West Ham United F.C.

West Ham United Football Club are a professional English football club based in East London. They play their home matches at Upton Park. They are nicknamed "The Hammers" and "The Academy of Football" by the media, but are better known as "The Irons" by their own fans (due to the club's origins at the Thames Ironworks - see below). The club has a training facility at Chadwell Heath, adjacent to the railway line from which the team may occasionally be viewed at practice during the week. The club has recently been promoted to the Premiership for the 2005/06 season.

Trivia

The Academy of Football

See main article.

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The club is often known as "The Academy of Football" due to the club's claimed reputation for developing talented young players from an early age, and for playing a free-flowing, passing game. The title was attributed to the club by the media in the 1960s, and has since been adopted by the club itself. The title has been printed underneath the club crest on the artificial surface surrounding the pitch at Upton Park.

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This self-styled image is often derided by supporters of other clubs, but others consider West Ham's youth development system to be one of the most successful in England. The claim is a source of pride to West Ham supporters, whose club has not seen the same successes as many other clubs (such as Liverpool or Manchester United), and in fact has never won the League.

Related Topics:
Liverpool - Manchester United - League

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Players to have "graduated" from the Academy include Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Sir Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee, Paul Ince, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard Jnr., Joe Cole and Glen Johnson.

Related Topics:
Bobby Moore - Geoff Hurst - Martin Peters - Sir Trevor Brooking - Tony Cottee - Paul Ince - Rio Ferdinand - Frank Lampard Jnr. - Joe Cole - Glen Johnson

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Chants

The team's supporters are famed for their passionate rendition of their team's anthem, "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", the lyrics of which are as follows:

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I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air

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They fly so high, nearly reach the sky

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And like my dreams they fade and die

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Fortune's always hiding, I've looked everywhere

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I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air

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United! United!

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Rivalries

As with most football clubs, West Ham have strong rivalries with other clubs. Most of these are with other London clubs such as Chelsea (East London versus West London rivalry) and Tottenham Hotspur (near neighbours). However the strongest rivalry is with Millwall. What began as a local rivalry between football clubs developed into open hostility during the General Strike of 1926. The shipbuilders and dockers of the Royal Docks on the north bank of the River Thames (West Ham) went on strike but Millwall Docks and Surrey Docks continued to work. The intense feeling of conflict between those dockers working and those striking was transferred into the club rivalry. During the 1970's and 1980's (the era of organised football related violence) the hostilities continued as "firms" (violent gangs) associated with the clubs continued to fight. During the 1990's, and to the present day, sophisticated surveillance and Policing coupled with all seater stadia and the passage of time have all but eliminated violence. The intense rivalry remains though.

Related Topics:
Chelsea - Tottenham Hotspur - Millwall - General Strike - Royal Docks - Surrey Docks

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The Premier League club located closest to West Ham is Charlton Athletic and, perhaps strangely, no significant additional rivalry appears to exist at all.

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Club Crest

The original club crest was a crossed pair of riveting hammers, used in the shipbuilding process. A castle was added to the crest in around 1900 and represents the prominant local building Green Street House which was known as "Boleyn Castle" through an association with Anne Boleyn. "Boleyn Castle" is represented in the West Ham crest by the traditional turreted castle image, which is behind the crossed hammers. The castle may have also been added as a result of the contribution made to the club by players of Old Castle Swifts.

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see also Boleyn Ground

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Nicknames

The nickname "The Hammers" dates from the club's name (West Hammer) and also from the crossed hammers on its crest. The modern media (and football fans in general) continue to call the club "The Hammers", although West Ham fans very rarely sing or chant this at games, preferring the club's original nickname, "The Irons." This nickname is derived from the club's first name, The Thames Ironworks FC.

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