Wednesday, March 2

Top Eleven West Ham Goal Celebrations

Mikhail Antonio's bizarre Homer Simpson 'grass dancing' routine against Sunderland has to be one of WHU's top goal celebrations. Here's a personal choice of some other memorable celebrations, in no particular order: 

TOP ELEVEN WEST HAM GOAL CELEBRATIONS

FRANK LAMPARD SENIOR’S CORNER FLAG DANCE
I'm dreaming of a Frank Lampard, just like the one at Elland Road… Early pole dancing for bearded blokes. After scoring a header against Everton that took us to Wembley in 1980, Frank ran to the corner flag, grabbed it and ran round it in circles.

ANDY CARROLL’S SLIDE
There are still ten-foot deep ruts in the turf by the corner flag where Carroll did his belly flop slide after scoring against Chelsea, Southampton and Liverpool. Pretty worrying if you’re sitting in the corner of the Chicken Run and see Carroll sliding towards you like a runaway Virgin Pendolino.

CARLOS TEVEZ’S SHIRT-STRIPPING
When Tevez scored his first ever goal for the Hammers with a sublime free kick against Spurs in 2007 he promptly took his shirt off and ran bare chested into the West Stand where he was mobbed by ecstatic fans.

KEVIN NOLAN’S CLUCKING CHICKEN
Whenever Nolan scored he would look like he wanted to lay an egg as he flapped his arms up and down. Something to do with Nobby going on a weekend do with his mates and someone dancing like a chicken.

ADRIAN'S KNEE-SLIDE
Adrian scored in a penalty shoot-out against Everton in the FA Cup in 2015. First he threw his gloves to the ground, implying he wouldn’t be needing them after this, then  coolly dispatched the ball into the corner. Being the self-effacing sort of character he is, Adrian runs to the photographers and performs an epic knee-slide with his arms outstretched, before being mobbed by the other players.

FREDDIE PIQUIONNE’S GOALSCORING RED CARD
When Fedddie scored with a header at Everton in 2011 he leapt over a hoarding and ran into the celebrating West Ham fans. However he’d already been booked and was then sent off by Jobsworth ref Peter Walton. Combining scoring with a red card takes a bit of style.

EAMONN DOLAN’S IRISH JIG
After scoring against Sunderland in 1989 Dolan ran to the North Bank, jumping up and down from leg to leg while alternately pumping his arms up and down, followed by an Irish jig. He then celebrated his second with a Dambusters-style flight to the Chicken Run.

IAN WRIGHT’S REF PUSHING 
When Wrighty scored against Southampton in 1998-89, he and Neil Ruddock imitated Paolo Di Canio’s infamous push on referee Paul Alcock. Wrighty brandished an imaginary red card, Razor gave him a light push, and Ian duly tumbled over.

PAOLO DOES THE BARTHEZ
After beating a taxi-hailing Fabien Barthez at Old Trafford in the FA Cup in 2001, Paolo ran to the West Ham fans near the corner flag, slid to his knees with his arms aloft and mouthed “I can play away!” at the camera.

ANTON FERDINAND THROWS SOME SHAPES
After scoring his first goal for West Ham at Watford in 2005 and securing a play-off place Anton ran the length of the field to the West Ham end and threw some shapes in the fashion of David Brent.

TREVOR BROOKING’S WAVE

After dummying two Eintracht Frankfurt defenders and scoring a lovely goal to send West Ham to the Cup Winners' Cup Final against in 1976, Brooking ran to the West Side and held an arm in the air as if waving goodbye to a maiden aunt at Shenfield Station. Which for Trev was him getting pretty excited.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

A Youtube compilation is a must.

Pete May said...

Good idea…