The Birth of a Working-Class Club
At the heart of East London, West Ham since 1895 has been a pivotal pillar in the cultural movement within football. Founded by workers at the local Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, the site was formerly named Thames Ironworks with this changing over to West Ham in 1900. The manufacturing roots still remain prevalent at the club and can be noticeable on the club crest and through the sides tag “irons”. The side have produced icons such as Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Declan Rice in recent times to grace the football scene. 2023 was a prosperous year for the side by winning their first UEFA Europa Conference League title but since then the spirit at the club has turned sour with protests, a drained atmosphere at the stadium and ownership being at the forefront of conversations.
Style, Substance and the Streets: West Ham’s Cultural Influence
Culturally West Ham have always played a focal role in the English football scene with iconic partnerships with Umbro, Dr. Martens and Pony. The club also has long associations with casual streetwear brands with the likes of Fred Perry, C.P. Company and Stone Island being sported by the club’s football casuals. Another key piece of fashion which can be spotted within a West Ham crowd would be the iconic flat cap. Its significance is due to a combination of historical association with working-class East End heritage, a nod to traditional football culture, and a way to express a certain traditional style for the club.
Voices of Discontent: Fans Demand Change
Spectators in recent months have been vocal and adamant for change at the London club with protests and boycotts being part of the strategy for change. Ahead of their home clash against Crystal Palace two significant groups were seen protesting outside the club with a main agenda of discontentment with club leadership. The protestors called for chairman David Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady to resign, accusing them of mismanagement and poor decision-making since taking over in 2010. To add, fans also feel there has been a lack of progression at the club. Supporters feel the club failed to build on their 2023 UEFA Conference League victory, their first major trophy in 43 years, missing a key opportunity to grow and compete at a higher level.
Inside Perspective: Accountability and the Stadium Dilemma
When speaking with Johnny Kay (CCO at VERSUS and avid West Ham fan) he feels as though there is a “total lack of accountability from the board”. He further went on to mention “You only need to look at our on-pitch performance over the last few years to see that not every single decision that they have made has been the wrong one. However, what we would like is for them to be able to say, despite that being true, what is also true, is that we have got some things wrong, particularly the move to the London Stadium. To a stadium that I think none of us quite realised particularly not the board just how unsuited to football it would be. we would love for them to once admit that then start looking at roots as to how we can have a home more suitable for our football club either at that stadium or elsewhere”.
A Club at a Crossroad: Defeat, Boycotts, and the Fight for Identity
With all the saga unfolding the fixture against Brentford at home played a vital role in shaping the fans output for the season. A large group of fans used this fixture to boycott the club in a way to make their frustration known towards the board. The game resulted in a heavy defeat with the side losing 2-0, a frustrating display for Nuno for his first home fixture. The game rubbed salt into the wounds with all the added noise currently at the club. But does the result favour the crowd’s constant message surrounding the board ?
The Iron Question: Can West Ham Rebuild Its Spirit?
Seeing a club like West Ham in this current situation will make a devoted football fan feel some type of way. An iconic culturally motivated team fighting relegation talks doesn’t fit right with most. Will the club overcome this matter in question or will the calamity continue?
