West Ham fans should prove they are no thugs in Chelsea clash
Last time West Ham hosted Chelsea, the Hammers won. But it was the crowd trouble that got the most attention.
In the League Cup clash which West Ham won 2-1, there were many positives to take from the game. We had seen a new signing score his first goal for the side, and the new stadium had produced a good atmosphere. It was a potential turning point in the club’s rocky season start.
However it turned out to be a false dawn, with media coverage pointing towards the fans. There were no articles of the Boleyn atmosphere coming to Stratford. Instead there were many articles trying to pit the Hammers’ faithful as animals who were simply at the football to have a fight against their London rivals.
The media love a narrative, and the fans shouldn’t give into it.
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The Good, The Bad & The Criminal
It’s not secret that the media love to paint football fans, and West Ham fans in particular, as violent and spoiling for a fight. And whilst there can be no doubt some do enjoy fighting, that doesn’t mean they all do. This is just a selection from society and it is bound to happen.
However this time I’m sure the board will have put much more stringent measures in regarding the separation of fans. Last time there were fans jumping on the advertising between the sections to get at the opposition. I imagine the stewards manning this area will have been told that their job depends on keeping it civil.
But it shouldn’t all fall to the stewards. Quite simply if you feel the need to punch someone because they support a different team, jog on. Passion for the sport is one thing, but don’t use it as an excuse to let your anger out on someone else when that will have no impact on the game whatsoever. Fans go to the game to watch their team and cheer them on.
Everyone who goes to the game should be able to go without fear of injury. It’s simple. Last time people were ridiculed for taking children, but why shouldn’t they? It’s a game of football. Neither set of fans should have had to be dodging coins.
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So go to the match, enjoy yourself and cheer on West Ham. Make it an incredible atmosphere. Taunt the opposition. Ridicule their poor play. But don’t start a fight about it. Have some human decency and think about others. Or maybe just spare us all a barrage of media coverage into the thuggish mentality of football fans. Please.