Former ClaretandHugh historian Nigel Kahn’s passionate memories of the Boleyn over nearly 40 years conclude here with a look back at some major events in our history.

No one that witnessed the 1985-86 season will ever forget that campaign, the great games that season produced are littered through the history books, from Frankie Mac’s home debut against QPR, the club’s best winning streak through October and November, the Newcastle game with Alvin’s hat trick. The 8 (or was it 9?) games we played in April, beating Coventry then Man City and then Ipswich in perhaps the greatest night at the Boleyn.

My uncle got me a ticket in the West Lower right above the tunnel, handy to get on the pitch at the end of the game.

To stand on the pitch looking up into the directors box in the old West Stand and sing “we’re going to win the league” and believe it it was possible I can’t see that night ever being beaten.

When you look at the age demographic of the majority of match attending fans at the Boleyn, it looks to me the biggest age group are the 40-60 age group, and I put that down to that season, instilling a belief into us that it could happen, we don’t know when but it could.

The season before that West Ham had been lucky to avoid relegation, I can remember Bobby Barnes coming off the bench scoring a late goal I think against Norwich to keep us up, and just one season later we nearly complete the ultimate victory.

1988 and a poor West Ham team were struggling in the league, but a great cup run would be the shinning light of that season – no more better example of an electric night was the 4-1 demolition of Liverpool. Paul Ince was the hero with two great goals, it’s a shame the road he trod in regards the way he left, but I bear him no malice, and he also scored one of the best goals ever away at Villa running the length of the pitch before bending it into the net.

Later that season though we were down and out and with the non-renewal of Lyall’s contract, part of a proud history is washed away for ever, never to be regained.

Possibly you could say that was the end of what West Ham once stood for, from its formation in 1900 (not 1895) for 89 years to only have 5 managers is something to be proud of. In fact to only have 15 in our total history is still a credit to the club and to think Bill who sits next to me has seen 13 of them in his time watching the Hammers.

Brady’s last touch in football just had to be class, possibly one of his best goals ever scored, cue the crowd on the pitch. Well it was the last game of the season after all. with the 1990 World Cup on the horizon both Hammers and Wolves fans sang together

Thank you for the days

Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me

I’m thinking of the days

The Bond scheme came and went, much like Lou and Bonzo’s managerial times. Perhaps when I was younger I sort of accepted Macari and his style of football, it wasn’t pretty but he signed some fantastic players for the club, Ian Bishop, Trevor Morley, Ludo, Jimmy Quinn to name 4. His last game wasn’t even at the Boleyn, but in a rain soaked Oldham, the St Valentines night massacre, the sad end to his West Ham time with a team that not one was signed by him, perhaps highlighting how the players felt about him and his tactics.

The Bond scheme pitted Fan v Club and tore through us like a civil war, destroying the Cearns name with it. They had been associated with the club since its inception, a family steeped in West Ham tradition, but they were in the end old relics of a long bygone past and they had lost sight of the most important part of any club, us the fans.

The North Bank’s last stand was not as emotional as leaving the Boleyn will be it was a sad day, but the game v the Saints was a cracker.

Like him or loathe him Harry brought about a great feeling within the club, the signings of Hartson and Kitson rallied us and no finer example than in the 4-3 victory over Spurs just as they arrived.

Harry’s best deal must be the sale of Hartson with Paolo coming in. There was no finer player with the ball at his feet than Di Canio, who is without doubt the most skilful player I’ve ever seen wear our shirt.

Relegation is an occupational hazard of a West Ham fan but without it in 2003 we wouldn’t have enjoyed the Ipswich play off games in 2004 and 2005, the 2004 game being one night where the modern day Boleyn matched the old days of the terracing, it was almost like the Bobby Lower sucked those goals in from Etherington and Dailly.

Promotion and that great Cardiff cup final followed but then we nosedive: the club is sold, ending 106 years of the Cearns & Hills family ownership of the club- but Brown had left a surprise for the new owners, they didn’t own the best player!

I won’t forget a single day, believe me

I bless the light

I bless the light that shines on you believe me

Ill never forget walking out of the Spurs 4-3 defeat thinking, well if we go down at least we’ve put up a fight, Tevez’s free kick not only kick started his career with us but in those final 9 games helped create a legend.

Can’t believe that was 9 years ago.

Though the fall-out exposed those that ran the club as cheats and liars, I still think having Tevez here was worth it.

The following seasons were steady but with the Icelandics proving to be just basket cases for the signings they made and the wages they paid, looking back you can see how it collapsed.

All hail the new owners

Zola was just wasn’t able to stamp his mark, had to sell his best players and make do.

Funnily enough the Avram Grant season did give us the Man United cup win in the snow; such a surreal game. The weather was atrocious, and the stars of the game were two unlikely heroes in Carlton and Spector

Perhaps its an age thing but the games don’t seem to live on in my head much as the older games do.

This season at the Boleyn the games have been a joy to watch, starting in July with the summer night euro games, even the 2 defeats were entertaining, especially the Bournemouth game, and who would of though when we lost to Leicester that they would have won the league 9 months later.

The Liverpool FA Cup game though will live long though in the memory. Finally met my American friend who came over just for this game and he lucked out for his last, that 120th minute winner was the icing on the cake.

So yeah I will be sad come Tuesday night , and possibly will shed tears, but, I still say Thank You for the days

And though you’re gone

You’re with me every single day, believe me