The West Ham Supporters Club also known as the Hammers social club based in Castle street next to the Boleyn ground is likely to close it’s doors soon unless trade drastically picks up ClaretandHugh have been told.
A source close to the social club told ClaretandHugh “We took over £15,000 in takings at the last game at the Boleyn ground against Manchester United in May but we took just £21 of takings when West Ham played Bournemouth at the start of this season after their move to Stratford”
The social club is understood to pay a peppercorn rent to Newham council on a long lease with over 50 years said to remain but it could be forced to close it doors and hand back the keys unless things change soon. It is a case of use it or lose it we have been told. The supporters club is thought to have moved into their current Castle street building in 1955 but it was in existence before that.
It was the supporters club which founded the Hammer of the year award at the beginning of the 1957/58 season when members wanted to recognise the outstanding player with an official award. The first recipient was defender Andy Malcolm, whose form helped Ted Fenton’s side to win the Division Two title on the final day of a memorable campaign.
In 2015 West Ham Supporters’club Chair Doreen Hoadley told the BBC: “We initially thought we was going to go with them but then we just got locked out really”
Sorry to see it go.. Had some good pre and post game drinks in the club. Would have hoped the club would have made some effort to find them some where close to stadium.. But I suppose were not corporate enough for the club now?? THANKS Sean another nice article COYI
Funnily enough I heard about this last week at a pub in Bow and the £21 taking for the first game. I did wonder about if it could be reconstituted in Stratford but to be honest the options weren’t good. It isn’t just the only place around there that is struggling because we’ve left.
Shame – the same thing will happen to Nathans, the Fish Bar and numerous other businesses in the area.
A new Independent Supporters Club based in Stratford would be a great idea – Karen Brady’s ‘Corporate’ Culture seems designed to rip-off the punters as much as possible.
Shame, hopefully something could be opened nearer to stratford as an alternative place for pre-match drinks or even get them a pop up site on the Westfield concourses or surrounding area just for matchdays. There is always a solution, I am sure they would be really successful.