Trevor Brooking Archives - Blowing Bubbles

What history tells us about our chances of bouncing back to the top

September 28, 2026 Brian Penn 0

In 107 years as members of the Football League, we have been relegated on only seven occasions. During that time we have never played outside of the top two tiers – a feat achieved by

How retired West Ham players navigate life after football

May 24, 2026 Brian Penn 0

A Premier League footballer earns on average £80,000 a week. That’s around £4 million a year. Add in image rights, performance bonuses and sign-on fees and that salary could easily double. By the time retirement

West Ham and the FA Cup is still a love affair like no other

March 9, 2026 Meirion Williams 0

I am of an age which saw the FA Cup as one of the ultimate goals for West Ham. The competition now seems to pale into insignificance compared to the league and European endeavours but

A tribute to the life and legacy of Billy Bonds, the ultimate Iron

January 18, 2026 Brian Penn 0

Certain words are used with annoying regularity in the modern game. Players are variously described as ‘legends’, ‘icons’ and ‘heroes’ when they barely merit the label. However, Billy Bonds ticked each of these boxes with

Hilkka’s Influence: Brooking’s life, the West Ham Way and his”laziness”

December 9, 2025 Neil Clack 0

A lady who inadvertently had quite a big influence on the history of West Ham died in June – Hilkka Brooking. I say that because Trevor was offered the job of full-time manager on at

Recalling some iconic West Ham moments from the Aprils of yesterday

April 27, 2025 WestHamRambles 0

April can be an interesting time of the season for us fans if our team is still involved in a battle for honours, or as been the case more than once for us Hammers, avoiding

John Lyall Years: ‘Brooking played his final game in front of adoring his fans’

March 18, 2025 Robert Banks 0

Eighth place in May 1983 was an improvement on the previous campaign but if it proved anything, it was that squad depth would be the key to success in the league. Injuries had played a

Alan Dickens: ‘As a fan, I asked do I deserve this? but I knew I’d done well in my first season’

February 27, 2025 Julian Shea 0

As a qualified London taxi driver, former West Ham midfielder Alan Dickens has passed the encyclopaedic geographical test known as The Knowledge. This requires cabbies to be able to find their way between any two

The Creative Conduit: Tracing the evolution of the West Ham playmaker

February 26, 2025 Brian Penn 0

The playmaker has assumed almost mythical status over the years; They are the creative fulcrum of the team; the tactical conduit through which play is orchestrated. It’s often associated with the number 10; originally the

It’s never easy picking an all-time West Ham XI but how’s this?

December 31, 2022 David Blackmore 1

Recently I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane and see what our followers on Twitter would select when offered the chance to choose an All Time XI. Given that social media tends to

Trevor Brooking