West Ham United fans will once again be out in force to
cheer their team on in our vital last home match of the season
against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
This week the supporters have been praised by Chairman Eggert
Magnusson and manager Alan Curbishley for their backing, not just
at the JJB Stadium, but throughout the season.
A travelling army of around 5,500 made the long trip up to Wigan on
Saturday morning, many going up on the free coaches that were
supplied by the Club.
A total of 34 coaches left the Boleyn Ground just after 7.00am and
made their way up to the north west, packed with supporters who
were all in good voice before the match and were certainly in more
than good spirits after witnessing a superb performance by the team
that resulted in the 3-0 victory over the Latics.
Fans armed with whistles, claret and blue wigs, flags, banners and
quite literally anything they could wave made the away-day tie look
like a home match, something that Curbs acknowledged, saying
"Driving into the ground, all we could see was claret and
blue"
As they once again prepare to get behind the players this weekend,
many fans spoke of their delight at the gesture of last
weekend's free travel and of their high hopes for a good ending
to the season.
Peter Bartram, from Essex, said: "We are all feeling positive.
West Ham can honestly say they have had loyal support over the
years and the free travel is one way of paying that back. Although
I think you will find Hammers fans in their thousands following the
team whether it was free or not. That's just what we are
about."
He added: "Mr Magnusson seems to have taken that on board and
we are hopefully looking towards a good future with the plans he
has for the club."
And Geoff Randall, also from Essex, said: "We want to support
our team home and away. There are also those of us with children,
who are the next generation of West Ham fans and the free travel
did help as going to football is an expensive business these days.
"It's great going up on the coach, there's always a
good atmosphere, win or lose, although coming back after a match
when you have won, there is no better feeling!
"It's a life sentence being a West Ham fan, but we really
wouldn't have it any other way!"
*To read more from the fans and hear about some of their away-day
stories over the years, see our three-page feature special in
Saturday's matchday programme.
by Laura Burkin