As we approach 10 years at the London Stadium, it is worth reflecting since the move from The Boleyn Ground. At the beginning of the 2015-16 season, Dad (Terry) and I made the decision to renew our season ticket for the move to The London Stadium. Like the majority of West Ham fans, who had the history and memories of Upton Park, we did not want to move home. We had been selected to visit the Stratford Reservation Centre to choose our potential new seats. Whilst we were sitting there choosing our seats, we turned around and it was our current first team goalkeeper: Adrian and a young Diego Poyet, son of Gus Poyet. Bianca Westwood was also there. They posed for photos and talked about West Ham with us. It was a filming session for Soccer Saturday. When the episode ran on Soccer Saturday, we were on TV in the background. We still have the footage of that today.
London Stadium: Home for a New Generation
We spent seven seasons at the London Stadium as season ticket holders. Did it feel like home over those years? No. To certain generations, it will never be home because of the memories and joy of Upton Park. The new generation of West Ham fans will know the London Stadium as home because it will be all they know. Time moves on whether we like it or not.
The Problem with Building on Success
I believe West Ham fans will want to see the next 10 years as a successful period in the club’s history at the London Stadium. A club that shows ambition and wants to improve and compete at the highest possible level. However, this is West Ham United Football Club. Have we ever built upon any success that we’ve ever had? The answer to that question is no. Whenever West Ham have had any form of success, it has never materialised into continued success. This dates back to the 1960s going into the 1970s. Then the 1970s going into the 1980s. Remember the third-place finish in 1986? West Ham were relegated in 1989. Look at our most recent history, three years in Europe. A Semi-Final in the Europa League, a final and a trophy in the Europa Conference League then a Quarter-Final in the Europa League. Fast forward to a poor season in 2024-2025 with two managers after David Moyes, who started the rut in his final season. My point being is that it depends on a number of factors but most importantly the ownership of the club. David Sullivan will not take our club forward and achieve consistent success. Also, a stadium will not define our success.
Subtle Improvements to the Ground’s Identity
I think over time, it is fair to say that there have been improvements to the London Stadium over the last nine years. When we first moved in there was no segregation between home and away fans, which caused some issues – Chelsea in the cup springs to mind. In the marquee match vs Juventus, the green cover was flapping in the breeze showing the athletics track in one corner of the ground. The green wrap around eventually changed to our club colours, a claret carpet which our very own Michail Antonio enjoyed rolling around on when he scored. There have been subtle changes to make it, shall we say, more West Ham. Most notably, the statue outside the stadium of our famous 1965 Cup Winners Cup triumph. What do we hope for? Maybe a statue of the 2023 squad who won the Europa Conference League. As stated previously, the ownership of the club has to show ambition and provide a clear, structured pathway.
The Managerial Merry-Go-Round Since the Move
Now let’s look at the managerial tenures at the London Stadium. Slaven Bilic got a rough end of the deal after a brilliant last season at Upton Park. Again, the club bought in very average players, for example Zaza and Feghouli. It did not help that the star man, Dimitri Payet, wanted to leave the club, which resulted in him re-joining Marseille. I found Bilic to look like a broken man for most of his time at the London Stadium, which was sad to see. David Moyes then came in and steadied the ship in a turbulent time for the club. There was the pitch invasion, the storming of the Director’s Box, Mark Noble wrestling a fan with another fan planting the corner flag in the centre circle in a 3-0 defeat to Burnley. But he was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini. He had a steady first season but the wheels came off soon after in the next season and his signings just did not work. Enter David Moyes once again aka The Moyesiah. Moyes should always be remembered fondly for some great league positions and the three years in Europe, which resulted in our first trophy in 43 years. The first one I had witnessed West Ham winning in my lifetime. However, the football then became dreadful and the Match of the Day team week in and week out criticised West Ham fans for complaining and yet hypocritically did exactly the same thing to Gareth Southgate as England manager. Similar styles without utilising attacking talent. Julen Lopotegui wasn’t the right man for the job. Graham Potter could be and I really hope is the right man to build something just like Moyes did in his time at West Ham.
The Commercial Appeal vs. The Real Fan
I think we have to be honest and say, without the figures to hand, that West Ham’s commercial appeal, global fanbase and financial standing has probably improved since the move to the London Stadium. That was the whole point, wasn’t it? Before any success on the pitch, money is always the driver for football nowadays. We do get a lot of tourists who like to take photos during the game as well though– is this a good thing? Well, the club gets their money but the real fan just wants to watch the football so no is the answer to that question. The increased capacity from 35,000 to 66,000 will see more money reaching the owners as well as increased season ticket holders.
The Best London Stadium Goals and Moments
Now onto some memorable matches at the London Stadium. A 3-2 win against Liverpool was an enjoyable match. Liverpool had been unbeaten in 26 matches in all competitions but we managed to win this match. Kurt Zouma getting the deciding goal. Similarly, a 3-2 win against Chelsea in 2021. The Arthur Masuaku cross/shot that ended up in the back of Chelsea’s net. Always nice to beat a London rival. My stand out match though has to be the Sevilla match. A 2-0 win in 2022. In the 112th minute, I have never heard anything like it. The noise of the fans as Andriy Yarmolenko scored what would prove to be the winning goal. Yarmolenko tapped the ball into the net with his favoured left-foot. He had also scored on the previous Sunday at home to Aston Villa. It was an emotional time for him due to the war in his home country of Ukraine. Everybody was behind him and it seemed fitting that he would score this historic goal on the night. When we had settled back into our seats, I captured a photo of Dad and I with our reaction to the goal. It is one of my favourite photos of us both. Father and son sharing such an iconic moment as fans of West Ham United. This was by far the best atmosphere in the London Stadium for me. There have been some memorable goals scored at the London Stadium. Dimitri Payet scored a special solo goal against Middlesbrough, beating around five or six players and slotting home. A sublime individual goal. The Andy Carroll bicycle kick against Crystal Palace was a very special goal. I wonder if we’ll see that again down at Dagenham & Redbridge next season? In a 3-1 win over Manchester United, Felipe Anderson scored an outrageous back heel goal. I would add in Declan Rice’s solo goal in the Europa Conference League in a 4-1 win over Gent. He just drove with the ball and expertly finished. A superb individual goal by a very special player.
Looking Ahead
It is always challenging moving stadiums for any football club and the fans. We are not the first club that has made a transition to a new stadium and we will certainly not be the last. Ultimately, we continue to support West Ham United Football Club and for me that will never change. I have recently discussed stadium moves on my podcast: Back In the Day with my guest Jim, who I sat next to at the London Stadium for six out of the seven season ticket years. As West Ham fans, we discuss The Upton Park to the London Stadium move. If you are interested, you will find the links in the bio on: X: podBITD and Instagram: podbitd.
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