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FIRST LOOK
When I arrived at Upton Park Station in October 2002 for the first time I was shocked. I mean, I´ve seen the city, I´ve seen this and that – and then I entered the East End of London – it was something dramatically different for me. It was like I´d have left London and been ... Read review
Advantages: passionate atmosphere, great fans Disadvantages: after leaving the stadium you must be very patient waiting for the tube
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When I arrived at Upton Park Station in October 2002 for the first time I was shocked. I mean, I´ve seen the city, I´ve seen this and that – and then I entered the East End of London – it was something dramatically different for me. It was like I´d have left London and been miles away of it (maybe I was....).
So you go out, you´ve read which way you have to go and of course (yepp) you take the wrong way. You´ve lost your way – you´re searching ... .../>
There it was – Upton Park/Boleyn Ground.
I´ve seen a lot of stadiums in my life, I´ve been in Munich, Dortmund etc. – but then something hit me and I was paralized. I found that what I´ve been searching for – I found that what I was dreaming of.
I think in that moment you could have taken me to Anfield, Old Trafford or Highbury – I would just stand around in front of the main entrance with an open mouth.
It was a feeling ... more
It happens sometimes. Rarely. Yes, but every time it happens, I love it, I enjoy it, I live it.
Sometimes I pack my baggage, order my tickets for West Ham, take the next plane to London and watch a game of the Irons. I don´t know how it came ot how it started, but when I entered the stadium the first at the 3rd October 2002 it was something special – it was someting that makes your heart bumping around like a litle child that´s cheering for his favourite football player.
This review is different, for sure. I´m a foreigner, I a german, I have my own beloved home team with ist own superb, supermodern stadium – but whenever I have the chance to see the Hammers, I´m going out to the big world.
FIRST LOOK When I arrived at Upton Park Station in October 2002 for the first time I was shocked. I mean, I´ve seen the city, I´ve seen this and that – and then I entered the East End of London – it was something dramatically different for me. It was like I´d have left London and been miles away of it (maybe I was....). So you go out, you´ve read which way you have to go and of course (yepp) you take the wrong way. You´ve lost your way – you´re searching for a football stadium, but everything you see is a street with shops, a school and living houses. „Excuse me sir, where can I find the Boleyn Ground ?“ – I asked that maybe 5 times, didn´t find the right way – but then, after a last view on the left – I found it.
There it was – Upton Park/Boleyn Ground. I´ve seen a lot of stadiums in my life, I´ve been in Munich, Dortmund etc. – but then something hit me and I was paralized. I found that what I´ve been searching for – I found that what I was dreaming of. I think in that moment you could have taken me to Anfield, Old Trafford or Highbury – I would just stand around in front of the main entrance with an open mouth. It was a feeling – well, let´s call it something special.
THE GROUND ITSELF As I know the capacity is around 35 000 with 4 stands. The development of the stadium is stopped at the moment due to financial problems, but it was planned to build the stadium for a capacity of 40 000. The corners in the stadium are open and it is of course an all-seater. The main attraction of the side stadium is the wonderful main entrance „building“ leading to the hotel and the New Main Stand (Dr. Martens). As in Britian used, the staium is an all-seater (still something special for a german guy like me that had a season ticket over here for standing). 3 of the 4 stands ar two tiered, so when you look down from the Main Stand onto the East Stand you can see down to the roof as this Stand is really small (maybe capacity 3000 or 4000 I´d say). I would rate Boleyn Ground as a typical british stadium, where every stand is like an individual, with open corners (where the guys outiside the stadium watch the matches for free).
ATMOSPHERE ? As I am used to, I´ve been at the stadium roundabout 2 hours before the game, well, that was a big mistake. Of course, the tube was full, the pubs and the streets were full, but when I tried to enter the stadium I saw just one problem: The entrances weren´t open yet. So I took a breath and a short walk, watching at the other fans (watching into the pubs ;-) ) and realised, that there are some differences between England and Germany. When I entered the stadium it was nearly empty until roundabout 15-30 minutes before the game (another difference). So I sat down (no alcohol allowed in the area – what a shock) smoked a cigarette and waited for the things to come. The crowd was good and noisy – I´d say I´m used to it, but when the DJ played the West Ham Song (Bubbles...) i was totally filled with atmosphere and pure football passion. Everyone stood up (I mean, REALLY everyone), and cried out his soul – impressive, amazing – from that moment on I knew that I´d come back over and over again just to enjoy tis 1 or 2 minutes of pure passion. A day later I also visited Arsenal vs. Sunderland – and the differences between London and London were huge – where I saw the passionate Hammers one day I´ve seen that boring and kind of snobbish Gunners the next day. So I knew I made the right „choice“ with the Hammers. In one word: West Ham´s atmosphere is AWESOME.
NOT ENOUGH ? For this time I know, this review is kind of poor. My english hasn´t been worked out for the last few months (no chance to speak, just one last visit in January), but witing an opinion in an different langauge is always hard, and it´s more difficult when you´re out of your „form“. But, there are that lot things been said about a football stadium, ok, I could tell you all differences between my home ground and Boleyn Ground, but then I wouldn´t hit the right point. The main thing to say has been said. Boleyn Ground is an impressive, typical british stadium with an superb and absolutely passionate atmosphere. I´m sure, I´ll visit the Hammers this season, trying to support them on their way back to the Premier League.
So, I´ll try make it better next time – and West Ham will also. Come on you Irons !
Advantages: Bobby Moore used to play there Disadvantages: The away team always seemed to enjoy their visits
I remember with affection the Upton Park crowd of the late 60s to late 70s.
We lived in High Wycombe, which meant that QPR would have been a convenient skip down the A40 for my dad in the car, but did I want to do that? No, course not, I forced him to drag me all the way across to the other side of town.
Our junior league match would kick-off at 10.30, leaving me just enough time to dip into the communal bath (the colour of that water!), dash to ... ...to London.
Marylebone to Upton Park tube station was no better.
The last leg above ground as the old District Line train rumbled along seemed to last forever but we survived by sharing thoughts of what lay ahead... the worst hamburgers on the planet, invariably defeat for our beloved Hammers, quite often a lousy game, but every once in a while a real gem of a match as the whole team hit the ground running at the same time.
And that’s really why ...
Graysiepops 06.03.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Upton Park
Advantages: Home of West Ham United Disadvantages: None
...West Ham United play at Upton Park. Correction due. They play at the Boleyn Ground, which happens to be in Upton Park. It's one of those silly things that annoy me, but it's like people who mis-pronounce names, I can't help but correct them. Upton Park is an area in West Ham, East London. The ground itself is situated just off the Barking High Road or Romford Road, and the main gates are down Green Street. This is the entrance to the West Stand, ... ...to. The rules in the ground won't allow for racial chants, swearing and alcohol abuse and I've seen more than one guy being chucked out because he's been too offensive. So remember. It's THE BOLEYN in Upton Park, East London. Stump your friends at trivia quizzes with it!! ...
Salgirl 12.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Upton Park
Advantages: Good View, Decent Stewarding Disadvantages: Cramped areas in concourses
...this a chance to visit Upton Park, a ground I doubt I'll be seeing next season based on current happenings on the pitch. When I was younger I always though West Ham was in West London. Of course it's actually in the East End of the big smoke. We took the club coach to the game and it wasn't a bad journey. This part of London isn't really heaving with some of the traffic flow that you may find in other areas. The ground is clearly visible behind a ... ...club this wasn't bad but maybe a lower price may have bought out the crowd and made it a better occasion. Anyway I'd definitely go back some time to Upton Park, hopefully it will be in the top flight but for now I look on at them with envious eyes. ...
utero 22.10.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Upton Park
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Under Harry Redknapp, the Hammers have established themselves as a 'force' in the Premiership. BUT - That 'force' is not good enough to bring silverware to UptonPark. Well, maybe the League Cup or FA Cup. That would satify the fans, I'm sure. But they are not going to be incontention for the title. We all know that - despite the Hammers being one of the most imaginative and attack minded sides around. Personally I would pay money to watch West Ham play. Di Canio was a controversial signing, but he is one of the most skilful players around. The crowd love him (even if Refs don't) - he is why football is called 'the beautiful game'.
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Being a lifelong Westham fan, I have been amused over the years, by the constant insistance that they will never amount to anything other than a yo-yo team.
The 00/01 season saw the emergence of a strong Squad, with three potential England internationals in Carrick,Cole and Defoe. Stadium enhancements in hand, the future looked promising.
Unfortunately, the Uptonpark curse of entertaining football combined with poor results led to the exit from the FA cup by Tottenham Hotspurs, a poor finish in the league and "hammered" a final nail in the coffin for one of the premierships most settled managers, Harry Rednapp.
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