West Ham United F.C.
About the club.
Club History
West Ham United Football Club was initially formed in 1895 by employees of the Thames Ironworks shipyard (as Thames Ironworks F.C, hence the nickname 'The Irons'), following an idea of managing director's Arnold Hills to set up an amateur football club.
The club was entered into the F.A Cup at Chatham in it's inaugural year, and entered the London league the following season. The ironworks were wound up in 1900, but reformed as West Ham United just one month later.
In 1904, the club moved to the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park) where it has stayed until today. Following twenty or so years in the Southern League the club won a place in the second division of the football league under the management of Syd King (who went on to manage the hammers until 1932).
West Ham were promoted to the first division in 1923, where they stayed for nine seasons before dropping back down to the second, where they stayed until 1958. The years since have been the most successful for the club; the hammers have only spent six seasons since outside of the top flight.
Facts and figures
Ground Capacity : 35,018
Record Attendance : 42,322 (vs Tottenham, League Division 1, 17th October 1970)
Pitch Size : 112 x 72 yards
Managers : Syd King 1900-32; Charlie Paynter 1932-50; Ted Fenton 1950-61; Ron Greenwood 1961-74; John Lyall 1974-89; Lou Macari 1989-90; Billy Bonds 1990-94; Harry Redknapp 1994-2001; Glenn Roeder 2001-2003; Alan Pardew 2003-current day
Getting To Upton Park
From the north
Take North Circular (A406) to A124 (East Ham), then on Barking Road for approximately 1.5 miles until you approach the traffic lights on cross-roads. Turn right into Green Street, ground is on the right hand side.
From the south
Use Blackwall Tunnel and A13 to Canning Town, then follow signs to East Ham A124 in 1.7 miles turn left into Green Street for West Ham FC.
From the west
Take North Circular (A406) to A124 (East Ham), then on Barking Road for approximately 1.5 miles until you approach traffic lights on cross-roads. Turn right into Green Street , ground is on your left hand side.
From the east
Use A13 (signposted London) then at cross-roads turn right A117. In 0.9 miles at cross-roads turn left into Green Street for West Ham United FC.
Training Sessions
West Ham train on weekdays at Saville Road, Chadwell Heath. The sessions are not open to the public except on Tuesdays and Thursdays during school holidays. Training normally starts at 10am finishing around 12.30pm. For more information contact the training ground on 0181 503 8220.
How to get there? KUMB's Adam Makepeace offers some advice.
"Via public transport I usually get the bus/train to Romford station then get a bus from there. Can't remember the number, I think it might be the 87 or 78 possibly?? It's definitely 2 figures anyway (!) and goes to Barking. It leaves from right outside the station where the main bus stop is. I always remember where to get off as just past the Glyn Hopkin Nissan garage, and there's a Rover dealer next to/near Saville Road as well as a Fiat dealer. Anyway, go down Saville Road, turn left at the end and you're there."
By car take the A1112 exit (Whalebone Lane North) off the A12 (accessible via the A406 North Circular if you're coming from London, or from the M25 if you're travelling from further afield). Go to the bottom of the road, turn left into London Road then first right into Saville Road. Go to the end of Saville Road and turn left into the training ground car park.
The West Ham United anthem - 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'
I'm dreaming dreams
I'm scheming schemes
I'm building castles high
They're born anew
Their days are few
Just like a sweet butterfly
And as the daylight is dawning
They come again in the morning
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air
They fly so high
Nearly reach the sky
Then like my dreams they fade and die
Fortune's always hiding
I've looked everywhere
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air.
When shadows creep
When I'm asleep
To lands of hope I stray
Then at daybreak
When I awake
My bluebird flutters away
Happiness you seem so near me
Happiness come forth and cheers me
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air
They fly so high
Nearly reach the sky
Then like my dreams they fade and die
Fortune's always hiding
I've looked everywhere
I'm forever blowing bubbles
Pretty bubbles in the air
Words/Music by Jaan Kenbrovin/John William Kellette
Some famous supporters
Kriss Akabusi - former athlete, turned TV presenter
Robert Banks - author
Nick Berry - former Eastenders and Heartbeat actor
Billy Bragg - musician
Martin Brundle - former F1 driver
Frank Bruno - retired boxer
Todd Carty - Eastenders actor (Mark Fowler)
John Cleese - comedian/actor
John Cole - Former BBC political reporter
Phil Collen - Def Leppard
Simon Day - Fast Show comedian
Sean Day-Lewis - Daily Telegraph TV critic and father of Daniel
Richard Digance - singer & comedian
Frank Dobson - politician
Noel Edmonds - TV presenter
David Essex - musician
Perry Fenwick - actor (Eastenders)
Keith Flint - Prodigy frontman
James Gaddas - Coronation Street actor (Vinny)
Simon Geoghan - Ireland rugby international
Graham Gooch - former test cricketer
Leslie Grantham - former Eastenders actor
Martin Hancock - Coronation Street actor (Spider)
Steve Harris - Iron Maiden
Johnny Herbert - former F1 driver
Lee Hurst - comedian formerly on They Think Its All Over
Phill Jupitus - comedian - Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Mark Kaylor - boxer
Lennox Lewis - world champion boxer
Matt Lorenzo - newsreader Sky Sports
Colin McMillan - boxer
Jim Munro - Sunday Times
Glenn Murphy - Londons Burning actor
Jeremy Nicholas - sports reporter GLR
Roger O'Donnell - keyboards for the Cure
Steve Roberts - boxer
Paul Ross- TV presenter
Martin Samuel - football writer
Rob Shepherd - football writer
Alex Walkinshaw - actor - The Bill (Dave Smith)
Louise Weiner - Sleeper vocalist
Billie Whitelaw - actress
Ray Winstone - actor
Keira Knightley - actress
Useful Numbers
General Enquiries
020 8548 2748
Ticket Office/Travel Club
0870 112 2700
Hammers Quality Hotel
0870 460 8200
Membership Office
0870 112 2700
Football In The Community
020 8548 2707
Conference and Banqueting
020 8548 2775
Email
yourcomments@westhamunited.co.uk
Mail
Boleyn Ground, Green Street, London E13 9AZ
