Stolen from Kumb
Post by a bloke called Dan
Just had lunch at the pub, and when they bring the basket with cutlery and condiments, you get a pack of Trivial Pursuit questions in there too. We read a few sets of questions to each other, including "What team has been dubbed The Aristocrats of British Football". Seemed like an odd question and we all looked blankly at each other. Well f*ck me, the answer was only West Ham.
Has anyone ever actually heard that term in reference to us? If so, any idea of its origin?
Guy called Vietnammer had the answer. an interesting one at that
This is from The Independent Q&A sometime in 1998:
Q. Why are West Ham United sometimes referred to as "The Aristocrats" of English football.
A. This probably stems from the late Fifties and early Sixties when they were quick to embrace "continental" ideas, in the days before we were familiar with widespread European football. As a Second Division side in the late Fifties, captained by Malcolm Allison, they were among the first to use lightweight kit and continental boots and would even come on to the pitch before a game for a pre-match warm-up - unheard of in those days. This sophistication was continued into the Sixties by Ron Greenwood and they experimented tactically and played a strictly "ball on the ground" game. Greenwood encouraged his players to become qualified FA coaches and they were one of the first to go on extensive foreign tours. This skillful, intelligent way of playing attracted adjectives such as sophisticated or aristocratic.
Post by a bloke called Dan
Just had lunch at the pub, and when they bring the basket with cutlery and condiments, you get a pack of Trivial Pursuit questions in there too. We read a few sets of questions to each other, including "What team has been dubbed The Aristocrats of British Football". Seemed like an odd question and we all looked blankly at each other. Well f*ck me, the answer was only West Ham.
Has anyone ever actually heard that term in reference to us? If so, any idea of its origin?
Guy called Vietnammer had the answer. an interesting one at that
This is from The Independent Q&A sometime in 1998:
Q. Why are West Ham United sometimes referred to as "The Aristocrats" of English football.
A. This probably stems from the late Fifties and early Sixties when they were quick to embrace "continental" ideas, in the days before we were familiar with widespread European football. As a Second Division side in the late Fifties, captained by Malcolm Allison, they were among the first to use lightweight kit and continental boots and would even come on to the pitch before a game for a pre-match warm-up - unheard of in those days. This sophistication was continued into the Sixties by Ron Greenwood and they experimented tactically and played a strictly "ball on the ground" game. Greenwood encouraged his players to become qualified FA coaches and they were one of the first to go on extensive foreign tours. This skillful, intelligent way of playing attracted adjectives such as sophisticated or aristocratic.