Who is your favourite all time Hammer?

Ever since I started supporting West ham around 1985, an all time favourite player is something until recently I had not considered. I had always had favourite players but how did they measure up to each other? So where do I start?

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Let’s look at the contenders.

Alvin Martin

The long serving defender was one of the most cultured players ever to grace Upton Park’s hallowed ground, the Bootle born defender was a cult figure with the West Ham faithful.

My first real memories of Alvin came from his comeback after a succession of injuries around 1991-92 he slotted back into the centre of defence like he had never been away.

Over the next few years the class that he possessed was clear for all to see. Playing in the frenetically paced Premier League he still possessed the skill and ability to read a game that made him a top defender in that league, even at the ripe old age of 37. I remember seeing Alvin flick the ball over a chasing strikers head like he wasn’t even there, true class.

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Julian Dicks

I was disgusted recently hearing Hammers fans chanting the famous Julian, Julian, Julian song to one Mr Faubert. Dicks was a huge hero for me even though his red cards probably cost West Ham dearly in several important matches.

The passion that Julian possessed has never been repeated in my opinion. Scotty Parker came close but never played through a ruptured cruciate ligament and never thumped a penalty against Spurs so hard you could feel he had done it for the fans.

The left back’s disciplinary problems hindered his career. That left foot was as cultured as any in the country at the time but England never came knocking for the Hammers hero.

Frank McAvennie

The season of 1985-86 brought stardom to Frankie Mac and his strike partner Tony Cottee. The Scottish striker knocked in 26 goals to endear himself to the West Ham faithful. His next season did not live up to the hype but the lively Glaswegian had imprinted himself on my memory and when I scored a goal in the playground that’s who I imagined I was.

Frank used to go into the bank where my mum worked in Hornchurch. On one occasion she asked him ‘in hope more than anything’ for a signed picture for her young son. The next week Frank returned to the bank and delivered a team photo signed by the entire squad, what a gentleman.

Of course Frank’s second spell at the club was ruined by one Chris Kamara. Everyone seems to love Kamara these days, personally I can’t stand the man since he broke Frank’s leg!

The last game of McAvennie’s Hammers career was to be a truly glorious one. McAvennie came on as a second half sub against Notts Forest and scored a brilliant hatrick. I remember chanting ‘don’t go Frankie’ at the top of my voice and have to admit that this was the first but not the last time I shed a tear over Upton Park.

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My all time favourite Hammer is……

You may have guessed it by now but for those of you that haven’t, Frank McAvennie is the man. No one has meant as much to me as a player. His later life made for a jolly good read as well!

If I were a little older then of course the likes of Billy Bonds, Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking would come into the reckoning but my memory of them is only of old tapes we had in a draw at home.

Who have I left of the list?

Let me know @Dearemonster on twitter or in the comments box below.