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Worst Case Ontario 3:59 Thu Jan 12
An East End connection - does it matter?

Not for the club, but for the average supporter.

Does it matter that one has no connection to the East End whatsoever in supporting West Ham?

Westham67 4:09 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Not really, can't be labeled as glory hunters

Far East Hammer 4:50 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

It all depends as to why you support / see yourself as West Ham.

I have met quite a few people who came to England and studied in the East End in the 1960s who as a result came to support West Ham (including my Dad) - though these days people studying in England don't seem to gravitate towards the local team.

My own - quite complicated - family roots (on my Dad's side I'm a 4th or 5th generation migrant, i.e. for 4 or 5 generations born in one country, go to live in another) mean I don't have many touchstones of identity, besides:

1. my surname (ties back to a specific small town with its own esoteric history - Elymian roots)

2. the East End, where I and my Mum were born. Her mum was born across the road from the Boleyn. Her dad in turn was a youth player at West Ham for about a year in between leaving school and the outbreak of WWI - which is where West Ham comes into play for me.

As 67 says, there ain't many glory hunting Hammers, save a few old farts who came into West Ham following the 64-65-66 Wembley run and haven't abandoned us since.

HairyHammer 5:14 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

No it does not matter, it could be that you simply support your club because of a family member doing so, or because it is one of your nearest clubs for me I had no choice as my brother did not give me one.

stomper 5:58 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

That would be silly

Westham67 7:27 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Same as that no choice Dad from canning town brother born in Stepney,i'm glad about it though

claret50 7:40 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Of course not.

Darby_ 7:55 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

West Ham is an appealing, interesting club. It was always going to get fans from outside the East End.

penners28 8:14 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

According to some, if you have no connection you are an outsider who should fuck off and support someone else...

Grumpster 8:30 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

My dad is from poplar and has no interest in either West Ham or football in general, so he isn't the reason I support them.

Got into football late because of this and I simply asked who the local team was when old enough growing up in hornchurch.

Feel lucky, as we've won absolutely fuck all in my 28 years of going over there, but until the move this season, it was always a blast.

Rossal 8:40 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

I grew up in the east end

but looking at the current state of it i would hazard a guess less then 10% of new supporters over the next 10 years will come from that area

Pub Bigot 9:26 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

East End man and boy, but West Ham was never an East End club and only became an east London club when the boundaries moved. Historically an Essex team I suppose, but accepted as London as that's all anyone knew.

But everyone has their reasons. The footballing support in my family up until me are all Arsenal despite hailing from E3. I broke the mold following West Ham United and my newphews have followed on since.

Gavros 9:38 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

There is some truth to that bigot. That's why for many of the Jews of Whitechapel, it was easier to get to Tottenham via liverpool sreet overhead than it was to get to Upton Park. Arguably Milllwall was the east end team - until they moved south of the river. Mind you while playing in essex the creation and early administration of the club was in the east end as the Ironworks offices were on the west side of the Lea.

harold 9:44 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

PB,
We've always been an east London club. Just because we were once a county borough is not important. If in say ,Hornchurch or Romford that would be different. E13 is what is important.

defjam 10:03 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

No not at all, you can be West Ham from anywhere in the world.

Anyone else though you have to be from that city, ie: Man Utd have to be from Manchester otherwise they're not real supporters.

Tomshardware 10:07 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Grandad and dad both West Ham so had no choice, wouldn't want to follow any other club anyway.

young woody 10:07 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

If you don't have a connection your not West Ham in my book.

defjam 10:11 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

I'm not West Ham then.

Westham67 10:14 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Alright deffers


When I was playing 7 a side I always wore west ham shorts. When we went down some arsehole said I should be ashamed to wear West Ham shorts, I asked him who he supported he replied Man U , so I asked the Singaporean what part of Manchester he came from

Pub Bigot 10:16 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Woody, expand on that mate? Because by your own logic, even though I was born and raised only a few miles from the club and my family are mostly Arsenal, I'm not West Ham?

young woody 10:18 Thu Jan 12
Re: An East End connection - does it matter?

Just trying to wind up my old mate Penners.

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