The
Guardian have given my family the oxygen of publicity and published my piece on three generations of my family's links with the Boleyn Ground and West Ham (maybe four generations if my grandfather Sidney went to games before and after the first world war as he grew up a few streets from the ground). And some great pics of us outside the main gates by Graham Turner. Click on the link to read and let's hope West Ham win infinity-nil today….
2 comments:
I really enjoyed your article, Pete. Thank you for sharing it.
Our family lived in East Ham for just a few years in the late 60's (I was a toddler) before immigrating to Australia. In just that short time a love of the Hammers took root in our lives and we followed them on all our travels, even though I've only been to Boleyn a couple of times. These days I live in the USA and now my son - who has never lived in the UK - is a diehard Hammers fan too. Last summer he vacationed in England and Wales, and the only place he was determined not to miss on the trip was Upton Park. He was so proud to text me photos of him him and his cousin at the ground.
The memories you've shared are so vivid, and though very different than my journey, they stirred a lot of memories of my own - growing up with "Hammers in the Heart".
What a great start we're having to this season. I'm sure your Dad would have loved the wins at Emirates, Anfield and Etihad. Come on you Irons!
Phil
Great article,I must have stood next to you on the North Bank.My best friend and I used to head out from Ealing to go skating at Richmond Ice Rink,then we'd sneak off to Upton Park (we had memberships at richmond so didn't have to go to the football with skates and Ra-Ra dresses!) eventually my mum found a pile of 1976-77 programs under my bed and the shit hit the fan.Unlike Rob Green,Trevor Brooking was(is) a true gent,when we went down to the old 2nd division I sent him a £2 postal order "please don't go" He sent me a lovely letter stating he was staying and my money had gone to a charity of the clubs choice.west Ham came back up. Thats Karma for you!
This season I'll make one more trip to Upton Park,haven't been since the last relegation season,when,faced with a post-match demonstration the curtains on the VIP lounge were pulled shut so no one of importance would have to see or hear the anger of the poor mugs who'd paid more than £30 (a fortune)to freeze it out on a february evening in Row triple Z of the South Bank and then spend 3 hours getting back to West London. It was Kids for a Quid night,the guy in front of us had a kid on each side,one ear covered by his hand,the other ear squashed into his coat to drown out the swearing.I kept a lid on it til we dropped a soft goal in the 89th minute.My final words in the Boleyn ground were "you useless fucking cunts" apologies to the man with the kids. Ah! happy times.....
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