Editing West Ham United F.C. (section)

==Supporters, hooliganism and rivalries==

===Supporters===
{{Main|West Ham United F.C. supporters}}
{{rquote|right|
<nowiki/>''I'm forever blowing bubbles'', <br />
''Pretty bubbles in the air.''<br />
''They fly so high, nearly reach the sky,''<br />
''Then like my dreams they fade and die.''<br />
''Fortune's always hiding,''<br />
''I've looked everywhere&nbsp;...''<br />
''I'm forever blowing bubbles,''<br />
''pretty bubbles in the air.''<nowiki/>|original lyrics to "Bubbles"| from John Helliar<ref name="Bubbles2" />}}
The team's supporters are famous for their rendition of the chorus of their team's anthem, "[[I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles]]" introduced to the club by former manager Charlie Paynter in the late 1920s. A [[Pears soap]] commercial featuring the curly haired child in the [[John Everett Millais|Millais]]' "[[Bubbles (painting)|Bubbles]]" was well known at the time. The child resembled a player, Billy J. "Bubbles" Murray, from local schoolboy team, Park School, where the headmaster was Cornelius Beal. Beal was known locally for his music and rhyme and wrote special words to the tune of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" whenever any player was having a good game.<ref name="Bubbles1">{{Cite web |last=John Helliar |title=The Story of Bubbles |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20071017/the-story-of-bubbles_2240257_1193983 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528221016/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20071017/the-story-of-bubbles_2240257_1193983 |archive-date=28 May 2010 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref>

Beal was a friend of Paynter, while Murray was a West Ham trialist and played football at schoolboy level with a number of West Ham players such as [[Jim Barrett Sr.|Jim Barrett]]. Through this contrivance of association the club's fans took it upon themselves to begin singing the popular music hall tune before home games, sometimes reinforced by the presence of a house band requested to play the refrain by Charlie Paynter.<ref name="Bubbles2">{{Cite web |last=John Helliar |title=The Story of Bubbles |url=http://www.whufc.com/claret/?page_id=3595 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218021240/http://www.whufc.com/claret/?page_id=3595 |archive-date=18 February 2006 |publisher=West Ham United F.C.}}</ref>

The [[FA Cup Final 1975|1975 FA Cup]] version – which contains the original lyrics, and features vocals from the team's then-current players – is always played before home games, with the home crowd joining in and carrying the song on after the music stops at the verse line "Fortune's always hiding".<ref name="ifbb">{{Cite web |title=Blowing Bubbles@Upton park WHUFC-Chelski | date=4 January 2010 |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFnUy0k7Js  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/wdFnUy0k7Js| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=8 October 2013 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bubbles was published as a waltz whereas during the game the crowd sing it in [[common time]].<ref name=ifbb/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sudhalter, Richard M |title=Lost Chords |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/first/s/sudhalter-chords.html |access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref>

Since the 1950s, fans have also sung the [[East London]] [[pub song]] [[Knees Up Mother Brown]]. The song title is also the name of an [[internet forum]] related to the club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=>Knees up Mother Brown - West Ham United FC Online: FAQ |url=https://www.kumb.com/faq.php |website=Kumb.com}}</ref>

Like other teams, the team also have a history of adopting or adapting popular songs of the day to fit particular events, themes, players or personas. These have included serious renditions of theatre and movie classics such as "[[Me And My Girl|The Bells are Ringing]]", along with more [[pun]]-laden or humorous efforts, such as chanting former player [[Paolo Di Canio]]'s name to the [[canzone]] "[[La donna è mobile]]" by [[Giuseppe Verdi]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Oakley, Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=46kADtKInKAC&pg=PA109 |title=Football Delirium |publisher=Karnac Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-78049-488-3 |access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref> or D.I. Canio to the tune of [[Ottawan]]'s "[[D.I.S.C.O.]]", or the chant of "Who Let The Potts Out?" to the tune of [[Baha Men]]'s "[[Who Let the Dogs Out?]]" when [[Steve Potts (footballer)|Steve Potts]] could be seen warming up to come on as substitute late on in his career, or "That's Zamora" to the tune of [[Dean Martin]]'s 1953 "[[That's Amore]]" in honour of former striker [[Bobby Zamora]]. Other former players to be serenaded include [[Christian Dailly]] with vastly-altered lyrics to [[Frankie Valli]]'s "[[Can't Take My Eyes Off You]]",<ref>{{Cite web |title="Oh Christian Dailly" lyrics |url=http://fanchants.com/football-songs/west_ham-chants/christian-dailly/ |publisher=fanchants.com |access-date=29 January 2011 |archive-date=31 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131141311/http://fanchants.com/football-songs/west_ham-chants/christian-dailly/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Joe Cole]] and [[Carlton Cole]] with [[Spandau Ballet]]'s "[[Gold (Spandau Ballet song)|Gold]]" song title sung as "Cole"<ref>{{Cite news |last=de Lisle, Tim |date=28 November 2005 |title=R Kelly sings the Blues |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/28/sport.arts |access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref> and [[Luděk Mikloško]]. A song for West Ham favourite [[Bobby Moore]], "Viva Bobby Moore", is also sung based on [[The Business (band)|The Business]]'s "[[Oi!]]" rendition of the song, based on [[The Equals]]' 1969 release "Viva Bobby Joe".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bobby Moore Lyrics |url=http://www.metrolyrics.com/bobby-moore-lyrics-the-business.html |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202121720/http://www.metrolyrics.com/bobby-moore-lyrics-the-business.html |archive-date=2 February 2014 |access-date=8 October 2013 |publisher=metrolyrics.com}}</ref> In 2016, supporters adapted the lyrics of [[Billy Ray Cyrus]]' "[[Achy Breaky Heart]]" in honour of [[Dimitri Payet]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitten |first=Andy |date=14 March 2016 |title=He does flicks and tricks, tackles and scores: West Ham's Dimitri Payet 'does everything' |url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/he-does-flicks-and-tricks-tackles-and-scores-west-hams-dimitri-payet-does-everything |access-date=15 April 2016 |website=The National}}</ref>{{rquote|right|
<nowiki/>''Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue,'' <br />
''Bow Bells are ringing, for the Claret and Blue,''<br />
''When the Hammers are scoring, and the South Bank are roaring,''<br />
''And the money is pouring, for the Claret and Blue,''<br />
''Claret and Blue,''<br />
''No relegation for the Claret and Blue,''<br />
''Just celebration for the Claret and Blue,''<br />
''One day we'll win a cup or two, or three,''<br />
''Or four or more, for West Ham and the Claret and Blue.''
|Supporters song to the tune of [[Bells Are Ringing (musical)|'The Bells are Ringing']]|circa 1960<ref name="Cassell">{{Cite book |last=David Pickering |title=The Cassell Soccer Companion |publisher=Cassell |pages=343–344}}</ref>}}

When the players come onto the pitch, and at other times of celebration, as the song ''I'm forever blowing bubbles'' is being sung, around 60 bubble machines produce copious bubbles that rise high into the stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://meninblazers.com/2017/09/22/bubbles/|title=JW Goes Behind the Bubbles at West Ham United with "Mickey Bubbles"|first=Men In|last=Blazers|website=Men in Blazers|date=30 September 2017 }}</ref>
Fans gained national attention after giving a torrid time to [[David Beckham]] in his first away match of 1998–99 the season after the England midfielder was sent off for a petulant foul on [[Diego Simeone]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 August 1998 |title=Beckham runs gauntlet at West Ham |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/156542.stm |access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref> Coinciding with the game, there were claims (and an image taken) that fans, organised by a hardcore, had hung an effigy of the player outside a local pub. Although it was later revealed that the pub was in [[South East (London sub region)|South-East London]], the heartland of West Ham's greatest rivals [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]. The West Ham fans did, however, boo Beckham's every touch of the ball during the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 1998 |title=Beckham still subject of fans' ire |publisher=CNN – Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/14/beckham_safety/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208074750/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/events/1998/worldcup/news/1998/07/14/beckham_safety/|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2002}}</ref>

They have also displayed a particular zeal when it comes to abusing former players, particularly those who are perceived to have abandoned the club or performed some disservice. [[Paul Ince]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 2008 |title=West Ham 4–1 Blackburn |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7578470.stm |access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ogden, Mark |date=30 August 2008 |title=Ince deflects the ire in old role as Upton Park pariah |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/aug/30/premierleague.westhamunited |access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> [[Frank Lampard]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ben Lupton |title=Practice Makes Perfect |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/japan-sport-footballculture-players-lampard.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224030423/http://www.britishcouncil.org/japan-sport-footballculture-players-lampard.htm |archive-date=24 December 2007 |publisher=British Council}}</ref> [[Jermain Defoe]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |date=5 March 2007 |title=West Ham stunned by Stalteri strike |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/03/05/sfgwes05.xml |access-date=6 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306221839/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fsport%2F2007%2F03%2F05%2Fsfgwes05.xml |archive-date=6 March 2007}}</ref> [[Nigel Reo-Coker]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Damien |date=3 March 2017 |title=Nigel Reo-Coker concedes he learned to appreciate West Ham the hard way |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/02/nigel-reo-coker-concedes-he-learned-to-appreciate-west-ham-the-h/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229003431/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/02/nigel-reo-coker-concedes-he-learned-to-appreciate-west-ham-the-h/ |archive-date=29 December 2019 |access-date=29 December 2019 |website=HITC}}</ref> and [[Jesse Lingard]]<ref name="Fordham 2022">{{cite web | last=Fordham | first=Josh | title=West Ham fans throw fake money at Jesse Lingard after snubbed summer transfer | website=talkSPORT | date=14 August 2022 | url=https://talksport.com/football/1170647/west-ham-fans-jesse-lingard-nottingham-forest-fake-money/ | access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> have famously borne the brunt of verbal assaults and a guaranteed hostile reception at Upton Park. However, players such as Joe Cole, [[Michael Carrick]], [[Rio Ferdinand]], Bobby Zamora and [[Carlos Tevez]] receive applause and even standing ovations in honour of their contributions during their time at the club. Joe Cole subsequently rejoined West Ham from Liverpool midway through the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 January 2013 |title=Cole comes home |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130104/cole-comes-home_2236884_3027456 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105191515/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20130104/cole-comes-home_2236884_3027456 |archive-date=5 January 2013 |access-date=5 October 2013 |publisher=West Ham United F.C. }}</ref>

[[File:WestHamFans.jpg|thumb|right|West Ham fans display their rosettes, scarves and novelty hammers at an [[FA Cup]] match in 1933]]

===Hooliganism===
The origins of West Ham's links with [[Football hooliganism|hooliganism]] starts in the 1960s with the establishment of The [[Mile End]] Mob (named after an area of the East End of London).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Want Some Aggro? |url=http://www.casspennant.com/book-aggro.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314024542/http://www.casspennant.com/book-aggro.shtml |archive-date=14 March 2010 |access-date=5 October 2013 |publisher=casspennant.com }}</ref> During the 1970s and 1980s (the main era for organised football-related violence), West Ham gained further notoriety for the levels of hooliganism in their fan base and antagonistic behaviour towards both their own and rival fans, and the police. During the 1970s in particular, rival groups of West Ham fans from neighbouring areas often did battle with each other at games, most often groups from the neighbouring districts of [[Barking, London|Barking]] and [[Dagenham]].<ref name="CassPennant">{{Cite web |title=CONFESSIONS OF A TERRACE LEGEND The fights, the politics, the rival firms: Cass Pennant, notorious founder member of West Ham's InterCity Firm, recalls hooliganism's heyday. |url=http://www.casspennant.com/news.php?8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100314030123/http://www.casspennant.com/news.php?8 |archive-date=14 March 2010 |access-date=7 October 2013 |publisher=CassPennant}}</ref>

The [[Inter City Firm]] were one of the first "[[Casual (subculture)|casuals]]", so called because they avoided police supervision by not wearing football-related clothing and travelled to away matches on regular [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] trains, rather than on the cheap and more tightly policed "football special" charter trains. The group were an infamous West Ham-aligned gang. As the firm's moniker "inter city" suggests violent activities were not confined to local derbies – the hooligans were content to cause trouble at any game, though nearby teams often bore the brunt.<ref name="CassPennant" />

Both the 1989 film ''[[The Firm (1989 film)|The Firm]]'' (starring [[Gary Oldman]]),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gant |first=Charles |date=30 August 2009 |title=Football hooliganism: how 1980s man got his kicks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/aug/30/football-hooliganism-the-firm |access-date=6 January 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> and the 2005 film ''[[Green Street (film)|Green Street]]'' (starring [[Elijah Wood]] and [[Charlie Hunnam]]) are based upon West Ham hooligan firms.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hann |first=Michael |date=24 March 2014 |title=My guilty pleasure: Green Street |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/mar/24/my-guilty-pleasure-green-street |access-date=6 January 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

===Rivalries===
{{See also|Millwall F.C.–West Ham United F.C. rivalry|London derby|East London derby}}
West Ham have strong rivalries with several other clubs. Most of these are with other London clubs, especially with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in an East versus North London derby<ref name="localrivals">{{Cite news |last=Hytner |first=David |date=31 August 2011 |title=Scott Parker completes m switch to Tottenham from West Ham |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/31/tottenham-west-ham-scott-parker |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> and with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in an East versus West London rivalry. The rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham has been fuelled by players such as [[Michael Carrick]], [[Martin Peters]], [[Paul Allen (footballer)|Paul Allen]], [[Jermain Defoe]] and [[Scott Parker]] leaving the Hammers to join Tottenham. The rivalry deepened with the appointment of former Hammers manager [[Harry Redknapp]] as Tottenham's manager.<ref name="bung">{{Cite news |last=Ley |first=John |date=7 December 2008 |title=Give Harry Redknapp due respect, Frank Lampard Sr tells West Ham fans |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/3660235/Give-Harry-Redknapp-due-respect-Frank-Lampard-Sr-tells-West-Ham-fans-Football.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/3660235/Give-Harry-Redknapp-due-respect-Frank-Lampard-Sr-tells-West-Ham-fans-Football.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=13 November 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Since the [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07 Premier League season]], West Ham have developed a strong rivalry with [[Yorkshire]] club [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] due to the dubious circumstances surrounding the transfer of [[Carlos Tevez]], who helped West Ham avoid relegation at Sheffield United's expense.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Neil McLeman |date=19 August 2012 |title=West Ham still owe Sheffield United more than m over Carlos Tevez fiasco |work=Daily Mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/west-ham-still-owe-sheffield-1269811 |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Norman |date=31 January 2005 |title=Jagielka intensifies bitter rivalry to raise pressure on Pardew |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/jagielka-intensifies-bitter-rivalry-to-raise-pressure-on-pardew-6153527.html |access-date=3 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226174931/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/jagielka-intensifies-bitter-rivalry-to-raise-pressure-on-pardew-6153527.html |archive-date=26 February 2014}}</ref>
{{multiple image
| footer = The "Champions" statue, of [[Bobby Moore|Moore]], with the [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], [[Geoff Hurst|Hurst]], [[Martin Peters|Peters]] and [[Ray Wilson (English footballer)|Ray Wilson]], boarded-up for protection before the visits of [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] on 25 August 2009 and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] in March 2016
| image1 = WestHamChampionsStatueMillWall.JPG
| width1 = {{#expr: (100 * 400 / 275) round 0}}
| alt1   = Champions statue boarded up for Millwall visit
| image2 = World Cup Sculpture boarded 2016.JPG
| width2 = {{#expr: (100 * 960 / 379) round 0}}
| alt2   = Champions statue boarded up for Tottenham visit
}}

The oldest and fiercest [[Millwall F.C.–West Ham United F.C. rivalry|rivalry]] is with [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]. The two sides are local rivals, having both been founded by employees of local companies, with players living in the same localities. The early history of both clubs are intertwined, with West Ham proving to be the more successful in a number of meetings between the two teams at the time, resulting in West Ham being promoted at the expense of Millwall. Millwall later declined to join the fledgling [[The Football League|Football League]] while West Ham went on to the top division and an FA Cup final. Later in the 1920s, the rivalry was intensified during strike action which [[Isle of Dogs]]-based companies (i.e., Millwall fans) refused to support, breeding ill will between the two camps, the bitterness of this betrayal enduring for years. In 1972, a Millwall supporter died at New Cross station after falling out of a train during a fight with West Ham fans.<ref name="Rivalry1">{{Cite news |last=Green |first=Chris |date=27 August 2009 |title=A rivalry that dates back to the heyday of British shipbuilding |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/a-rivalry-that-dates-back-to-the-heyday-of-british-shipbuilding-1777732.html |access-date=26 June 2011}}</ref>

The rivalry between West Ham and Millwall has involved considerable violence and is one of the most notorious within the world of [[football hooliganism]]. The teams were drawn against each other in the second round of the [[2009–10 Football League Cup|2009–10 League Cup]] and met on 25 August 2009 at Upton Park. This was the first time in four years that the two clubs had played each other, and the first ever in the League Cup. [[2009 Upton Park riots|Clashes]] between fans occurred outside the ground, resulting in violence erupting up to half a mile away from the stadium, with serious injuries, including the stabbing of a Millwall supporter, damage to property and several arrests reported by police. There were also several pitch invasions by West Ham supporters which brought a temporary halt to the game.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 August 2009 |title=Violence erupts at London derby |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8221451.stm |access-date=25 August 2009}}</ref> In January 2010, West Ham were fined after being found guilty of violent, threatening, obscene and provocative behaviour and of failing to prevent their fans entering the field of play. Millwall were cleared of all charges.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 January 2010 |title=West Ham fined £115,000 over violence against Millwall |work=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8443013.stm |access-date=2 February 2010}}</ref>

===Nicknames===
The team and supporters are known as The Hammers, in part because of the club's origins as Thames Ironworks.<ref name="Nick">{{Cite web |date=8 June 2011 |title=West Ham United |url=http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/west-ham-united/ |access-date=19 July 2011 |publisher=The beautifulhistory.wordpress.com}}</ref> They are also known as The Irons.<ref name=Nick/>