Describing West Ham

[dad1]

I know next to nothing about Wsest Ham, but I want to learn more. How would you describe West Ham to an American EPL neophyte? Why would someone choose to support them? What American cities or sports franchises would draw the best comparisons? How do their fans differ from those of other London clubs (Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham, Chelsea, QPR, etc...)?

I appreciate your replies.

[pething101]

Brief history of West Ham United (http://www.lalamy.demon.co.uk/whustory.htm)

If you were to compare London to say New York, Hammers fans would be living in Queens or Staten Island, as opposed to Manhattan. Working class folks, as opposed to 5th Avenue Manhattan types.

Others will come along and do it more justice.

[dad1]

Brief history of West Ham United (http://www.lalamy.demon.co.uk/whustory.htm)

If you were to compare London to say New York, Hammers fans would be living in Queens or Staten Island, as opposed to Manhattan. Working class folks, as opposed to 5th Avenue Manhattan types.

Others will come along and do it more justice.

Thanks! This is a good beginning.

[amancalledmikey]

In short, we're the only proper top division football club in London. Sure, Spurs and Chelsea and Arsenal have had more recent success but they are increasingly professional sports franchises that happen to be located in London. We're the only team who takes kids from their local area and consistently turns them into top division players and sometimes turns them into England-caliber players. Chelsea don't have a young midfielder who is a die-hard fan of their club that sings their club song whilst putting his boots on. Arsenal hardly have a British player, let alone lead the league in English players in their fist team.

[west_ham]

Chelsea don't have a young midfielder who is a die-hard fan of their club that sings their club song whilst putting his boots on.
Or a player in any other position for that matter. Also any guesses as to what their club song is?

[blainehammer]

Or a player in any other position for that matter. Also any guesses as to what their club song is?

It is from Fiddler on the Roof, Money, Money, Money?

[west_ham]

It is from Fiddler on the Roof, Money, Money, Money?
So that's an Abba version of 'If I were a rich man'? :D

If only we had some people on this board who were experienced in music and alive during the Abba era to do a rendition of this for us...

[Footstomper]

It is from Fiddler on the Roof, Money, Money, Money?

No, its from Cabaret

[TheMobyDick]

No, its from Cabaret

The Chelsea song is by Burley Chassis "Hey big spender"

[Birminghammer]

Chris

They (Chelski) do have a couple of songs.

One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow. Hence the 'one man tried to carry' song about our favourite portly midfielder.

The other is more pernicious IMHO. They sing that famous rallying song for Socialism 'The Red Flag' , only changing it to The Blue Flag, reflecting the moneyed afluence of The Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. Therefore demostrating a mockery of ordinary working folk by utilising an anthem of unity and adapting it in order to dismiss the sentiments in a cloud of ostentacious monetarism. Now, where do we suggest they stick that blue flag?

The other politically motivated song I recall from the olden days was 'Adolph Hitler is not dead. He's the leader of the shed.'

Nice:rolleyes:

You can see why a good Jewish boy like Roman wanted to buy them.:confused:

[norwaytips]

West Ham is a rough, tough area. It's docklands and old industry. Well it was when most of us grew up. Nowadays, hardly any West Ham fans live in the borough, which is full of immigrants.
I went to school just a spit and stones throw from the ground and with nothing else going on, it was the one passion that held the community together.
West Ham is just a football club, it has nothing else at all worth talking about. I share a passion for the club, but I wouldn't want to live there, or have my kids and grandchildren grow up there. Having said that, I am still a Hammer and a West Ham boy. I can run it down and abuse the team, but lord help anyone else that does. My great grandfather was a Hammer and my grandchildren are Hammers. That's 6 generation of West Ham fans. I couldn't support any other club; even if I wanted to. Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs just don't have this tradition or passion.

[Footstomper]

And, of course, West Ham are in East Ham.

[harkes6]

hmm...i'm trying to think of an american sports analogy for west ham. maybe like the cubs: long, storied history, not a whole lot of trophies, better success at grooming young talent for "bigger and better" things. you could also go with the oakland a's on that front i guess, although west ham doesn't use money as wisely as the a's do.

[hasselbrad]

For an outsider's perspective, watch the film Pure. The little boys in the film are Hammers fans because their father took them to games before he died. I think there's only one seen inside of Upton Park, but it takes your breath away.

[hammer_scout51]

For me supporting the team is a way of life. I have flown 12,000 miles more than once for a game. Its in your blood and a part of you. My oldest son born here in Sydney has the passion.
As said earlier, we develop some of the best young English talent. I feel proud when the likes of Tomkins, Noble and Sears put on the claret and blue. Hopefully we will keep them and not cash in.
Bill Gardner said something that i certainly understood. "West Ham is my life and if i saw a West Ham fan being attacked i would always step in and help". We are like a large family in a way. Even here in Sydney i meet a lot of hammers these days for a beer.
Other London clubs have a core fan base. Most Chelsea fans only have supported their club for 3 years maximum. Spurs fans are weird. Arsenal fans are more like us but their club has always had more money than us.

[amancalledmikey]

Spurs fans are generally delusional and kind of twisted. They think they should be going places but, when you ask them, they don't like very many of their players, maybe just a couple in their squad. They'll rate you when you've gone and not a moment sooner.

[axehammer]

Londons the only English city I've been to, so when I got into the epl even though, I liked the name Bolton (the sir name of one of my fav fictional characters) and consider myself to be a backpacking wanderer (4 contidents and counting) I decided I should probally cheer for a London based team.

West Ham's history and that of my local US side (Portland Timbers) are somewhat intertwined for being 5000 miles apart. Clyde Best and Clive Charles (the man who almost single handedly made Portland, Soccer City USA) both came up through the acaedmy!

No other English side has a histiry like that! I do have to mention that Bubbles played a big part as well. Its the best footy song period, I want it played at my funeral! Also rather recently a certain man with my mothers maiden name (Gudmundsson) has gotten involved with West Ham as well!