Chris Wheal, Author at Blowing Bubbles

Why West Ham fans are acting as the ultimate crash test dummies

September 23, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

The first crash test dummy was built in 1949 to test airplane ejector seats, and by the 1970s car makers were regularly using crash test dummies to make their vehicles safer. Crash test dummies have

Pro Ref rebranding is an own goal for English match officials

August 25, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

Football referees have rebranded. Out goes the discredited Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) and in comes Professional Game Referees (Pro Ref). And the refs claim to be blowing full-time on suggestions this is just

Club finally listens to fans as season ticket sales hit 50,000

August 16, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

The season ticket numbers are staggering. Just after we were relegated, the club said it expected only 35,000 season ticket holders to renew. Fan Advisory Board (FAB) members suggested price changes to encourage greater numbers.

New Championship season ticket discounts offer a refreshing change for Hammers fans

June 13, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

The discounts offered to Hammers fans on season tickets in the Championship appear to be just the ticket for most fans. Some have bigger discounts than others and naturally a few voices complain, but the

Hammers fan groups clash with board over poor engagement standards

April 3, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

Disappointing results on the pitch have been matched off the pitch with equally disappointing fan engagement from the club. The official structure of fan engagement is the Fan Advisory Board (FAB). This now has three

Elections and annual general meeting announced for West Ham United Supporters Trust

February 7, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

It’s time to elect half the board of the West Ham United Supporters’ Trust (WHUST). AGM Details and Board Structure Our Annual General Meeting and elections will be held, via Zoom, on Wednesday 25 February

A foot in the door as West Ham fans finally join stadium safety group

January 17, 2026 Chris Wheal 0

After nearly a decade of campaigning, West Ham fans have secured representation on the Newham council sportsground Safety Advisory Group (SAG) covering football at the London Stadium. This is great news. Up to a point.

The CEO’s conflict: Fan Advisory Board grills West Ham on governance and Karren Brady’s ‘full-time’ role

November 2, 2025 Chris Wheal 0

Reading Between the Lines: Governance and Fan Scrutiny One skill West Ham watchers need to learn is to read between the lines. On Halloween the sorcerers who run the club published the official records of

Hate the directors, support the team: The WHUST mandate for West Ham protests

October 22, 2025 Chris Wheal 0

The terrible twosome at the top of the club – Brady and Sullivan (BS) – have always thought West Ham fans were horrible. But now the pair have provoked a putsch – a proper fan

Inside the FAB: Brady, sub-groups & the struggle for meaningful consultation

September 12, 2025 Chris Wheal 0

The West Ham Fan Advisory Board (FAB) held its first meeting of the new season in August. For the meeting, the club rolled out its big guns: Baroness Karren Brady, CBE, the club’s vice-chair, alongside

Articles by Chris Wheal