Fellow Hammers United Members,
I am immensely proud to report that Hammers United are now honoured to represent over 19,000 members. It is your membership that has afforded our group its strength and we continue to do our best on your behalf.
We take members’ issues up with the Club on a daily basis and have had successes with stadium issues, ticketing, mascot queries, Club cash, relocations and overturning stadium bans. We have helped many West Ham fans and are proud of our achievements.
Season Ticket Cards
We campaigned for the Club to honour its commitment on season ticket cards and stepped in on behalf of more than 70 Hammers United members (whose applications had either been ignored or rejected) and ensured that their season ticket cards were issued to them. This showed what can be achieved by a determined supporters’ group which is run and backed by West Ham United fans. We also place on record that Club’s Ticket Office staff were very helpful and for that we are grateful.
Giant Hammers Crest
It has been a long road but we have finally achieved planning permission for the giant crest, which once proudly adorned the Bobby Moore Stand at the Boleyn ground, to be rehoused on the old Supporters Club at Upton Park. This will be a fitting memorial to our spiritual home for so many years which holds cherished memories for so many of us. We are now working to get the transport and expertise together to see it erected early in the new year. It will be testament not just to the work of Hammers United but to the whole West Ham family who came together to rescue this iconic piece of our great Club’s history.
West Ham / ISC … a box ticking exercise ?
Hammers United’s protests back in 2020 were the catalyst to the formation of the West Ham United Independent Supporters Committee. According to the Memorandum Of Understanding between the Club and the ISC, the Club is ‘committed to positive, constructive and co-operative engagement with the ISC at all times.’
Unfortunately the Club is not fulfilling this obligation. As one example from many that could be chosen, there was no consultation over the installation of the Lower West Stand Wall.
In January 2023 The Club is obliged to publish their fan engagement plan.
This cannot be allowed to be merely a box ticking exercise. We have to work with the other groups on the ISC towards the Club engaging meaningfully and achieve far better Club/fan engagement at West Ham. There is much to be done and so many issues remain.
West Ham Customer Service
We must strive towards a marked improvement in the Club’s levels of customer service, especially in relation to its ticketing operation.
The wall remains an issue, catering prices at the stadium remains an issue.
The Champions Place stones need a restoration programme.
Stewarding is still not good enough and there are still far too many away fans in the London Stadium home sections.
Can we work with the Club to improve the atmosphere?
Can we finally achieve ‘sellers’ on the approaches to the stadium?
Then there is the potential for the introduction of safe standing.
Could the Club do more for our loyal away supporters? For example laying on transport for evening matches when there are no trains home.
Club Museum - Sir Geoff Hurst’s medals
Our Supporters Club is thriving and much credit is due to all concerned but is there more that the Club could be doing, such as providing memorabilia to display?
What has become of the promised Club museum? Where are the artefacts which were meant to be displayed? Where are Geoff Hurst’s medals? What, if anything, remains ‘in storage’?
These are just some of the things which need to be addressed and it is absolutely critical that the views of West Ham United fans are represented in meaningful discussions with the Club.
Enjoy the Ride
One criticism of Hammers United which is often levelled at us, when we are working on behalf of our members, is that we should stop moaning and just ‘enjoy the ride’.
Well, 11 out of the 12 Hammers United Committee members are season ticket holders and some are away season ticket holders. We most definitely enjoy the ride.
We are all passionate fans who enjoy the football but at the same time we seek to improve things for West Ham supporters, such as the many fans who experienced botched relocations which saw them being moved away from friends and family, or the fans who spent a small fortune travelling to Frankfurt, presented the correct voucher only to be told there was no ticket for them.
They, and all West Ham fans, deserve better and Hammers United will continue to represent them.
Hammers United Needs You !
We have made a good start but we now have to up our game and move to another level if we are to achieve real improvements for West Ham supporters. We have over 19000 members with around 25 active committee members and helpers. We need to double these numbers. We need to push on.
Our committee and ‘friends of Hammers United’ who help out are all volunteers, we all have family commitments and jobs. We need more West Ham fans to help even if for only an hour or so a week.
Any contribution, no matter how small makes us stronger. We need help with our research, with new ideas, with our communications, with recruitment and on social media.
Some might want to serve on our committee, others might prefer to stay in the background but all offers of help are greatly appreciated even if it means simply telling friends and family about Hammers United and spreading the word.
If you are a West Ham fan and want to help improve things for our fans please use the contact form (http://hammersunited.com/contact/) and we can have a chat about how you can help.
We have but one aim-to improve things for West Ham United supporters.
COYI
Hammers United Committee.
www.hammersunited.co.uk
