West Ham 'Aggro

I suppose my opening statement should be that I don't condone the events at Upton Park last night. It's sad that I have to point that out, but I feel much of this post will go against what is appearing in much of the media and could therefore be taken a support of those involved. Make no mistake, it isn't.

I should say that I am a West Ham season ticket holder, so my views may well be a little biased, but I will try to put that aside. This is my 12th season as a season ticket holder and while I don't know the exact figure, I have attended around 300 matches. I am not therefore a casual observer, or occasional supporter. I know what it's all about and have been to matches between West Ham and Millwall on a number of occasions, even back to the old Den.

Geographically the two nearest clubs to Upton Park are Tottenham and Millwall. By pure chance the first two home matches of this season have been Tottenham and Millwall. What that does mean is a comparison can be made. On Sunday we hosted Spurs, and whilst we really don't like them, and they are the team to beat each season what happened last night just wouldn't arise against them.

Why not? Well for a start the Spurs fans are generally amongst the quieter and more reserved to visit. They are more akin to a theatre audience than a football crowd so the confrontational element just isn't there. It's like having an argument with someone who doesn't argue back, it can't escalate.

On the other hand you have Millwall. A club who's only chant is "no-one likes us...". I wonder why. Their fans always try to be confrontational. Now Millwall are a small club, there is no getting away from that. In their history they have spent 2 seasons in the top flight and reached 1 cup final. There are even smaller clubs, sure, but Millwall are pretty insignificant to many people. The only way they could ever be regarded as a 'big' team was in the hooligan stakes in the 70s and 80s. As this is their only 'claim to fame' they try to live up to it.

It strikes me that recent lapses in behaviour at football have tended to involve Millwall (think Birmingham and Hull for two such), when playing other teams which had a well established 'firm' or hooligan element in the past. West Ham 'fans' were far from innocent in those dark days, with their own ICF being feared countrywide. Add this to a local rivalry and you can imagine the tinderbox waiting to be lit last night.

All matches that I have been to involving West Ham and Millwall have been league encounters. The kick offs have always been moved to a time before pubs open. Alcohol certainly has it's part to play. An evening kick off was bound to add complications to the security, but (excluding the final) this competition is played exclusively in the evening and the crammed fixture lists just do not allow for this game being switched to a weekend morning.

I can't (or won't) pass an opinion on what happened outside the ground as I saw nothing untoward there. That's not being blinkered, just not wanting to rely on hearsay as many are doing this morning.

Inside the Millwall fans were in the lower tier of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand. Sensibly West Ham left the upper tier empty. Perhaps with hindsight more of the West Stand lower tier should have been left empty too to give more of an exclusion zone. Not so sensible was that fact that tickets were on sale until 5pm yesterday. I know it's not quite the same as paying on the gate, but it's a bit too close to kick off in my opinion.

Millwall fans were vociferous. West Ham fans were vociferous. Chants were exchanged. The atmosphere was building, but there was an underlying feeling of hatred that just doesn't exist for any other match. Nothing new though.

The first sign of any trouble was Millwall fans throwing bottles onto the pitch, and fighting with stewards and police at the front. Millwall scored, and their fans were goading their West Ham counterparts. The underlying hatred was increasing. Now a scuffle started at the front of the West Ham section in the West Stand lower. It seemed that the verbal duelling now wasn't enough and the crowd wanted to get at each other physically.

While this is all unsavoury, and we do not want to see it, it does happen occasionally and it was dealt with fairly well by those in authority. The two sets of fans never came together inside the stadium. Millwall's lead in the match enabled their supporters to continue their incitement. When West Ham finally equalised with 3 minutes to play relief outpoured.

I believe the stewards were taken a bit by surprise, as those who now came onto the pitch did so from all sides. This was not, in my opinion, an attempt to storm the Millwall section and riot. It was a combination of celebration, relief, and a will to get back at the Lions fans for their taunting. I'm not defending it, and those who did it will know they face life bans. It's the way things are, and they can have no excuse when they are identified and punished.

As a West Ham fan though it was embarrassing that our supporters were causing the problem. It lowered us to their level, and I'm sure the club will face some penalty for it.

As the players prepared on the pitch for extra time we got news of the stabbing outside, as police vans screamed up and down Priory Road. Our seats, in the centre of the upper tier of the West Stand were probably the safest place to be in the entire area, but the fact that we would have to go past the end of Priory Road to get home, and that Millwall's fans would have to come down that same street caused some worry for after the match. Not so much for me, but for the two kids I was responsible for.

Soon into extra time West Ham got a penalty, which we scored, and this sadly led to another pitch invasion. More this time spilled onto the playing surface. Again it was an embarrassment, and most fans in their seats were chanting 'off, off, off' to those encroaching.

The game was delayed for a couple of minutes while the pitch was cleared, and when it got underway again West Ham scored a third quickly afterwards. Celebrations this time were much more controlled. The opposition fans were deflated and the game was won.

We left the stadium 5 minutes from the end to ensure we could pass Priory Road before the Millwall fans. Although there were many more police around now than earlier, again we saw no violence.

What went on was indefensible, and the individuals concerned will, I'm sure, be identified and punished. I sincerely hope that the rest of us are not. 'Fans' of both clubs are to blame. Millwall incited and West Ham reacted. I haven't seen or heard any mention of the racist abuse given by Millwall fans to Carlton Cole though. Good for him to give them the w**ker sign, but I bet he gets fined for it.

The kids (aged 7 and 13) that I took to the game will remember it forever. It has not, though, stopped them wanting to attend in the future. In fact the difference to the sanitised atmosphere for many Premier League matches was (unnecessary elements excluded) a welcome change. And I do not believe, as many on BBC radio were saying last night, that I am naive for taking kids to this fixture.

Yes, there is more chance of trouble at a game between these two teams than many. But on the whole you have to want to be involved to actually be involved. If you want to avoid trouble you usually can. Football in general, and West Ham in particular, are safe to go to. Safe to take kids to. And I for one will ignore the media hype and comments from those who have never been to a football match with their sweeping generalisations and continue to take my two boys.

For the record West Ham won the football match 3-1 after extra time. The action can be seen here.

Come on you Irons!