Daily Mail Journalist Martin Samuel has questioned the action group’s name asking whether it suggests you are not a real West Ham fan if you don’t march next month.
Samuel wrote in the Daily Mail: “On March 10, before a home fixture against Burnley, there will be a rally against the current owners of West Ham. That’s the supporters’ prerogative. Fans have the right to protest and it is not as if West Ham’s fortunes since moving to the London Stadium have greatly vindicated the move.
They have sold their best players, lost a popular manager, fought relegation and frequently struggled at their new home. The fans think they were mis-sold a dream and are unhappy. There has not been the great leap forward promised. It is up to the club to demonstrate otherwise.
There is something hectoring in that name, something bullying, as if to disagree, or fail to participate somehow invalidates the opinion. You can’t be a real West Ham fan unless you hate the stadium; you can’t be a real West Ham fan unless you distrust the board. Only one opinion allowed. Ours. Get real.
The Action Group wants a board member to answer protestors at the rally. ‘This is our open invite for you to come and tell the fans the truth,’ said a spokesman. Again, that presumption.
Maybe the truth is already out there. That the opportunity to move, on the cheap, to a much bigger stadium in the locality was too great to turn down. That there was genuine fear West Ham would shrink in relevance and potential if they remained at Upton Park. That in getting such a good deal, they actually ceded too much control, making the stadium less appealing. And that, on the field, mistakes have been made — particularly in the transfer market.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5423861/If-pay-team-course-real-fan.html
The “real” West Ham fan refers to every West Ham fan except Sullivan (who claims to be one) Brady and to a lesser extent Gold.
The article is spot on. Sure things could be better and sure everyone has a right to protest. But “Real”??? Completely inappropriate in my view. I have had a season ticket for over 20 years. I loved the Boleyn ground, but I think the ‘real’ Boleyn ground had long since been lost following the introduction of seats and the new stands. I really like the new stadium and given the circumstances think it was absolutely the right move to go there. I also think that the Club’s owners, though far from perfect, are no worse – and in some respects are better – than many other owners in the Prem. So sure, go ahead and protest, but please don’t pretend that it’s the preserve of ‘real’ West Ham supporters and please don’t fall for the assumption that the protest represents all ‘real’ West Ham supporters.
Spot on Ironsides.
It would be intriguing to put a poll out there to see how strongly people felt across the board
I for one think we were in a total mess when the dave’s bailed us out. They have put their money into stabilising us and have given us a great platform. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t get me wrong, I get frustrated when we don’t have a good transfer window, when Sullivan opens his mouth to the media, when we play poorly or our a manager does something poor tactically, BUT, they are minor irritations. We could have way worse and quite frankly who is going to step in? What actually irritates me more is the fickle and constantly trolling of players, the manager, the club by our fans who seem to think that by putting everyone down we’ll some how play better. March, protest and show your voice but Please get behind the team and be as positive as possible.
Not sure it’s been done consciously Sean, but he is kind of right.
There’s always been a thought process amongst many fans that says ‘I’m a real fan, I think this, therefore if your a real fan you’ll think this too.’
Still not sure exactly what the aims of the group are. If it’s to open up discussions with the board that’s a step in the right direction. Although keeping those discussions from descending into chaos/abuse might not be so easy.
ironsider= insider. Seems fishy to me.
Westside = on West Ham’s side. Seems fishy to me.
At least I have got soul.
‘ Fishy??? don’t bring me into this.
next thing you’ll be saying sleepswithdafishes = sleepswithda vicechairman
Or even waynetta fishes 😂
anyway , turners street is open 5 days a week ?😂😂
Not 100% sure if you are joking but if you are not, I can assure you there is nothing ‘insider’ about me. And the suggestion, joke or not, actually speaks volumes….not on the side of the ‘real’ supporters in the demonstration, therefore obviously can’t be a ‘real’ supporter? See how it works?
Anyway, no big deal. Always happy to chat over a beer and am in block 138 if you ever get to that part of the ground and fancy taking me up on it.
The only thing for sure is that there are real West Ham fans who will be marching and there are real West Ham fans who will not.
I don’t object to the March as if anything it will put pressure on G&S to make sure the summer window is a good one. However the only response that the club, e.g. G&S, will make is “yes, maybe we got carried away and promised too much, but we did so because we’re fans” and to be fair I’m sure there is an element of truth in that.
You took the words from my mouth, I couldn’t agree more.
Claret and blue runs through my veins, it’s a big part of my life. To say because I don’t agree with the march, I’m not a “REAL” fan is crazy, there is nothing WestHam about that.
But I ques I’m not fan, I’m a supporter and will be no matter what. Westham till I die
I hate the Mail as a rule but find it difficult to disagree with much said in their piece. I understand the marching fans frustrations but won’t be one of them. I repeat, the problems with the move were not necessarily obvious (contractors going bust, for example) and not all of the David’s making. Previous regimes under Terrance Brown, the biscuit men etc have behaved appalling and inflicted damage on the club that has set us back a generation. The Bond Scheme and selling Rio, for example, had no potional upside. The move to the Olympic Stadium did. So whilst it might not have crystalised perectly yet, the gamble in moving was understandable and justifiable. Hold them to account, by all means, but I think we need to pick our fights carfefully or risk diluting the message and ending up with Father Ted esque ‘Down with that sort of thing!’ protest. Good luck though. We all want what’s best for The Irons.
It’s an unfortunate choice of name : the Real West Ham Fans action group .
Just what is that suppose to mean exactly … the very name itself preposes that if you are not in Thier group then you are NOT A REAL FAN . That is rather insulting to Fans who would also describe themselves as Real Fans . Been a fan all my life and don’t need people to tell me , or hint to me , that I’m Not . Sullivan & Gold took us out of near Liquidation because they are at Heart West Ham Fans . I think the very idea of a March is deplorable .
It’s all getting a bit Peoples Judean Front if you ask me.
Peoples front of Judea ted !!! The beardless ones 😂😂
please put up a link or some proof that shows we were in or close to liquidation as i am calling b.s. on that
Spot on Dan lol we weren’t ! As said a few times now , cb holdings took the reins and was trading normally after the crash ! Many clubs were in the same boat in the league but got through the scare ? The debt was 38 million not 110 like Sullivan said according to cb holdings who they initially bought 50% of the club from ! With the option to purchase the remainder over 4 years ? Anyone can read this on google with the sugo purchase of west ham link? Go find it its there if you look !! 😉
I think that the name of the group and the performance and attitude of the ‘real fans’ in the car park at Wigan will convince a lot of people not to take part in the march. Time will tell but I think the vast majority of fans will carry on with their normal match day routine.
One thing that did make me laugh was that I heard that the original plan was to walk from Upton Park to Stratford. I can imagine a lot of old school fans saying &^%$ that!
I’m a Real Fan and have been all my 58 year’s. Have great memories of Upton Park.
But you have to face reality and if we are ever to compete in the Premier League, the move to the London Stadium was a no brainer, And I would say the actual match day experience is better at the London Stadium than at the end at the Boleyn. The area had changed completely to what it once was. Most supporters no longer live round the corner. They to wanted to move away to have a bigger house in nicer surroundings. Sound familiar? Parking was an absolute nightmare, as was the one and only station and rail line. There was nowhere decent to go for a bite to eat or a drink. Because I feel the move was essential and overall a good move, doesn’t make me any less a real supporter to those on the march.
That’s exactly how I feel Eug, the surrounding area around the Stadium became dilapidated and it was more akin to a third world country (not mean’t in anyway racially fyi, purely from the fact it was so poorly maintained as if from a third world budget), we were never going to make any huge strides forward there and my matchday experience is made better by meeting mates for a pint or three at the Truman Brewery and a RibRoll from the Ribman much better than struggling to get into a pub close to the ground and the usual fairly grim food options. I will be at the match on the day of the march and am curious to see what if anything is achieved by it, if it succeeds in delivering positive change all good, if it descends into anything else then everyone involved should be identified and kicked out, some of the vitriole I have heard levelled and in some cases spat at the Board is disproportionate. Martin Samuel’s piece for me sums up my feelings, I don’t agree with everything they have done and am actively against some of it such as the car crash PR and the lack of customer service from the ticket office but it’s not all bad and some of it has definite potential in the mid and long term.
Maybe its a pop at the way season tickets were sold to the tenner list and given the option for
Purchasing extra tickets and new CUSTOMERS instead of those on the waiting list having had their tenner nicked ? Or maybe its because sully is a cardif supporter ? Who knows ! But its for the benefit of all supporters not just the marchers , I’ve not seen any references saying unless you’re marching you’re not a real supporter ! If there has i ts out of order ? But its all bull💩 IMO , as you and others are making the same statement or twisting it as it sounds to me because you disagree with the march is also out of order ? Let’s have you’re source so we can debate it ? If not its just bolloxx! If anything positive comes from the march and I think it will then we all benefit ! Its needed in many peoples views , because some disagree doesn’t make them right either ! To think supporters are doing it to be vindictive or disruptive is far off the mark and I for one can vouch for that .as for the media Kevin ? They should keep their opinions to themselves shouldn’t they ! Or is it only when it suits lol!!!
To call themselves Real indicates that others not in agreement are not Real, it is the sort of thing you would hear from a petulant kid or worse a bully, I hope you are right Laz and it does deliver something positive and more to the point I hope we beat Burnley COYI !!!
I’m edging its a prawn sandwich crack in the tenner con 32 ! The marchers will be old school and I can’t see new customers going 😉 can you ? They sold supporters down the river after paying the tenner because the barrow boys and waynetta were not confidant they could sell out the stadium ? All of which is money related not supporter based was it ! Just one of many sneaky moves ! Hence the eventual march !!
All brought on by big talk of next level signings etc etc etc , take you’re pick !
Nobody wanted this did they they were all expecting them to deliver but they haven’t ! Yet ! 8 years down the line and most have no confidence in them and feel ripped off !!
I can see that some can’t ! We march on the tenth ! 😉
Who cares what its called they are just trying to devide the fans ..the name could be better but the !majority are on the same side with a agreeing to the march ….if they would of kept just one of the promises like spending decent money which they could of done no problem then I don’t think this would of happened.. Then we go and make a healthy profit a t the end of the window after saying we have funds to spend !!! I mean come on what’s that about …and they wonder why the majority are unhappy… Also Brady and co are upsetting other clubs and owners by writing columns and on social media so they will not do business with us………
I think somebody has been very clever in getting fellow fans to focus on the name of the group rather than their aims. Thus diverting peoples attention from the REAL issues here. Does it really matter about the title of the group? If you march it should be on the issues not on the name. What really amazes me is that some people can be so upset by the “real” in the name yet will turn a blind eye to the misinformation, poor administration, terrible transfer dealings, waste of transfer funds, unfortunate media gaffs and all round poor performance of our board. And please,please don’t keep saying that Sully is a Hammers fan. By his own admission he is Cardiff. COYI
I think you and me are on the same page mooro well put