Regardless of the carve up over the Olympic Stadium, another traditional London ground is set to fall.
It was also our temporary home ground at one stage. Whether it was because it was post-Selhurst, or the return was imminent, but it feels as if memories of the time there were generally positive. It was certainly a time where at the back of the North Bank a huge amount of lads my age range become pally.
So what specific memories of Upton Park do people have? Not just from the home ground stage, but from other away visits.
Would love to hear people's stories / memories
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couldn't stand still for more than 2 seconds the whole game.
1-3 Melrose 9 seconds
1-1 pouring down with rain can't remember who scored but think it was Crooks
1-3 Williams with 2 and a great diving header OG from Stewart Robson
0-1 Pardew (when we were ground sharing)
0-1 Graham Stuart. Was in the home end and promised myself I wouldn't celebrate, but did and was slung out.
Favourite 'home' game was when we beat Leicester 2-0. David Whyte scored a great solo goal. They brought what must have been about 12k with them.
Also remember going a lot with my Grandad the season WH finished 3rd in division one. Went to 3 game in a week they won all of them 1-0. I also saw them beat Newcastle 8-1 and Alvin Martin scored a hattrick - each goal against a different keeper (inc Peter Beardsley). for family reasons I've always had a soft spot for West Ham and we've always managed to do quite well against them.
Worst Upton Park visit has to be the 5-0 hammering on Boxing Day.
Had to go locally the next day./It was a random bet , not something I do or did regularly which made it more memorable...
Can't remember the game but think were playing in the white redbus shirt red shorts kit.
Also, 8 of us (including Tavern) being surrounded by Pompey outside Manhattans after a game. PC Rogers managed to get a van across the door while we made our exit in the back of a mates escort van.
Best game was the Leicester 2 0 game, closely followed by the 1 0 win against Millwall.
We thrashed Hoddle's Swindon 3-0 with a superb performance, one of our best over there when they were getting all plaudits for playing pretty football. Think Minto scored a decent goal. Remember Hoddle's being very ungrateful afterwards.
Used to get a good little atmosphere at the back of the North Bank. Following a couple of seasons standing on the open Holmesdale end it made a change to have a decent echo
West Ham will never be the same club.
Around 9 and a half years ago, where does the time go?!
The two 3-1 victories,
The Leicester last game of season,
The 5-0 Boxing Day hammering ( the coldest I have ever been at a match),
Gabbiadinis hat trick against us,
Bury knocking us out of the league cup,
Leaburn scoring the most pointless 90th minute consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat to Grimsby when I had 3-0 at 50/1,
last but not least being made to feel welcome in the West Ham supporters club bar.
Suddenly someone from behind put their arm around him and pulled him backwards over the fence. All you could see was these two legs flying up in the air.
Anyone else remember that?
He saw the funny side of it - cops and stewards went OTT.
This was the team spearheaded by Eddie Firmani up front and we lost 3-0.
There was no segregation in those days we stood opposite 'The Chicken Run' and it was all good humored banter.
West Ham went on to win the cup that year.
** Edit I also got a rattle which was painted red and white. Dunno what happened to that.
My dad buying me a steak and kidney pie and it stunk of piss, never eaten kidneys since.
Antony Barness's wonder own goal when we were about 3-0 down at home Grimsby in about 15 mins and Leabur pulling 1 back late in the second half.
Someone calling a Plymouth player queer when he was about to take a corner then the player shouting back to him alright sweetheart and winking at him.
Oh yes and it was a bit chilly
Only good thing was I never heard about the speed camera.
Who were we playing that day was it West Spam?
9 second Jim Melrose goal (from their kick off!). Alvin Martin on the video commentary...."we always knew Charlton were a good side on the break...."
In the boardroom for a game v Bristol Rovers night game, watching the little turnstile indicators (like petrol pump numbers) slowly clicking round before a little burst from 7.35pm....up to 4,000 !!!
Crooks volley in the pouring rain.
Sitting behind Nigel Benn as Arsenal took West Ham apart 3-1. He was massive!
Seeing a typical Ray Stewart penalty, HAMMERED past the Ipswich goalie in the McAvennie and Cottee year.
All those Leicester fans suddenly appearing in the seats above the Chicken Run when we beat them 2-0. Never seen a stand fill up so quick!
Billy Bonds steaming down the right-wing to cross for Tony Cottee to volley their 2nd against us in The FA Cup. He was getting on for 40 at the time and was still quicker/better than any of ours!
Seen some interesting times at the stadium where, I understand, football was actually invented. Before the present bunch of football vultures arrived to scavenge off rival clubs and their own fans, WHU were ok (not counting that endless journey on the District Line).
02 Jan 60 WHU 2-5 Burnley (Div 1 champs) My first game
Jan 64 WHU 3-0 CAFC FAC3 In one of our better years we were put in our place
28 Apr 66 WHU 1-2 Borussia Dortmund SF first leg CWC. Dortmund stunning
May 92 CAFC 2-0 Leicester. Crowd given as 15K - yeah right
22 Nov 92 CAFC 1-3 NUFC Last home game away from SE7.
May 94 WHU 3-3 Soton On the North Bank - last game prior to demolition
Mar 99 WHU 0-1 CAFC My sons bolted me up with the tickets and I had to watch from the Bobby Moore
25 Apr 16 WHU 0-0 Hull U21 League Cup Final Last game
Hope they turn over Guildford's finest tonight.