News and Views

The oldest and fiercest  rivalry  is with  Millwall . The two sides are local rivals, having both formed originally around local companies, with players living in the same localities. The early history of both clubs are intertwined, with West Ham proving to be the more successful in a number of meetings between the two teams at the time, resulting in West Ham being promoted at the expense of Millwall. Millwall later declined to join the fledgling  Football League while West Ham went on to the top division and an FA Cup final. Later in the 1920s, the rivalry was intensified during strike action which  Isle of Dogs -based companies (i.e., Millwall fans) refused to support, breeding ill will between the two camps, the bitterness of this betrayal enduring for years. In 1972, a Millwall supporter died at New Cross station after falling out of a train during a fight with West Ham fans.  [171] The rivalry between West Ham and Millwall has involved considerable violence and is one of the mo

West Ham have strong rivalries with several other clubs. Most of these are with other London clubs, especially with  Tottenham Hotspur  in an East versus North London derby [166]  and with  Chelsea  in an East versus West London rivalry. The rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham has been fuelled by players such as  Michael Carrick ,  Martin Peters ,  Paul Allen ,  Jermain Defoe  and  Scott Parker  leaving the Hammers to join Tottenham. [167]  The rivalry deepened with the appointment of former Hammers manager  Harry Redknapp  as Tottenham's manager. [168]  Since the  2006–07 Premier League season , West Ham have developed a strong rivalry with  Yorkshire  club  Sheffield United  due to the dubious circumstances surrounding the transfer of  Carlos Tevez , who helped West Ham avoid relegation at Sheffield United's expense. [169] [170]

The origins of West Ham's links with  organised football-related violence  starts in the 1960s with the establishment of The  Mile End  Mob (named after an area of the East End of London). [163]  During the 1970s and '80s (the main era for organised football-related violence), West Ham gained further notoriety for the levels of hooliganism in their fan base and antagonistic behaviour towards both their own and rival fans, and the police. During the '70s in particular, rival groups of West Ham fans from neighbouring areas often did battle with each other at games, most often groups from the neighbouring districts of  Barking  and  Dagenham . [164] The  Inter City Firm  were one of the first " casuals ", so called because they avoided police supervision by not wearing football-related clothing and travelled to away matches on regular  InterCity  trains, rather than on the cheap and more tightly policed "football special" charter trains. The group were a

Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue, Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue, When the Hammers are scoring, and the South Bank are roaring, And the money is pouring, for the Claret and Blue, Claret and Blue, No relegation for the Claret and Blue, Just celebration for the Claret and Blue, One day we'll win a cup or two, or three, Or four or more, for West Ham and the Claret and Blue.

“ I'm forever blowing bubbles, Pretty bubbles in the air. They fly so high, nearly reach the sky, Then like my dreams they fade and die. Fortune's always hiding, I've looked everywhere ... I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air.

Here you will read news about West Ham United FC that I feel is worth sharing and also my views on certain subjects, hence why it's called NEWS AND VIEWS