West Ham Protest: S.O.S — Terrace Edition

Words: Tom Reed

Images: Tom Reed

Where are those happy days? They seem so hard to find

I tried to reach for you, but you have closed your mind

Whatever happened to our love? I wish I understood

It used to be so nice, it used to be so good.

SOS. ABBA.

It’s a weird juxtaposition that West Ham’s London stadium is located right next to the ABBA Voyage theatre show.

The Bushwackers and the 6:57 crew have nothing on the energy of fanatics of Benny, Björn and co.

Anyone getting in the way of the 4 o’clock matinee risk being mown down in a friendly storm of pink cowboy hats and glitter.

Going to West Ham sure isn’t was it used to be and the theatre P.A playing “money, money, money” seems to be a wry joke at the Premier League’s market forces, with the Hammers finding themselves in the relegation zone at day’s end.

“Chicken run tell me what’s wrong”,

You’re enchained by your own sorrow

In your eyes there’s no tomorrow”

You can just about rearrange the lyrics to fit ABBA’s hit Chiquitita, for the change in mood on approaching the London Stadium, one that turns what is known as “eerily quiet” as you emerge behind this giant venue from another galaxy.

“It’s life Jim but not as we know it.”

There’s a West Ham fan sitting on a bench and looking up at the former Olympics stadium, wearing an impeccable Fila track top in claret and blue, he could have been transported from 1982 to see the future of his club before saying “that’s enough of that” and going back to a time of Persil vouchers and Diadora Borg Elites.

In the distance there’s the hum of a crowd and lads in Forest Hills standing on mounds carrying flags saying “Down with the Dwarf” and “Run like a circus”.

It’d be too clumsy to say that the West Ham fans were there to solely protest against the club board, in particular David Sullivan and Karen Brady, because the grievances go deeper, like the ironworks crests on tattooed calves.

“We sold our soul, for this shit-hole” sing the supporters about the club’s controversial move from Upton Park to the rented former London 2012 Olympics venue.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. West Ham supporters’ protest.

It’s the feeling or lack of it that leaves you uncomfortably numb just looking at the London Stadium,

Sex wearing five johnnies. Shopping in Stuarts London then having to go into a retail park Primark.

Some will point to the numbers congregated, estimated to be around 3,000 but figures are meaningless here.

A previous protest organised by the Hammers United drew around 10,000 in 2020 but then came Coronavirus lockdown and a change in lives both sporting and otherwise.

Saturday’s protest, backed by West Ham United Supporters’ Trust was therefore about sentiment and intent and there is little doubt Hammers United and affiliated groups will be able to muster far bigger turnouts in the coming months.

Master of ceremonies on the megaphone was veteran protester Paul “Bubbles” Colborne, who understands the tradition of direct action at West Ham that dates back to the early 90s.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. West Ham fans’ protest.

Colborne planted a corner flag in the centre circle of the London Stadium pitch in 2018 during a match vs Burnley, as a symbolic gesture harking back to the 1992 bond protests, where a United supporter did similar.

Indeed, West Ham supporters were at the forefront of agitation against the imposition of all-seater stadia in the early 90’s as well as push-back against the ill-fated bond scheme which packaged season tickets with expensive debenture payments that many simply couldn’t afford.

This sense of a strong idea of right and wrong and a willingness to present a case in a reasonable manner is West Ham fans’ greatest strength.

The club’s own Fan Advisory Board presented an August vote of no confidence to the Board of West Ham, in relation to its running of the club and pointing to the Hammers being an “analog club in a digital world” with “the most criticised ground in the country”.

Then came Saturday’s initial get together, with the Hammers United group gathering their grievances and focusing on a broad range of themes, including club leadership, ongoing stadium disillusionment and how the club protects its heritage.

©Tom Reed/ Terrace Edition. West Ham fans’ banner.

Whether Sullivan and Brady face their Waterloo remains to be seen.

“C.E.O’s come & go. West Ham is Us” read a banner held by protesters.

If there comes a change of ownership, West Ham will still be lumbered with the London Stadium, the old beloved Boleyn Ground covered in high rise apartments.

On the hill, standing in solidarity is a West Ham fan from Austria, whose other club happens to be SV Austria Salzburg, whose supporters re-started their club in 2005 from scratch after Red Bull took over.

The Violet-Whites of Salzburg, regained their dignity and self determination by starting their own club in the spirit of the old.

If West Ham fans took a chance and did similar, back in the “manor” and drew just five and half thousand fans, they’d have crowds bigger than most in League 2.

Mamma Mia, wouldn’t that be a thing.