“Why do you support West Ham when you live up here? And they’re s**t!” Being a Northern Hammer is difficult but I sure wouldn’t change it for the world, why? Because they’re part of my identity. Very often I get asked why I support West Ham, I tend to reply with “I just do” or “because I’m not a glory supporter” or just “it’s in the blood”.
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Living in Darlington for most of my life after being born in Salisbury has been difficult, surrounded by Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Man United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal fans but I love being who I am and who I follow! It makes me different. Up in the North East of England it is very rare you come across West Ham fans, but when you do it’s like an electric shock running through your body as you see someone with the same pain as you. It’s rare, but I’ve seen a few, and each time I shout “Irons”. With a fiery and opinionated personality as mine, you often get caught up in arguments with opposing fans whether it be Sunderland or Newcastle, but each time I fight so hard to defend the claret and blue blood than runs through my veins. I hated football until I was 11 years old when I played my first game of FIFA 07 and football in the same week. That week essentially changed both my personality and my identity! Before loving football I was the quiet, simple minded child that was struggling at a poor school on a poor estate. I moved to secondary school some months later where my confidence, intelligence and well, the whole of my disposition changed as I took up being a goalkeeper, and many asked me to join the local team, as I eventually did. Knowing me now, many find it astonishing as to how much I hated football in the past.
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My step father who has brought me up since the age of three was born in East London where he lived till he was 11. He of course is from a West Ham background, and all of the Edkins family is raving mad about the Hammers. You’re now probably thinking I’m not a Hammer at heart, but in fact I am as my Great Grandad was a Hammer too, his son, however, being my grandad is a Tottenham fan to my dismay. At the age of 16 with my paper round as my only income I get very little money, and coming from and un-wealthy background I have never, unfortunately been to a game with my family.
When I was 14 years old a boy moved to my school from Sunderland, we chatted on Facebook, and to my delight he was a West Ham fan! Instantly we formed a great friendship which strongly remains today, and with him I attend all North East away games! To my sheer embarrassment I have only ever been to four West Ham games, watching us concede four and score three. With the Hammers being touted from a move away from Upton Park it is on my bucket list to watch a home game (before we move). I have however, been to Upton Park but I haven’t actually watched a game there, I just slept in the hotel. During my days of hating football I was offered the chance of going to Upton Park for a tour of the stadium but I rejected it instantly and to this day I still regret my decision. It is harder than you think supporting West Ham up north, with no fellow hammers (unless you’re extremely lucky); every home game being like an away game with regards to travel prices. People laugh, people taunt! The fact is though that I’m a Hammer through and through! Yeah I haven’t been to many games, but I’m trying! I love West Ham no matter what!! I wouldn’t support any other club no matter what! I am truly West Ham at the core! Despite the works of being a northern Hammer, I wouldn’t support any other team! Everything about West Ham makes me love them, essentially, even the distance. I love West Ham and nothing nor nobody will ever change that!
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I went to London last May and watched the Play-Off final in the Duke, I’ve never seen so many West Ham fans around that haven’t been at a game! It was truly astonishing, a beautiful sight that as a northern Hammer is rare! I hope that where ever I live in the world when I grow up, my children too support West Ham! It’s an experience that is so difficult yet so enjoyable! I find that West Ham, being West Ham don’t win every game and I love that! How boring would it be to win every game, where each goal in each game meant nothing because you knew it was going to happen? At the end of the day, I’m a West Ham fan, they form my identity and my personality! I wouldn’t have it any other Way! Whenever I meet someone, I always ask them who they support, because for me, I like people knowing I’m a Hammer. Come on you Irons!!!!! Ben Edkins (@benedkins12)
Well said Ben. I was born and raised in Essex but moved to Middlesbrough for university in ’06 and ended up staying in the area until May 2012 with my return down south marked with a trip to watch West Ham at wembley.
I totally understand your feelings towards that excitement when you meet someone local who’s a west ham fan. I hope you do get your chance to visit upton park.
Scott, I work at Teesside Uni and I’m a Hammer, so chance is our paths crossed.
Ben… I feel your pain….
Brought up in Warrington, listening to Rednoses and manc’s all through school……….your shit aaahhhhh… Once it’s in you… it’s in you… I was 6, had no idea where WH was even, just liked the kit, they won on TV and from then on I used to dive for the Sunday paper, watched… yes watched TELETEXT for the goals, and went to UP for the first time aged 11.
I get the locals ask me WHY?… every time I meet a football fan the same, I have even been told that I am not a real West Ham fan by an obnoxious fat cockney, as aged 22 (still in the north)I worked most weekends so was limited to going to local away games.
I used to drink before the game in the Greengate (now Tesco), but am now a season ticket in the West Stand with my now 9 year old.. who saw his first game aged 5.. and like me is totally WHU. Northern is a condition Iron is a passion.
Keep the faith… COYI
Richard.
Great to read I was born and bred in essex and have always been an iron I have settled in richmond down the road from darlington and I think I’ve met one west ham fan since being up here it would be great to meet another fellow iron
I love to hear stories of these solitary Hammers, sticking with it through thick and thin when no-one else is around to support you. Good on you mate, i dont care where you come from , you obviously have Iron blood in you !!!!!!!!!!!!
yep i live in Hartlepool and have been a hammer fan through thick and thin since 1980 it was my dad who got me supporting them after he said west ham were the best passing side in England, been to Upton park and manage to go and watch them when the play up here especially when they played Hartlepool in the FA cup was the perfect tie for me.
Well done a great write-up! I know where your coming from. I was born & brought up a stones throw of Upton Park. My dad was a total West Ham fan, he took me to matches. So it’s in my blood. Until 13yrs ago and we moved to Dorset..it seems so far away from there, just to be nearer to my family that had moved there. You don’t very often find a WHU supporter in the area & especially not any merchandise shops or outlets. So I feel quite isolated at times. So I try to keep in-touch with all the different sites, on fb twitter etc, it does help..but doesn’t compensate for the miles apart..keep the faith…Linda
well said ben, i was born in north london and moved to peterlee aged 3.my farther was born and bred in east london.my uncle alfie noaks played for whu.ive never been able to support another team,its in the blood and always will be and passed down to my kids and grandsons.i still remember runing around in claret and blue when those around me was wearing sunderland and newcastle strips.it did not faze me,i was proud and loud.i moved back to london,east london,poplar by chance,surrounded by claret and blue…. home at last,going to my first home game great memories.i live in hertfordshire now,surrounded by spuds,but we still hold our own!i still get to up,and the hair on my neck stands up when bubbles is played as the players come out,among your own family,quality supporters. as for the old man,he still lives up north,in darlington belive it or not,as does my brother,sister and nephews,all whu.so although you think your alone mate,we are all around you.
I have the same thing I grew up in the Eastend and went as a kid to all the home games.I now live in holland just outside Amsterdam ,Every saturday i watch the live westham matches when shown on the sports channel.I put my westham shirt on and watch the game scream like a mad man when the hammers score the local kids are all looking through window wondering why the enlish mans gone mad again.I would love to take my two boys over to upon park one day to watch a match lets hope the lottery comes up before we move.Up The Hammers.
Well done you Northern boys !! Though born in Plaistow, as a kid in the late 50s and 60s living in Newcastle, Cumberland and Nottingham, I always wore my Hammers shirt with pride (bought from Bobby Moores Green Street shop in 1965 !!). I took plenty of stick as you would expect but for The Hammers…anything !!