The executive committee of the West Ham United Supporters Club wrote to members over the weekend to wipe out 87% of their 920 membership telling them they are not official members anymore. The 70-year-old institution is locked in a battle with the majority of its members over assets owned by the club.
Around 50 members who have had a membership for over 8 years are entitled to a split of the assets if the club is dissolved. The club owns two flats plus a long lease on the Castle Street clubhouse for a peppercorn rent of just 5 pence per year.
The bizarre email effectively discards over 800 members who signed up at the Supporters club online using PayPal claiming only those who paid in cash or cheque at the Castle Street location are valid members of the social club.
The email reads: “As previously advised, there has been issues regarding membership of the West Ham United Supporters Club, Castle Street, LONDON E6 1PP. Following legal advice received from the WHUSC solicitor and other factors taken into consideration, the WHUSC committee took a vote and made the decision only people who joined at the Castle Street Club House are FULL WHUSC MEMBERS
If you paid for membership physically at the Castle Street premises via Cash/Cheque before 30 June 2017 you are classed as a full member of the West Ham United Supporters Club.
If you paid a fee online via pay-pal, card reader or attended Stour Space Match Day Bar and paid via PayPal/Cash/Cheque you are not recognized as a full member of the West Ham United Supporters Club, your fee covered all home match day use of Stour Space exclusive for WHUFC fans, however, if you require your fee refunded please send a letter to West ham United Supporters Club, Castle Stree,LONDON,E6 1PP giving your full details and a refund may be offered.
Please note WHUSC committee members no longer run a match day bar at Stour Space Stratford and have not done so since 3 March 2018 any other committee running this venue has no connection with the WHUSC. The WHUSC committee have made WHUFC aware of this.
We can now proceed with the SGM which will be held on Sunday 20th May at 12pm at the Boleyn Public House, Barking Road, E61PW.
Please note this meeting is only open to FULL members of the West Ham United Supporters Club, Castle Street, LONDON E6 1PP.
If you joined in any other way than explained above please do not attend as refusal of entry may cause offence. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. Regards The Committee”
A campaign to save the Supporters Club has been set up by a number members with membership approaching 200 and growing. You can join the campaign to save the social club for free at https://sosc2018.com/
