I was very fortunate to be one of over 3,000 West Ham fans at White Hart Lane on Sunday to witness our historic 3-0 win over our London arch rivals Tottenham.
How Sky did not pick our game as their live game over West Brom v Arsenal is beyond me!
We had not won at White Hart Lane since 24th April 1999 when Ian Wright & Marc Keller goals put us two nil up before David Ginola grabbed a consolation goal.
I say I was fortunate but not as fortunate of the 3,000 well behaved West Ham fans having a well humored party at Tottenham’s expense in the away end. I was in a box with my best friend & fellow season ticket holder John, very close to the Spurs home supporters but we were certainly not alone, by my estimation over 70% of guests in the boxes were hammers!
I am sure the media expected today’s headlines to be all about West Ham & Spurs fans behaviour but instead there are stories of the marvel of Sam Allardyce’s Plan B, the world class centre back Winston Reid and the young prodigy Ravel Morrison and his excellent solo goal.
Before the game we were warned in the boxes by Spurs officials not to openly celebrate any West ham goals and that there would be zero tolerance on use of the Y word. However a steward said that Spurs fans would get one written warning before being arrested while West ham fans would be arrested on the first offence. So much for equality!
From kick off West ham seemed to have the desire and we were playing it like a London derby whilst Tottenham players many of which are new to London seemed unaware of the passion and importance of this fixture. We held our own in the first half and stopped them playing their game which frustrated them. Even Jermain Defoe couldn’t put one over us this time.
When the first goal went in courtesy of Winston Reid on the 66th minute I immediately ran into the box with my fellow hammer John to jump up and down with the blinds drawn down out of site of the furious Spurs fans feet away from us. As an added bonus Winston is also in my Premier League fantasy team so I was grateful for the 15 points he bagged me too.
Just 6 minutes later after we had just taken our seats again we ran back into the box to celebrate a very fortunate Vaz Te goal. It was now two nil to the Cockney boys!
By now Spurs fans were leaving their seats in droves as West Ham fans sung ‘Is there a fire drill?’
But the best was yet to come and 7 minutes after Vaz Te’s goal we got Ravel Morrison’s amazing solo effort.
I hadn’t even made it back into my seat for this goal I was standing in the doorway of the box so I could celebrate this one properly as most of the Spurs fans had left by that point.
When full time came the West ham fans erupted with celebration in a ground largely devoid of Spurs fans. It was a magical experience which will go down in West Ham folk law.
Like tall fish stories I am sure it will be exaggerated & embellished over the years but that’s all part of the West Ham legend.
On the fans behaviour side, I spoke to a senior Spurs steward after the game. He said the West Ham fans had been well behaved and there were no reported incidents of racist chanting, songs or gestures like last year. There were a couple minor issues relating to drinking and two smoke bombs were let off but I am sure we can be forgiven for those small misdemeanors considering the result.
Spurs fans did not fare so well. Tens of thousands broke into song in defiance singing ‘Were Sing what we what!” followed by’ the ‘Y Word Army’ three times plus the Jermain Defoe Y word song twice
.
A Spurs steward told me that the police couldn’t be expected to arrest 20,000 Spurs fans but I understand one Spurs fan was arrested at half time in what was seen as a token gesture by the police to make an example of someone.
West Ham fans were completely surrounded by police in every isle during the game but they were not visible around the rest of the ground where the Spurs fans sung freely.
Before the game I put a £10 bet for a West ham win at 7/1, while collecting my £70 winnings in the queue I met a guy who put on £1 at 150/1 for a 3-0 win!
Later on Sunday evening while passing Liverpool street on our way home we found the West Ham fans in good spirits still celebrating in the Woodins Shades pub off Bishopsgate. They were still surrounded by police with video cameras filming their every move singing ‘Sit down if you love West Ham’ as they sat on the pavement with their beer looking slightly worst for wear.
A great day was had by all although my head slightly hurts this morning. Our West Ham players and fans were a credit to us and it was one of those rare fantastic days that being a West Ham fan is all about.
John & Myself post match at White Hart Lane