Many West Ham fans have been faced with the daunting question of having to choose their favourite all time Hammer. The likes of Paolo Di Canio, Trevor Brooking, Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds are the usual suspects when it comes to choosing an all time favourite, with many fans preferring to choose which of their children they prefer, rather than choose between these West Ham legends.
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For me though, it’s a no brainer. The first few matches that I can remember watching are of the 1998 World Cup. I remember watching a young Thierry Henry play for the French team which went on to win lift the trophy, with a 3-0 win over Brazil. Part of the reason that I got into football and really established a connection with West Ham, is because after watching the World Cup, all I did was play and watch football. My Dad started telling me about West Ham, as he worked near the stadium and I started watching recordings of Match of the Day. As soon as I started watching them, I was immediately drawn to West Ham’s young and upcoming star Joe Cole. I had posters, videos, programs, all with Joe Cole, which I cherished like a child’s toy. Joe Cole came through the ranks at West Ham, making his first team debut in 1998 as a 17 year old. He then went on to make 126 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals.
One of the videos I remember better than any was West Ham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United, when Jermain Defoe scored a header at Old Trafford in 2001. Joe Cole was on scintillating form, dazzling the likes of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane and if it wasn’t for a terrible decision from the referee, he would have won a penalty for the Hammers, after Keane’s hand to the face of young Cole.
Cole was given the captain’s armband in 2003 at the age of 21 and he made his international debut in 2001 against Mexico. He was also included in the 2002 squad for the World Cup, making a substitute appearance. Not only was Cole becoming a fan favourite, he was becoming a household name in England. Unfortunately, the Hammers were relegated in 2003, the same year that Cole won “Hammer of the Year”.
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Cole moved to the club he supports; Chelsea following relegation, which resulted in the posters being taken down and the videos put away. As a young 8 year old at the time, I was devastated. My hero was gone, so when I heard about the possibility of a romantic return for Cole this season, I was delighted. However, it looks as if Cole will get another chance at Liverpool, which means the return of Cole is again postponed (as I hope, one day, Cole will come back home).
For me, even though Cole left in 2003 after relegation, he is still my hero. Every day I used to watch videos of him dribbling past players and I would copy him and practice in the living room, weaving in and out of the chairs and the dining table. He will always be my favourite Hammer of all time.
Who is your favourite Hammer? Who did you grow up watching? Tweet me @TollyCoburn
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I cannot believe nobody has given Tony Cottee a mention he was pure brilliant………
I loved watching Joe Cole aswell, his name was on the back of my replica along with the No. 26, it still is my all time favorite shirt that i own, although it is hung up in my wardrobe, i’d love to beable to wear it again if Joe was to return to upton park, i miss his energy / creativity and skills when he was on the ball running at the defence, cutting out chance after chance.
Harry did truly build a great squad back then, Wanchope Dicanio Foe Carrick Defoe Kanoute Moncur Lampard Rio Johnson James Sinclair need i go on, then Harry was sacked, the board decided to take the cheap option and employed Glenn the Rat Boy Roeder and he destroyed our club within a season and half, our fate was sealed to the championship, Judas Defoe abandones ship before we have a chance to even take in what has happened to our so called top 6 side, we were a team that was far to good to go down, but thats what happens when you cut corners and take the cheap option with the manager, no team is to good to go down if you don’t work hard enough with the right tactics in place, so Big Sam be prepared to get the squad strong and extremly fit for what is to be a very tough and long season ahead in 2012-13 season, PS. please keep the ball on the ground, as i get neck ache very easy….. COY!
Marco Boogers if not him Kieron Dyer
Trevor Brooking was pure silk. He was an absolute maestro on the pitch. His pace wasn’t fantastic but he just seemed to glide past the opposition with minimum effort.If BFS can find players of his quality then roll on next season.