Simon Spanner

I was in Florida last week on business, popped in to the local pub I use (the pub on 27th Street in Davenport, FL) when I was there to watch the us play the Pompey game was on the net and my wireless had gone down at the house I was staying in, so I ventured up there knowing it would be full of scousers watching them rob the Arse. When i sat down the barmaid said: “Simon do you know that bloke sitting 2 seats away?” I said no, not wanting to bother him as he was obviously on hols and I knew it was Steve Lomas, but she kept saying did I want his autograph? I said no as I was more interested in getting the game on my laptop.

Anyway as the afternoon wore on and i was joined by another hammers fan who was in the pub and the game wasn’t working out too well on the pc via China so I gave up and was chatting to Steve Lomas who is a thoroughly decent chap. No airs and graces that you might find with some others, he was just one of the lads in the pub for the day. He bought me a drink and even didn’t mind having his pic taken with me although one scouser had to get in on the act.

Turns out he was on his own for the afternoon and kids probably at disney for day! He shook hands when he left with me, 2 Rangers supporters and their scouse mate

By Steve Anderton

Back in about 1980 – 1981 I played cricket for a local team in Essex. On this particular day we were due to play Hutton CC at King George Playing Fields in Brentwood. I kept wicket at the time and was surprised to see Psycho (David Cross) walk out to bat. As he scored 100 plus runs against us I had plenty of time to chat to him during his innings. When it was my turn to bat I had another opportunity to talk with him as he also was the wicket keeper.

At the end of the game he asked me if my wife and I would like to join him and his wife for a drink back at Hutton’s Club House. I thought this was just him being polite as it is courtesy after games to have a drink with the opposition, but in fact when we arrived at the club he immediately came over to me and insisted we join him and his wife as he had suggested earlier.

We stayed for at least 2 hours in his company and found him to be very different to his on pitch persona. He was as interested in my meagre footballing achievements (Essex Senior and Isthmian League) as I was in his. I will always remember him as a really nice guy.

Also my wife worked with the wife of Johnny Ayris and as such we became friendly for a while as we lived close by them in South Woodham Ferrers. Over dinner one night in our house John explained to me how his career got cut short by Ron “Chopper” Harris of Chelsea.

One last one is that after I stopped playing Saturday football I played for a Sunday morning team in Southend – on – Sea called Trinity. For a season where we got a good way in the National Sunday Cup we were managed by Anton Otulakowski. He was very unassuming and did not open up with many stories from his playing days.

By Andrew Morrin

I heard Paolo di Canio was going to be at bluewater signing is autobiography. So took my family (missus and three kids). Got there, massive queue and I mean massive. Out of the shop and longer than I could be bothered to measure. So, made decision to go and do some shopping and come back later. Hoping queue would be shorter by then.

Got there one/half hour before close, and still a well long queue. Decided to bite the bullet and join it. It became clear that there would not be enough time to see everyone, before the shop (and shopping centre) was to close. Someone mentioned to Paolo about the closing time. He refused to leave until he had seen and signed everyone in the queue.

Well, we were basically close to the end of the queue. So by the time we got to the front, it’s was after the time it was supposed to close I was aware of this. We had brought along a camera to take pictures. Well we got to the front. And, some person(presume security) motioned me to step forward and get my book signed. This person was trying to get through the queue as fast as possible (understandable). This made me decide not to ask for a photo and just get the book signed. Well, Paolo saw me with my boys and wife. I steped forward and gave him the book. He signed it. Than I went to walk away, and he called me back. And, insisted he shock my hand and personally greeted all my family (shaing hands and hugging). He also noticed the camera, and relalised our intentions and decision not to ask.. And insisted we take multiple pictures. One of him and myself. One of him with his arms around whole family amd a few others.

This made me feel so special and warm inside it was untrue. Some would say could PR, I would say he was a diamond geezer. Will allways respect and admire him for that.

After a crack of the dawn start we made our way from Upton Park on what can only be described as heap of junk towards the M4 and wait for it “Hereford in the cup” 73/74 season. First the driver got lost getting out of London and by the time the Heston services were looming every one was calling for a “comfort break”, not this driver (with his 10 year old daughter sat on the engine cover alongside him) we sailed straight past so that in his words “we could make up time” by the time we hit the Maidenhead turn off the troops were about to burst in a collective “weeathon” he finally stopped just off the motorway and we all ran into a field.

The rest of the journey was spent cruising at about 40 miles an hour, and kick off was looming, still miles away and only 40 mins to kick off, boy ‘o boy was this driver taking some serious stick (good job he had his daughter with him).

And then it happened we got lost on the outskirts of Hereford the game had kicked off the lads were going mad! finally got into the ground 20mins late. We lost 2-1 “how did that happen” and back to the coach for the long haul home. It turns out the coach has no heating, it’s raining and blow me the bloody windscreen wipers don’t work and the engine chugged as if it wanted to just die! it was a complete fiasco.

We finally made it to some services on the M4 and the we were all sitting down cupping a cup of tea trying to get warm, talking about another cup dream shattered by some wannabes from the depths of the football league when into the services walk the team and Frank Lampard came over to our table and in a very matter of fact way said “SORRY ABOUT THAT LADS”. To be honest I’ll never know who took more abuse that day the coach driver or poor old Frank, what I do know is, it was the last time I ever went on a supporters coach to an away game!

Roshi

By James Metcalf
The Year was 1993 September 1st. Myself (aged 19 at the time) and 2 girls or a similar age, that I was friends with at the time decided to go to Old Trafford on a Wednesday night. We took the Official supporters coaches, which happens to be the only time I’ve done that. The traffic around Manchester was terrible and by the time we got into the ground the game was 5 minutes old and we were already 1-0 down. Ludo had been beaten by Lee Sharpe I think. The game was fairly predictable and we lost 3-0. Cantona and Bruce bagged the other goals.

Anyway, we walked out of the ground after and followed a large group of West Ham fans to where we thought the coaches were parked. We walked for ages before realizing that the fans we were following were heading to their cars. So, we turned around and walked back only to be told that the coaches were moved on by the police and couldn’t wait any longer for us. Short of cash and any other ideas, we headed to where the Team coach was parked.

By this time the players were just about all on and Billy Bonds was standing by the doors of the coach.
I believe my exact words were ‘Billy, Mate, we’ve been left behind by the coaches and have no way to get home’. Billy told the 3 of us to hold on and went on to the coach to speak to someone else.
A few minutes later, Harry Redknapp comes down and says ‘You sure there’s no other way home for you?’ After a short discussion he tells us to get on the coach!! I couldn’t believe this was happening!
As we got on, the board members were at the front, the senior players like Alvin Martin and Tony Gale were to the other side.

Just past the kitchen (and the waiters) were a set of seats with small screens built in above. We were lucky enough to sit around a table with Mark Robson who was a total star, a West Ham man through and through. I remeber him tucking into a bowl of Chilli Con Carne and telling us he lived in Beckton!
Ludo was playing cards with Keith Rowland and Matty Holmes. Down the back was the roudy lot, Martin Allen, Colin Foster, Ian Bishop, Morley and so on. One of them chucked their dirty pants at the girls, who barely spoke the whole way home. I think they were just so shocked by what was happening.
The only player not on the coach was Julian Dicks. Robson told us he was driving back to Bristol that night. Certainly one of the greatest nights of my life…..

Have you got a tale of meeting a West Ham player? If so, email it to me and I’ll publish it on the site at some point.