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Martinez or Allardyce: Who would you prefer?

Diame: Is he staying or going?
How to solve a problem like Carlton Cole
West Ham Ladies out of promotion race
West Ham’s worst ever signings
& much more
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As the season draws to a close, I wanted to use my column
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Enjoy the game today. Here’s to another season in the
Premier League and maybe a push towards Europe?

David
 Lucy Woolford
Wigan. Now there’s a team
with a reputation for playing
fairly nice football but also
being a bit unreliable, finishing
near enough to 17th and
celebrating like they’ve won
the league.
That’s sort of what they’re
famous for now, and Martinez
is building up the unfortunate
legacy of scraping into
Premier League football with
three 16th position finishes
and finishing in the dizzy
heights of 15th last year.
That’s probably not fair on
Martinez, who has served
Wigan well, bringing in some
style into their play, if not
enough consistency. He has
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made good signings for the
side and there probably aren’t
many of his players that other
league sides wouldn’t
consider signing from him.
I personally like Martinez -
he comes across very well in
post-match interviews and
seems like a nice enough
man.
This aside, Wigan are not
seen as a serious threat in
Premier League football. The
bad news for West Ham is
that we’ve lost three of our
last four games against them
in league and League Cup. So
we might not have counted
Wigan as one of our “bogey
teams”, but maybe we should.
Odds
stacked
in
Wigan’s
favour
I previously wrote for
Blowing Bubbles about my
experience at the DW
Stadium on the day we were
relegated in 2011. That day
we let a 2-0 lead turn into a
3-2 defeat, in what was an
exciting match but
disappointing all the same.
Ba scored twice before half
time, but then we completely
collapsed in the second half
and conceded the final blow in
the 94th minute.
Since then, we were
handed a home draw to
Wigan in the League Cup
back in September, in which
we allowed them to put four
past us in a 4-1 defeat. Well,
at least we could concentrate
on the league.
This was followed by a 2-1
Premier League defeat at the
DW Stadium in October. I was
there that day as well, and
yes, it was as bad as it
sounds.
We conceded in the 8th
minute to a decent volley from
Ramis, and then put in a first
half performance that showed
no urgency. A characteristic
lack of passing ability was
present on that day, which left
the crowd in an irritable
mood.
The second half showed
little improvement, something
that Sam Allardyce criticised
after the game.
We conceded the second
within 2 minutes of the
restart and then spent the
next 40 minutes chasing the
game and occasionally firing
off target or too weakly.
Personally, I thought it was
one of the least impressive
away performances I’d seen.
I’d been quite used to us
having a good go at away
grounds at being less
impressive at home, but this
was in the relatively early
stages of this season in which
we seem to have turned that
around.
I never leave games early,
never have and never will. But
on this occasion, I still
managed to miss our
consolation goal in the 93rd
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minute, as I let out a sigh and
picked up my bag ready to
beat the rush at the final
whistle. Although the ball was
floating around the Wigan box,
I didn’t even have the belief
that we would get near the
goal, which is unlike my
optimistic outlook on all things
West Ham.
The giveaway that we’d
scored was a brief “hooray”
noise that was let out with as
little enthusiasm as I’ve ever
heard.
What is it about Wigan?
Well on that day, they were
well organised. While West
Ham flapped around a bit,
Wigan knew what they had to
do. They have strikers that are
capable of brilliance and also
taking scrappy chances when
they arise, and while their
defensive display wasn’t the
most attractive, it was
effective.
Perhaps it’s that we’re
never sure what to expect
when we face Wigan. Do we
set up to defend against their
flair or do we attack and
exploit their weaknesses?
I guess with “bigger” clubs,
you know what to expect (well
at least the fans do), whereas
there is probably a lot of video
studying to be done with
Wigan.
Our players should be
looking back at the last three
defeats to the North West
side and try and work out a
common denominator, and it
could simply be our
complacency and lack of
urgency.
The last time West Ham
beat Wigan was back in
November 2010, when
Avram Grant masterminded
a 3-1 victory at Upton Park.
Only three players from that
day are still involved in this
side; James Tomkins played
90 minutes, and Winston
Reid and Carlton Cole were
brought on as substitutes.
Our scorers were Valon
Behrami, Victor Obinna and
Scott Parker and our very
own Diame was on the other
side. That all seems like a
long time ago now, and
maybe with our home form
on the up again we can
repeat this result.
We have to be careful in
this fixture though. This is
the business end of the
season, which is when
Wigan kick in to proper gear
and they really need points.
While we might not need
the points necessarily, we
still want them.
Those interested in our
finances would like to see as
high a finishing position as
possible, and those of us
who watch would like to see
some fighting spirit to show
the rest of the league that
we mean business.
Follow me on Twitter
@lucy_whufc
 Joell Blogs

Martinez or Allardyce: Who would

you prefer to lead West Ham?
As West Ham prepare to wel-
come Wigan Athletic to Up-
ton Park, Premier League
safety and a new deal for
Sam Allardyce seem immi-
nent for the Hammers.
While Big Sam should be
praised for re-establishing
and securing West Ham’s
status as a top-flight club, the
man in the opposing dugout
could be the best person to
take Allardyce’s job when he
eventually departs in the fu-
ture.
Big Sam has only ever been
seen as a temporary fix for
West Ham, so only a select developing talented young- But, in order to temper
few people are under the illu- sters and playing attractive the somewhat overbearing
sion that he will be the man in football. tone of admiration and pre-
charge at the club when they He has worked wonders vent this from becoming a
leave the Boleyn Ground for with Wigan, guiding them to Roberto Martinez love-in, it
the Olympic Stadium in 2016. this year’s FA Cup final with a is worth reminding ourselves
Replacements for him were 2-0 victory over Millwall in that West Ham aim to rid
bandied about almost immedi- the semi-final at Wembley themselves of the ‘yo-yo club’
ately after he took over as last Saturday and keeping status they have been la-
manager of the Hammers in them in the Premier League belled with over recent years
June 2011. despite flirting with relega- and strive to compete with
Paolo Di Canio and Slaven tion annually. the top sides in the Premier
Bilic have been ubiquitous in He has done all that on the League.
conversations about the finite restrictive budget caused by As such, appointing a
nature of Allardyce's time as an average attendance of manager whose only real
West Ham boss, and even only 18,997 – actually an success has been lower-
Harry Redknapp was thrown impressive audience for foot- league promotions and
into the mix. ball club in a rugby town. seems to have a worrying
Roberto Martinez’s name is In addition to his excellent affinity with the top-flight
always conspicuous by its ab- work in Lancashire, it should drop zone may not be a step
sence from those discus- not be forgotten that Martin- in the right direction for the
sions. The Spaniard would, ez was the original master- Hammers.
after all, be the perfect fit for mind behind Swansea’s Furthermore, Martinez
West Ham – a club with limit- magnificent renaissance. has only managed teams
ed resources but famed for
with little money to spend and developing in every area, mak- bered in east London for his
could, therefore, waste vast ing sure the youngsters are toys-out-of-the-pram ap-
sums of money on useless getting a certain type of proach to the Tevez affair,
players if he was given a larg- coaching that’ll enable them could again be a problem for
er budget to work with – to become professionals, the Hammers.
something Hammers fans hopefully in our first team. Nevertheless, I am sure
may understand as a ‘Cur- That’s vital. As a manager I you will agree that the tre-
bishley effect’. feel that I have to take deci- mendous loyalty Martinez has
That said, West Ham sup- sions the impact of which will shown towards Wigan does,
porters crave a manager who only be seen four, five, six somewhat paradoxically,
will reinstate the ‘West Ham years down the line – as with make him all the more desira-
way’ and get the team playing Joe Allen. ble. In addition to that, the
football that is easier on the “Maybe I won’t be here intelligence behind his football
eye. Some desire that imme- then, but that’s the only way I theory and the way it chimes
diately and would like to see can do my job. But that’s not with the culture for which
Allardyce replaced before the why I’m still at Wigan. I’m West Ham were renowned
referee even blows the whis- here because my chairman (pre-Allardyce) make the
tle for kick-off against Wigan [Dave Whelan] is unique. He Spaniard the perfect person
this week. is a very persuasive man. The to take charge of the Ham-
Other, more sensible fans power of Wigan Athletic is mers when Big Sam has
can see that Big Sam is exact- that it is a club which is built gone.
ly what West Ham need right on a person’s dream. That’s
now, but still cling to the hope why it is so special.” Follow me on Twitter
of seeing the passing game So that man Dave Whelan, @JoellBlogs
return to the home of the who will forever be remem-
Hammers. Martinez can
make that happen.
Of course, were West Ham
to set their sights on the
Wigan boss, getting him to
leave the North West could
prove to be quite difficult.
Clubs bigger than West
Ham have tried to prise the
39-year-old away from the
DW Stadium before, only to
be rejected.
In an interview with Philippe
Auclair published in issue sev-
en of , Martinez
gave his reasons for staying
at Wigan.
“I do feel strongly about
thinking in the longer term,”
he said. “I don’t get satisfac-
tion from just seeing the first
team winning. I also get it
from being in a club that is
financially stable and which is
 Geoff Hillyer
Who’s for the drop?
Following on from our
midweek match against
Manchester United comes
our second home game in
quick succession against
Wigan, a team that
perennially seem to be
fighting the drop.
If we assume for a
moment that we’ll get the
points needed to ensure
survival into next season
(fingers crossed), and we
also assume that Reading
and QPR are likely to be
relegated, there’s one
relegation place up for grabs.
But who is likely to fill it
come the end of the season?
Here are the likely runners
and riders.
We begin with our
opponents Wigan. They’ve
some difficult matches
coming up, including at home
to Tottenham and away to
Arsenal.
However, they’re also
playing Swansea, who have
tailed off lately, and they’re
away to West Brom too,
which are fixtures that they
could get points from with
both those teams are
already eyeing the beach
this summer.
Given their previous form
when it comes to flirting with
relegation, and the fact that
they always seem to survive,
I’d back them to do the
same again.
Sunderland are a side
who’ve really struggled this
season, and will be hoping
that Paolo Di Canio will be
putting a rocket up the
team. In May, they have two
winnable home matches
against Stoke and
Southampton; win those and
they’ll be edging towards
safety, but if they struggle in
those matches, they’ll
struggle to survive given
other matches away to
relegation-threatened Aston
Villa (not easy) and at home
to Tottenham on the last day
of the season.
Speaking of Aston Villa,
they’ve probably got the
toughest run-in of the lot -
away to Manchester United,
home to Chelsea – and all
their other matches are
against teams fighting for
their survival.
They will need to pick up
points against Wigan,
Norwich and Sunderland in
order to secure safety, which
won’t be easy.
Finally, there’s Norwich on
the assumption that
Newcastle will pick up the
points needed.
With home matches
against Reading, Aston Villa
and West Brom, you might
think that the Canaries will
get over the line.
They’ll need to get points in
those matches, as they are
unlikely to pick any up at
Manchester City on the last
day of the season.
By the time you read this,
the picture will probably be a
bit clearer as to who’s really
in the mix.
It’s really quite difficult to
predict, but there’s one thing
for sure: it’ll most likely go to
the wire, with the relegation
picture not finally settled until
the last game of the season.
Which is great viewing for
those not involved in the
relegation battle – let’s just
hope there’s nothing riding
on our home match against
Reading on the last day of
the season.
Follow me on Twitter:
@geoffhillyer
 Twitteraction

@bl0wingbubbles

As the final whistle echoed around St Mary’s last weekend, there

were plenty of upbeat messages on the wonderful world of
Twitter full of praise for Sam Allardyce’s men. The majority of
people posting messages were also surprised we managed to get
a point. Here are a few tweets posted by our followers.

Jason Rose Tony De Lucia Nick Marsh

@Ja50nR05e
Fancied us to get something
today & we did. Wonder how
Sam will approach Man Utd
game with Wigan to come 3
days later? #COYI
Sean Skelly
@SkellySean
Love the point today. Well
done lads #whufc. Think that
we will be safe. Love qpr
losing as well. Money does
not buy everything #coyi
@tonyditaly
Well done lads. Good point
against an inform
Southampton team especially
how poor we were in the 1st
half. Another point to safety.
COYI
Iron Views
@ironviews
West Ham now three games
unbeaten and go into the
game against Man Utd with
nothing to lose #COYI
 @MarshyWHUFC
On route home from
Southampton, coming up the
M3 happy with the point.
Onto the next game. Away
section went mental for the
goal. COYI
Neil Humphreys
@NeilHumphreys
Well, that should just about
do it for West Ham now. All
in all, job well done.
#whufc #coyi

Jason Chris Brown

Harry
@MCjingle
Let’s put this in perspective.
We got a point at a ground
where City, Chelsea and
Liverpool got trounced. Not a
bad result! #COYI
Suzanne
@tinysuz
Pleased with the result today. good result against the
Of course a win would have
been better still, going watch #COYI
match later on Sky highlights
#COYI
@jasontheo1969
Great point at Scumhampton
today! 3 pts at The Etihad
would be nice but highly
unlikely!!!! #coyi #whufc
Adam Loveday
@MrAdamLoveday
I'd take the point against the
saints just gotta hope for a
mancs on Wednesday night
Dan Stephens
@WesthamDan16
Good point. Would have took
that before the game. That's
us safe now. #coyi
@ChrisBrown80
Good point, both sides
scored fortunate goals.
There's more so but BIG AC
came up with a goal again!
#COYI #whufc
Tom Buckley
@TDBuckles84
I'm happy with a point.
Would have taken that
before the game.we ain't
exactly prolific on the
road..another on Wed pls
Sam Kojczyk
 @westsamunited
Great result today! We are
staying up!!!! #COYI #IRONS
 Moore Than Just A Club: James Reed
Diame: Staying or going?
Since joining West Ham,
Momo Diamé has become
something of a cult hero.
A free transfer from
Wigan, Diamé can be seen
as a diamond picked out of
the rough.
From his first appearance
against Aston Villa, it has
been quite evident that he is
a special player, a player that
has the ability to change
matches in our favour.
Diamé is a rarity. Strong
and powerful, but at the
same time amazingly skilful
with the ball at his feet,
dancing around numerous
players to create danger.
Our game against
Liverpool showed us just how
good he is on the ball,
skipping around several
challenges to create himself
a chance, that if finished,
could have been one of the
best individual goals of the
season.
I challenge you to find a
player of Diamé's skill and
strength. They are a rare
breed, that we would find
difficult to replicate if he
were to leave.
One performance that
must stand out is the
second half performance
against Chelsea.
Apparently fatigued,
Allardyce saw fit to omit
Diamé from the starting
eleven, but place him among
the substitutes.
An uninspiring first half
meant that Diamé was
brought in. This would be the
game changer.
Two late goals, one from
Diamé and one where
Diamé put the ball back in a
dangerous area to play in
Matty Taylor whose
rebounded shot would be
turned in by Modibo Maïga.
3-1 and Diamé had
cemented himself as a fans'
favourite.
It was therefore very
unfortunate that one week
later with West Ham leading
2-1 against Liverpool that
Diamé would get injured.
Final score: 2-3 and a key
player out for an extended
period.
Well, can we survive
without Diamé? Without him,
we went through a fairly
torrid spell.
With him, he has often
been the difference. If he
does leave, can we find a
replacement?
There is talk of Jonathan
Dos Santos, however he
cannot fulfil the role Diamé
plays.
Without Diamé, the whole
way we play would have to be
adapted.
I fear without him we
would lose a lot of
imagination, skill and flair,
resulting in the dull and
dreary long ball up to
whichever aerially adept
striker is up top next season.
Publicly, Diamé has spoken
of his wishes to stay and
have a long career at West
Ham. Unfortunately,
however, the media touted
his £3.5 million release
clause which has created a
fair bit of worry, despite no
January offer but I am
nervous.
Diamé is a player I want in
claret and blue next year and
pray that he will.
He has been a driving
force this season that
hopefully will stay and maybe
become a key figure come
the move to the Olympic
Stadium.
Follow me on Twitter
@jamesreed_14
 Moore Than Just A Club: Ben Edkins
We need to sign players
for every department
West Ham are set to bring
in some new faces come the
summer after manager Sam
Allardyce declared he would
like to sign around five
players to add some more
strength and much needed
depth at the club.
Speculation as of late has
been rife in regards to
prolific goal-scorer Wilfred
Bony who currently plays for
Arnhem Vitesse.
The Ivorian striker has
also been labelled the ‘Next
Didier Drogba’ and has
apparently been in talks with
the Hammers over recent
weeks but reports suggest
that it was nothing more
than a publicity stunt.
Bony could well be a great
addition to the West Ham
side with his finishing abilities
that have been so dearly
missed since Dean Ashton's
forced retirement.
It is anticipated that any
deal would consist of at least
a £15 million pound deal and
wages that could be the best
of £70,000 per week.
Bony, however, isn't the
only striker on West Ham's
radar with on loan
Englishman Andy Carroll
topping the shortlist.
Carroll has bagged six
goals for the Hammers this
season and Sam Allardyce
would love to make him a
permanent signing as the
dominant striker fits
perfectly into his plans.
Any deal that could
potentially take place would
be a huge one for West Ham
in terms of money as it is
touted that they and parent
club Liverpool have already
agreed a price of £17
million. Carroll would also
demand high wages that
could well be too much for
the East London outfit.
Allardyce has been looking
for goalkeepers too recently
and this could be due to
stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen's
age. Jaaskelainen has had a
superb season for West
Ham, but looks surplus to
requirements for next
season as the Hammers
look for better options.
Goalkeepers on the
shortlist consist of
Manchester United's Andres
Lindergaard who could well
prove a good signing.
Lindergaard is second in
the pecking order at United
behind David De Gea and it
would cost no more than £5
million to sign him.
There is also no depth in
the defence with just three
centre backs in James
Tomkins, Winston Reid, and
James Collins so we should
definitely look to bring in
another centre back come
summer, and it may have to
be a cheap option from
abroad as English players
have rocketing price tags.
I can probably see
Allardyce moving for one or
two defenders with at least
one being a full back, as Guy
Demel looks a bit shakey at
times. The midfield looks
pretty much the piece but
reports suggest Mohammed
Diame is seeking a move.
The potential our team
could have is great, but we
need the correct
replacements. Vaz Te and
Matthew Taylor could face
the axe in summer and
wingers are also being looked
at. Which goalkeeper,
fullback, centre back, winger
and striker would you like to
see arrive at Upton Park next
season?
Follow me on Twitter
@benedkins12
 Ian McKee
How do you solve a
problem like Carlton?
Signing for £2 million from
Chelsea in the summer 2006,
Carlton Cole was bought to
provide cover for the injured
Dean Ashton and add to the
already impressive forward
line of Marlon Harewood and
an ageing Teddy Sheringham.
I remember thinking as he
came on for his debut with a
minute to go against Charlton
Athletic: What’s the point?
What is the lad going to do in
a minute?
My answer was for him to
take a first time right footed
shot that flew past Dean Kiely.
The problem with our hero
here is this is the good Cole,
the confident Cole, the lethal
finisher. However, on too many
occasions, by more than one
manager, he has been left hung
out to dry.
Carlton is a victim of his own
stature. At 6ft 2in he casts a
big figure at the spearhead of
what essentially is a forward
three, employed not just by
Sam Allardyce but also Avram
Grant.
This leaves him extremely
isolated, feeding off scraps.
None more so than in a recent
trip to Anfield. Now I can
already here people’s thoughts;
“but he should have scored!”
and I agree he possibly should
have but, how many of us
wouldn’t snatch at a chance in
front of the Kop? Especially,
when you’ve had limited game
time in the last two months?
The biggest problem with
Carlton is that we simply don’t
play to his strengths. He likes
the ball to feet. It’s that simple,
he also likes a second striker to
link with, or at least someone
just off behind him.
On a cold February evening in
Lancashire I saw that lethal first
time finishing again.
After some delicate one
touch passing between David Di
Michele and Mark Noble, the
ball came to Cole edge of the
area, and first time, caressed
the ball into the far corner.
It was voted the 2008/09
goal of the season. Earlier that
campaign we had also
witnessed an absolute
mammoth of a strike against
Spurs. First touch, off the chest,
followed by a left foot volley into
the back of the net.
Again I can hear people
saying: “Yeah? And what about
the superb pass to Jermain
Defoe for his goal?”
Granted it was not his finest
moment but I feel people and,
more importantly, the keyboard
warriors of certain websites
and regulars who watch the
games in the pub or online
judge him harshly.
 I refused to pay the £45 it and Rickie Lambert for point about some West Ham
cost to go to Anfield. Especially £10million a piece and give fans.
given they are not the team them £50k a week wages. Carlton Cole is out of
they once were. So I took my Now I have never been an contract this summer and looks
seat in the pub I work part-time advocate of Grant Holt, since I set to leave the club as our
in and continued to listen in saw him play for Shrewsbury second longest servant.
silence for 90 minutes, to the Town against Accrington I know he has his own song,
absolute dross of moronic Stanley. On the other hand but let’s face it we’ve all heard it
supporters who don’t Rickie Lambert is a player I said sung about Joe Cole since he’s
understand the game. we should buy in January 2011, been back. I, for one, don’t think
This season has shown it stating if he didn’t score the you can replace passion,
more than any other, the goals to keep us up, he would at dedication and after taking a
problems with Cole. least score the goals to get us wage drop to stay in the
Andy Carroll, the £35 million up! Alas, I was laughed at by Championship and fight for
Geordie striker, is purpose built supporters who said promotion, including a goal in
for an Allardyce side. Big and £3.5million for a League 1 the play-off final.
strong in the air, he is player? Behave! Carlton deserves a lot more
absolutely designed for the style However, spending £20 respect than he ever gets from
of play but Carlton on the other million on two strikers and the terraces and most certainly
hand has never liked that style. £100k a week in wages, for a new contract.
He was brought up in the two players with the combined
surroundings of Chelsea, with age of 62, I think proves my
the likes of Zola, Vialli, Di Matteo
and even Guillt. All these men
are advocates of the beautiful
game with the ball on the deck
and played to feet.
However, despite this and
despite being marked by three
men, Carlton Cole won five flick-
ons in the second half alone.
But, all I could here is; “He’s
done nothing! He’s not good
enough!”
But I disagree, Cole needs
the players around him to help
his game. Zola knew this and
that is how he got the best out
of him.
The biggest problem I find is
the unbelievable expectations of
Hammers fans. I always thought
we had time for hard working
players despite some floors in
their ability? Clearly I’m wrong!
Carlton should be a 20 goal a
season striker and because he
isn’t, he’s not good enough! I
even heard one “supporter”
state that we shouldn’t spend
£18 million or £100k a week
wages on Carroll but should
sign (are you ready?) Grant Holt
 West Ham Ladies
Ladies focusing on next season after Brighton defeat
Defeat at the hands of
Brighton and Hove Albion last
weekend ended West Ham
Ladies’ bid for promotion out
of the FA Women’s Premier
League Southern Division.
The 3-2 loss on the South
coast unextended the Ladies’
winless streak to five games
and left the Hammers 15
points away from league
leaders Millwall Lionesses with
only four games of the season
left to play.
Speaking exclusively to
Blowing Bubbles, captain
Rosey Sullivan said there
haven’t been many positives to
take out of their recent run of
games because the Ladies all
prefer to be winning games.
But she added: “A positive
could be that we have stuck
as a team and have
recognised what is happening
to cause the results we have
been getting.
“As a team we have spoken
about our performance in
front of goal because
collectively we do not shoot
enough. We also need more
from our strikers. We can't win
games if we are always
defending and we need more
goals.”
Asked if the Hammers have
been unlucky not to win any of
their last five games, the
centre half continued: “I think
we should have won them all.
We certainly had opportunities
but we just didn’t take them.
“Against QPR we did not play
as a team and it was the worst
team performance we have
had.”
On Sunday, the Hammers
travel to Colchester, who are
sitting comfortably mid-table,
for their next league clash.
Rosey continued: “We want
to win all our games and we will
continue to treat every game
the same but as we are not
favourites for promotion, the
pressure has been taken off us.
Picture by
Mickey
Cartwright
“This should allow us to enjoy
our football more and play with
more freedom.”
She added: “We are now
looking towards next season
and we are focused on getting
promotion next season. We
are working hard to identify
what has gone wrong this
season and we want to make
sure it doesn't happen again.”
The Ladies next home game
is against Yeovil Town on April
28. It’s a 2pm kick off at
Thurrock FC.
The second trial for the
West Ham Ladies Academy
will also be taking place on
Wednesday May 29 from 3 to
5 pm and will be held at the
West Ham Community Trust,
Beckton.
Any current year 11 females
interested in combining a
college education with the
professional football training
lifestyle should register for the
trial on www.scl-online.co.uk.
 Opposition View: Wigan

Tim Holland speaks to Geoffrey Fry, DW stadium season

ticket holder, about the likelihood of Henri Camara
returning, Figueroa leaving and Arouna Kone scoring

How do you rate Wigan’s
season so far?
Well apart from what’s
seemed like a season-long
relegation fight then it’s been
ok. We’ve played some good
football but there hasn’t
been enough consistency
unfortunately.
The win away at
Tottenham was great and
we’ve not been too bad away
from home but simple as it
sounds we’ve lost too many
matches. Hopefully the FA
Cup won’t be a distraction
for our league run in.
Do you think you’ll stave off
relegation?
I think that last relegation
spot is still in the balance
and it’ll probably be between
us, Villa and Sunderland.
Unfortunately Villa seem to
coming into a bit of form and
Sunderland have just got a
new manager so it could be
us.
Saying that our form’s
been ok since the turn of the
year so we might be ok. I
think it might come down to
the last day though.
Roberto Martinez nearly
moved to Liverpool in the
summer. How do fans rate
him?
I think he has to be
admired for what he has
achieved over the past few
years.
For a town team with a
relatively small budget, we’ve
survived in the Premiership
for so long even though at
times it has seemed like
we’ve been destined for the
Championship.
Reaching the FA Cup Final,
will make it harder to hold
onto him next season.
What have you made of
Wigan’s January signings?
I like Espinoza – it’s good to
have another Honduran in
the team. It’s not Wigan if
you don’t!
Hernriquez looks a good
young player and is much
needed as we look a bit thin
up front.
Also January saw Paul
Scharner return to club
which has made it feel a bit
like 2007 again at the DW.
Next we’ll have Henri
Camara and Kevin Kilbane
coming back!
Arouna Kone has been a
stand-out player for you this
season. Do you think he’ll
remain at the DW next
season?
Kone has been a fantastic
buy and has quite right been
earning the plaudits this
season.
I think whether he’s still
here depends on whether we
stay up or not.
If we’re in the Premiership
next season, then he might
stay, if not I can see a team
in the top half picking him up.
Maynor Figueroa has been
linked with a summer move
to Upton Park. Do you think
he’ll move at the end of his
contract?
first XI when the club’s
meet?
We’ve already mentioned
Kone but he really is a
handful – he knows where
the goal is.
Di Santo isn’t quite as
gifted in front of goal but his
link up play can open
defences. The 3 M’s of
Maloney, McCarthy and
McArthur can also all be
threats.
What’s been your opinion of
West Ham this season?
I thought you would’ve
struggled more this season
especially after seeing you
fall apart to us at home in
the League Cup.
But you’ve done quite well
and as much as I don’t like
him, Big Sam has made you
into quite a solid team.
He’s also picked up some
decent players in the
summer and January.
Which West Ham players
would you have in your
squad?
I’ll always have a soft spot
for Joe Cole after that goal
for England against Sweden.
Andy Carroll might be a bit
of a carthorse but I wouldn’t
mind him coming on as sub
when we’re chasing a game.
James Tomkins in defence
looks decent as well.
What’s your prediction for
both clubs?
Wigan to finish 17th, West
Ham to finish 14th.

Unfortunately as much as I
love Maynor, I think he’ll move
and rumours of him moving
to Upton Park don’t surprise
me.
Arguably we lost one of our
best players to you last
summer in Diame and the
other to Chelsea in Victor
Moses and that’s probably
why we’ve been languishing
for the last few seasons – we
can’t keep hold of our best
players.

Who should West Ham fans

be wary of in the Wigan
 Loud and Proud: Brian Williams
Mr Moon is in the stadium
The worst kept secret at
Upton Park is the coded
message to stewards that
there is an incident
somewhere in the ground
that needs their immediate
attention.
There is an almighty cheer
every time it is announced
that Mr Moon is in the
stadium – and an equally
loud one when it is revealed
that he has left again.
It’s such a natural
occurrence – like the rising
of the tides and the setting
of the sun – that regulars
don’t think to mention it to
newcomers when they
introduce them to the
delights of a Saturday
afternoon at the Boleyn
Ground.
I certainly didn’t give it a
moment’s thought when I
persuaded my close friend
and best man to come along
and see his first home game.
Perhaps I should have. His
surname is Moon.
We were sitting quietly in
the old West Stand when the
oh-so-familiar announcement
was made. As is the custom,
the crowd roared as if a
pantomime villain had
suddenly appeared before us.
I roared. My wife roared. My
father-in-law roared. And my
mate nearly jumped out of
his skin.
It takes a lot to rattle a
man who has been brought
up near Wigan but Mr Moon
was clearly shaken by
20,000-plus people cheering
the fact he had taken the
trouble to come to the
stadium that day.
His look of utter
astonishment will live with
me ‘til the day I die. Then his
expression changed slightly.
He clearly thought I had
something to do with it!
All right, I was helpless
with laughter and my denials
must have lacked a certain
amount of sincerity – but
how could I have pulled that
one off?
I admit he did have
grounds for suspicion. What
else is a best mate for if it’s
not to be on the wrong end
of a practical joke from time
to time?
The Real Mr Moon and I
worked on the Daily Express
at the time, and one of our
colleagues was an obsessive
long-distance runner.
He wanted to put together
a team to represent the
paper in the London
Marathon, and was looking
for volunteers.
Somebody (it might have
been me) let it slip that my
mate had been a champion
fell runner in his native
Lancashire and would be an
ideal candidate for the team.
The only problem was that
he was ridiculously modest
about his achievements and
would deny them if pressed.
But don’t be put off, I told
our athletic workmate, you’ll
talk him round in the end.
And, whatever you do, don’t
tell him where you got your
information – he’ll never
forgive me if he finds out it
was me who divulged the
glories of his past.
My modest friend did deny
his achievements, just as I
had predicted. That might
have been because I had lessons of the tragic 1985 component in a multi-billion
made them up – I’m not sure Bradford fire had been pound industry. That requires
they even have fells in ignored. In many instances respect – from governments,
Lancashire, to be honest. the terraced areas into from the owners of clubs,
But that didn’t deter which supporters were from the police, even from
Marathon Man, who herded resembled bomb the stewards who are too
pestered the Real Mr Moon sites. quick to forget what it is they
for weeks, leaving him There were times at away are there to do.
increasingly baffled about why games when it felt that we They could all begin by
his pursuer wouldn’t take no were being caged like giving the “safe standing”
for an answer. animals as clubs put up the campaign the consideration it
I readily accept this isn’t sort of fences that were to deserves.
the funniest prank that contribute to so much loss of As things stand, you can’t.
anyone has played on a mate, life in South Yorkshire on the Stand, that is. Not at a
but it amused me. (I like a fateful day of April 15, 1989. Premiership ground anyway.
running gag). Something did need to be Teams promoted to the
The Real Mr M had only done. Those old stadiums Championship don’t have to
recently found out the truth had to be renovated or enforce all-seater rules for
and now here he was in replaced and the facilities three years, but if they fail to
Upton Park for the first time, had to be improved. But do so within the time limit
convinced that I had just Taylor never really they can’t compete in the
concocted a far more understood the full story. division. And standing is not
elaborate practical joke than The key change – and one permitted at European
the one he had just endured. that has still to fully come games.
This was a few months about – is for the authorities The people championing
before the tragedy at to stop regarding supporters the idea of safe standing –
Hillsborough, which was to as an enemy that must be notably the Football
change the face of football for brought to heel and start Supporters’ Federation – are
ever. treating us as the key
We were seated, but that
was through choice. There
were still several parts of
Upton Park where it was
possible to stand – behind
both goals and in the lower
section of the East Stand, for
example. The Taylor Report,
written rapidly in response to
Hillsborough, put paid to that.
The needless deaths of 96
Liverpool supporters stunned
the nation – and as so often
happens in such terrible
times there was the universal
feeling that “something must
be done”.
It’s true that far too many
football grounds were
dangerously dilapidated. The
adamant they don’t want to
see a return to the vast open
terraces of the 1970s and
1908s. And those of us who
stood on those crumbling
death-traps, waiting for the
idiots at the back to set off a
nerve-jangling human tidal
wave by pushing the people in
front of them, or the waterfall
of piss that began at half-time
and was sometimes still
trickling underfoot at the final
whistle, will say hear-hear to
that.
But, more than 20 years
after Taylor called for all-
seater stadiums, some
people do still want to stand
at football matches. West
Ham supporters do it in
unison at away games – and
some do it at home fixtures
too, usually to the annoyance
of those sitting behind them.
The answer, says the FSF,
is an arrangement that is
proving increasing popular in
some parts of the world,
particularly Germany, known
as rail seating.
The technology varies
slightly from system to
system, but the general idea
is that in limited areas of the
ground there are seats which
can fold up flush with their
metal housing, and then be
locked in the upright position.
The structure which encases
the seats comes with a high
back and a rail, which gives
the row of supporters behind
something to lean on.
You buy a ticket for the
seat and stand in front of it –
unless your club happens to
be involved in a Champions
League game and then the
seats are unlocked and you
sit down.
Until your team scores of
course, and then you stand
up again.
The FSF wants to give the
idea a trial run in the UK,
which seems eminently
reasonable to me. The fact
that the Mr Moon
announcement is always
greeted with merriment at
Upton Park indicates that our
ground is not the hotbed of
seething violence that some
people depict.
It’s not a library, but that
doesn’t mean supporters
should be treated like
naughty children who might
start misbehaving if they
aren’t made to sit down.
Those who want to stand
should be allowed to do so in
a way that doesn’t affect the
enjoyment of the people
around them. (We have a
bunch of highly paid players
whose job it is to ensure we
don’t enjoy ourselves.)
At the very least, there
should be a pilot scheme to
see how it works in practice.
Only one Premiership club
has come out in favour so
far. The good news is, they
play in claret and blue. The
bad news is, it isn’t us.
There are a number of
Championship clubs who are
interested, and an
assortment of politicians,
police officers and safety
specialists have given the
plan their blessing. But, in
general, the response among
those at the top ranges from
lukewarm to downright
hostile.
One of the most powerful
voices to speak out against
safe standing belongs to
Margaret Aspinall, who is
chair of the Hillsborough
Family Support Group, which
fought so hard to get belated
justice for the 96 who died –
and were then blamed by
some for bringing about the
tragedy. One of the victims
was her son James, who was
just 18.
“There are 96 reasons why
it should not be allowed,” she
says. “Standing should never,
ever come back. I don’t think
there is anything safe about
standing.”
I believe the Hillsborough
Family Support Group fought
an awesome campaign to
ensure the truth finally came
to light. But I’m not sure
she’s right about this.
History must never forget
the victims of Hillsborough –
nor the reasons for their
deaths.
But the mere fact those
poor people were standing
was not a significant factor in
the disaster that befell them.
What’s more, the
technology has moved on to
enable those who prefer not
to sit be offered a viable
alternative.
You may appreciate that
seat Lord Justice Taylor
thought you should have, but I
urge you to support those
who don’t.
So, come on brothers and
sisters, stand up and be
counted.
Follow me on Twitter
@BrianWills26
 WeLoveYouWestHam.com
Calling for Jussi competition
Jussi Jaaskelainen has
activated the extra year option
to stay at the Boleyn Ground
for another season after being
an ever-present in West Ham
United’s cause to retain
Premier League status for the
2013-14 season.
This can only be good news
for the Hammers as the
Finnish international is an
experienced and top quality
keeper and he has shown,
particularly in the second half
of the season, that despite
being 37 years old he can still
keep the quality attacks of the
English top flight at bay.
But come the summer
transfer window Sam
Allardyce, if he remains in
charge at Upton Park, must
look for class competition for
Jussi, having Stephen
Henderson out on loan and not
massively impressing in the
Championship is a worry that if
Jääskeläinen were to get
injured then West Ham would
have to turn to a young and
inexperienced keeper, if not
Henderson then the club
would have to turn to the very
young Austrian under 21
international, Raphael Spiegel,
which would certainly be a test
against the likes of Aguero,
Van Persie and Suarez.
Quality keepers are hard to
come by, in Jussi we have one
but a club in the Premier
League should have two
goalkeepers to challenge for
that number 1 position and
clubs aren’t willing to let their
back-up keeper go, especially
not to a rival.
There are possibilities in the
Premiership that Allardyce
could look at and rumours
have circulated around the
Manchester United
goalkeeper Anders
Lindegaard who has lost a
regular starting spot to the
Spaniard David De Gea.
Getting Old Trafford’s
number 2 shot stopper would
be a coup as the player has
real talent and at just 29 is
entering his prime as a
goalkeeper.
The Hammers were
rumoured in January to be
looking at bringing another
former Allardyce player to the
Boleyn Ground in Paul
Robinson, a keeper who has
always been a consistent
performer at Premier League
level but is now stuck in the
mud at Blackburn Rovers and
is currently ruled out for six
months with a blood clot in his
lung.
If Paolo Di Canio is unable to
prevent Sunderland slipping
down to the Championship
then there should certainly be
calls made about Belgian
international Simon Mignolet,
though he may have eyes for
clubs challenging for Europe.
Another Belgian shot
stopper who could be on the
Hammers radar is Athletico
Madrid’s loan signing from
Chelsea, Thibaut Courtois, a
player who has spent two very
impressive seasons on loan in
the Spanish capital.
It is rumoured that Chelsea
are looking for Courtois to gain
some Premier League
experience before challenging
their number 1 Petr Cech.
Whilst the club and
supporters should be pleased
that Jääskeläinen has signed
up for a second season at the
Boleyn Ground, it must also be
a summer transfer window
priority to sign a top quality
goalkeeper to compete with
Jussi for that number 1 jersey
that is waiting to be snapped
up.
Follow me on Twitter
@SoundOfVinyl
For more articles like this
visit
www.weloveyouwestham.com
 Opposition View: Man City
Tim Holland speaks to Steven Allweis, Manchester
City fan, and editor of ‘View from a Blue’ website
How do you assess
Manchester City’s season
so far?
I'm writing this after the
hugely impressive derby
victory, so my outlook is
probably a little happier than
it would otherwise have
been.
That said, apart from the
joy at winning the match on
Monday, the overwhelming
feeling is ‘what if’. If we had
shown similar levels of focus,
drive and purpose
throughout the season as
we did against United, we
wouldn’t be so far behind.
In the league,
performances have been
disappointing. We've been
largely predictable, insipid
and laboured. When we play
well, we're virtually
unstoppable, but we’ve
hardly touched that level. Of
course, second isn't a bad
achievement by any means,
but the squad we possess
should not be trailing so far
in United’s wake.
You didn’t sign anyone in
January. Do you think that
has hampered your
season?
Not particularly. We've
lacked a clinical streak all
season. There were plenty of
games before Janaury in
which we failed to kill sides
off. Yes, signing a world-
class striker in the window
would have helped but none
of the top targets were
available.
What areas of the team do
you think will be improved in
the summer?
It is quite clear we need at
least one striker - Dzeko will
leave and Tévez's future is up
in the air - plus a pacy wide
man. Mancini is looking for a
deep-lying creative midfielder
and defensive cover,
depending on what happens
with Lescott and Kolo Touré.
Roberto Mancini has come
under a bit more pressure
this season. Do
you think he’ll remain at the
club if you don’t win any
silverware?

It's the key question, but
no-one knows the answer
except the heirarchy. In
Mancini’s favour is the lack
of top quality alternative.
There is no-one available who
stands out as suggesting he
could take us to the next
level. My personal view is
that Mancini will still be here
next season, but by default.
He has his negatives but
there's no manager who
could come in and guarantee
moving us forward.
Balotelli left for AC Milan in
January. Do you think he’s
been missed?
In terms of his eccentricity,
yes! He has always thrived on
being the main striker with
the side built around him. He
didn't have that at City, but
has it for AC Milan and Italy.
He struggled to adapt for
us but there was a certain
bond between him and the
supporters.
Carlos Tevez is still viewed
as a hero by most West
Ham fans. Do you
think he’ll remain at the
club next season?
He's got one year left on
his contract and it’s one of
the main talking points this
summer. I’d guess he’ll see
out his contract with City and
then return to Argentina.
Who poses the biggest
threat in the Man City XI?
Take your pick! On form, it
could easily be any of
Aguero, Silva, Yaya, or Tévez.
Which West Ham players
would you have in your
squad?
At a push, Andy Carroll could
offer an aerial threat for the
latter stages of a game if we
wanted a more direct
approach. Otherwise, without
wanting to sound arrogant,
no-one.
You predicted Man City to
win the League and West
Ham to finished tenth. Do
you think that will change?
I wasn't far off with West
Ham's prediction! We
obviously won't win the
league but you won't be far
off 10th.

Costel Pantilimon has been

linked with a move to West
Ham. How do
you think he’s done this
season?

He's played in the cup

games and done well. He's
an excellent back-up
goalkeeper who would do
well at most Premier League
clubs. For his size, he's a
superb shot-stopper plus
he's becoming more
authorititative.
 Sam Hodges
West Ham’s worst signings
West Ham are well-known for
their academy and bringing
through some of England's
greatest footballing talents in
recent years such as Frank
Lampard, Joe Cole, Rio
Ferdinand, Michael Carrick,
Jermain Defoe and Glen
Johnson.
But this reputation has
been ruined by some
appalling signings the club
has made in the past and
there have been some real
blunders. Here is my top 10.
Savio Nsereko
West Ham signed this
unknown 19 year old from
Brescia in January 2009.
There was huge
expectation after he was
signed for £9 million and
given the number 10 shirt.
The Ugandan-born striker
failed to impress after only
starting one game and not
scoring at all at his time at
the Hammers.
He was soon sold on to
Fiorentina. The striker has
recently faked his own kidnap
and was arrested by police.
Kieron Dyer
The Hammers signed the
injury prone midfielder from
Newcastle in August 2007
for £6 million. The midfielder
made on only 30
appearances for West Ham
without scoring a goal in his
four years at the club.
It was reported that he
was the highest earner at
the club, raking in £83,000 a
week. He was released at the
end of the 10/11 season
and he is now at QPR where
once again he has been
affected by injury.
Benni McCarthy
McCarthy was signed by
West Ham for an undisclosed
fee on deadline day of the
2010 January transfer
window from Blackburn
Rovers.
In his debut he picked up an
injury that would keep him out
for up to six weeks.
He came back extremely
unfit and overweight and only
went on to play another 13
games for West Ham.
In April 2011 West Ham
paid him off £1.5 million to
terminate his contract.
Titi Camara
Harry Redknapp signed the
striker from Liverpool, after
failing to impress on
Merseyside, in December
2000 for £1.5m fee which
could have risen to £2.6m.
There's not too much to
say about him while at West
Ham other than he made only
14 appearances without
scoring and left after his
contract was terminated
following West Ham's
relegation.
Rigobert Song
Like Titi Camara, Rigobert
Song was signed from
Liverpool. It was first said that substitute and was basically
he was brought in as a
replacement for Rio
Ferdinand who had left for
Leeds United in a £18 million four games and after that
deal. The defender played only played only two more games
24 games for West Ham in
two years and left in 2002.
Joseph Beauchamp
This was a very strange
one, West Ham signed him
from his boyhood club Oxford
United for a big fee of £1
million.
He was signed in 1994 and
lasted an embarrassing 58
days at the club as he said he
couldn't deal with the
commute to training from
Oxford.
He was then sold to
Swindon Town for £800,000.
Javier Mascherano
I think he has to be included
in this despite him being a
world class footballer who
now plays for Barcelona. The
midfielder was signed in a
joint deal with Carlos Tevez
and unlike Tevez he didn't
make any impact at the club.
He made only five
appearances before being
moved onto Liverpool.
Marco Boogers
Another flop signing during
the Redknapp era was this
Dutch striker. He was signed
from Sparta Rotterdam for
£1 million in 1995. In his
second appearance for the
club he came on as a
sent off straight away for a
horrific tackle on Gary Neville.
He was the suspended for
for West Ham.
Florin Raducioiu
Another bad signing by
Harry Redknapp. He was
signed for £2.6 million after
scoring the only goal for
Romania in their Euro 96
campaign.
His time at Upton Park was
overshadowed by arguments
with Redknapp and he lasted
only one season at West
Ham scoring three goals.
Gary Charles
The right back signed for
West Ham in 1999 and was
the club for three years
where he played only five
times.
West Ham was his final
club and he retired in 2002.
While at West Ham he had
a lot of off-field problems and
was caught drink driving on
many occasions.
Since leaving football he
had been in trouble of the
police and admitted having a
drinking problem.
 Pete May

Steve Jones used to work in

a soap factory in Billericay
while playing for Billericay FC,
before signing for the
Hammers in 1992. Also the
home of Smithy from Gavin
and Stacey, who is often
spotted in a West Ham shirt.

CHIGWELL
Home of the great Bobby
Moore and Paolo Di Canio.
Paolo used to take the tube
in to central London on the
Central line and would give up
his seat for old ladies. It was
in Chigwell that the man who
fed Paolo’s piranha fish told
Di Canio not to sign for Man
United or he would kill them.
Essex Irons by Pete May Good work, Essex piranha
man.

Basildon by David Eldridge, CHELMSFORD

While researching my latest
recently shown at the Royal Mervyn Day was born in
book The Joy of Essex,
Court Theatre and Chelmsford and the Hursts
featuring travels through
containing the line “Avram moved there when Geoffrey
God’s own county and a
Grant? More like Avram was eight-years-old.
humorous look at Essex’s
cultural baggage, virtually Can’t!” After scoring against
Spurs at White Hart Lane, DAGENHAM
every destination had some
striker Steve Jones said he Paul Konchesky was born
kind of West Ham link.
went out with his mates to here as was Jimmy Greaves,
Here’s some of the trivia
the Crown in Basildon and while Steve Potts played
unearthed by an exiled Essex
“didn’t have to buy a drink all alongside Tony Adams in the
man returning to his spiritual
night.” youth side Dagenham United.
roots:
Martin Peters met his wife at
BRAINTREE FC a bowling alley in Daggers.
BARKING
The great Bobby Moore was Currently managed by
former West Ham legend DAVID ESSEX
raised in Waverley Gardens
Alan Devonshire. The Alpari Stand regular was
off the lorry-strewn River
born in Plaistow when it was
Road in Barking. West Ham
BRENTWOOD still officially in Essex, so
fan Billy Bragg was also born
Both Frank Lampard Junior David Cook adopted the
in Barking.
and Stewart Robson went to county’s name for his stage
Brentwood School. name
BASILDON
Birthplace of James
BILLERICAY GREAT WARLEY
Tomkins. West Ham also
When I was growing up in
features in the play In
this quiet village near
Brentwood, Billy Jennings
lived here. My mum once
went to an auction with his
wife. We’re not worthy,
indeed. Billy’s use of
hairspray was possibly an
early contributor to the
1980s hole in the ozone
layer.
ILFORD
It was after a night out at The
Room at the Top nightclub in
Ilford that Geordie winger
Keith Robson borrowed a
team-mate’s motor while
banned from driving. In the
resulting court case Ron
Greenwood had to argue for
a non-custodial sentence on
the grounds that doing bird
would hamper West Ham’s
relegation fight. Bobby Moore
met his first wife Tina at the
Ilford Palais.
INGATESTONE
The legendary Christian Dailly
signed for Southend before
retiring last summer and is
still based in Ingatestone,
where presumably everyone
wants curly hair too.
LATCHINGDON
I interviewed Julian Dicks
round at his Latchingdon gaff
back in the 1990s. Julian
drank a can of Fosters by the
swimming pool and showed
me his McCaw parrot and
the collection of kennels
housing his bull terriers and
also said he’d experimented
with being a vegetarian (it
didn’t last). He later went on
to run the Shepherd and Dog
pub at Langham. Not the sort
of pub landlord you’d argue
with if he told you to drink up.
LEIGH-ON-SEA
Home of West Ham fan Phill
Jupitus — the man who
popularized barking at ‘Mad
Dog’ Martin Allen from the
Chicken Run back in the
1980s, as exclusively
revealed in The Joy of Essex.
ROMFORD
Home of the legendary
nightclub Hollywood where
West Ham players went out
on, erm, team bonding
exercises in the 1990s. In
1998 Trevor Sinclair was
fined £250 for damaging the
mirror and wipers of a car in
Romford following a “high-
spirited” players’ fancy-dress
Christmas party at Secrets
nightclub and then drinks at
Yates’s Wine Lodge.
ROYDON
West Ham uber-fan Ray
Winstone has a gaff with a
home bar in Roydon, where
he rehearses talking in a
gruff voice for bet365 ads.
SHENFIELD
Catching a glimpse of Trevor
Brooking washing his car on
the front lawn of his
Shenfield gaff was one of the
highlights of my not-very-
misspent youth. Martin
Peters currently lives in
Shenfield and it was famous
for Holland’s wine bar, owned
by Patsy Holland. Back in the
1980s you could also spot
David ‘Psycho’ Cross drinking
in the Eagle and Child pub.
STAPLEFORD TAWNEY
Inadvertently swept to
national fame for being the
place where Freddie
Piquionne, a resident of
Stapleford Abbotts, was fined
for fly-tipping in August
2011. It wasn’t the first time
West Ham had been linked
with dumping a load of old
rubbish on the population of
Essex.
STRATFORD
West Ham players of the
1960s and 1970s used to
drink in the Two Puddings,
run by Eddie Johnson, dad of
Matt Johnson from The The.
Johnson’s new book Tales
From The Two Puddings
contains accounts of the
celebrations after West
Ham’s 1964 FA Cup win and
how Harry Redknapp met his
wife Sandra in a dance above
the Two Puddings. In the
1980s the squad used to
socialise at the Phoenix
Apollo restaurant.
UPMINSTER
My mate Gavin recounts: “I
saw Martin Peters shopping
in Roomes Department
Store in the 1960 and
Hursty too, plus Bobby
Ferguson in the park. Jimmy
Greaves also lived in
Upminster as a younger man
— he gave my granddad’s car
a push.
The Joy of Essex by Pete May
is published by The Robson
Press, price £9.99. Search
for Pete’s book on Amazon.
 BARKING
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