The passion and frustrations of West Ham fans has remained much the same as far as on field matters are concerned for years and years.
The miseries have been put down to all sorts of factors; the board,a poor recruitment policy, a selling policy, a succession of managers,ambition failure and much more.
Whatever the reasons we have been doomed it seems by that line “fortune’s always hiding,” certainly since I joined the ‘dark side’ ( lol) over 50 years.
To those of later generations any of us who can remember such a length of time will tell you the same.
And although the fans will always come first, complaints, moans, protests and general vociferous discontent has changed nothing – it is simply far more apparent with the arrival of social media.
There’s a great blog published in today’s Guardian recalling what went before and after the most successful season in our history -1985/86.
And it demonstrates the many years a lot of us have been around as crazed fans we’ve suffered with of this great club.
Can I recommend that if you really need an insight into WHUFC or need to be reminded of how much we have gone through down the years you go to it now.
Somehow this season and immediate future feels different -if that’s correct then it’s about 60 years or more overdue.
Brown and the Icelandics were my worst, but then I close my eyes, Bobby pings it, Bonzo digs in, Brooking mazy runs, Harry blinking, Rio, Lampards, Pearcie, Hurst near post, Alvin, Tonka, Cottee McAvennie, Hutch and Devs, Di Canio, Tevez, Upson retires the number 6, Alan Taylor Cup final goal, so many memories that never fade and die!!!! COYI forever.
Love it love it. Well done Pete
Thank you for the link to the Guardian article – brought back some fond memories – as a 74 year old Irons man now living in Cape Town (where Budgie Byrne finished his career) – I lived in Plashet Road as a boy next door to Billy Moore – WHU player and trainer .My dad, a bespoke tailor, even made some players’ shirts for Billy. But Hugh you are so right about the disappointments we fans have suffered over many years but those of us old enough to watch Moore, Peters and Hurst in their heyday can look back at those wonderful West Ham and England years! Declan can become a second Bobby Moore – if we can retain his services! In truth the most successful teams have been so to due good man management – Lyall showed that and I hope Moyes can continue his good work!
A funny memory from the “old days” was Bobby Gould playing down the left wing for the Hammers. The general impression at the time was that he might have been a bit overweight, so every time he ended up near the chicken run he was getting tons of good humoured abuse and the offer of loads of meat pies and sausage rolls. He ate a couple of them!
Got to know Gouldy as a manager when on the papers Frank – wackiest bloke in the world