West Ham Supporter of the Month May 2010
It´s a great pleasure to have a presentation of one of our Englishman In West Ham Fans Sweden. He´s one of the lucky people who actually was at place at Wembley in the 1980 final when West Ham beat Arsenal. His West Ham hero is the one and only Billy Bonds. He spent a night drinking with some people we all would have liked to drink and talk with. The rest do you have to read yourself.
En presentation av olika West Ham supportrar som ger oss en liten möjlighet att lära känna de personer som är medlemmar i West Ham Fans Sverige eller som skriver på vårt forum. Här kommer supportrar som varit anhängare av West Ham en lång tid eller kort tid och som är av olika ålder och kön att synas. Hoppas ni får ett nöje av detta.
Name, Town and Country and work
Gary Thornton. Born within the sound of Bow Bells, a real cockney, at Mile End Hospital. Now working as a teacher at Engelska Skolan Norr Stockholm.
Year as a West Ham supporter
Born into a non football supporting family and living in a street in Dagenham with mainly Arsenal supporters as mates. My Uncle took me to see West Ham Middlesbro at the age of 10. That was it.
I am 46 now.
Why I am a West Ham supporter
See above.
First live game with West Ham
See above
So many West Ham games has I seen live
I had a season ticket in the Chicken Run for about 5 years, Went regularly to the South Bank before that and loads of away games. Cant count how many games I have seen live but its down to 2 or 3 a season now as I have 2 kids Max nearly 3 and Alice 4 and a half.
My best game with West Ham live or on telly
I was at the 1980 FA cup Final and that will always remain special, but as far as excitement and atmosphere goes it has to be the semi final and semi final replays that year, When “the ball came over and Frank fell over, and scored the fuc####ing winning goal.” Just Magic for our 2nd division club.
Winning 4 nil away at Spurs on my birthday 2nd September 1981 where David Psycho cross got all 4 is also up there, so is beating Spurs to stop them getting to Champions League a few years ago.
For guts I think it’s the 2006 Gerrard Cup Final where we were given no chance and nearly won it.
Last season away at Chelsea was a fantastic atmosphere. Started in the away pub Slug and Lettuce and then Nobles pass to Bellamy’s goal took us in leaders at half time. The bar downstairs ran out of beer and even when Anelka equalized it was like we had won the cup. Great day out!
First favorite West Ham player
Has to be Billy Bonds. Socks around ankles and wanted to win every tackle and every ball for West Ham. Not a great passer and not very skillfull but fully committed to the club for every single game and always gave 110%. (Bit different these days.)
All time favorite West Ham player
Trevor Brooking. Slow, quiet but deadly with his passes and created so much every game he played. 1980 Cup final goal……….with his bloody head!!
My biggest moment with West Ham
Up at Aberdeen on a pre season tournament in the 80´s involving the home club West Ham, Man United and Southampton. Went to Hammers hotel and ended up drinking at the bar with Alvin Martin, Phil Parkes, Stuart Pearson and David Cross. Good honest hard core drinkers. Great night!
West Ham experience in the daily life
Its very tough as Stockholm does not have enough Hammers supporters to arrange regular meetings to watch games etc. Its annoying as Swedish Chelsea for example are big here and when I went over a few weeks ago to Chelsea away game Arlanda and Heathrow were full of Chelsea fans and it seemed I was the only Hammer.
Tired of the kids at school and people I know going on about Super Clubs like Man United Barcelona, Real Madrid and whoever Zlatan is playing for this week. Would love to have regular real chats about real football and real football situations with other West ham fans. I am not very good at forums or chat rooms so its difficult.
Best thing with West Ham
Fans honesty with each other and the team. And now owners honest with fans. It’s a no bullshit club and we all realize our position, potential and tell each other what we really think is best for the club.
Other club supporters generally idolize their players and owners even though they do not care one little bit about the club itself and or fans.
Again, we are a no bullshit club with no bullshit fans. Genuine honest Hammers.
Worst thing with West Ham (if you think there are any)
Green Street! Its awfull. Dirty cramped, squashed and just not west ham anymore.
Olympic Stadium or somewhere else. But its time to move on.
Worst thing that has ever happened to West Ham is Glenn Roeder as manager. Good player, ok coach absolute shit manager and the owners at the time wanted cheap and got shit.
My dream about West Ham or anything else you would like to tell us.
I don’t think I would like a Man City type situation as many non hammers players will come and go. Very happy with a regular top 10 spot and 100% battle every game with the odd victory against the top sides to keep things exciting. A cup final every 5 years and the odd European competition but nothing too big. I quite like it as it is, just needs to be without a clue less manager like Zola. “The Rabbit in the headlights of the premier League.
West Ham dream team and manager
Cottee, Cross, Devonshire, Brooking, Di Canio, Parker, Bonds, Ruddock, Martin, Glen Johnson Parkes.
Manager John Lyall
