When new signing Mateus Fernandes joined West Ham this week he said “It’s a big club, a massive club. The project, the stadium, the city everything.”
A comment in stark contrast to many Saints fans who questioned why the player hadn’t chosen a “big club” and scoffed at the idea he had joined West Ham. When Graham Potter was announced as West Ham manager in January 2025 he echoed Fernandes comments “West Ham is a huge club, at the heart of London, with a tremendous fan base.”
Indeed, few questions spark more passionate debate than whether a club is truly big. It’s not just about silverware – it’s about history, identity, fan culture and global reach.
Founded in 1895, West Ham has deep roots in English football. The club famously contributed three players—Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, and Martin Peters—to England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad. That’s not just history; it’s national folklore.
West Ham fans are among the most loyal in the Premier League. In the 2023/24 season, they filled the London Stadium to an astonishing 99.9% capacity, averaging 62,348 fans per match—the second highest attendance rate in the league, only behind Manchester United. This increased to 62,407 in 2024-25, yet again behind the Red Devils, with Tottenham Hotspur featuring in third place on 61,127.
West Ham fans are among the most loyal in the Premier League. In the 2023/24 season, they filled the London Stadium to an astonishing 99.9% capacity, averaging 62,348 fans per match—the second highest attendance rate in the league, only behind Manchester United. This increased to 62,407 in 2024-25, yet again behind the Red Devils, with Tottenham Hotspur featuring in third place on 61,127.
In terms of honours the fact the club highlight the Football League War Cup victory on the honours display at the London Stadium summarises a trophy cabinet described as “modest” at best. The haul includes 3 FA Cup victories, 1 European Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Europa Conference Cup, Intertoto Cup, along with a few Division Two league titles.
West Ham has never won the top-flight league title. Their best finish was third in 1985–86, compared to serial winners like Manchester United or Liverpool. Looking back at league placings West Ham has spent time outside the Premier League and nose bleed territory when in the top six. Big clubs are expected to challenge for titles regularly- not just survive – which hopefully isn’t a blue print for this season!
West Ham’s valuation places them 16th globally, ahead of clubs like Inter Milan and Aston Villa.
If your definition of a big club is built on trophies and global dominance, West Ham sadly doesn’t quite make the cut.
But if it’s about history, culture, and unwavering fan loyalty, then West Ham absolutely deserves a seat at the table.
West Ham’s international brand is growing but still trails behind clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Spurs, who have larger global fanbases and commercial empires.
In 2010, David Sullivan and the late David Gold said the move to the London Stadium would help West Ham compete with the biggest clubs in England. The rebranding of the club badge would increase global recognition and position West Ham as a major player in international football.
While the stadium has delivered record attendances and a European trophy many supporters feel the promises haven’t been fulfilled.
The club has a long way to go before rival fans truly see West Ham as a big club and for these ambitions be fully vindicated.
Overall, West Ham is best summarised by its anthem, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles which summarises us the fans – our hope, heartbreak and loyalty!
In pubs across London the argument will rumble on – are West Ham massive or just dreaming big?
It’s always a bit embarrassing when every new signing says that – it’s the PR/Media teams who feed them clearly, we’re not a big club by international standards, we’ve just got a surprising amount of supporters for a team that many overseas players have barely heard of.
Sadly I dont think the best fans tag really applies anymore either – if you’re a certain age you might remember when we were many peoples’ soft spot team, now we’re not seen much different to Spurs fans with all the moaning and sense of entitlement.
You miss out on another historical fact that people often seem to overlook there…
We (along with Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Everton, Newcastle and (unfortunately) Spurs) have never played a football season outside of the top two leagues in English football.
So if you’re looking at a “big club” in terms of what level of football they’ve spent the entirety of their history playing at, that’s quite a select group.
The one thing you can bank on is all new signings will trot out the “West Ham is a big club” statement during the first interview ritual. It is so obvious that they are told to say this, just as they are almost obligated to end with “come on you irons”. I hate it that WHU’s media team seem to think that we will accept this as a genuine, off the cuff comment.
I hope we lose every game we play potter is a useless manager and we will see against forest the same tactics.and two we need the pressure on Sullivan to keep growing i will take relegation if Sullivan goes . The protests are now in full swing lets keep it going. We will have no points in the first 6 games .
Garry “I hope we lose every game we play”………. words fail me 🙄.
New signing mangassa also came out with the West Ham is massive line several times. Even quoted it as something Potter told him about the club to convince him to join. Probably the media team teaches them to say it though thinking it’s what the fans want to hear.
All that and here we have been the last few months talking relegation, a new manager to replace Potter and wanting new owners.
Only West Ham could provide so much entertainment off the field.
It’s what we live for Rob…lol
Just a shame we can’t entertain as much on the pitch!