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A couple of weeks back my family decided to treat me to a day out and look around my old stomping grounds many of which are unrecognisable from my youth but in most cases been improved for the better but when i was taken down Green Street to where the old Boleyn Ground stood it bought a tear to this old mans eyes what happened happens a lot they call it progress time moves on stands still for no man and so on and so forth but the heart was ripped out of the community and it feels empty.
Part of my day out was a Stadium tour of the new ground i admit to being a bit overwhelmed at the size of the place.The young lady who was taking us on the tour was very nice but seemed to me like its just a job not a passion and West Ham was only part of the Stadium as plenty of other events happen not just football.
After the tour i have to admit i feel like i have lost a dear friend,Big and flashy the new place may look but dig underneath it is just not West Ham and it most certainly is not a football ground of course i am looking at it from my generation and not many of those are left now and a new set of fans who will of never known the Boleyn ground step forward i wish them all the best but i know in my heart of hearts they will never experience the true nature of what our great club once was because it was part of the community and now it is just a commodity for the rich to tinker with.
Nice Thread Old Time!
Been saying this mate since the first day of the move!I refuse to go down Green St ever again,I have my own memories of the Boleyn,a ST holder for many years before all seater stadiums & when my children were born ( they are now 26 & 29 ) we would go regularly every season! I prefer to remember the Boleyn ground as it was not some poncey housing estate filled with middle class yuppies ( remember them) & their electric charging points!! You know the place where the dildos & lady bonus promised would be affordable accommodation for the local community!! And some fans still admire them,sad if you ask me
Glad to hear you had a good day out OTH
But i agree it is not the same......the old grounds gone and the new one may be just 3 miles away but it is not home and like you say it isn't even a football stadium.....Commodity you got that right.......still let the young ones try and build it into something special but somehow it will never match what once was.
My Season Ticket
Retired the day The Boleyn Ground closed for the last time and I haven't been back to the area since the last ever game, nor do I have any intention of doing so. The old trudge to Upton Park Station, grab a programme, saveloy and chips at Queens Chippy and off for a prematch pint, usually at The Greengate before it got turned into a Tesco and then The Central, now converted into flats.
Did the tour of The Boleyn Ground, a good afternoon out with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, not going to bother with the OS. Can't criticise without seeing it so I've been to three or four games in different parts, including the '66 seats and not impressed at all. From departing Stratford Station I cannot find one positive match day experience and once inside the ground it doesn't improve.
The football is dire, the manager stuck in the dark ages, the only thing remaining ( for now anyway) are the colours. Congratulations Sully and Brady, I'm now officially a grumpy old armchair fan and even struggling with that..
Pretty much
The same as me deluded! Where did it all go wrong? Proper Hammers fans that have gone for 50 plus years just hung out to dry by those 3 shysters,I'll say it again my biggest disappointment - how quiet the most loyal supporters in the land went!!
I havent been back to Green
I havent been back to Green Street since the last game,The Queens Pub was my place,i would find it very upsetting going down there now.
Even to this day mate
I still can't believe it,I reckon we are just ground sharing & we will be back at Upton Park soon....you know what we say about dreams fade & die!
Too right mate.
Too right mate.
Great post Old Time. Like
Great post Old Time. Like most I refuse or can't go back. I did once not by choice & had a lump in my throat & a tear in my eye. So many great times had so many memories. Standing behind the goal in thevold Southbank. Surrounded by the same fans week in week out. We did not know each other from Adam but for the 3 hours we were in ground shoulder to shoulder we were one. Don't get that feeling at the OS. We are homeless as farxas i'm concerned.
Gotcto feel sorry for the supporters who never experienced a game at the Boleyn. Especially a night under the lights. Everon in QF of the FA Cup. Palermo in Europe with Tevez & Mascherano making full debuts. Ipswich in the play offs. So many memories gone but not forgotten.