Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has lifted the lid on his love of West Ham United.
Parlour made his name with West Ham’s London rivals the Gunners and of course England.
As a result he is very much an Arsenal man.
But when he was playing there was always unconfirmed rumours Parlour was born and raised West Ham through and through.
Parlour lifts lid on West Ham roots
Now for the first time the midfielder turned pundit has spoken at length about his love for West Ham.
Speaking to Football Daily, Parlour said he comes from a family of Hammers.
“I was the youngest of three boys and obviously my dad was a big football fan, West Ham supporter… it was a great upbringing,” Parlour told Football Daily.
“My dad loved seeing his boys playing football. There was only one live game a year (in those days) which was the (FA) Cup final. We always made a big thing of the cup final, watching all the build up. Whoever was in the final it didn’t matter, it was a big day in our household.
“West Ham were playing Arsenal in the final, Trevor Brooking scored a header, and West Ham was in the division below and beat Arsenal, who was a good side at that stage, 1-0.
‘My dad took me down to the town hall… it was amazing’
“I was a young kid and my dad took me down to the town hall to watch them bring the trophy out and I was going ‘Wow this is amazing’ you know all these fans come out to see West Ham. That was the moment I always remember because my dad was a West Ham fan and that was my first ever kit I got bought as a Christmas present was a West Ham kit.
“In the end I played for Arsenal all my career, but my dad always says to me ‘You made the right decision son because Arsenal’s a great club’.
How Parlour upset his Hammers mad dad
“I scored a few times at Upton Park as well which my dad wasn’t happy about. It was one of them situations where he didn’t talk to me for a few days.
“But it was always great banter (at Upton Park), the West Ham fans knew I come from that area and they sort of left me alone a little bit when I played at Upton Park because that was one of the most hostile grounds to play at.”
Parlour has gone on to make a great pundit.
Some of his funny stories are the stuff of legend.
Many Hammers fans may not have known his backstory or how deep his affection runs for the club.
As a result they will now see him in an entirely different light. It is just a shame Parlour never got to play for his boyhood club.
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