My most memorable West Ham moment is not a goal, a result, or a player – it’s of the day I finally felt like I fit in to life in England.
This might sound a bit strange to you lucky people who were born on English soil, with claret and blue pumping in your veins, but allow me to explain.
I grew up in the United States, and as a result I’ve missed out on a lot of West Ham moments (in fact, pretty much all of them.) Premier League football just wasn’t shown on TV when I was a kid, and in the rare event we did have football on, it normally wasn’t showing West Ham. For this reason, every time a conversation rolls around to remembering the good old days of the Hammers, I have nothing to contribute to it. I’m either too young or too foreign (or too young and too foreign) to have anything to add.)
The other annoying thing, when you’re a bit foreign is that you spend most of your time standing out like a sore thumb. It doesn’t matter that I’ve got a British passport (and have done since I was a child)- all people notice is my ‘delightful’ foreign accent (also referred to as ‘dodgy’ and ‘insufferable’ by one of my ‘friends.’) I can’t even begin to describe how much fun it is every time you ring up for an NHS appointment to be asked how long you’ve been in the country, or to constantly have everyone assume you don’t know how to use an Oyster card.
For a very long time, I found it tough to fit in, but all this changed over the past 10 years of watching football at Upton Park- and it really clicked into place during the Play-Off final against Blackpool at Wembley.
On that day, I felt as if I had been adopted by a community; a very incredible community in West Ham’s case. People suddenly didn’t care what my voice sounded like, they only cared that I was singing ‘bubbles’ at the top of my lungs. No one noticed I was any different from anyone else when walking up Wembley Way, it only mattered that I was on the West Ham side of the walk and not dressed in that horrific day-glow orange on the other side of the divide (ever meet anyone who looks good in that colour? No, me neither.)
The day itself was a joyous drunken blur of goals, prayers, celebrations and a feeling of overwhelming pride for the team. I was there for something big; and I took part in what will be a memorable day in West Ham’s history (and won’t happen again anytime soon, because we’re not getting relegated again – not with the Davids and Big Sam at the helm.) With that, something slotted into place for me, and I finally felt accepted. Everyone has an epic game memory, or a Wembley memory to share in the pub, and I finally have my day to contribute in years to come.
I’m used to being a part of the crowd at Upton Park, but being part of that number at Wembley was different. I can look back on that day and remember that I was there with everyone. I was singing on the tube, hugging strangers, and jumping up and down with joy at the final whistle.
After 8 years of living in the UK, watching West Ham play at Wembley finally made me feel like I was accepted in into an incredible community, and at home in my adopted country- and for me, there’s nothing more wonderful or memorable than that. Now I just want to see us make more memories there- particularly winning the FA Cup- and from here on out, whatever we achieve there, I’ll be a part of it.
Really nice piece. I’m an old git so I’ve got lots of WH memories & not all good but last year’s play off final ranks right up there with the best of them. Hopefully, we are on the brink of a fantastic period in the club’s history and you’ll have a lot more celebrating to do in the coming years. Welcome to the family, you chose well.
Here Here. Went on my own, but never felt alone. A guy ran up three rows of seats to hug me after the Vaz Te goal. A Day I’ll never forget. And the day I really started to feel as I was part of something special.
Very nicely said. Like Ray, I’m an old git, and have been following West Ham for about 45 years. The play-off final was very special to me too though, because at last I saw us win at Wembley, not for the first time, but for the first time with my son. I know it may possibly be (though hopefully not) the last time we can do that together. A very very special moment for both of us. As Ray said, you have chosen well, and you are most welcome. (And you score extra points for not calling what we play ‘soccer’) 🙂
I am an American living in Washington DC and have been a Hammers fan since the 1970s. Unlike Emily, I grew up in England and then came to the States later. When West Ham won the FA Cup in 1975 I became dyed in the wool Hammers fan. Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds were my childhood heros.
Going to the Hammers Arsenal FA Cup rematch at Highbury in 1989 was a glorious experience, as we won 1-0 on the day.
Thankfully today we have the internet and cable TV that gives me my Irons fix every week in the USA. Now it is onward to bigger and better things in the years ahead, especially with European football in the offering at the new Olympic Stadium we are going to soon. (Yes, European football!) So happy about the future.
im an old git to been supporting my hammers for62 years, you chose a great team to support welcome to the family.
Dagenham boy for 36 years, married a Jersey girl- smashing!- and now been a Jersey boy for 4 years. Grew up with Bonds, Dickens, privelidged to watch the last game of Liam Bradys career, watched training at Chadwell Eef! My sons an Iron now, his first game was vs Barnsley in the cup, we won too! I will never forget the look on my sons face when he heard us all singing bubbles when the music drops out. Then his little arms went up at the right moment too! I guess the point I’m making is, it don’t matter where your from, or where you go, COYI’S! And I will so be at the Olympic Stadium first west ham game with my two sons! A dream come true!
Another old git here with plenty of happy and not so happy memories. The play off final was a very special day as I was there with my son and my grandson a day all 3 of us will never forget. Welcome to a relatively new member to the family you have chosen well
This is one of the reason football is so beautiful. Special sport!
Bloody yanks 😉
FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in 1991. Tony Gale got unfairly sent off and West Ham got battered but the fans that day were beyond sensational. At 4-0 down I remember looking around and seeing everyone singing and jumping up and down and thinking this is mental. That and the win at Old Trafford for the great escape are the games that really stand out in my memory. IRONS! 🙂