One of the most famous football teams in the world, West Ham have been around for a while. A history that is more than a hundred years old stands testimony to that fact. And it has its share of diehard supporters too. That’s something that can be said of most football clubs in the world, inspiring as they do a unique kind of camaraderie between fans and clubs. West Ham fans however are reputed to be a class apart.
In the world of sports betting, football is an integral part. And West Ham has its share of players banking on them through the years. It’s a fascinating thing, the world of sports betting and if you are a rookie you can easily get your fix at sites like betway betting. Let’s have a look then at the beautiful story behind this great club of our times.
The club was formed way back in 1895. Back then it was conceptualised as a team for recreational purposes for the workers of the Thames Ironworks – a famous shipbuilding yard in the day. Those days the club was backed by the head of the company Mr. Arnold Hills who used his personal fortune to help the club earn its laurels. One of the series of highlights from that era was the floodlit games that were played out by the club against opponents like Old St. Stephens. Another being a stunning 4-1 victory against the equally stunningly named club – Crouch End Vampires.
The first steps
The first big step for the club came with an expenditure of 2000-pounds and move to the enormous Memorial Recreation Ground. Around the ending years of the nineteenth century they were chosen for the Southern League. A situation that needed the club to hire professional players to up the standard of their play. This change in the scheme of things however was not liked by all, especially Hills who moved out of the club he had founded shortly. Currently their move to their new stadium is going through a bit of a hiccup, but nothing that can overshadow the magnificence of this club.
The Crest
The distinctive old crest of the club housed a castle that can trace its story back to another big ground in the club’s life. It’s a depiction of the Green Street House also known as the Boleyn Castle, not the most correct of nomenclatures, but the House did have two distinct turrets that could stand as justification. The newer crossed hammers crest reflect the shipbuilding days of the club, though it’s no longer associated with the industry. The nickname of Hammers and Irons have stuck though, and still sees widespread use.
A bit of tradition and a bit of confusion
West Ham can sometimes be confused, by careless historians, with Thames. A club that played a couple of seasons in the Football League wearing the distinct red and blue quartered shirts. The tradition of claret shirts still continues, though sponsorship deals sometimes seek to change this. But the everlasting image of the iconic Bobby Moore, a man still revered in the club, in a claret shirt with blue sleeves is forever etched in football history.
Today, more than a hundred years the club is as relevant as ever. An aggressive transfer strategy is seeking to infuse it with talent that can take them up the charts.
In short, let’s just say that the Hammers are still a force to reckon with and will be for the foreseeable future.
