It’s usually an easy decision to know which football team to support. You go for the local team, a team you get to see a lot of, or follow the allegiances passed down through the family.
All of those reasons brought me to West Ham, but I didn’t think people on the other side of the world would find due cause to follow the fortunes of the Hammers.
So with that in mind, when I packed my West Ham shirt and moved to Australia, I fully expected to be the lone fan sporting the claret and blue at ‘soccer’ games.
Imagine my surprise then, when I discovered the Sydney Hammers supporters group – hundreds of Hammers’ fans, not only ex-pats, but fully born-and-bred Australians, coming together in forums, on social media, and down the pub for live games.
We were heading into the Championship, but the passion and support for the club from fans down under was evident. It proved we are already somewhat of a global brand.
The main attachment seems to come from the early days of live broadcasting of Premier League matches. People got to see the passion and underdog spirit of West Ham, and chose to go against the surge of support towards the more successful sides.
There is also the fact that Aussie players were involved in the squad around the 1990s, players such as Stan Lazaridis and Robbie Slater.
But with ever more coverage Down Under of the European elite, the club needs to move forward to ensure it has a wider reach and greater reputation.
Securing the Olympic Stadium is a massive step towards that. The status that comes with playing in one of the country’s showpiece venues will hopefully attract a whole new generation of fans.
Global Status? Wind your tupid necks in you big time charlie MUGS!
Yes we can see why you needed two attempts
Global Status? Wind your stupid necks in you big time charlie MUGS!
I bet your a Spud and you’ve got a little willy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and small brain
Brain cell 1 failed, Brain cell 2 corrected!
It’s a good thing spuds don’t have more than 2 brain cells, as you’d probably be able to complete a sentence and annoy us all!
Jealousy won’t get you anywhere you dickhead, just accept the fact that the mighty Hammers are on the way to greatness you fool, now bore off
we already have a Global Status the stadium will only enhance that
You mugs have always had large mouths and have tried to attach yourselves to us like your our rivals, what a joke. You have sold out to the money people, enjoy your fake stadium and don’t forget your binoculars 🙂
Wow LOL, stunning bit of brain power there! best lie down and have rest eh?
We will enjoy our world class stadium that you and your fellow jealous spuds are helping to pay for thank you very much!
I like your comment stevo well said that man coyi
I’m not sure it’s about world stages. It’s perhaps more a recognition that the EPL is big business. Do we want to compete with our big London rivals…Arsenal, Chelsea (who incidentally we beat up last season when they visited Upton Park just in case anyone has forgotten) and Spurs…or QPR? The Emirates holds 65000 fans. Loftus Road holds 18000. The Gunners haven’t been out of the top division for over 80 years. QPR were out for an eternity, had one bad year back followed by one catastrophic one and are gone.If I was a QPR fan I’d be praying that Harry can keep them in the Champipnship next season. Remember…Leeds, Portsmouth and Wolverhampton.
Obviously we’re bigger than QPR and The Arsenal are bigger than most but It’s grow or perish I think.
Aussie Peter, you are so right! It is move on or die! Grow or perish. If we want to make something of ourselves then we have to move and grow into the club we all want us to be! A stadium filled with 54,000 West Ham fans! What can possibly be not to like about that? COYI!
In a pub in halstead, earwigging on a conversation across the bar, 2 spud fans, (the only 2 in the area me thinks). ” yeah, they can keep the o s, & I’m happy at w h lane. Smacks of resentment to me, given the tone. We’re going places & they’re not
Yes they are definitely resentful with the fact that for them to get the equivalent of our new stadium will cost £400m plus, meaning sacrificing the player budget for the next ten years whilst we will be enticing the cream of the worlds talent.
I come from darwin australia.now live in london but am a lifelong hammer due to my london born grandfather and can honestly say that west ham do have good support down under due to.like me.family history and also due players like lazarides and lucas neil wearing claret and blue….and why are you taking notice of LOL..hes just a litte boy judging by hes comments
WEST HAM ARE THE BIGGEST CLUB ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE WORLD , COS I SAID SO .
SO ALL YOU NON HAMMERS I POKE MY TONGUE OUT TO YOU ALL MAY YOUR BACKSIDES BE INFESTED WITH A MILLION CAMELS FLEAS
Rich you’re the man!lol.
I’ve been a whu fan my whole life saw bonds and brooking play I’m that old but I’ve never been more excited about the future of our club than now. And Jesus who doesn’t love Karen Brady?
My 1st game was chelsea v wham in 73 ‘, young ok, but always hoped that one day we would hold our own, & possibly more, in the elite few. For probably the 1st time, I feel we can, with the O S, look forward with, dare I say it, more success than ever. The board, I feel, reflect my view. (When have we ever been able to think that!)