepped aside to allow Martin to complete his hat-trick from the spot.

"I had to wrestle the ball from Ray," Martin revealed on the West Ham website. "John [Lyall] was annoyed because he looked upon it as being unprofessional. We were still in with a shout for the title and his point was it could've gone down to goal difference. I could see where he was coming from but I scored it, thank God!"

Sledgehammer

Unsurprisingly perhaps, Stewart and West Ham would never experience such highs again. Stewart scored ten penalties in the memorable 85/86 season, yet only four penalties would follow in each of the next two campaigns. But there were still bright moments.

Two penalties in a thrilling 5-3 win over Chelsea demonstrated Stewart's power. The first was drilled into the top corner to give West Ham a 2-1 lead. "What a rocket from Tonka," the commentator on this YouTube video noted in awe. 

Stewart's second penalty was arguably struck harder than the first, with Chelsea keeper Tony Godden - a man who saved two penalties in one match at Old Trafford - seemingly grasping at air. At least Godden made an effort; Chris Turner looked like he wanted to get out of the way of this effort in March 1986.

The Only Way Is Up

The final penalty would come in West Ham's miserable 1988/89 season. Bottom of Division One, the 2-1 defeat at title-chasing Norwich was not unexpected. But West Ham's time in the top flight was slowly ticking away, as was Stewart's place in the first team.

Substitute Stewart did at least give West Ham some hope at Carrow Road in the 71st minute. Keeper Bryan Gunn went the right way, but in one final show of strength and accuracy, Stewart's fine final penalty for the Hammers flew into the net. 

Unfortunately West Ham would end the decade where they started. But there had been many happy memories created along the way. Stewart played a full part in this, with opponents fully aware that if the referee pointed to the spot then the West Ham full back would make them pay the penalty.

Bonus tracks

Manchester United in 1987/88; Wimbledon in the same season; Dave Beasant suffering again during his brief spell at Newcastle; inevitably crashing this past Peter Shilton in 1988/89. Even when he missed, Stewart would eventually score. Stewart was truly a goalkeeper's nightmare in the 1980s.