Farewell Boleyn - From the Newsroom

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft looks back at his best memories from the Boleyn Ground

David Croft is the well known voice on Sky Sports covering Formula One and is a lifelong West Ham supporter.


Crofty has a number of magical memories from his time at the Boleyn Ground and will be full of emotions as the club prepares to play their final ever game against Manchester United.


 

I started coming to the Boleyn Ground on a regular basis during the mid-eighties and the only reason that started was a man who lived down my street was a season ticket holder and he offered to take me.


I was 15 at the time and I made a habit of coming with this neighbour called Gerry and we stood together on the North Bank and then graduated to the South Bank where all the singing took place and it was a lot of fun.


You had a feeling that you belonged with the claret and blue army and it was magnificent.


I remember Frank McAvennie as he trotted out with that grin on his face as he always did and Tony Cottee alongside him. I was captivated by heroes who were there in front of me.


I can't remember all the games but the ones that do stand out are the League Cup win over Liverpool with Galey's free-kick and Paul Ince scoring twice.


I also had the pleasure of seeing one of the greatest own goals the Boleyn Ground has ever seen with Steve Staunton completely unmarked and he planted this header into the bottom corner and it rivalled Iain Dowie's header at Stockport.


Everything came together for the team that night and we beat the mighty Liverpool 4-1. It was a memorable night.


As West Ham fans we don't always win the war but we win the battle. There is no better ground under the lights than the Boleyn Ground.


Another memorable game was against Wimbledon when about nine minutes from time Martin Allen scored and I can still hear the sound of the ball hitting his boot to this day because you are right on top of everything.


The Spurs game this season was another great evening and the atmosphere was electric. We are never going to re-create the days when we used to sign songs for an hour and half before kick-off on the North and South Banks but we get pretty close at times.

 

I will always remember the game against Wolves, a few days after the legendary Bobby Moore passed away and seeing grown men with tears in their eyes. We went out and gave a performance worthy of Bobby that day.


We have had some great players over the years and I was lucky enough to see Liam Brady play at the end of his career and then Paolo Di Canio with his wonder goal against Wimbledon.


Not all of our great goals have been captured on television but they stay in our minds.


Every time I have been back with my boys this season I have told them to make the most of it because we will not be coming back here much longer.


I have spent 30 years of my life coming to the Boleyn Ground and I know for a number of fans it has been a lot longer and we are going to miss this place.


I am gutted that I will not be around for the final game against Manchester United as I will be covering the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona but I will be at the Swansea game and will probably stay in my seat after the whistle has been blown and try and stay there for as long as possible!!


When everything is going well under the lights there is no better place to be than the Boleyn Ground and I will always cherish the great memories.