Two of West Ham United’s loyal Supporters’ Clubs joined forces to cheer on the Hammers against Fulham at a historic event held in Bangkok, Thailand, in the middle of last month.
Around 25 members of the West Ham United Thailand Fanclub welcomed San Diego Hammers co-founder Paul Marshall to a rare group meeting in their country’s capital city to watch the match, play games and get to know each other, which saw them engage with another Irons group in person for the first time.
Paul is well versed in getting together with members of the Claret and Blue Army in other parts of the USA and across the world, and though he had previously bumped into fellow Hammers in Bangkok, while watching the triumphant Play-Off final in 2012, he had always hoped to set up a formal event in a location he often visits for work.
“I’ve been travelling to Thailand regularly for work for the past 15 years or so, and I’ve been in contact with the Fanclub for a while now,” said Paul, who attended his first West Ham match in person in May 2003, when a Paolo Di Canio strike earned a 1-0 win over Chelsea at Upton Park.
“They told me their membership is quite spread out across the country, so they aren’t able to get together too often, but when I knew I was heading back out to Bangkok I thought I’d try to get something set up.
“I spoke to Aie [Atippol Noppawong Na Ayutthaya], the West Ham United Thailand Fanclub chairman, and we decided to target the Fulham game. From there, they took care of everything, and in the end about 20-30 of us got together in a private room in a bar.
“There was a raffle and lots of giveaways, and it was great fun chatting to everyone and listening to their stories. We all enjoyed watching the game, and there was a big cheer when Danny Ings made it 1-1 really late on.”
While the Thai group aims to meet up approximately once a year, Aie agrees that Paul’s visit offered a unique opportunity for his club’s members to get together with some familiar and less familiar faces.
He said: “I think I’ve been in touch with Paul for about nine years now, so it was brilliant to be able to finally arrange the meeting. We have fans spread out all over Thailand, so it was great to see so many people make the effort to get together, and we all had a really good time.
“I think that the West Ham fanbase in Thailand is special, because often teams like Manchester United and Arsenal dominate in countries like ours. Our fans support West Ham for a variety of reasons, and it was nice for them to have the chance to meet and talk to each other.”
Aie’s love for West Ham is showcased by the fact his children, Upton and Boleyn, are named after the Club, while members Bush [Thanawut Apithanakun] and Gla [Glahan Deprasert] became fully-fledged Hammers because of the team’s underdog spirit and Di Canio’s sporting gesture against Everton in December 2000.
Having kept in touch with the Thai Hammers since their get together, and still involved on their social media groups, Paul is hopeful he will get the chance to catch up with his new friends sooner rather than later, when he is next in Thailand.
Paul added: “We’re already looking at the fixtures and working out when we can set up our next event. Spreading the West Ham word is amazing fun and I’ll continue doing that.
“When I’m travelling I love to meet up with other West Ham fans, and it’s always memorable. I made it to Tampa for the men’s team tour over the summer, which was really cool, and hopefully the team can have a good season wherever I’m cheering on from!”
About San Diego Hammers
The San Diego Hammers Supporters’ Club was officially formed in 2015 by Paul Marshall and Chas Shick, and they regularly cheer on the team at Bluefoot Bar and Lounge in the North Park neighbourhood of the city. Click HERE for more information.
About West Ham United Thailand Fanclub
West Ham United Thailand Fanclub was established in 2011, providing an opportunity for Hammers fans across the country to engage on social media, meet up and build friendships. Click HERE for more information.
