Daily WHUFC News II - 10th May 2016

West Ham United v Manchester United
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Preview Percy.

Oh gawd he's gone all teary-eyed on us. Preview Percy ignores our opponents
and remembers someone who was there at the biginning for him...

So here it is then. Last game at the Boleyn. Ever.

Man United then. Sod 'em. Normally I'd get the work experience kid with the
Harry Potter spectacles to do some research on their season so far but I've
already written about them enough this season. They have a cup final coming
up thanks, yet again, to some frankly bizarre refereeing. Fact is that much
like their neighbours from up the M62, the trophy room is pretty bare if you
only count stuff won honestly so, as I say, sod 'em.

Frankly this match is all about us. I've therefore given the work experience
kid the day off so he can do clever stuff on computers that appears to
involves access to the nether regions of the computer systems of the major
banks. Which could account for the shiny new Porsche his Mum dropped him off
in the other day.

So I thought I'd take this opportunity to have a bit of a reminisce over the
years I've spent at the Boleyn. If only I could remember them. Thinking back
to the early days in amongst all the matches, good and bad, there was one
constant back then. Ladies and Gentlemen...


Pre-match entertainment

Ok back in the day we used to get in early. A good 90 minutes before
kick-off. You could buy a pint in the bar and take it down onto the terrace.
Legally. After a while the strains of Whistling Jack Smith's "I was Kaiser
Bill's Batman" would ring out around an echoey ground. This heralded the
arrival of none other than Bill Remfrey, the legendary match-day host. Now
to call Bill "a bit old-fashioned" in his selection of music would be like
suggesting that Piers Morgan is "a bit irritating". Bill seemed out of step
with the 1960s and insisted on entertaining us with songs from 1950s'
crooners such as Perry Como and Dean Martin. In fact "Kaiser Bill's Batman"
was about as hip as it got for Bill, bless him.

Bill used to spend matches in a little, cockpit type thing perched on the
front of the upper tier of the old West Stand. At about 2:10pm he would
disappear "to go and get the team news", whereupon he would "leave us in the
company of James Last". Now if that means nothing to you I suggest you do a
"You Tube" search to establish just how horrible that prospect was to most
sane people. Last (not his real name) was a German orchestra leader who
specialised in taking established songs and wringing all life and soul out
of them. Today's equivalent would I suppose be Andre Rieu. Yup that
horrible.

Back in them days vinyl was the order of the day so off would go Bill,
climbing out of his little cockpit and into the back he would go leaving
Herr Last and his orchestra to commit grievous bodily harm on the hits of
the day. Of course the limitations of vinyl meant that one side of an album
could last a maximum of about 20 minutes or so. Dear old Bill, to give him
his full name, rarely returned to his little box before the record had
finished, meaning we were treated to the sound of a stylus clicking its way
through the run-out groove on the record. "Click, click, click" it would go.
Annoying, yes but still infinitely more pleasing to the ear than the 20
minutes that had preceded it.

Having returned to "Mission Control West Stand" Bill's next job was to read
out the teams. Now back in the 50's and 60's this was a piece of cake for
Bill. Even the presence of Sheffield Wednesday's Peter Rodruiges (a
Welshman, of course) caused no problems. However, in the 1980's the game
started to become more cosmopolitan as players from all over the world
started to end up in English football. We should have known Bill would
struggle – the Cup Winners' Cup run of 1980/81 saw some hilarious
interpretations of names from Romania and he Soviet Union as Politecnica
Timisoara and the superb (and eventual winners) Dinamo Tiblisi both paid
visits to the East End.

Mind you, it wasn't just foreign names that Bill could struggle with, though
to be fair to him some of his issues were more down to the public address
system, which, in true West Ham style, had probably been bought on the cheap
and was based on the "two paper cups and a length of string" technology
utilised in cheap kids' toys. One evening game against Southampton saw him
have to announce that the Saints' sub was one "David Puckett". This sounded
slightly different through the speakers, forcing Bill to repeat – with
barely concealed exasperation at the schoolboy sniggers that were going
around the ground – "I said PUCKETT".

Of course you can't reminisce about dear old Bill without remembering THAT
night against Cambridge. It was the Friday before Christmas and it was our
first season down in what we used to call Division Two (ie "The
Championship". If I recall correctly we were 1-0 down at half time to
Cambridge's Rod Stewart lookalike Alan Biley and it was cold. It snowed. A
lot. This was when it used to really snow. In December not April. Snowball
fights broke out all over the place. At half time Bill stuck on Mike
Oldfield's interpretation of "In Dulce Jubilo", an instrumental that had
been a seasonal hit. This got people literally dancing on the terraces, the
desire to avoid hypothermia matching perfectly the jaunty jigalong nature of
the tune. For the record, we went on to win 3-1 and something like 12,000
Hammers to this day will be seen grinning wistfully whenever they dig out
Oldfield's record on the radio.

I suspect Bill is no longer with us – I guess he would be in three figures
age-wise were he about now. In some ways he was representative of the club
as a whole – as the world moved through the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's we
always seemed to view the modern era with an air of disdain. Of course it's
a completely different kettle of fish these days, as the move up the road
demonstrates. However, before we go I shall raise a glass skywards and toast
a chap who was there at the start for me all those years ago.

Prediction – well it hardly seems to matter much does it but, for the sake
of good form I shall be taking the £2.50 that I was going to send to Lucas
Neil down to Winstones The Turf Accountants and place it on a home win 2-1.

Enjoy the game and thanks for the memories!

When last we met at the Boleyn

Lost 2-1. Sadly this game, took place before the penalty embargo we've
struggled with all season had been lifted. And, as is usually the case, had
M Atkinson done his job in the first match, the game wouldn't have taken
place in the first place,

Referee

Mike Dean. Oh THAT'S a good idea. High profile game live on tv. Why wouldn't
you give it to someone who loves himself that much.

Danger Man

Wayne Rooney has a habit of scoring against us - often with refereeing
assistance. Actually make that "usually".

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ExWHUEmployee Exclusive Column: Top forward targets approached, players to
leave. Please stay off the pitch.
May 8, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee

I am still not fully over the weekend's result. The performance was way out
of character from a team that we have started to expect so much from. I
know there has to be blips in a season but at such crucial stages against
Manchester United in the cup and now is really crushing. The players just
didn't seem to turn up and I am sorry Bilic has to take some responsibility.
I am not for one second slating the man who has given this club a new leash
of life, it has still been a great season, but there are two things that
need addressing for me.

Antonio is not a right back. It is clear to see. You do not need to be a
football expert to spot this and of course all opposition managers will have
noticed it too. They will play down his flank and get crosses in, as
Swansea did with three of their goals coming from that side. He gets easily
beaten and is too often out of position. This is by no means a criticism of
the Runner Up in the Hammer of the Year. He has been superb and even
against Swansea, going forward Antonio was our best player. We have Sam
Byram who can play there, Tomkins and dare I say it Joey O'Brien who I
believe would be more equipped to play in this position. Even during the
second half he had Kouyate playing there rather than Antonio. We are
looking to sign an experienced right back to compete with Byram there have
been many targets identified. The latest is free agent in the summer,
Gregory Van Der Wiel who is Dutch and plays for PSG. An experienced right
back will be signed in the summer thankfully. Antonio has to be right wing
and not right back. I would have had him there and not Moses, who has known
for months he is returning to Chelsea. So I would have Byram at right back
and Antonio right wing for the Manchester United game.

The other problem we have is that there is no leader in the back line. This
is why James Collins is so important for me to play there. Individually it
could be argued that Ogbonna and Reid have more to their game but in my
opinion neither performs to the level that Ginge has set. The most
important thing however that Bilic appears to have overlooked is that he
organises that defence. He is a leader and despite being vice-captain I
don't see Reid as that. I think Ogbonna hasn't played as well since Collins
has been out and I think Antonio's been more exposed as well. For the
Manchester United game I would bring Ginge back in for Reid too.

We have been searching for a top striker for months now and have had so many
targets on the list. I have mentioned most of them in my previous columns.
I have told you about Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Benteke and two Argentinian players that we have been linked
with Bou and also Icardi of Inter. Icardi has scored many goal in Italy and
we have been scouting for a number of years now. We have put in initial
enquires for all of these forwards. There is also a shock name amongst our
targets which the Boleyn Informer hinted at in his column this week. I
thought "rubbish" (or words to that affect) when I first heard it and even
now I don't really believe it. I have done my enquiries and there does
seem to be truth in it. It would be a sensational story if it were to
happen but I just can't see it for now. The club are very keen to keep this
transfer quiet.

I have mentioned the players who will be leaving in my previous columns. It
appears that Valencia's departure appears even more likely now as the weeks
go by. As I have said many times; Song, Moses, O'Brien, Emineke, Lee and
other youngsters will go and Valencia is likely to now.

The last day at the Boleyn ground is almost upon us and I can't quite get my
head round it. It really is such an emotional thought and such a hugely
significant event in our history, obviously. It feels like I am going to a
funeral but I still believe it is for the best and when we actually set foot
into the Olympic Stadium we will all realise this. It is essential that
fans do not invade the pitch like they did against Swansea. The club have
put a huge amount into the post-match event. I have been asked by the club
to not disclose what is happening but it should be special including a
fireworks display and live music. The proceedings will be ruined if any
fans come onto the pitch so please don't. It promise to be a very special
and highly emotional night so let's not ruin this.

We were delighted to easily sell out our fanzine, we could have in fact sold
it two or three times over and we will be making it available online too.
The fanzine will be a regular feature. Please stay tuned for that. It was
a pleasure to speak to Danny Gabbidon and Kriss Akabusi before the match on
the West Ham Way Tv. Please have a look here. The site is ready to launch
a brand new site at the end of the season and we are so excited by it. It
will improve the performance, layout and options available to the readers.
We raised another for £550 for charity this week and we are very grateful to
@neilapp1986 and @frizzierascal for providing us with the tickets that we
sold giving half the money to Jonjo and half to DT38. We will also be
announcing the competition winners for the Alvin Martin tickets tomorrow at
12.

Tuesday promises to be highly emotional and special and significant for our
Europe chances. Let's hope memories are created in more ways than one.
The youth team winning the league cup is just a small glimpse of how bright
our future is. Congratulations to them. COYI

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Fans face criminal record for pitch invasion
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham supporters have been warned they face a possible criminal record
and a day in court which could result in a football banning order – as well
as cancelling the Boleyn Ground closing ceremony if they invade the pitch
after the stadium's final game on Tuesday night. Police match commander
Superintendent Dick Blanchard says any disorder will be met with robust
action from the authorities after Sir Trevor Brooking, Captain Mark Noble
and co-Chairman David Gold pleaded with fans not to disrupt the club's
'Farewell Boleyn' plans with a pitch invasion. Superintendent Blanchard
said: 'I want to remind supporters that any incidents of disorder or
anti-social behaviour on the night will be dealt with robustly by police.'
'Where criminal offences are committed inside the ground we will seek to
work with the club to bring those that break the law to court.'

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Juventus deadline extended again
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have twice extended the deadline for 52,000 season ticket holders
and corporate members to buy their reserved tickets for the first friendly
against Juventus on 7th August in what the club are billing as the opening
ceremony. The initial deadline on Monday 9th May was extended to Wednesday
11th May over the weekend but this was quickly extended on Monday to Sunday
15th May at midnight. A source close to the ticket office told Claret and
Hugh "We have extended due to the fact sales are still flooding in and
haven't slowed and we know a few fans are struggling to actually understand
the process to active their account but also we have had feedback that most
people have one eye on tonight and haven't thought about a game in August. I
can say that with current sales and expected demand from members (taking
into account how many of them are on the waiting list) it's not likely to
reach general sale and we are planning to process sales as a ballot again"
Some supporters have complained about the pricing strategy with tickets
priced between £30 and £50 for adults is too expensive for a friendly while
others have pointed to financial pressures being so close to Olympic Stadium
season ticket balances due by the 4th June. West Ham are understood to have
paid Juventus a significant amount of money to appear on 7th August and they
are hoping to sell out the 60,000 seater stadium.

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My final farewell …and it hurts so much!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 10, 2016 in Fans Forum, Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

This is another piece I was commissioned to write which again appears this
morning on www.goal.com and contains most of my emotions on this very
special day!

I've had many loves in my life, a lot of which have involved very painful
farewells, but never one like this.

My personal love affair with the Irons and the Boleyn began way back in 1962
at a match involving the Hammers and Blackpool. I was there on the orders of
the editor of the newspaper I was to work for. During my interview for my
first job in London he told me: "You will need to come to Upton Park
tonight. I think you may fall in love."

I'd not been much of a supporter of anyone until then because playing the
game had taken up all of my time, but I'm grateful to that man whose name –
amazingly – was Tony Cottee. His namesake, the future West Ham great, was to
be born three years later.

This Cottee was right. From the moment I disembarked from the tube at
Plaistow, took in the sights and sounds of Queen's Market and Green Street,
my soul was lost to the west enclosure of Upton Park – a ground where all my
best footballing experiences have been played out, with the exception of
Wembley on that glorious summer's day in 1966.

That west enclosure – a place written deep in my heart – was also the
viewing point as I watched the likes of Hurst, Peters, John 'Budgie' Byrne,
actually the best centre forward I've ever seen, John Bond – who became one
of the game's greatest extrovert managers – Ken Brown, goalkeepers Jim
Standen and Phil Parkes – now a friend – and all the rest. I feel like a
teenager again as I recall them all.

Later came the amazing legend that was the buccaneering Bill Bonds, now
somebody I regularly interview, as well as Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire
– perhaps the best I've ever seen as he waltzed his way across some mudbath
pitches – Julian Dicks, Cottee, Paolo Di Canio and Frank MacAvennie. The
Boleyn was the cradle of all my dreams and holds my most beautiful memories.

The season of 1985­-86 saw Upton Park erupt in near glory, although a dismal
start saw the Hammers win just once from our first five games and gave
promise only of a regular flirtation with those around us at the bottom.

But Frank MacAvennie or 'SuperMac', grabbed a couple in the defeat of QPR
and, as September arrived, everything changed and we were off on what was to
become the team's best ever season.

They lost only eight games from that point and finished third behind the two
Liverpool clubs. Of course, there's an irony to the expression 'The Boys of
'86' – heard so regularly around the club­ – because it's an implicit
recognition of how little we have won down the years. It doesn't matter.
West Ham is a lifestyle, not a winning routine.

But for me the star of the show – the heart of the experience that is
supporting West Ham – was the 'old lady' herself. It is, though, very
unlikely that Lady Boleyn ever set foot anywhere near the castle that
adorned our badge for so many years.

Once through those antiquated turnstiles another reality took over in a
stadium that was at the heart of this East End community. It was the
epicentre for those living in the area and part of the growing-up process
for those of us who came from further afield.

When you returned it mattered not if you were a millionaire or on the dole –
you were simply a Boleyn boy. We all grew up this dear 'old lady' we love so
much and that she will be gone forever after Tuesday is just desperate.

I once wrote that you change your wife before you change your football club
but saying farewell to Upton Park feels worse than a divorce. It resembles
more sitting at the deathbed of a family member knowing there's no way back.

Yes, we will move on, yes we will create a new Olympic Park history because
that's what we do at West Ham. Just not before a tear or 10,000 have been
shed.

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Shearer remembers abuse from Chicken run
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Alan Shearer pens his thoughts on tonight's game in his Coral betting blog.
"West Ham fans say their farewell to the Boleyn Ground. They've had some
fantastic times there over the years. I played there a few times and it was
always a difficult place for away teams to travel to." "I remember the old
Chicken Run terrace which is now the East Stand. You always got abuse from
there as an opposing player. It's been an iconic ground in this country and
it will be sad to see it go. Tomorrow evening will be a grand occasion as
they have the biggest club in the country playing there in the last ever
game so it should be a fantastic atmosphere."
"It was a real damp squib for the Hammers there on Saturday when they were
well beaten by Swansea. They will certainly want to put in a better
performance than that. I am sure the manager will remind them of that. Some
great players have played at that ground over the years so they won't want
to go out with a whimper. It will be a tough game for Manchester United who
obviously have a lot riding on the result."
Photo of Alan Shearer leading out Newcastle as captain in 2001 in the Boleyn
ground across building works for the West Stand. West Ham were the 3-0
victors on 23rd September with Di Canio, Hutchinson and Kanoute getting the
goals.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com