It’s the eternal question always asked of us long suffering Hammers – how did you become one. Why West Ham?
And in a different kind of video our Mike (not on Monday) on this occasion has been putting it to old and young alike but is there really and answer.
He meets Englishman, Scots and Belfast boys who give their explanations and wide and varied they are too.
We are grateful to Mike for giving us the exclusive use of this video initially and invite you to leave your answers to the question either on the CandH FB group @https://www.facebook.com/groups/363174467150521/?ref=bookmarks or on the Leave comment at the website.
Me? It happened in 1962 when despite being born in darkest Kent 🙂 when after following Charlton as a child I moved to the ‘smoke’ and was taken down Green Street to the Boleyn for the first time.
After that it was no contest and I have been on the dark side ever since and loving every minute of it!
Fairly boring am an Essex boy from Chelmsford, my Grandad was born in Green St which didn’t sway my brother who decided to support the Spuds but for me its always been West Ham, perhaps I am a massochist and like to indulge in a morbid sense of humour, taking joy also in seeing other more successful teams in London fail or choke who knows ?
Ok , Hugh , you asked !.
I was born in 1952 during the Coronation years and the ending ( more or less of WW2 )
My Grandfather was a staunch football fan ; be it at the time any London Club that survived the Blitz . Football was his passion and it kept a lot of people sane in a insane world . Something to enjoy amongst all the surrounding grief , an escape from reality if you like .
That’s where football began it’s journey to world fame . Teams like the old iron works and Fulham and Arsenal is what kept us in check with the new world following such horrors .
My Father was serving on the KG 1V at the time . To cut a long story short ( because there is a lot of history ) my Grandfather who was also a Royal Navy sailor during WW1 obtained tickets to see West Ham at home against , Bolton , if memory serves . We went as a family on that day to see a football match which represented the survival of our culture .
That was 1966 when I was just 14 yrs old . That same year I was at Wembley to witness the Final of the World Cup ……. is it any surprise I’m a Hammer for Life ?? We were living in Basildon at the time in a rented little mison shelter put up by the council . My Heart and my Soul are West Ham United . If only for my parents sakes . Mum loved it and it gave Her believe in a better future …. So , for Her , I really need West Ham to do something above the ordinary this season . Spent half my life working in the Middle East and following the Hammers . Now retired and hoping and dreaming of a memorable season .
Born and raised in North London but with no football roots to speak of. My dad liked football but had no team although he always liked Cloughie.
As a very young kid I liked Liverpool because they won everything but had no loyalty to them.
So I was on a search for a team. I’ve always disliked Spurs and Arsenal so they were off the list.
I’d been taken to a Chelsea game in 78 but my abiding memory was ‘the shed’ full of DM clad skinheads doing Nazi salutes, still no class or history, so they were obviously out of the question.
I made a few trips to Loftus Road and quite enjoyed it. It was the plastic pitch era and they weren’t a bad side. They just couldn’t grab my exclusivity and despite still having a soft spot for them they weren’t the team for me.
And so I get to October 15th 1983, I go with a few mates to Upton Park to see West Ham v Liverpool. Stood in the North Bank I watched the Hammers lose 3-1 and so obviously I was hooked for life.
I’ve been going ever since and I’ve seen the highs and the lows but always accepted them as part and parcel of following West Ham. From the boys of 86, the promotions and the big scalps to the bond scheme, the relegations, leaving Upton Park and the selling of our best players I’ve always been behind the team and still am as a season ticket holder at the OS.
Finally I can’t remember a time I’ve been so excited about a new season, maybe just for once my dreams won’t fade and die.
COYI!
I was born in South London and grew up around Bermondsey but luckily I avoided the dark side as I followed my brother. He became a Hammer because my mum and dad got him a football figure for his birthday and it was Bobby Moore. Dodged a bullet there!