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West Ham in danger of alienating the fans

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Upton ParkSo a rather contentious issue has reared its head as West Ham begin the countdown to the historic move to Stratford, a couple miles down the road but a world away from the Boleyn ground in terms of the potential it will afford the club.

The club wish to mark the new chapter in the history of West Ham United by changing/evolving the sacred club crest. Now of course such a change has been met with unease by supporters; the current crest has been in operation since 1998 and was very much an evolution of the previous badge.

The proposal however to change the club crest once more isn’t sitting well with fans still adjusting to the idea of calling another ground ‘home’ it feels as though the club they love is being changed before their very eyes, club traditions being sacrificed in the name of a new ‘corporate image.’ It just all feels a bit too much too soon; first the move, now they want to change the crest…what’s next? Are we going to ditch Bubbles for something a bit edgier?

At least the decision ultimately lies with the lifeblood of the club; the fans will have their say and I cannot for a second see a majority opting for a change. I appreciate the powers that be wish to mark the new chapter in the club’s history, we all hope that the move to the Olympic Stadium will pay off, we all want to see West Ham competing at the top end of the league; however the board need to appreciate that the fans need time to adjust to the evolution of the club.

I feel it’s a lot for the board to turn around to the fans and say ‘yeah we’re moving the club, the naming rights to the new gaffe will be sold and what’s more we’re changing the crest and all.’ Surely any further changes need to be incremental? It’s simply asking too much otherwise.

If the club do succeed in getting sufficient backing to change the crest I for one hope they hark back to the 1983-84 shirt, two crossed Hammers with WHUFC written underneath; the crossed Hammers are the very identity of the club and any changes should further emphasise those iconic crossed Hammers.

The move to Stratford will be a re-birth for the club; the added money brought in from naming rights, corporate hospitality, the added 19,000 seats etc. will hopefully propel West Ham United from being perennial relegation candidates to being top six regulars. The club however during this historic move must not alienate the fans by changing too much too soon and yet they’re in grave danger of doing just that.

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12 comments

  • Billy Blagg says:

    Get a grip! It’s a badge and was last changed….ohhhh decades ago? No, 1998. Was everyone up in the air then? G&S know their West Ham, any change will almost certainly be small.

    • jaybs says:

      I have no concerns about the words London being added, but totally against the Castle being deleted. Everton tried to change their badge, but the quickly took on board fans concerns.

      Sullivan & Gold know their West Ham? then why did they bottle it with Sam, was just what it would have cost to pay him off? A pittance compared to the stupid fee we paid for Carroll and more so the disgusting high wage we pay him!

      • Hornsey says:

        They bottled it because, we were promoted straight away in his very first season managing the club and he kept us in the premiership the following two seasons. The second season in the premiership commonly thought to be the hardest after coming back from relegation.

        Why on earth would you want to pay off a manager that has given us what has been a very successful three years?

        Or did you thing we would be in the champions league by now playing beautiful brazilian style football, the way we used to, as we continue to yoyo between the premiership and the championship?

  • jaybs says:

    Problem is can we trust the owners, when they say they will listen to Fans? did they listen in retaining the services of Sam as manager? making sound bite demands of him to change, which it is doubtful he ever will!

    Our Club Badge reflects our History and True Herritage, and no way should be even up fir consideration for change, at a time when we approach a move of ground from The Boleyn. We are an East End club, those of us not born in the East End feel ourselves to be adopted!

    We currently have a club media department which acts more like a Propaganda Unit, backing one or two players and the manager only most of the time, WEST HAM UNITED is Our Club and United it should be, not constantly going against a majority of loyal fans and creating unnecessary splits between fans.

  • Cn says:

    As said badge was last changes in 90’s the castle was removed for a few years in the 80’s

    Let’s not have a hysterical over reaction

  • Ryan lee says:

    Depends on how much we get in revenue from these naming rights,if its a good deal for us why not?. Every true fan knows our history and tradition and that will always be in our blood but having extra money to spend on new and better players to challenge the top six then why not? As for the badge if it ain’t broke why fix it!

  • peter iron says:

    Why can’t we all just enjoy the summer , chill out and have a beer , and stop looking for problems
    all the time . It’s time to give it a rest me thinks.

  • Rick says:

    does any one else think G & S are just plotting silly ideas to take our minds off new player signings they promised at the end of May beginning of June the 2 of em remind me of politicians just lie after lie there not saviours just very cute at trying to be busimess men wheres that beer now & chill pills

  • Brian McFlipper says:

    Ground change …badge change ?…adding London to the name ????? The more I hear, the less I like. Methinks Brady & Co are sitting there rubbing grubby little corporate hands together, tapping away on calculators and wondering how much West Ham (London) 2016 will be worth at the Anne Summers Arena when they all sell up in 5 years and count their millions. Perhaps Claret & Blue isn’t too popular any more… so more shirts can be shifted if we go to a nice lime green with orange trim…and Bubbles is so..well..1920’s…Lets adopt a catchy theme song from the Justin Bieber or One Direction catalogue. That will appeal to the young fan base…so we shift more merchandise…etc etc etc etc.

  • mt says:

    Big deal our badges change so what. Anbd are you really that scared that somebody will make you sing a different anthem,grow up our fans know their own minds and moreso their heritage don’t insult us as being that fickle and easily influenced as to just stop singing bubbles. As if. Stop you’re scaremongering and stirring try backing your team(you might like it)

  • Hammerman says:

    G&S have every right to change the badge.

    Most fans wouldn’t mind a change.

    Why do we always get so hysterical over every trivial little thing.

    Peoples live must be pretty boring if they are getting in a flap over just this.

  • firefighterx says:

    id like to keep the castle in someway as well.. as for gripping about sam its a done deal so lets live with it at least for this season!! MY GRIPE is the usual were looking at this player and that player lots of were close yet no one wants to come… or we fall down on wages? i understand the wage bill problem but if we don’t steal a march on those below us were going to back where we started… NEW here like the comments lads..

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