Namaste, Geezer

Enjoyed reading Namaste, Geezer by West Ham fan Shekhar Bhatia, an account of "life as a fan and journalist of Asian heritage." Bhatia grew up in Leyton and loved West Ham from an early age, though he had to brave National Front paper sellers and racism in the bad old days at 1970s and 1980s Upton Park. Often the fans he was running from were his own. 

We learn of his love of reading the football writers in his dad's Daily Telegraph and a spell on the Newham Recorder leading to jobs at several national newspapers. Racism is never far away though and attending a Hammers' game at Port Vale with his ex-wife Meera Syal, he has to report a home fan making monkey gestures at George Parris to the police, who thankfully act. 

There's a moving final chapter on Prague, where Shekhar has to try and look professional in the press box while holding back tears as West Ham win their first trophy in 43 years. And then he runs into the Hammers squad at his hotel and gets to sing "Jarrod Bowen's on fire!" with his heroes. Good work, geezer.