Pivotal moments 2020/21: 10 Pledges, 10 Poignant Protests. GSB OUT.

This morning, before the Manchester City game, Hammers United staged a series of protests against Gold, Sullivan and Brady highlighting the failings of their tenure and calling on them to put the club up for sale.

There were 10 main protests held simultaneously at poignant locations; one for each of GSB’s pledges, while Hammers United members also protested outside Mile End, Plaistow and Stratford stations.

HERMIT ROAD

Thames Ironworkers first played at The Old St. Lukes Ground, Hermit Road, Canning Town in 1895. Our Joint Secretary Tross and some friends were there this morning remembering our roots as a workers team in a proud working class area.


Tross and friends remember our roots.

THE MEMORIAL GROUNDS

Thames Ironworks moved a few minutes walk up the road in 1897 to The Memorial Grounds in West Ham. It was fitting that we were also there remembering our club’s rich traditions and history.  Some well know faces amongst our fans represented Hammers United members.


Highbury, Hackney and Plaistow Hammers. Long Live the Boleyn. GSB OUT

THE BOLEYN GROUND. ‘Home’ to most of us.

The Boleyn Ground

It was in 1904 that we moved to what many consider our spiritual home; The Boleyn Ground, Upton Park and remained there until 2016 when GSB decided it would be fitting to blow her up.

So many memories. Highs and lows, those incredible evenings under the lights, Eintracht Frankfurt, the Ipswich play off semi-final, the Aston Villa quarter-final.  My goodness how I miss that place.  Kens Cafe, Ercans, Queens Market, Nathans, The Boleyn and The Lord Stanley.

GSB could have invested and redeveloped The Boleyn Ground and retained our heritage as previous custodians had done before them. Instead they chose to turn off the lights on the old girl, leaving her as a smouldering pile of rubble, out-doing the attempts of the German Luffwaffe in 1944 who only ever managed to take out part of the South Bank and the West Stand.  Some legacy that.

THE WORLD CUP WINNERS STATUE

Understandably,  hundreds of our members wanted to protest there but we kept it safe and legal and staged two separate and well distanced protests. Some of West Ham’s finest led the protest at the World Cup Winners Statue.

The fans flag, proudly on display for the first time in fifteen years.

The fans have woken – and we want our club back!

UPTON PARK STATION & GREEN STREET

We held a separate protest where the main gates had stood. Another hugely symbolic and poignant statement made by West Ham fans. Bubbles and some of his friends were there on behalf of Hammers

Bubbles and friends where the day began for so many.


Bubbles and friends protest outside the Boleyn Ground.

EAST HAM TOWN HALL

East Ham Town Hall was the culmination of our victory parades when Bobby and Billy lifted the cup. Many of our older supporters, like me, pray for one more trophy before we go to Hammer Heaven and of course there are generations who are yet to see us lift silverware. On the current showing, we’ll need ownership who actually want to work with the fans and rebuild our club so we can have a chance celebrate again.

FA Cup Town Hall

It was a good place to protest. In our heartland and the scene of some fantastic West Ham celebrations. Like Canning Town, Upton Park and West Ham there was plenty of passing traffic to note our dissatisfaction at the failings of GSB. Ted, Bert and long time stalwarts represented Hammers United outside the town hall.


These people have done the miles. GSB OUT

WEMBLEY STADIUM

So to Wembley, the scene of our greatest triumphs. Ronny Boyce in 1964,  Alan Taylor in 1975 and Trevor in 1980. Goals etched in all our memories. Not forgetting our greatest of all when Alan Sealey scored two and Bobby lifted the European Cup Winners Cup on 1965.

Bobby Moore ECWC 1965

Brilliant days. On that fantastic afternoon of May 10 1980 I would never have dreamt that in forty years we would not be back. It was fitting that Hammers United remembered our clubs finest achievements here today, at the same time showing the people of North West London our frustration with the GSB regime and anger at the way our club is being run. Hitchin and Harrow Hammers were there but unfortunately could only protest at a distance due Covid restrictions in place on the concourse near Bobby Moore’s statue.

Hitchin and Harrow remember our triumphs and get the ‘GSB OUT’ message out to North West London.

THE SOUL LESS BOWL


Hammers United waiting to greet GSB at the gates. We are at the gates for every home game and most away.

Broken promises, broken dreams and broken hearts. The boys from Crossed Hammers were protesting at one gate. To keep it safe and legal, Hammers United took a 6 man team to another led by Committee member Joe.

Our protests were symbolic, remembering our history, heritage and working class roots. However, we recognise that we must get the ‘GSB OUT’ message over to as many as possible, in particular those living in the West Ham heartlands.

We were in Canning Town, West Ham, East Ham, Upton Park, Plaistow and Mile End protesting today. Many of our fans live in Essex so we answered their calls for protest and safely protested in Basildon, Romford and Lakeside this morning.

THE WEST HAM STORE, EASTGATE, BASILDON


Southend and Basildon Hammers make their voices heard at Basildon store. GSB OUT

 

THE WEST HAM STORE, LIBERTY SHOPPING CENTRE, ROMFORD

Collier Row and Romford Hammers make their voices heard at the Romford store. GSB OUT

THE WEST HAM STORE, LAKESIDE

Andy, Trevor and the Grays boys make their voices heard at Lakeside store. GSB OUT

HAMMERS UNITED ARE NOT A PROTEST GROUP

It’s important to remember that Hammers United is not a protest group. It’s aim was, and remains, quite simply to make things better for all West Ham United fans.

However, since our formation eighteen months ago, despite enormous efforts made to drive engagement with the Club aided by the great support of the FSA and other supporters groups, little demonstrable progress has been made.

They have continued to underdeliver against the expectations they set and our members have been vocal in support of the GSB OUT campaigns. They want the club to be put up for sale.

We exist to serve our members and it is both an honour and a privilege to do so.

OUR PREVIOUS PROTESTS

It is in line with their wishes that we have delivered protests.

The first was a ‘static’ protest before the Everton match in January attracting around 1,500 fans and this saw positive press coverage, with no trouble or arrests.

The Greenway ‘stroll’, arranged before the Southampton match in February, attracted some 8,500 fans calling for ‘GSB OUT’.  This again was a good-natured affair, receiving more positive press coverage with no trouble or arrests. The black balloon and flags protests at Liverpool and Arsenal were also well documented and received positive press coverage.

It’s important to recognise that, throughout, our members gave (and continue to give) their full support to the team and those who were at the Liverpool and Arsenal away games will attest to the atmosphere there and the recognition by the team of some great support.

We support the team not the regime.

Our planned mass protests the Burnley match and the Aston Villa game on the last day of the season had to be cancelled because of the global pandemic. We are confident these would have seen 12,000+ turning out at the stadium gates on the last day of the season.

In the current crisis, like you, we are adhering to tight restrictions and recognise we have a duty of care to our members and to broader society. With that in mind, a small group of us are at the ground every home and most away games, giving a voice to your discontent.

We even had a team outside the training ground on transfer deadline day, much to the joy of local residents and passing traffic.

We held this protest today and will continue with more of the same, legally and safely, to make sure your message to GSB is heard.

FUTURE PROTESTS

We continue to work with our legal advisers who are experts in this field and are confident that we will soon, once more, be able to deliver mass protest.

Friends, these dark days will not last forever. The good times will return. The fanbase has once more rallied.  Perhaps it was broken, but it is mending, healing and awakening.

I feel optimism and enthusiasm that better times are around the corner and that we can all play our part in rebuilding our club.

Hammers United has a vision. Our aim, ‘to improve things for all West Ham supporters’, must be achieved. ’GSB OUT’ may be the start, but when they are gone there will be much work to be done.

We will be working with our members to establish the detail of our vision and to bring this to fruition. As always, it is imperative that we are guided by them.

Between us we must decide what direction we want our club to take. We want the club’s soul back, we want our history and traditions back, we want our friends back who have walked away, and so much more.

God bless you all.

Long Live West Ham.

UNITED WE STAND

Hammers United