EXCLUSIVE: The Cass Pennant column featuring a warning to West Ham over ‘new Billy Bonds’ Declan Rice, the Euro semi-final, why West Ham are genuinely massive and going over land and sea for an Italian job with Paolo Di Canio.
Hammers News brings you the latest instalment of the exclusive Cass Pennant column as the terrace legend gives his take on ‘idol’ Declan Rice and his future at West Ham, the European semi-final and previously untold tales from a visit to meet Paolo Di Canio.
West Ham fans of a certain age might remember Cass Pennant’s contributions in the OLAS fanzine back in the day.
Well now the former West Ham ICF member turned author, producer, writer, actor and speaker is back to give his views on his beloved Hammers, tell some great stories and give a fascinating insight into his life.
In the latest Cass Pennant column, he also looks at why West Ham have such a big fanbase worldwide despite a lack of European success and glamour. Something he hopes will change very soon.
Baffled by inconsistent Hammers, a warning to West Ham about replacing ‘new Bonds’ Rice and the European semi-final against AZ Alkmaar
I still can’t put my finger on why we haven’t been able to play consistently like this (Man United victory) all season. In the last three games we’ve managed to score three goals yet still lose to a mediocre Palace, give a decent account of ourselves against an unstoppable Man City (we may have done a bit better had some key decisions gone our way…) and surpass all expectations against Man Utd; we were majestic as a team.
Whatever the reason for the inconsistency in the results and performances, I do believe that Declan Rice is vital in getting this team performing at their best and so I’m not enjoying the media spotlight that is currently on him.
He’s special and I want to see his unrivalled passion remain in a claret and blue shirt next season. And I don’t think what he brings to our squad can be replaced easily. He’s only 24, has notched up over 200 games of experience and can still surprise you with new moments of greatness – just cast your mind back to that awesome run and goal against Gent. Inspiring!
We’ve got AZ Alkmaar up next which will be a second European semi-final in two seasons. And it would be so fitting if we can reach the Europa Conference League final and win it with our own ‘Captain Marvel’ lifting the cup. Back in my time we had Billy Bonds leading us to new heights, he was always viewed as a decent man who the squad and fans could get behind and in return, he could be relied upon to drive and lift the team to find a bit extra.
I’m starting to buy into Declan being the Bonds of this generation. Like my idol he’s proving himself to be a real leader.
There’s a real belief that our West Ham are capable of bigger and better things and I think the growth of our international fanbase reflects this.
Why West Ham are so massive everywhere we go despite not having the glory of some of our rivals
You’ve only got to look around you in the London Stadium to see the increase in tourists proudly wearing our colours and trying to work out the meaning of some of the wittier fan banter and p***-taking chants.
We have established a worldwide fanbase nowadays and how that’s come about is an unexplained global phenomenon. We have so many fans over land and sea and have become an attraction in the same leagues as Man United and Liverpool without the long history of dominating European cup runs.
You’ve got to question why that is, I know I have, and the frequent reply is that we appeal as a club for the working class. True as our roots are to this, few may know that the crossed Hammers is a global working class symbol that is commonly used by supporter factions in regions such as southern Italy.
One of the most popular examples of these groups being the Martelli D’Italia, which may explain why we have so many loyal Italian Hammers within our ranks.
In any case, there seems to be an attraction between Italian Casuals and West Ham.
Overseas passion for the Hammers explained
Here Alessandro Sambruna and Davide Mauri explain their love for West Ham.
Alessandro Sambruna:
“Well, it was Christmas 1979, my mother gave me a West Ham Subbuteo team. She didn’t like football but chose West Ham because of the beautiful and unusual shirt (in Italy no one dresses in claret and blue). I immediately agreed: beautiful shirt. Five months later, I saw the only English match we had the opportunity to see on TV, the FA Cup final. Brooking headed the winning goal and I become a proud Hammers fan. COYI.”
Davide Mauri:
“Well, I supported Juventus since when I was born. All my family besides my father supported Juventus and when I was two days old I had a Juventus scarf hanging on my cradle. Then I started listening to Iron Maiden when I was six and I saw Steve Harris’ bass with West Ham logo and I started being curious. Years later I started gathering more and more info about West Ham and I fell in love.”
My Italian job, in a mini, with legend Paolo Di Canio and his genuine desire to manage his beloved West Ham
I once spent a long weekend in Rome with three generations of Lazio fans hosting my visit. Many of us have built up friendships and a history with the Lazio fanbase over the years and it was nice to compare memories, discuss emotions and enjoy the many similarities between our two clubs.
Although so distant from one another geographically we’re identical when it comes to our views and understanding of what it means to follow your team and go to the football. This invitation to visit from some of the Lazio top boys was for an event called ‘The Night’. It was a hit and formed the foundation of a relationship that later saw the Lazio fans travel over to West Ham games in numbers.
I will never forget the respect shown and hospitality given and was impressed when I realised that our hosts had somehow organised to meet up with Paolo Di Canio at the airport. Paolo pulled up driving a British Mini (nice touch), agreed to a few photos and before you knew it, we could only talk about West Ham who were, you’ve guessed it, in a relegation battle approaching the end of the season with Avram Grant.
He told me he would love to manage West Ham and that it was a serious ambition. But he said that if the unthinkable was to happen and we were relegated then would I get him a ticket for the Millwall game! We laughed but he was quick to point out that he was serious. He’d heard all about the sort of game it could be. Of course, he wouldn’t need me to get him a ticket, but I think he liked the idea of being with us and this was despite his managerial ambitions.
Rumours were rife at the time that ‘Millwall Legend’ Grant would go but it wasn’t meant to be as only two weeks after that meet in Rome, Paolo took the Swindon job as his first leap into management. It’s a shame as although you probably only think of Di Canio as that crazy Italian he was also a really big fan of West Ham and I think that passion and genuine interest would have served us well. I know for a fact that his cousins and nephews still go to some games.
West Ham links have enabled me to experience some fantastic European derbies but none top Barcelona Hammers El Classico trip
I’ve had a few weekends experiencing some fantastic derbies in recent years involving fans across Europe and it has always been the West Ham link that brings about the invitations. One I will never forget is my first El Classico and it was Pep v Mourinho, Messi v Ronaldo.
It was an amazing game to watch for both the atmosphere and the football which ended 5-0 to Barcelona and was one my hosts, the Barcelona Hammers, will never forget too.
The first time I became aware of West Ham’s Catalonian travelling support was when I spotted their huge banner during Sky coverage of a Champions League match between Barca and Chelsea at the Camp Nou. The Chelsea fans were fuming thinking West Ham fans were behind it. To be fair, they were right about that – but I doubt they realised the nationality of them.
David, of Barcelona Hammers, told me:
“Most of the Barcelona Hammers follow West Ham for various reasons; the popular origins from the club, the smart class from the 60s-80s about their supporters and some players like Bobby Moore or Trevor Brooking, the links with the subcultures, with bands like Cockney Rejects, or individual band names like Micky Fitz, Steve Harris, Billy Bragg, the colours of the club being similar to Barcelona, in brief, the special idiosyncrasy of this popular club.
“The group known as Barcelona Hammers were founded in 1994 but in 2004 we do games with regular travel, member cards, fanzine and some flags. Most of us used to go to the Barcelona coolest end, and it was typically from the 80-90s in European games to wear shirts or scarfs of a big rival from the club we have in front of us just to bother them a bit. So Santi, an unforgettable member of ours, takes this big banner for the game, and shows it frequently from behind the goal so it got picked up by the cameras.”
Music links to West Ham are important part of club’s subculture
The call with music bands such as Iron Maiden and Cockney Rejects along with Cock Sparrow is real. Those three in particular have been quite inspirational among the youth subculture roots of those who follow West Ham.
When you tie this in with the social history of the club and put in the ICF along with the film Green Street you can see there really is something for everyone to relate to with West Ham. That’s been my experience and it has been supported with feedback from all different factions of our fanbase over several years.
For those who have been on their own European tours/weekenders/away days over the past couple of seasons or loyally go to the pre-season friendlies, I’ve no doubt that they’re also seeing first-hand the growing foreign legion that attaches itself to our away section. West Ham is Massive!
Cass’s latest book is still in the top five in West Ham fans’ Amazon charts, for signed copies go to Old School FC.
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