Tony Carr and the golden generation of Hammers

Good to get a signed copy of A Lifetime In Football at West Ham United by Tony Carr at his Newham Bookshop signing today. Tony, who was at West Ham for 43 years and discovered Ferdinand, Lampard, Cole, Carrick, Johnson, Noble, Tomkins and numerous other Academy products, told me that of all his prodigies he considered Rio Ferdinand to be the one with the most natural talent. 

I asked him about players who had got away and he mentioned Ray Houghton as a loss, who was let go to Fulham because John Lyall had high hopes of Alan Dickens. Carr said Dickens was affected by Lyall leaving and then moved to Chelsea, which was a totally different type of club, and although having a good career didn't achieve as much as he might have at West Ham. Another player he was sad to miss out on was someone called John Terry, whoever he is. He also praised Jermain Defoe and his generation for loving the game and always being happy to do extra work after training.

Good to be back at Upton Park and a happy birthday to Vivian at the Newham Bookshop, who for once was lost for words after losing her voice, but was able to dispense cake. Enjoyed a swift half in the refurbished Boleyn pub afterwards with David, a fellow fan at the signing, who saw the 1964 FA Cup win. The sticky carpet has gone, the floorboards are stripped, it's full of real ales, and it's a now a great pub with superb Victorian fixtures and fittings. I'll be reviewing Tony Carr's book in future posts.