West Ham then and now | Vital Football

West Ham then and now

OldLeazes

OldLeazes

Vital Football Hero
I think West Ham is my most visited away ground after Sunderland and Brighton. Counting up and I've been there five times. The first time i went was some time early mid 80s. I'm pretty sure we played a draw. First time I'd been to West Ham and I was shitting myself. We went down on a coach which parked at Kings Cross. Three coach loads of us went over on the tube and met the rest of the Newcastle support in Covent Garden. I'd say about 700+ made our way over on the tube. The police picked us up on the way and we were taken to Upton Park under heavy escort. After the game it was dark and we were under attack all the way back to the tube. it got out of hand next to the fruit market with both sides really piling into each other. Took the police a while to get it sorted. I was pleased to get on the tube out of the place. Swore never to go again. next season went again, but this time on the cowards bus from the official supporters club. We got humped 8-1, but it was relatively safe.
 
I was at the 8-1 game with some Hammers supporters I worked with at the time - so ended-up watching with their supporters rather than ours.
It was an evening kick-off near the end of the season and they were doing well (maybe even pushing for second or third) so they were all in good humour.

I think we scored to make it 7-1 or something ridiculous and I (being a young daft lad at the time) shouted "come on the lads, we only need 7 more to win it" and suddenly the atmosphere near me changed!!!
I was lucky to get away alive...

Certainly saw lots of bother there in the 80's and 90's
 
I've been three times I think. There was a game in 1997 that was cancelled just before kick off. Think the rescheduled game finished 0-0. Their keeper (Miklosko? CM?) made a great save from a Shearer header.
 
Having spent time living in london, went to Upton Park quite a bit, both for West Ham and Charlton. Remember the 8-1 too. PeterB was never the best keeper in the world.
 
Rexn - 4/5/2013 21:44

Having spent time living in london, went to Upton Park quite a bit, both for West Ham and Charlton. Remember the 8-1 too. PeterB was never the best keeper in the world.
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I'm sure that was a Monday night game. We had a dart match and radio commentary at the same time, lol.
 
I just remember it was an evening midweek game towards the end of the season. Before the game was really optimistic after drawing at Stamford Bridge which is one of the best results I saw live there. I think it was about 1980 that we had a January game then an early season one. Those Chelsea results saw us on the wrong end of 6-1 and 4-0.
 
Rexn - 4/5/2013 21:44

Having spent time living in london, went to Upton Park quite a bit, both for West Ham and Charlton. Remember the 8-1 too. PeterB was never the best keeper in the world.
Click to expand...

Aye but he made a top class save that even the ref applauded.

Well according to Charles Harrison on the radio he did anyway. :17:
 
Just read my post again and I appear to have missed half of it out.

I got the then part down, but I seem to have lost the now part of my post.

In short. Then, dangerous violent and scary as fuck. Now, family friendly, welcoming and not at all scary.
 
Scariest place I ever went away to that in the day, late 70s. I was just a kid but never been so pleased to get away in one piece and back on the train.
 
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