“Calamity keeper” McKnight
I started supporting the Mighty Hammers in 1963 and my Dad had been supporting them for 30 years before that .
I went to the 64, 65, 75, 80 and 2006 finals as well as every game at home and quite a few away games over the years. I have seen some fantastic times at West Ham .
I was born in Canning Town and lived in Plaistow so it was inbred in me to be a Hammer . I have had season tickets in every part of the ground and survived the hooligan years of the 70’s.
I went with my Dad for many years as he was getting old and frail, he relied on me to get him there and back . At one time, when he couldn’t get about easily, I would drop him off at the turnstiles at the back of the East Stand with the permission of the police . I would go and park the car and Dad would climb the stairs, very slowly.
After the game the reverse operation would then happen and we would go home either happy or annoyed, depending on whether we had won or lost.
I slowly introduced my two sons to the mighty Hammers and they would use Dad’s season ticket when he was too ill to go .
Sadly he got too poorly to attend but he kept in touch with club . He died on a matchday but I can’t remember the actual match , but we lost .
His last words were , bloody McKnight . This was because, at the time we had a calamitous keeper , Allen McKnight , who had thrown one in that day and as I told him about it in hospital that evening , he swore through his oxygen mask and uttered those words . He sadly died that night .
I attended the next home game with my son , but sat there with tears streaming down my face for most of the game
My son’s regularly attend when they can ,as we all live hundreds of miles away . We all fully intend to have season tickets in the next couple of years again , as travel to the OS is much easier when travelling from afar.
The Hammers have been part of my life for 50 years and I will miss the old ground , but it is time to move on and reap the rewards that the new stadium will hopefully bring .
I have many lasting memories of Upton Park, the League cup games against Stoke, Sir Geoff missing a penalty. The Eintracht Frankfurt game, Dynamo Tbilisi giving us a footballing lesson in Europe, the 8-1 mauling of Newcastle, Ray ‘Tonka’ Stewart scoring the last gasp penalty against Villa. I knew then at that moment that our name was on the cup.
But for me, my lasting memory was not actually in the ground, but outside it in Green Street.
My Dad had taking me down to the sports shop that was opposite the main gates. As I stood gazing into the shop window, looking at all the claret and blue merchandise, a posh car ( I think it was a light blue Rolls Royce) pulled up, and the door opened. To my amazement and sheer joy, out got Bobby Moore, the great man himself.
Being about eight or nine, I was absolutely awe struck. My hero was standing right beside me. Bobby said hello to my Dad, and then said hello to me and asked if I was going to buy anything in his shop. Bobby started to unload some merchandise from his car, but still had the time to chat about the forth coming matches and asking my Dad how he thought the team were doing.
From that day on, all my shirts had the No.6 emblazoned on the back and I hero-worshipped the man. I don’t mind admitting I cried the day he died.
To this day this has been my lasting memory of a true gentlemen and a great footballer.
COYI!
Daniel Marsh
Alan McKnightmare.That’s a blast from the past I didn’t need reminding of.Great stories though 🙂
Mc****e. He was compare in the greenwood and lyall lounge when I was last there, he’s a much better host than he is goalkeeper that’s for sure
Love reading these! @Hugh, what’s the best way for me to submit a story myself?
Cheers