Farewell Boleyn: The return of ‘Judas’

West Ham fans show their feelings about Paul Ince at the start of the game

The fans tell the story in these pictures from February 1994!

Paul Ince returns to the Boleyn  forever tagged a Judas by many for the picture of him in a Man United shirt taken while still a West Ham player in the summer after the club had been relegated and his mentor and father figure John Lyall had been sacked after over 30 of service.

Ince was close to Lyall, who had nurtured Ince since he was a young teenager, even to the point of intervening when the police came calling to Chadwell Heath looking for the wayward but talented youngster.

Ince was said to be have devastated at his dismissal and pushed for a move. The picture of him in the United shirt was taken at the request of his agent, who with Ince about to go on holiday while a transfer to Manchester took place.

He wanted a picture to release when the deal was done. Unfortunately the original deal collapsed as Ince was carrying an injury and the Daily Express accidentally printed the picture instead of one of him in a West Ham shirt.

Ince started one more game for the Hammers, away at Stoke which was more notable for the leg break tackle by Chris Kamara on Frank Macavennie.

Abused by the fans, the club knew he had to go and so a cut price deal was done with Man United for less than half the price the Hammers wanted. 

Every return to the club he had supported as a child Paul Ince was reminded of how the fans regarded him, and many do to this day.

Words and pictures from lifelong supporter Nigel Kahn with grateful thanks.

Follow Nige on Twitter @mywhufc