Farewell Boleyn: ‘Ere’s old Alf by yer Lower West
January 1968 and TV character Alf Garnett is on hand at the Boleyn to drum up support for the Pools!
He paraded around the ground – actor Warren Mitchell, himself a Spurs fan, – playing the part before kick off in front of the Lower West terracing.
Alf was created by writer Johnny Speight and could only be a Hammers fan as Johnny was born and brought in Canning Town, just off Star Lane, and was himself a massive Iron.
Alf was based on many of the people Speight would hear in the pubs he frequented.
The idea he had was that by exposing Alf’s bigotry, the viewers watching on TV would see what a fool Alf was. Problem was many at home didn’t see it that way and Alf became an anti hero for many who agreed with his ranting.
As Garnett, Warren was an ‘ammer to his backbone, famously declaring in one great line: ‘Now yer Bobby Moore…yer Mooro – ‘e only ‘ad ‘is name take once…and that was by ‘er majesty the Queen!
Words and pictures from CandH historian Nigel Kahn
Follow Nige @mywhufc