I’ve had a season ticket at West Ham for 25 years, but on Saturday I woke up and for the first time since Sam Allardyce’s reign as manager, I decided that I didn’t want to go to the game.
In retrospect perhaps I had a premonition — not about the 3-0 defeat to Burnley, but the terrible scenes that happened in the second half where grown men lost their marbles.
They were scenes I found profoundly upsetting. Three days later I still ask how people who no doubt have perfectly normal day jobs can be so hate-filled as to want to hurl abuse (and worse) at the 81 and 69-year-old joint chairmen, David Gold and David Sullivan.
‘Sack the Board’ is the usual chant of the more knuckle-headed element of any football club’s fan base. And what does that achieve?
Does it make Mark Noble tackle harder or Joe Hart play as if he was ever England’s Number One?
No. On Saturday it achieved what it normally achieves. Sweet FA.
Not that long ago West Ham came from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2. That was never on the cards on Saturday and it was entirely due to a few mindless idiots and thugs.
There were some who no doubt wanted to recreate the so-called ‘glory days’ of the ICF — the notorious Inter City Firm, who ran amok in the late 1970s and 1980s. These men are now in their 50s and 60s but seem to fancy one last hurrah. Pathetic.
My heart still lies at the club’s old stadium, Upton Park. My head tells me the board made the right decision to move. Like many other fans, I genuinely believe the club’s new home, the London Stadium, is a fabulous arena and we’re bloody lucky to have it. Yes, when the team plays badly, the atmosphere stinks.
It is a myth that the atmosphere at Upton Park was rocking all the time. The sound of 57,000 fans cheering when we were beating Spurs and Chelsea last season rivalled even the greatest night games at Upton Park.
So why are there so many violent scenes at the London Stadium?
We can blame the players, we can blame the stadium itself or we can blame the amateurish stewarding all we like, but in the end grown men have to take individual responsibility for their own actions. They should just grow up.
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Yes, the club have made some poor decisions, but those who want Messrs Sullivan and Gold to sell up should beware. Whatever their weaknesses, they care deeply about the club. Does anyone seriously think that a new Chinese, Azerbaijani or Russian owner is going to give two figs about fans? Yes, they might deliver a short- term boost, but that’s all it would be. Short term.
Be very careful what you wish for.
Iain Dale presents Drive on LBC Radio and is the editor of WestHamTillIDie.com
