Happy heavenly birthday, Charlo
- Monday, 20th September 2021
- John Simkin
If he had lived, it would have been John Charles' 77th birthday today.
Meticulous, rational and reasoned: the Moyes approach
- Monday, 23rd August 2021
- John Simkin
I have recently been reading Michael Calvin's award-winning book, The Nowhere Men: The Unknown Story of Football's True Talent Spotters (2013).
Why was Bobby Moore treated so badly?
- Friday, 18th December 2020
- John Simkin
After England won the World Cup in 1966, leading figures at the FA were knighted for their efforts. Alf Ramsey, the manager was knighted in 1967.
Recalcitrant and rebellious
- Thursday, 10th December 2020
- John Simkin
Bobby Moore is often portrayed as the perfect England captain.
Ernie: longest serving 'keeper in the east
- Thursday, 3rd December 2020
- John Simkin
When I first went to Upton Park the West Ham goalkeeper was Ernie Gregory. He was one of the longest-serving figures in West Ham United's 125-year history.
Son of a train driver, West Ham legend
- Thursday, 24th September 2020
- John Simkin
When I first started to go to Upton Park in the 1950s one of the key members of the West Ham team was defensive midfielder, Andy Malcolm.
Why I am a West Ham fan
- Sunday, 6th September 2020
- John Simkin
My dad took me to my first football game when I was eight-years old. It was Spurs v Arsenal on 10th October 1953.
Why West Ham fans sing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”
- Monday, 7th September 2009
- John Simkin
In the Spring 2005 edition of “Soccer History”, John Northcutt published an article on why West Ham fans sing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”.
The origin of the claret and blue
- Monday, 7th September 2009
- John Simkin
On 29th June, 1895, Arnold Hills, the managing director of the Thames Ironworks & Shipbuilding Company, announced in his newspaper, the Thames Ironworks Gazette, that he intended to establish a football club.
Why I am a West Ham fan
- Tuesday, 10th March 2009
- John Simkin
My father took me to my first football game when I was about six years old. He was born in North Landon and was a passionate Sp*rs fan. The game was against Arsenal. I stood on a stool at the front and I watched the game through the curved railings that was on the top of the wall.
Success and conservatism: the manager’s dilemma
- Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
- John Simkin
In his book "The Mackericks: English Football When Flair Wore Flares" (1994), Rob Steen suggested that winning the World Cup in 1966 was the worst thing that could have happened to English football because "it established deep in the English footballing consciousness the notion that the functionality of Alf Ramsay’s side was the only way to achieve success". Steen was making the important point that the problem with success is that it breeds conservatism.
West Ham United and the First World War
- Thursday, 21st August 2008
- John Simkin
Great Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August, 1914. Cricket and rugby competitions stopped almost immediately after the outbreak of the First World War. However, the Football League continued with the 1914-15 season.
Syd King : the early history of West Ham United
- Wednesday, 20th August 2008
- John Simkin
In 1905 Syd King, the manager of West Ham, was asked to write a history of the club. King was the right man to ask as he joined the club as a player in 1899. I thought KUMB.com readers might be interested in reading the following article ...
The song remains the same
- Monday, 11th August 2008
- John Simkin
When John Lyall was dismissed at start of the 1988/89 season he became the first West Ham manager to be sacked because of the performance of the team. This amazing fact tells us a great deal about what has been wrong with the West Ham set-up over the years.
Alan Pardew and British football
- Monday, 24th April 2006
- John Simkin
When I went to Wembley to see West Ham defeat TSV Munchen in the European Cup Winners Cup in 1965, ten of the team had been born in London - and most had come from the academy (the 11th had been born in Worcester).