‘Blind David joins CandH and tells how he sees the invisible

ClaretandHugh is pleased to introduce David Griffiths -widely known as ‘Blind Hammer’ – onto the team this morning.

David is a member of the official Disabled Supporters Board and has been a massive fan since the early 1960s.

He has been widely read on things Hammers for many years on WHTID and explains here how he is able to bring his views of games that he is sadly unable to see.

It’s a joy to welcome you to the team David and we are looking forward to reading your regular blogs.

By Blind Hammer

My family were West Ham supporters, literally from the club’s start. My father, born in 1891 was brought up in the shadows of the Thames Ironworks Memorial Ground. I was a big family surprise, born in 1956 when my Dad was 65.

I remember jumping over the settee when Alan Sealey scored in our 1965 Cup Winners Cup triumph.

My first game at Upton Park was against Leicester in 1968, when Martin Peters scored what was later adjudged by ITV’s Big Match as the Goal of the Season.

I became a season ticket holder in 1970. I was registered blind in 1986 and thought my West Ham attending days were over.

However, in 2010 I learnt about the fantastic support West Ham offer to Blind and other Disabled Supporters and I now use the insightful Irons in-stadium commentary service which supports up to 50 Visually impaired fans every game.

West Ham also provides space for my Guide Dog and a free ticket for a human guide Paul who also comments on the game and answers my questions. For extra insight, I sometimes dip into a radio commentary.

Afterwards, I often discuss the game with other disabled supporters on the West Ham Accessibility Bus Service.

I can, using these feedbacks, visualise a game even though I cannot see at all.  It helps that when I was younger I could see games and obviously can remember team shapes etc.

I can write about games and West Ham in general because I have a talking computer. I use a screen reader which reads back what is on the screen whilst I touch type, sitting with headphones on with a keyboard on my lap. My monitor is on a cupboard over to my right but is rarely turned on.

 I have blogged on West Ham through the Blind Hammer Column for some years and many people claim that, despite my being completely blind, I see more in the game than they do. Whether this is true is for others to judge.

I try to work closely with the club to positively support not just the blind but all disabled supporters. I sit on the West Ham Disabled Supporters Board and also have a foot in the LLDC camp as I sit on the Queen Elizabeth Park Built Environment Access Panel.

I am not shy of criticising West Ham when they need it, especially when they do not deliver on the pitch.  Yet we should all be proud of the club as they support far more disabled supporters than any other London club, at the last count, 848 supporters registered for assistance.

You can see me in a short video on the club website on

https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/january/29-january/meet-your-disabled-supporters-board

COYI