This afternoon we spoke to the man behind the youtube film which went viral in the last twenty four hours. West Ham fan Jonny Madderson answers our questions about the video which can be found at the bottom of this article.
It is a very powerful video, can you tell me a bit about yourself and your history supporting West Ham
I’m a London-based filmmaker and have been a West Ham fan for 25 years. My older brother is also a West Ham fan. My first game was 2-0 v Oxford United in 1991 – Stuart Slater was amazing that day. Never had a season ticket, but always gone from season to season. I used to like sitting in the east stand at the Boleyn Ground.
What made you make the video?
There is a huge disconnect right now between the club and the fans. The board claim the migration has been a huge success but the fans are unhappy and feel disillusioned. That disconnect creates a negative atmosphere that spreads – you can feel it in the stands, on social media, in the press and in the pubs. This season has been one big downer! (And I haven’t even started on the football yet!)
But rather than whinging or infighting or regretting what can’t be turned back, we need to unite and move forward together – without ever forgetting what makes West Ham special.
That’s what this film is about. A sort of rallying cry to become West Ham United once more, and make this stadium a fortress.
What would you like to change?
The biggest hope for the video is that it starts a constructive, urgent conversation between the board and the fans that leads to positive change.
To be clear, we are not living in the past. Football is a business, we know we need to make money to keep up with the times and see good football on the pitch. The stadium move is progressive and ambitious and could be a very exciting opportunity – but it won’t be easy to pull off and the board need our help.
So far, the fans haven’t been brought along the journey and we haven’t had any input in the shape of the Club’s future. The board need to acknowledge this, drop all the bluster about the success of the move, and recognise that improvements need to be made and the fans should be integral to these changes.
One significant problem for example is the match day experience. It feels like a trip to the Excel centre right now – we need to work hard to make it feel like a trip to West Ham and the board need the fans’ help – so that it doesn’t end up being a marketing department’s vision of what a west ham match day experience is.
The film doesn’t try to solve the problems by any stretch. But hopefully it starts a conversation.
How do the board become world class?
It’s easy to talk a good game, but to become world class you need to deliver on it too. So when big talk about player recruitment doesn’t materialise, it feels small time. When you talk about the stadium migration as a resounding success, yet your fanbase feels more disillusioned that at any other time in recent memory, it feels small time. We are at a crossroads right now and the board need to step up their game – how they move forward will define the future of the Club. We can’t blag this one… Let’s make sure we get it right!
Brilliant !
Playing devil’s advocate here but what actual steps can the board put into practice? Is it not up to the fans to make it feel like west ham rather than the Excel?
And I think the video is a great way to start bridging the gap of discontent by the way
Having been to the ground 4 times this season, i personally feel that the problem is the being so far from the pitch.
The travel for me personally is better. The facilities: much better. Match day experience club shop etc: Better. I like the experience of going to the ground etc. It feels like a big club stadium.
For me being so far away from the game you feel distanced instantly. From the team, the club as a whole. Its like an invisible barrier in my opinion. I sat in row 5 middle of the pitch on my first game and even then i felt miles away.
I know this is probably impossible but for me it has to be re planning the seats to get much closer to the game. Look at those celebrations when tevez runs into the stand, the passion there is unreal. Wouldn’t be possible now. He would be knackered by the time he reached us! Just feels hollow. Hate to say it, look at tottenhams plans for their new ground, looks great!
My 2 pence worth, will mean nothing to the club but just how i feel.
Im 25 by the way, always been a member with my dad since a kid and go to 7/8 games a season ish plus an away game or two where possible.
The explanation is a lot better than the video, the move to the new Stadium has been disappointing. David Gold’s and Karren Brady’s constant insistance that everything is going brilliantly rings hollow.
The overwhelming problem is with the Team’s performance, get that sorted out and the other problems will disappear!
I agree Michael,this is a lot clearer than the video.They make some good points on this,something that was a little lost in the video imo.
I just need Stinger to return to explain it all to me thoroughly now 😁😁
A fan of 25 years but never a season ticket holder eh? That part time fan doesn’t speak for me.
I think it was an excellent video well done mate. I know this will not happen but with all that wasted open space from where ever you walk from to the ground is just boring and no atmosphere build a load of new pubs etc on the route to the ground would make it feel more like Home
The video is pretty much spot on…anyone who went to 2012 will know that it was a carnival atmosphere made mostly by the helpers and security…we need to replicate that rather than the stand offish atmosphere we have presently…But the main concern is whoever tells DS what players to buy has to go and now let us go for players Slaven wants rather than given..
How does a bloke who has just done a video on this subject now break his silence lol.Has he laid low since it was released.Was he found in a garden shed in hiding,did you have to coax him out with a bag of maltesers or a packet of custard creams 😁😁
Actually he on honeymoon in Sri Lanka 😉
Lol oh right Sean,so now you are harassing poor sods abroad on their honeymoon just to get that exclusive.Im surprised you didnt crawl out from under their bed with a pen & paper in hand to grab the hottest scoop in town lol 😁😁😁