Fortunes Always Hiding: A Random West Ham Fan Encounter

It was Father’s Day and so like most dad’s that are able, I was out with my daughter getting in some quality time Sunday afternoon not expecting anything West Ham related to happen.

As we were pulling into the retro arcade, ready to drop quarters on classics like Galaga, Ms. Pac-Man and Tekken, I noticed a pick-up truck pulling in to the parking lot at the same time as we were. In the back window, a West Ham United logo sticker in one corner caught my eye immediately. And in the other corner of the same window, the local WHU Supporters Group Decal.

“Interesting,” I said, “what are the chances of two West Ham fans coming to the same arcade on the same day at the same time as us?!”

My daughter agreed and asked if I was going to say something to the driver. Absolutely I was! There aren’t too many WHU fans in North Texas, so meeting another Hammer out in the wild would be a treat. We ain’t Man U, thank goodness!

As we gathered ourselves to make our way in, I was keeping my eye on the truck to see when they would be exiting their vehicle. As luck would have it, as soon as we got out, they did too. What timing!

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And I didn’t have to wonder if this fan was going to want to hear from me, because as I was approaching him, he was walking right towards me, with a big smile on his face. So I did what anyone in my position would do, I crossed my arms at him and said “Hey! HAMMERS!” while then extending my hand for a vigorous handshake.

He said to me in his legit cockney accent, “Your license plate is great mate!” I hadn’t crossed my mind that I have a special plate that only true Hammers would understand. Most people riding behind me think COYI is a word, not an acronym. Not a battle cry!

So while I was spotting THIS Hammers fan; he had spotted me. We made the introductions of our families, exchanged pleasantries about the upcoming season and gathering spots for watching parties. And then, so I thought, after saying goodbye, they would be heading into the arcade too.

Well, that’s what my daughter and I did at least. As I was turning to hold the door, I saw the Irons adorned truck pulling out and heading on to the rest of their day.

It was then it dawned on me: that Hammers fan saw my car, read my plates, and made a special stop in his day to pull in alongside and park just to say hello, just as I planned to do with him when I saw his Hammer’s decals.

Next. What it means to follow West Ham. dark

They weren’t there for Fathers Day or to play games–he simply stopped to say COYI too. To share a few minutes of fellowship with another West Ham United supporter in his own town on a random day. And that’s what we did, and THAT is the West Ham Way.

Fortune’s always hiding. There are no strangers among us, only family and friends we may not have met yet. And now, in this case, we have. COYI