Claret andHugh Facebook Group member tells how he became a Hammer – great story! Such has been the response to this ‘How did you become a Hammer’ fans feature we are increasing it to ttwo a day!
In those early days, he had a curate, Joseph Adetiloye who had been with him at Wycliffe Hall Oxford. At some point in 1959 he asked my father if he could take me to see the Hammers and my father agreed.
I was born in Harold Wood but, when I was seven years old my father went into the church and became the vicar of St Mary’s, Plaistow where we moved to in 1958.
There were no seats available and he took me into the open end of the West Bank where we were close to an entrance.
I sat on his shoulders for the whole match. I don’t know who we played, what the score was or anything else but never looked back from there.
I look back so fondly of that day over 50 years later but the thought of what we must have looked like then in 50s Britain stays with me now.
I was a small white boy. He was a 6ft plus very black Nigerian. What did people think I wonder.
Joseph went on to become the Archbishop of Nigeria.
A wonderful man and never forgotten.
The first match I went to and actually remember was in 1961 against Burnley, a 1-1 draw with players like Lawrie Leslie, Phil Woosnam and the like. I was immediately behind the goal at the South Bank end.
Happy days.