Irons in the Soul

West Ham

- How can the Irons lose 7-1 at Blackburn and then win 1-0 at Old Trafford? - What was defender Hayden Foxe doing hitting the bar and then relieving himself over it at the Hammers drunken Christmas party? - Did Trevor Sinclair really write his transfer request in the language of a Mondeo driving salesman? - Is Christian Dailly the new Franz Beckenbauer? - Will flawed genius Paolo Di Canio ever be transferred to Manchester United and, if so, will he discuss his Mussolini biographies with ex-shop steward Sir Alex Ferguson? - Will Carrick, Cole and Defoe be going too or will the quiet dignity of the studious Roeder pull the Irons out of the mire? Pete May answers these questions and many more as he guides the reader through the tormented and often hilarious world of the West Ham supporter where, too often, fortune is always hiding.

Pete May is author of The Lad Done Bad and Sunday Muddy Sunday. He has written about West Ham in The Guardian, Observer, Loaded, Time Out, Midweek, New Statesman, Goal, 90 Minutes and Total Football. He was a founder editor of the award winning fanzine Fortune's Always Hiding and a columnist in West Ham fanzine On a Mission.

Many feared that West Ham would fade and die during the 2001-2002 season. Former gaffer Harry Redknapp had been sacked in mysterious circumstances and would never again exclaim that a Hammers side is 'down to the bare bones'. Meanwhile, Glenn Roeder - the man who was initially told not even to apply for the job - admitted to feeling like a 100-1 outsider who had won the Grand National upon being handed the job no one else would take. Young England stars Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard had been sold for 30 million and Leeds fans greeted the appearance of the massive new Dr. Martens stand with a refrain of 'Is that the Rio stand?' Furthermore, the bookies had West Ham down as certainties for relegation and there was universal bemusement at West Ham's appointment of a rookie Premiership manager. Pete May has supported the Hammers ever since he heard cries from the Chicken Run of 'Come on Hammers really pep it up and make it mediocre!' and 'Remember goals, West Ham? They were big in the Seventies!' He offers a supporters' view of Glenn Roeder's crucial first season, while also reminiscing about some of the funniest moments in Hammers' history.

Pete May

A Lifetime of Supporting West Ham

West Ham are back in the Premiership and, to celebrate, Pete May reflects on a lifetime of supporting the Irons. It's all here in Hammers in the Heart, from a full account of West Ham's triumph against Preston in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final at Cardiff on 30 May 2005 to his early recollections of Bobby Moore, high-leg DM boots in the North Bank, Billy Bonds' pirate chic, obscene humour in the Chicken Run, Trevor Brooking's sideburns, the FA Cup triumphs of 1975 and 1980, promotions, relegations and sides invariably 'down to the bare bones'. 
 
 With the dark humour necessary to be a Hammers fan, Pete May recalls Frank McAvennie's Neighbours mullet; Paolo Di Canio's walk-off against Bradford; 'Two Bob' Florin Raducioiu, who preferred shopping in Harvey Nichols to playing for West Ham; Iain Dowie's legendary own goal at Stockport; homeboy Joey Beauchamp; John Hartson attempting to kick off Eyal Berkovic's head in training; beating Bury 10-0 and signing their centre-half; chants of 'We want a new back four!' and relegation with the most talented side ever to go down; and, of course, the sublime skills of Brooking, Devonshire and Di Canio. 
 
 You'll laugh, you'll wince, you'll probably need a cup of Rosie Lea in Ken's Café after reading Hammers in the Heart, an epic tale of dreams that didn't always fade and die.

Pete May

Books by Pete May

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