I’ve been to many West Ham games and have some great memories of watching West Ham. But there are three games that stand out for me, FA Cup Semi Final against Middlesbrough, Play-Off Final against Blackpool and the FA Cup Final against Liverpool, despite the fact that we lost. However, if I had to choose my favourite, I would say the Play-Off Final.
I remember the whole day. Setting off early, meeting up with others, all this on route to Wembley. You could feel the togetherness of the West Ham fans that day. As I stepped into the ground, the atmosphere was electric, but no West Ham fan could say they wasn’t nervous as well at excited.
I don’t think I have ever heard such a loud roar when Carlton Cole stuck the ball in the back of the net. The ground shook and the West Ham fans were going mad. I remember Cole coming over and celebrating right on front of where I was sitting.
I was just walking back to my seat after half time when Blackpool equalised. I froze for a few seconds in shock. The second half had only just kicked off and Blackpool were already back on level terms. After that goal you could really feel the nerves of the West Ham fans. It was probably the first real time when we all thought that we might not actually win this game.
But the West Ham fans got behind the players and we started to play better. When Nolan hit the crossbar, I thought to myself, please don’t be one of those days. Then came the best part.
The ball rolled across to Ricardo Vaz Te. It seemed like it was taking forever to reach him. He had an open goal and I took a quick look around the ground and all eyes were on Vaz Te. As the net bulged, 45,000 West Ham fans jumped off their feet.
I don’t think I have ever been so nervous after that goal. Blackpool swarming us with pressure. The West Ham fans were trying to head it away themselves. But when that final whistle went, you could see the relief in the faces of the West Ham fans. It may have only been a Play-Off trophy, but seeing your team lift a trophy at Wembley is always a special occasion and it was good to know that we was back where we belonged.
So my favorite West Ham game was my first West Ham game. I was visiting from the US, staying with some friends who had previously gone to my university. It was the 1996 home fixture against Chelsea who was in fine form with Zola. I stood for much of the game in the Bobby Moore stand. As an American coming to see a team in poor form on midweek evening, it was a surprise to see Upton Park rocking. Chelsea opened the scoring in the first half and Julian Dicks roofed a PK to win it near the closing whistle.
How could I not be a fan after that?