Below are my 3 favourite Hammers players. I am 20 years old and have been a Hammers fan for the majority of that period. However, I realise I missed out on the glory years and won’t have the same players to pick from as most of you.
First up for me is my first “favourite” player when I was a (more of a) youngster, Mark Noble. The Academy graduate is still only 25, and at the time of him being my favourite player he was just starting out in the first team. He now has 212 appearances for West Ham, and has been captain on numerous occasions. He may not be up there nowadays amongst the most talented West Ham have to offer, he still holds that special place in my Hammers heart.
My second favourite West Ham player of all time is Scott Parker. This man was a warrior, with optimum levels of passion. He never stopped and epitomised a classic “West Ham” player. Winning 3 Hammer of the Year awards in a 5 year stint at the club, Scottie P must have been everyone’s fan favourite around a shaky time for everyone involved at the club.
Third on the list is Marlon Harewood. I appreciate Marlon would be out of the top 50 in most other peoples list but for me, around the time that I first got really into following everything the club did, this man was the goalscorer. He had a very respectable score rate for us, including one of my most memorable goals (vs. Boro in FA Cup Semi). The team that played alongside Marlon in his West Ham days was my first “team”, the likes of Matty Etherington and Paul Konchesky could have also been picked as my favourite in that team under Alan Pardew.
I appreciate anyone around in older generations, whether that be 30 year olds or 90 year olds will look and wonder at my list. I sadly was a little too late to really be switched on to football and West Ham and missed the likes of Di Canio, Repka and Dicks at their peaks.
Would you agree with my picks if you had seen the generation that I have?
Who are your 3 favourites of all time?
Write in comments section below!
(@TheTobyFry)
I’ll back you up on Marlon.
yeah i loved marlon, least he knew where the nets was. i am still watching him play at bristol city my local side and he is doing a fair job there, shame his legs have gone!
1 Dicks
2 Di Cannio
3 McAvennie/Cottee (cheating I know!)
Carlos Tevez- He was the player I was most excited about (I’m only 15, so haven’t had many players to admire).
George McCartney- I was gutted when he and Anton left and never came back and am pleased Big Sam kept him.
Yossi Benayoun- Just 100% commitment. Great player in the 2005-06 season and amazing vs. Southampton 6 years after.
Got to say both McCartney (first time round) and Yossi entered my mind but not quite top 3.
Excellent analysis of Super Scottie Parker. It’s shame far too many West Ham supporters just focus on the fact that he left us to join Spurs!
Thanks Neil. Definitely a shame on the reaction point!
Toby you have not had many years to choose from but all decent players in their own era at the club ,i would have thought you may have found a spot for dean ashton in this era. i am a little older and a little spoilt for choice so i find it hard to narrow it down to 3 so i will say my 4 would be brooking,bonds,devonshire and cottee.
Macavennie. Nuff said.
As for Parker, I’d have forgiven him for going to spuds but his lack of interest at the beginning of last seadon, especially watford away done me. Can’t have that from any hammer. Tosser as far as Im concerned.
Alvin martin at the end of his career .dicks and ashton gutted about ashton he would have been a legend .
Scott Parker- cause he worked his ass off for us
Mark Noble- Gives it his all every game
Julian faubert- Miss him, he was always put in rb, when he was more of a winger, he tried his hardest every came, you could always count on him if he was the last man back
Tevez, Parker and Di Canio. All stood out from the rest of their team and played with the required passion.