Website: www.whufc.com or @whufc_official
Telephone: 020 8548 2748
Tickets: www.whufcboxoffice.com or 0871 529 1966
Location: Boleyn Ground, Green Street, London E13 9AZ
When bald biscuit king Eggert Magnusson bought the Hammers everything looked rosy. But then the world went tits up. The recession meant Icelander Eggert’s companies were suddenly worth nothing. He went bankrupt—and West Ham became a Scandinavian IOU. While boss Gianfranco Zola was leading a revolution on the pitch—shepherding a young team to the brinks of Europe—there were real dangers the club would fold.
Since the Icelandic money troubles, West Ham has been owned by an ever-changing cast of consortiums and moneyed men. Not really where you want your money right now. But if they survive, the Irons are on the way up. If you can find the ground in deepest East London they’re well worth a look.
Over the years, West Ham has been unfairly tainted by association with the ICF hooligan firm. Largely active in the ‘70s and ‘80s, a 2005 film, <i>Green Street</i> did its best to rekindle unwanted memories. The drama was undermined slightly by giving the lead role to a hobbit. They finished the 2011 season at the bottom of the Premiership and were relegated—but during 2012 they proved they were too good for the Championship and are back with the big boys. Let’s hope they keep doing better, we don’t want to give them any excuse to get angry.
By Car: Driving in London is a waste of time even on the best of days, but try it on match days and you are asking for trouble. East London is a warren of one way streets, dead ends and no through roads. You are likely to either miss kick-off or get a parking ticket or both.
By Public Transport: The District line will ‘whisk’ you from central London to Upton Park in half an hour or so. The Boleyn Ground is five minutes walk from the underground station.
Unless you want to pay through the nose for tickets against the big clubs, you should be able to find spares for the smaller fixtures. West Ham is a relatively small ground with a dedicated, hardcore following. Being less glamorous than Chelsea, et al. means that casual fans have a better chance of watching a game for a decent price.