We hate Arsenal
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 11:54PM Was in the pub Saturday evening. Sat next to a table that had four blokes who had obviously been in there all day, all drunk and cursing and laughing. They clocked me and Mrs Spooky and two of them started to discuss how long we would survive sitting next to them. I laughed, and they got chatting with us (if you can call it that). Plenty of boisterous bollocks spewing from their mouths. One of them bet one of his mates we wouldn't last 15 minutes. They were insufferably loud and every other word out of their mouths was 'c*nt'.
Game on.
We didn't move regardless. And about 15 minutes later they once more shared a joke about us being the first people to 'survive' their onslaught. They tragically bestowed us some demented form of recognition and they moved onto the next bet, as they spoke amongst themselves. I was eavesdropping a little because I heard them discuss who we probably supported football wise so I pre-warned Mrs Spooky to expect more 'banter' from them shortly.
I already knew two of them were West Ham fans (the two loudest ones). The other two were Spurs. Early in the evening the West Ham fan wanted to bet one of the Spurs fans they would do the double over us and win 4-0 home and away. So I knew that the fun and games were about to begin when he found out who my team was. Eventually, they turned round to face us again and asked the question:
Who do you support?
I didn't answer, and asked them to guess.
One of the West Ham fans pointed at me and said:
"I reckon you're a fucking gooner?"
I didn't say anything, and he then accused me of being a Chelsea fan. Shudder. I replied:
"If it’s one thing I'm not, it's a fucking gooner"
"So you must be a fucking yid then"
I nodded. However, no point in clarifying semantics concerning my family bloodline and origins.
They asked where I thought Spurs would finish, and it was obvious they expected me to say 'Top 4' because that's the fallacy they like to perpetuate about us. I said, tongue-in-cheek, hopefully we'll do well but no doubt we'll finish mid-table. That actually shocked them. Everyone's a stereotype in football, because that's what we have to go on because generalisations make it easy for all. So as I cracked a few self-deprecating jokes about Tottenham being a mid-table side, I could tell I had them a little on the ropes. Almost like I was pinching their best gags.
More over the top tongue-in-cheek banter followed, and the other West Ham fan asked me why I supported Spurs. I told him, it's in the blood going back to the 1930 - 40's. They started talking amongst themselves, and from what I could gather from their drunken slurs they made the strange assumption that my family was from Israel or war torn Europe and had fled from the Nazis and emigrated from to London. You know, cause all Spurs fans are practising Jews, innit? One of them brilliantly explained to his mate that ‘Who else were they meant to support?'.
I decided not to sidetrack the discussion and confuse them with an explanation of my Orthodox upbringing and the fact that my family were based in the UK.
"Why would anyone want to support Spurs?" one of them asked.
"Why would anyone want to support West Ham?" I replied.
This led onto one of the Hammers saying that when we play them it's our most important game of the season. He was deadly serious about it. It was a statement of fact as far as he was concerned. And hearing it from a West Ham fan (isn't it usually the other way round?) suddenly had me pushed up against the ropes.
The bell sounds and it's Round 2.
"It's your Cup final, not ours". I said, because I knew that would be the exact thing to rile the both of them. Which it did. Which is funny because a moment earlier they had said the same thing to me.
The other Hammer questioned this, and asked me to explain. He wasn't happy.
"Nothing to explain. We just aren’t as bothered with you as you are with us. Sure, it's a London derby and it matters but it's not as important as Arsenal for obvious reasons and Chelsea because they're such insufferable c*nts"
My response incited them further. One of them becoming a little more venomous with his bite.
"You're not a real Spurs fan then are you, if you think that. A real Spurs fan would never say that. What have Chelsea and Arsenal got to do with Spurs? We are your biggest rivals and your most important game of the season is us. It's the one you look forward to the most. You're talking bollocks. Arsenal and Chelsea don't care about you lot, so why should you care about them?"
Jesus wept. I only wanted a quiet drink with Mrs Spooky.
I didn't bother pointing out that if he applied his logic about one team (Spurs) not caring about the other (West Ham) he'd have his answer. But I guess saying that would see me suggesting we are 'bigger' than them, and it's a tiresome statement we get accused of making quite often. Especially as I wanted to get in another round of drinks for myself and Mrs Spooky. That and the fact we are bigger than them. Right?
I tried to explain that it's not relevant that Arsenal and Chelsea (who ironically also hate us more than we hate them – I guess Chelsea and WH both share the need to have another club in the same league admit they see them as their undeniable undisputed rival) have bigger fish to fry and that regardless of current predicaments in stature, the hatred shared between us and those two dwarfed what we share with West Ham. I wasn't trying to wind up or patronise. I stated fact.
"Go to a Spurs v Arsenal game and then come back to me and tell me that us playing you lot is a bigger game"
But they just laughed that off. Proper Calvin Klein stuff. Their measurement of rivalry seemed muddled and fragmented.
Arguably, you could say Spurs v Arsenal is our ONLY true rivalry. But I won't argue against the fact that London derby games do hold obvious importance. Bragging rights, because no doubt you know West Ham fans. But no Spurs fan would swap a win over Arsenal for one over lickle United.
He continued his rant and started talking about how years back he was in the Northumberland Arms and blah blah blah…
“It’s not the 1980’s anymore mate”, I pointed out. He ignored me and continued ranting about old ICF war stories and 'doing Spurs over'. The Spurs fans (one was in his 30's the other in his 50's) were laughing at their West Ham counterparts and asking them to calm down. Although to be fair, neither were really saying too much, probably because they hear it all the time from their two passionate friends. The older Spurs fan did start telling a story about how he once had a drink with Greavise. It was all beginning to get messy with various anecdotes which were meant to prove that I had no perspective on the argument at hand.
I sighed again. Mrs Spooky (who doesn't really like football) was getting involved regardless (bless her) and digging at one of the West Ham fans who was trying to wind her up. Sub-plot here was that I told them early that her family had Claret and Blue ties, which incited them to ask why she was going out with me. I conjectured that it was because of my winning personality and dashing looks.
The other Hammer started talking about how they smashed up our pubs.
“Yes, at 6am in the morning mate. Good one”
One of the Spurs fans started to dig at the two West Ham fans, telling them to drink up, and I did my best to smile and try to talk home fittings with the bird.
You won't be surprised that the 'ammers mentioned 1966 (you know that year, when Alf Ramsey - ex-Spurs - won the World Cup for England captained by that bloke who twice tried to sign for us in '66 and '70 but the West Ham board blocked the move) and also ranted about how we thought we were the bollocks because we beat their kids in Asia and won the trophy. All the usual insecurities rearing their ugly heads where they tell us how arrogant we are when nothing of the sort has been gloated about. So what, we beat them in a friendly. We also lost 2-0 to South China. Both games, equal in their status as non-events.
It ended all a-ok though. One of them shaking my hand and saying 'Always a pleasure yid' whilst I gave him a wink and informed him 'Same time next week?' which had us both laughing out loud. The other Hammer didn't say goodbye as he was still aggravated by my casual dismissiveness for his club.
So my quest to find a West Ham fan that doesn’t spend his time trying to justify a rivalry continues. I honestly, hand on heart, only ever seem to meet and speak to stereotype Hammers who never seem to talk about WH, just Spurs. And they always force the issue too. It's always with a touch of a 'You Spurs fans think you're better than us' type of inferiority complex before we even open our mouths. We don't. Well, I don't.
Do you know what my earliest football memory is? Let me tell you. It's me watching the 1980 FA Cup final between Arsenal and West Ham and running out into the back garden to replicate Brookings goal, diving around on the lawn. You, you chaps in the Claret and Blue gave me a joyful moment that I lapped up as a wee kid, because even at such a young and innocent age I disliked the red and white of them lot from South London and enoyed their defeat.
I get the irony (iron-y) by the way, banging on about this. But it's just a factual account of what happened at the pub.
Usually when this is discussed on-line West Ham fans counter-argument is that we are the ones who perpetuate the fact that they are obsessed by us and that we are the ones with the delusions and that by accusing them we aid to falsely substantiate the fact we are the bigger club. It's a brilliant defence that, don't you think? And I'm sure if WH fans read this they're say, 'Oh look, another Spurs article about how they don't care, yet he cares enough to blog about it'.
Ah, you got me there. I don't really believe in the generalisation of supporters, as we at Spurs have plenty of absolute melters who knee-jerk and fret. We have idiot fans and we have wind-up merchants. But we have far more realists and people with their feet firmly on the ground. Same thing can be applied for West Ham and every other club out there. Apart from Geordies. All nutters IMO.
So I guess, this account of what happened at the pub, is aimed at the people who perpetuate the stereotype. Just so happens I meet two of them on Saturday and it was not a refreshing encounter.
I'm not going to deny I hate losing to West Ham (I also utterly detest losing to Everton and especially Newcastle) but other games have far more of an edge and atmosphere than playing the Green Street lot. Back in the 70's and 80's it was probably a lot different, but then football was a completely different animal back then. It was more raw. On and off the pitch.
Us and Arsenal, no matter the decade, the hatred remains strong. I guess if you grow up supporting Spurs in a West Ham dominated part of the world, your hatred might be strong for them. But never stronger than the love we share for the scum.
Oh look, I'm trying to justify there’s no true rivalry with the Irons. Let me swallow my pride. I guess if that's what they want to hear then sure, it's a rivalry. There I said it. Geographically, you can’t argue against it. We are geographical rivals.
It's just that you're 3rd in our list.
Possibly 4th, because I fucking hate Manchester United. Leeds too for that pissing over the stands incident. Let's call it 5th in-line and be done with it.
Reader Comments (53)
West who?
Bacon?
I actually got insulted by a Villa fan on the Vital forums because I mentioned Arsenal and Chelsea in a sentence but left out West Ham.... he accused me of delusions of grandeur... I think you should add Villa to the list of hated teams because they are fast getting on my nerves and those of other Spurs fans on the Vital forums... but that pushes West Ham even further down on the list of rivals... lol
SPOT ON!! Great Article!!
Have never understood why they don't get it!!
Fiercest Rivalries for me are
1 The Scum
2 Chelski
3 Everton
4 Newcastle / Man U (for diff reasons)
5 West Ham
6 All midland clubs
great post spooky...offers some good insight for a newer fan like me about the rivalries...there are always the online forums but i'm definitely jealous that there really aren't people to debate in person with about spurs here...maybe some day
Mines close to that,
Maybe Newcastle / Man U / and Everton (joint third)
Villa nick 4th
West Ham stay 5th
EVERYONE KNOWS THIS BUT HAMMERS!!
COYS!!
Immense stuff. This really is the best Spurs blog on the net. Although that's because Cocks to the West is down at the moment ;)
Seriously though, love it as always.
I remember going to West Ham as a kid and being threatened in a pub by one of their fans for wearing my Spurs shirt, I was 10, he was 30+. The one thing that I hate about West Ham is the antisemitism that spews from some of their fans. Last year was particularly nasty coming back from Upton Park with hammers threatening to show us their covered penises. At they end of the day, they we are their cup final, and it riles them even more that we just don't care about them as much as they care about us.
Great article by the way
I actually quite like west ham, they have provided us with a couple of half decent players and are always good for a laugh, just a shame the vast majority of their fans are two bob cunts.
Still they are at least easy sport for simple interwang digs and for season performance bets pity they rarely cough up!
Is it really really a stereotype? or are they actually obsessed with us? I know where my money lies, as I say two bob. Great wind up article
Fuck me, remind me not to go drinking in your local!
They sound like twats, Mrs. Frazzle would have insisted on a sharp exit, bemoaning the amount of scumbags on this plaent with every step to the next pub.
I'd have been inclined to agree..
I always kind of regard West Ham as to the likening of an old Hillman Avenger car for some reason ?? Just something about them says 'theyre hardly the Rolls Royce' if you know what i mean ??
well, Im an Arsenal fan and I don't get you losers are obsessed with us...and for the record we HATE you lots too!!!!
All Spur scum should drop dead
Great article. You normally only get loud mouthed, delusional twats with footballing success, but I suppose there's an exception for everything. Imagine if they'd nicked Europe...
Let's face it, all clubs hate Tottenham. This is why (and bear in mind, I am a Yiido): we were the first British club to win a European trophy, first team to do the double, had some of the best players ever to grace the pitch internationally, signed the first ever World Cup winner to play in the Premiership, had Gazza's best years, our player has scored the fastest ever Premiership goal...the list is endless. Just need a few more trophies!
I think this year, Man City will break into the top 4. I believe we can finish 6th this term, without the distration of Europe (that can add 15 games to the season if you go all the way). We could do with a left midfielder - but we haven't had a decent one there since Chrissy Waddle. Need to sign Joe Cole, sell Jenas, Pav and Bentley and make some money on those chumps and sign some quality so we can actually push top 4.
So most of you didn't grow up in North London, 'cos I did and at school we had Arsenal and Spurs fans who were both my mates. We actually cheered LONDON on more than other city/town clubs. Of course we had our favourite clubs but as a Gunner I preferred Spurs or West Ham to win rather than say Man U, Liverpool, Notts Forrest or Leeds (have I dated myself now?) I'm a LONDONER and a GUNNER. I don't hate Spurs or West Ham or Chelsea (though I have a prob with Chelsea's free money! but don't hate them.) I am still mates with my friends from school, we are still loyal to "our" clubs but don't buy into the "hate" thing. Obviously in local derbys we want our teams to win, but if Spurs are playing any other team I want them to kick ass. So suck on it hatemongers...
Like all true Lilywhites I HATE the woolwich scum, followed by the barcodes and i'm no lover of Man U.
I actually feel a sort of affection for WH, like a younger brother who's trying to hard to impress.
Nice one Ab, a true Lillywhite from where... Essex?
I find it amazing here I am half a world away in Australia where it is well known that the Ars is our number 1 rival, yet Hammers supporters don't get they are only our poor cousins that we take pity on.
georgy boy I come from N15 Stamford hill, less than 2 miles from WHL and just over 2 miles from the liberary.
You can't get much closer to both clubs.
If I came from Essex I would probably feel more strongly about WH, if you think about it.
Another embarrassing waste of internet reader's time. Quite possible the biggest load of nonsense I have read since a Tottenham team sheet.
Attempting to prove ones intelligence ( in your language) , is a sure fire method of illustrating the total opposite. Get up and leave the table if the company was so obnoxious. For the love of god please do not use the occasion as an excuse to fuel this drivel.
Yet another halfwit Tottenham supporter - deluded, desperate whilst dispersing verbal diarrhoea.
Arsenal are without question the greatest example of a modern football team.
CHAPMANWENGER did you even read the article, it isn't even about Arsenals ability to play football.
Its about rivalries within the game not about who plays the better football.
I didn't realise a team that chokes in every final, cheats at every opportunity and is managed by a blind liar is what constitutes a great example of a modern football team.
I guess thats where were going wrong?
Another excellent read Spooky. Thanks.
PS. Mrs Spooky sounds a top bird, lucky man.
So, you grow up in the states, and when you're ripe for picking, my cousin tells me to be a Tottenham fan for life, because I was 13 and didn't know any different. The only thing I knew was loyalty, and that's why I am a Spurs fan to this day. My pops applauds me, because he was the same in the 60's, and lived in nof London when Spurs were big. I've wanted any left winger because when I started following Ginola was the man. Wtf, that was so long ago.
Me being a yank though, I never experienced what it was like until I was at that shit pastry stand at Fulham-Brodway stop. Father-son Chelsea fans in Drogba and Terry full kits (wtf, you NEVER see this kind of devotion in the states). They start yapping about all things Chelsea and one of them mentions "we could get Dani Alves," to which I replied, "There is no way he would go to you all; he's not ready to get beat up like that." They read the accent, I told them I was a Spurs fan, had incredulous looks,t and did not say a word to me the rest of the time (10 funny-ass minutes). The way people take football over here is as bad as people in my state of Kentucky (US), take basketball. Which is to say death threats occured when the coach of one team came to coach the other, on his front lawn. From what I've read George Graham didn't take that much slack? Or is that not true>
The rivalry list - that's easy:
1. Scum
The rest nowhere!!
I'm south african. I always loved spurs, still my favourite. Could someone please send me the real origins to the rivalry between spurs and arsenal? I have some idea, just need to confirm facts
Spooky
We must be of similar age because my 1st memory was the same cup final, its just lucky that the year after that I was 1 year older and Spurs stuck to me like glue.
However, I grew up in Australia and didnt get to my first live Spurs game until 2004 after I moved to teh UK, and didnt start going regularly till 2007/08 because this is the only job that I had that allowed me to be in London for a substantial amount of time.
Anyway, because of all of the above I had been totally removed from the real nitty gritty rivalry between Spurs and our fellow London EPLer's. Then I started going to regular games. I have been to see Spurs play almost every team in the EPL and I have seen several West Ham, Chelsea, Fulham, and Arsenal games both home and away and I can say that the general feeling is that the hatred can be ranked as follows:
1. Arsenal
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester United
4. Newcastle
5. Liverpool
6. Everton
7. West Ham
Now part of this rivalry is tradition, part is location, and part is a sort of respect that is derived from their recent successes as a club - its obvious in where the above teams finish on the table (all except Newcastle).
It starts to become fairly obvious as to why West Ham are little more than the shit on our shoe's doesnt it.
I'm from Ilford, Essex, so a big West Ham stronghold, and your article is absolutely spot-on. They hate us with a venomous, dangerous, and pathetic vigour.
To be quite honest, I fucking hate West Ham fans. The VAST majority of them are just white-van-man, pikey, tatooed, fat, Stella-drinking wife beating scum.
Unfortunately for them, however, when I'm at a Spurs v Goons derby I'm metaphorically kicking every ball with the players from my seat, and a defeat or a win lives long in the memory and brings me great joy.
When we're playing West Ham, I just sit and watch with a pitiful disdain the vile shit that comes from the mouths of their gyppo following, calmly confident of another Spurs win, and a wry smile about how utterly mad and angry they'll be feeling.
In the pub, yes I fuckin hate them, and in Gants Hill, Romford, Dagenham and Hainault it's easy to see why. But footy-wise, I hate the gooners so much more. Chelsea I bracket with West Ham - they hate us more than we hate them, as you point out.
Best Spurs blog on the 'net. Keep it up Spooky.
COYS
To the gooner who posted. The title of this blog article is ironic.The article is about West Ham United. So do try your best not to be a complete mong.
Morning chaps.
Worth mentioning a couple of things. My local is in Essex and although where I live is probably split between WH and Spurs it's not as Claret and Blue as one or two neighbouring 'towns'.
Also, I've just remembered something that had me LOL'ing last season. On my way to WHL for the game against West Ham, I was on the Victoria line and there was this Spurs fan, mid-20s probably, in a home shirt sat down reading a book and eating an apple. Completely minding his own business. Three West Ham fans got on the train. No colours, but it was obvious who they were. Two of them stood but one of them sat opposite the Spurs fan and then spent the entirety of the 15 mins or so to Seven Sisters staring at him as if the bloke had killed his family and he wasn't able to do a thing about it. So much bitterness. The Spurs fan didn't even register the bloke was sitting opposite him.
Worth it?
Sticking 'Arsenal' in the title is attracting gooners rather than west ham fans. Shame that. Would have loved them to see this.
Kay.....the original rivalry between spurs and arsenal stem from the origins of the clubs.....etc.....
spurs playing around tottenham marshes then northumberland park ,same area (white hart lane )stadium built in 1899.......
1,,now........royal (woolwich) arsenal (south east london plumstead) instigated the new southern league we wanted to join......we didnt get any votes 1889
we eventually joined and won the southern league became the only club to win the FA cup outside the football league (northern)........so......already
Spurs had a real history by this point
now heres the political bit.......
we were in the football league 1st division proper by the outbreak of the 1st world war which was suspended
in 1914-15 season...........we were bottom.!...at the time.....
on its restart in 1919 this league was expanded to 22 teams and arsenal were given promotion
we were relegated
only Arsenal had finished sixth in Division 2 prior to the war!........
with the help of Lord Poncesombody and some dosh in the voting committee!
woolwich Arsenal being Bankrupt in 1910 ! very low attendances ........ decided to move to.............. .....
islington HIghbury........with ourselves not happy as to their locality ........
Not so sure I would like too many spammers, it took a lot of effort explaining new words to the last one I tried to clarify things to (last post on 'questions to be answered' in July).
Still, I wonder if they are not happier being bitter, to burst their bubble (if you'll pardon the expression) and get them to recognise that their hatred of us is at best illogical, as their own board of directors have done more harm to the club than we ever have (in the same way Commolli was a goon plant who did the same).
I've always liked Zola as a player, terrier like and proof that there is still space i na team for the 'luxury player' much like our maligned Modders currently. And he seems to be doing a reasonable job at spam central, so good luck to him, just don't book any holidays to iceland anytime soon.
As for other rivalry's, I guess it comes down to exeriences. I've always disliked the goons for the sheer doubled standard combination of myopic support that allows them not to see any problem in feilding a team containing 0.13 of an english player in the course of a season, and yet some of these fans bemoan the lack of national team success. Along with their irritating manager, who is to unbiased analysis what Idi Amin was to collaborative governments.
Spammers, in the main are like the modern day jester, they pop up every now and then to entertain, but become a bit irritating after a while. No real fierce hatred, just wish they would find someone else to annoy every now and then.
United fans I am biased from have to work with one for a number of years (orginially from cheltenham of course) who was about as irritating as you can get over both the carrick and berbatov saga. So yeahm they can do one too.
Trying to explain to a West Ham fan that we don't see them as our fiercest rivals is like trying to explain quantum physics to a caveman, as they'll swear blind that you do hate them and the very fact you are talking to them is proof.
I don't hate West Ham, I don't even dislike them for footballing reasons...they just get on my tits a bit because they just won't leave us alone.
I might not be popular for saying this but I think the goon think the same about us. It's easier I think to dismiss a rivalry when in recent years you have been more successful than your rivals. We've p1ssed all over WH recently so we're right to ignore them. The same way the scum didn't lose to us for years.
It's funny how the "Stand up if you hate..." chant seems to reflect this at the respective grounds. We hate Ar5ena1, WH hate us, etc. I don't buy into the 'cheer on London teams' approach as I believe the rivalries between our clubs are what sets us apart from the rest of the country but I agree it goes too far sometimes. A lot of it is inherited - I know when I have kids i will bring them up to hate red and white and teach them about the rivalry (all in good jest of course). I think sometimes WH fans are stuck in the past, whereas they really haven't challenged us for years (league position in 07/08 notwithstanding).
Chelsea fans are the only ones that confuse me - why are we their main rivaly and not Ar5ena1? I suppose we have dominated them since that lovely, cold November night in 07.
My best mate who I have known for 20 years is a west ham fan and he is embarrassed by his comrades as much as I am when i hear Spurs fans giving it the big 'un to gooners. You should only mouth off when there's something to mouth of about. At the end of the day, the success of our respective clubs will wax and wain and we'll all be on top at some point. That's the time to make up for all the years of abuse! lol.
5-1 night at the Lane was my greatest ever footballing experience. In nearly cried FFS! Says it all really.
Its all put on and completely fabricated this rivalry between the fans of various teams. At least in normal people who have a life.
Its a verbal and emotional 'tic', a silly ritual we all go through sometimes.
I grew up after the war in an Arsenal family and when my mum remarried when I was 8 I discovered that my step fathers family were Spurs. So I made the change and have never regretted it. But I still respected my Mum's brothers who had given me my first experience of live football which was all there was then.
What a wasted evening Spooks. At least you got a decent Blog out of it.
There is some genuine rivalry still out there, as someone who lives almost half way between portsmouth and southampton, I can tell you that even that one is waning. To the point where Pompey fans wants saints back in the same league, just so they can continue their rivalry, it's not even close to being a comparison currently (other than both have become selling clubs recently).
Of course there's another two clubs screwed over by thier board of directors in recent times. And yet still the fans feel more resentment for hte rival than 'their own powers that be'. Wierd huh?
I hesitated to make the gooners point , Maddy , in fact i think they make fun of us as much as united/chelski and even liverpool fans make fom of them for being 4th in the PL power list. If they talk omongts themselves 'bout their rivals (at least what league position is concerned) i would be very suprised if we ever came up ...
They do not see us as a threat but as a poorly managed club of has beens ... So in many ways they will treat spurs the same way we treat the lot with their fading dreams ... I suppose that happens to hammers who dream about becoming a bigger club then us ...
OMG ... ment to write fun of them in stead of fom ... obviously
Belgian, the thing is, Arsenal fans still do get sick with worry if we look like beating them. They cannot stand us much like we cannot stand them. It's almost like a mutual respect of hatred regardless of whether we are lagging behind by some fair distance.
With WH, its 95% them hating us and wanting us to hate them back with the same level of hatred.
Wh just don't really come up on my radar as proper rivals. Probably cos of my mate - it's always just cheeky banter with us like with all the Man Yoo fans I know.
I hate Ar5ena1 to the point of not owning a single piece of red clothing and muttering 'c**ts' even if i just see their badge.
It's down to the history, the results in recent years and what their club, players and manager act like and stand for. But it's mostly because their fans (hardcore and part-time alike) are insufferable, arrogant, self-loving pricks of the highest magnitute. C**ts.
Spammers, why would we be bothered about a yoyoing feeder club?
I should mention that my girlfriend's family are gooners and mine are all Spurs. They're alright as they take the banter fairly easy. It's the blokes aged 15-30 that seem to be the biggest c**ts.
I quite like the harmless banter though. My girlfriend's Mum got ma an Ar5ena1 birthday card so I often make her cups of tea in my Spurs mugs lol. And I used to work with a gooner and we'd be in stitches all day going on about our history and the usual bragging rites on a Monday morning. It doesn't have to be all insults (hypocrite I know) and petty jibes.
If WH fans could see that and not have little brother (or short man) syndrome about our clubs, I'd be more likely to join in some banter. They just take it too seriously and it annoys them that we ignore them and they exist in our shadow. It's probably why we do it after all :D
Once again, no doubt the Sky Sports Top 4 feel the same about us.
in all fairness i must admit that rivalry between clubs (and sides) is a part of the attraction the noble ball game has on me , so i don't mind if some gooner (we do have them over here to) makes fun of me for supporting spurs , it just gives me an opportunity to strike back ... as you said , a bit of banter can be very amusing
But i do like the fact that ignoring the hammers drives them crazy , to the point where even their own board needs te clarify that they will not sell players to Spurs. On the other hand if my home team would sell the best players to our fiercest rival only to have their supporters making fun of me , i would not take it very well. If stuff like that happens it feels like a reality check , as much as you might despise them , your star players feel like the other club is a step up in ther career ... making it very clear that you are second rate team and will probably stay that way for many years to come
On matchdays, always good to have the banter and to have the Hammers fans treat it like such a big occasion. Adds to it all. But to compare it to a NLD? No chance.
"Everyone's a stereotype in football, because that's what we have to go on because generalisations make it easy for all."
Why exactly did you bother making up such a clearly fake encounter then to try and perpetuate such stereotypes?
If anything this article and the near 50 comments from mainly Tottenham fans after has illustrated that they do care about West Ham, The constant justification and attempted belittling is far more telling for me than a make believe West Ham character's (don't tell me, they were wearing DM's and covered in tattoo's) supposed conversation.
Clearly fake? Use the submission contact form and I will give you the address of the pub and describe to you the group of 4 I referenced and you can introduce yourself and ask them if this was fake.
And your last paragraph actually proves the point I referred to in the article.
No DM's and no tats from what I could see. Builders by trade from the looks of their paint covered clothes.
I don't make stuff up. Unlike you lot.
;)
KUMB, we took the time to respond much like you did. If nobody wrote anything and nobody responded the Internet would be a very barren and empty place.
Much like the West Ham trophy cabinet.
I thank you.
I don't believe you have a missus either. Does the same go if I use the submission contact form?
I don't know what you are referencing with regards to the 'make stuff up' comment but it's rather ironic when this blog is dedicated to conjecture and ultimately bullshit from your fellow fans.
You don't believe I have a missus? Jesus Christ did you just burn me? Have we been teleported back in time to the mid-90's into a Usenet discussion thread?
What next? "The article is too long, get a life"
I don't expect us to agree on anything, it would be boring to do so.
The make stuff up comment was just a little dig about a pub in Tottenham.
West Ham fans are miserable horrible people who always bang on about how they're content and happy for their team to play decent and that's enough, accusing us of being dreamers and expecting the moon on a stick. Funny that considering the abuse they've been known to give to their own players and managers down the years.