Belgian Irons founder Joe Verschueren talks about his love for the Hammers
Founder member of the Belgian Irons Jos Verschueren, whose love for the Club started way back in 1976 during the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, talks about his connection to the Hammers…
My love for West Ham started a long time ago, when Anderlecht played the Hammers in the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. We were defeated 4-2 that day, of course, after Mr. Europe – Francois Van der Elst, who later played for West Ham – scored two, but I love have loved the Club since.
At that time, I was 12 and, with a friend of mine, we watched that match. We had recently got our very first colour TV set at home, and as we were both supporters of fellow Belgian club Mechelen, we were not going to support Anderlecht, so our love for West Ham began!
We were so overwhelmed by the beautiful combination of claret and blue that we decided, at that age, that when we were older, we would come to the Boleyn Ground and support the Club if our parents allowed us to do so.
Three, four, five years later, we took the ferry to Dover and eventually saw West Ham play, finally. We watched them play Leyton Orient that day.
Then, years later in 1997, we launched a TV broadcast on a commercial channel in Beligum. We encouraged any West Ham fans in Belgium to come forward and let us know if they would be interested in joining us to watch West Ham.
A week later, we had our first full coach of West Ham supporters and we travelled to the Boleyn Ground to watch a game.
So, that was 1997 – we celebrate our 20th anniversary next year. Each and every home game, we had at least one full coach of 60 people going to support West Ham from Belgium. The coach left in the early morning for fans to support the Club in the afternoon.
These days, I am a university lecturer at the University of Brussels, and I bring my students over to watch West Ham United. Since 2000, the Hammers have played a big part in our sports management course and also part of courses like sports marketing, sports sponsorships, sports and social media and sports and law.
In every course we do, I try to fit in West Ham elements and make sure the Club features somewhere! I brainwash many students into supporting West Ham, and even my 82-year-old mother says to me: “oh, West Ham won today!”
My office has become a mini-West Ham museum – I have the famous toaster, shirt, scarf, cap…you name it, I have it.
The last game I watched was with my students on Wednesday 2 March for the win over Spurs, and there was also culture behind our visit as we had a short guided tour at the ground, stayed in the hotel and also visited the Olympic Park.
The atmosphere when I go to Boleyn Ground is brilliant, from the burger vans to the merchandise shop. All my students want to go to Chelsea or Arsenal but my personal passion is to share the passion and the Academy of Football and the way West Ham creates history and future.
I want to share the whole regeneration of the neighbourhood and all the ingredients that make it for me a beautiful West Ham United to share.
In terms of favourite players of mine, I liked Teddy Sheringham very much years ago and I have a lot of respect when I see Sir Trevor Brooking, as he has a lot of charisma, being part of the FA and he has his own stand.
I have a lot of respect now for Slaven Bilic, too. Of course, the cherry on the cake is good results, but Bilic has that great passion and feeling for the Club on how to bring the best from the spirit and the vibes from the people to the pitch.
I have loved West Ham for a long time and will continue to do so for many years!
My love for West Ham started a long time ago, when Anderlecht played the Hammers in the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup final. We were defeated 4-2 that day, of course, after Mr. Europe – Francois Van der Elst, who later played for West Ham – scored two, but I love have loved the Club since.
At that time, I was 12 and, with a friend of mine, we watched that match. We had recently got our very first colour TV set at home, and as we were both supporters of fellow Belgian club Mechelen, we were not going to support Anderlecht, so our love for West Ham began!
We were so overwhelmed by the beautiful combination of claret and blue that we decided, at that age, that when we were older, we would come to the Boleyn Ground and support the Club if our parents allowed us to do so.
Three, four, five years later, we took the ferry to Dover and eventually saw West Ham play, finally. We watched them play Leyton Orient that day.
Then, years later in 1997, we launched a TV broadcast on a commercial channel in Beligum. We encouraged any West Ham fans in Belgium to come forward and let us know if they would be interested in joining us to watch West Ham.
A week later, we had our first full coach of West Ham supporters and we travelled to the Boleyn Ground to watch a game.
So, that was 1997 – we celebrate our 20th anniversary next year. Each and every home game, we had at least one full coach of 60 people going to support West Ham from Belgium. The coach left in the early morning for fans to support the Club in the afternoon.
These days, I am a university lecturer at the University of Brussels, and I bring my students over to watch West Ham United. Since 2000, the Hammers have played a big part in our sports management course and also part of courses like sports marketing, sports sponsorships, sports and social media and sports and law.
In every course we do, I try to fit in West Ham elements and make sure the Club features somewhere! I brainwash many students into supporting West Ham, and even my 82-year-old mother says to me: “oh, West Ham won today!”
My office has become a mini-West Ham museum – I have the famous toaster, shirt, scarf, cap…you name it, I have it.
The last game I watched was with my students on Wednesday 2 March for the win over Spurs, and there was also culture behind our visit as we had a short guided tour at the ground, stayed in the hotel and also visited the Olympic Park.
The atmosphere when I go to Boleyn Ground is brilliant, from the burger vans to the merchandise shop. All my students want to go to Chelsea or Arsenal but my personal passion is to share the passion and the Academy of Football and the way West Ham creates history and future.
I want to share the whole regeneration of the neighbourhood and all the ingredients that make it for me a beautiful West Ham United to share.
In terms of favourite players of mine, I liked Teddy Sheringham very much years ago and I have a lot of respect when I see Sir Trevor Brooking, as he has a lot of charisma, being part of the FA and he has his own stand.
I have a lot of respect now for Slaven Bilic, too. Of course, the cherry on the cake is good results, but Bilic has that great passion and feeling for the Club on how to bring the best from the spirit and the vibes from the people to the pitch.
I have loved West Ham for a long time and will continue to do so for many years!