West Ham United F.C. supporters
supporters, commonly known as Hammers, are the followers of the London-based West Ham United Football Club, who were founded as Thames Ironworks in 1895.
[14] Songs and chants have also been created and sung for players, notably Paolo Di Canio,[15] Christian Dailly,[16] Bobby Zamora,[17] Frank Lampard[17] Pop Robson, Dimitri Payet and Luděk Mikloško.
[18] West Ham fans have identified several players over the years as being 'fans favourites', notably Paolo Di Canio,[19] Bobby Moore,[20] Julian Dicks[21] and Carlos Tevez.
Famously Dimitri Payet as well as Paul Ince,[23] Frank Lampard,[24] Jermain Defoe,[25] and Nigel Reo-Coker[26] have borne the brunt of verbal abuse and a hostile reception at Upton Park and now London Stadium.
However, players such as Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand,[27] Bobby Zamora and Carlos Tévez[28] receive applause and even standing ovations in honour of their contributions for the club.
On 17 September 1906 in a Western League game, a particularly ferocious encounter saw one player hurled against a metal advertising board and others being stretchered off following heavy tackles.
The East Ham Echo reported: "From the very first kick of the ball it was seen likely to be some trouble, but the storm burst when Dean and Jarvis came into collision (Millwall had two players sent off during the match).
In 1972, a testimonial for Millwall defender Harry Cripps was marred by intense fighting between the two club's "firms", groups of hooligans intent on violence.
Four years later, a Millwall supporter, Ian Pratt, died at New Cross station[33] after falling out of a train during a fight with West Ham fans.
They were found to have failed to ensure their fans refrained from violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and from entering the field of play.
[40] Matches against other London sides, such as Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also derbies and violence has occurred between fans although the rivalry is not as intense as that between West Ham and Millwall.
These have included The Cockney Pride, The EastEnd Connection, The Loyal Supporter, UTD United, The Boleyn Scorcher, Never Mind the Boleyn, Forever Blowing Bubbles, Ultimate Truth, We Ate All the Pies, Fortunes Always Hiding, The Ultimate Dream, On a Mission From God, The Water in Majorca, On the Terraces and Over Land and Sea.
An eyewitness said, "West Ham fans behaved like animals, roaming the streets, bottles in hand searching for anyone to fight".
Fans' violent activities were not confined to local derbies – the hooligans were content to cause trouble at any game, though nearby teams often bore the brunt.
During the 1990s, and to the present day, sophisticated surveillance and policing, coupled with club-supported promotions and community action, have reduced the level of violence, although the rivalry with Millwall, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea remains.
The West Ham board of directors were influenced by the fans' protest and announced that the purchase of a bond would no longer be required in order to buy a season ticket.
[70] West Ham United is frequently mentioned among the locals at The Queen Victoria tavern in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, created by Tony Holland and Julia Smith.
The 2005 film Green Street Hooligans (an allusion to the road on which the Boleyn Ground stands) depicted an American student, played by Elijah Wood, becoming involved with a fictional firm associated with West Ham, with an emphasis on the rivalry with Millwall.
[75] West Ham played a prominent role in the American television show Ted Lasso, where character Nate Shelley manages the club.
