60k capacity…’Plastics’ and all but SO WHAT?

By Allen Cummings

I have no idea exactly when West Ham will move from our current capacity of 57,000 to the agreed 60,000 but surely it can’t come soon enough.

The way Manuel Pellegrini has got the team performing, particularly at home, with the emphasis very much on attack, means the entertainment value of the side is soaring. We’re seeing a brand of football we thought was lost.

Three wins on the bounce and nine goals illustrates our recent matches have been anything but boring. The atmosphere against Crystal Palace, particularly in the second half, when we went from a goal down to 3-1 up, was  electric.

West Ham fans have always demanded that entertaining comes with winning and as that happens as it most certainly is right now so does the wider general interest in the team. O

The offficial attendance against Palace was 56,995 – the highest of the season so far. With the club insisting the much quoted ‘waiting list’ is genuine, the ultimate aim of  a capacity of 66,000 for home games could easily become the norm this time next season.

Doubtless the cynics will claim the published figures are misleading and don’t equate to actual bums on seats. Empty seats are a reality for a variety of reasons.but the way West Ham make attendance returns also applies to almost every other Premier League club. It simply reflects seats sold !

There will, of course, also be the cries that the increased attendance will result in more so called ‘plastics’ or ‘holidaymakers’ at the London Stadium but SO WHAT?

Does that detract from the 30,000 or so hardcore supporters who regularly filled Upton Park and now hopefully continue their support at the LS? Of course not. They still have their part to play, if they choose to. They aren’t being excluded or devalued in any way, shape or form.

We have to get away from this ‘little Britain’ mentality. We’re not a club only open to qualifying members who live in certain areas, adhere to certain mindsets, engage in certain traditions. Things have moved o.

As part of the entertainment business we are, or should be, open to all. I commented on a picture and post put up on social media on Saturday of an excited-looking young girl on her way up from Cornwall and clearly looking forward to her big day at the London Stadium, supporting her favourite team.

Isn’t that what we should be embracing? Encouraging the fans of the future – and in doing so helping to secure the future of our great club.

The increase in capacity will give more like that young girl the opportunity to come along and share in the emotion, excitement and thrill of a football match, and everything else that being a West Ham United fan brings. It can’t happen soon enough for me!