When it comes to being an avid overseas West Ham follower, they don't come much bigger than Norman Galea who has spent a large part of his life following the Hammers and has clocked up thousands of miles from Malta to see his beloved team in action.
My name is Norman Galea and I come from the Island of Malta. I am 50-years-old and have been a Hammers fan for these last 40 years.
I started following West Ham United when they won the 1975 FA Cup Final. My first visit to London was as a sixteen year old for the FA Cup Final against Arsenal in 1980.
That was it – I got hooked on West Ham United.
I started traveling to London and Upton Park on regular basis. I have also made visits to Chadwell Heath to watch training sessions.
I started the West Ham United Fan Club here in Malta and Gozo, and for these past seven years I’m a season ticket holder in the Bobby Moore Lower.
I travel to most home games and sometimes even do a day trip Malta / London / Malta. It would certainly be a busy day of traveling.
I leave Malta with an Airmalta flight at 7.15am arriving in London at 10am. I then get the train using the Piccadilly Line and then switch to the District Line arriving at Upton Park about midday.
That gives me some time to have a few pints with a few mates that I have made over the years.
I watch the game and then head straight back to Heathrow to catch the 8.30pm flight back home which I arrive a bit after midnight.
About two or three times a year I visit with my wife and daughter and both of them are keen Hammers fans.
Over the years we have a lot of experience regarding West Ham United. We have met most of the players and staff, including all the managers that have worked at our Club.
We meet hundreds of fans in pubs, away games , doing boat trips , football forums and other activities.
I have seen all the West Ham United Play-Off Finals in Cardiff and Wembley and the FA Cup Final against Liverpool and some Pre-Season matches abroad.
Through these years I have a lot of other West Ham United stories to talk about but I need to write a book to tell them all.
Now I’m hoping that we will have a great football stadium when we move to the new Stadium and we will be the envy of most.
COYI