A club memory posted on Twitter has prompted many of us to draw sad parallels with the present – the 20-year anniversary of that game against Bradford.
We all know how it goes, Di Canio begging to be subbed, Di Canio taking the penalty off a fresh-faced Frank Lampard and Joe Cole’s first Upton Park goal, among many more moments.
Will there ever be a better game in the history of the Premier League, let alone our own?
But now the retro match has formed the base of depressing comparisons between then and now by fellow supporters.
One remarked that the Bradford drama was when we had players who fought for the shirt, whilst another reflected that it was when we had loyal fans.
When we had players who played for the shirt
— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) February 12, 2020
When we loyal fans too!
— Steve Tibbott ⚒ (@SteveTibbott) February 12, 2020
That was proper West Ham. So sad how far we’ve fallen.
— Andrew (@Andrew96524465) February 12, 2020
Now we can’t even beat a championship side 😱. COYI let’s turn over City
— Victor Johnson (@vixmix144) February 12, 2020
Players who didn’t give up after going a goal down.
— Hamish (@Hambertson) February 12, 2020
How many times would we need to play them now to reach 5 goals in total?
— Nick Tremain (@tinbum1970) February 12, 2020
When the players had a bit of fight
— Dale (@JustDarren77) February 12, 2020
Great game, great memories, great home, this is exactly what Sullivan and gold have destroyed. You share this but it just reminds us of what’s gone. No team under their ownership was capable of that. GSBOUT#
— chey_fitz (@cheyfitz) February 12, 2020
What a team we had! Used to love going to watch them 💜⚒💙
— JulieMerch68 (@JulieMerch68) February 12, 2020
20 years on and they would batter us 5-0
— Mr Lewis (@JamieLJLewis) February 13, 2020