Julian Shea, Author at Blowing Bubbles

‘I had one dream in my life which was playing for West Ham’

August 20, 2026 Julian Shea 0

A standard part of the process of getting a new job is a reference from your former employer, to confirm to your new employer that you are a good and worthwhile addition to the team.

John Moncur: ‘It’s lovely to think the fans still have so much affection for me’

May 23, 2026 Julian Shea 0

Legendary West Ham firebrand midfielder John Moncur’s late career conversion to Christianity may have been a surprise to some people. But it is not the first time he has belatedly seen the light and been

Allen McKnight: ‘West Ham still have my heart and I watch them every time I can’

April 18, 2026 Julian Shea 0

For West Ham fans, the 80s were a golden age – of nicknames. Some of the most unforgettable monickers were given to players, who have been defined by them for decades. David Cross, better known

Sir Clyde Best? The growing movement to knight a West Ham legend

March 26, 2026 Julian Shea 0

West Ham could soon find itself having a third former player knighted, after the release of a documentary about the life and legacy of legendary Bermudian striker Clyde Best, which filmmakers hope will give a

West Ham legends take centre stage as the 2026 World Cup looms

March 20, 2026 Julian Shea 0

No matter how much posthumous praise is lavished on him, nothing will make amends for Bobby Moore’s lack of formal recognition and proper appreciation during his lifetime. All the honours subsequently thrown at football people

Gary Strodder: ‘I love the old grounds, and the old days – it was a better game then’

March 13, 2026 Julian Shea 0

Anyone who finds West Ham’s transfer dealings frustrating these days would be well advised to look back at how the club did its recruitment in the 1980s. In October 1983, for what remains the only

West Ham pioneers who changed the face of the modern American game

February 28, 2026 Julian Shea 0

As all real football fans know, in 1966, West Ham won the World Cup. But what is less widely known is the direct West Ham connection to the 2026 World Cup. This summer’s tournament is

Jimmy Quinn: ‘West Ham was the biggest club I played for – I shouldn’t have left’

January 24, 2026 Julian Shea 0

Oh what West Ham would give today for the luxury of a striker who could score 19 goals in 43 games and be considered surplus to requirements. Because that was the situation at the club

The Lorenzo golden ticket: Luck, Bobby, and Barkingside legends

December 12, 2025 Julian Shea 0

In football, just like in life in general, a lot of things come down to luck. One moment can make a lifetime of difference. To put that in a West Ham context, good luck is

Clive Tyldesley: ‘It’s a privilege to say I saw the best Hammers play at Upton Park’

April 29, 2025 Julian Shea 0

In a life that has taken him from Bury to Brazil and beyond, seen him forge some legendary commentary box partnerships and become famous for his meticulous handwritten match notes, commentator Clive Tyldesley has seen

Articles by Julian Shea