Fans waiting to get into West Ham
football club

ClaretandHugh invited readers to send their memories of the Boleyn as the old lady clears her throat for the final farewell.

Follower David Edwards will bring a lump to the throats of many as he recalls his days as a Hammer. Please send your memories to claretandhugh@gmail.com.

Dave writes:

. Standing in the old wooden chicken run with my Dad in the 60s looking through the gaps in the steps to see all the rubbish underneath- with all the smokers then, we could have had a Bradford-type fire anytime.

. Watching ‘Monty’ blow his bugle in the old South Bank before the game and saluting each part of the ground to cheers all round

. Tony Hateley of Liverpool taking a throw in by the Chicken Run being asked by WHU fans  five feet behind him “why are you so ugly, Tony?” on the point of release of the ball, resulting in the ball going nowhere near a Liverpool player and a furious glare from Tony – much laughter as a result from the fans.

. On late arrival at the new Chicken Run but when it was all standing, climbing over the wall at the corner entrance onto the pitch and walking along to the middle with my Dad and climbing back in.

. Watching Bobby Moore, Frank Lampard Snr and Tommy Taylor kicking the ball around in lazy triangles as part of the warm up

Watching Bobby Moore and Jimmy Greaves in a WHU vs Spurs game from the 70s link arms and dance round each other in the middle of a game