Hammers News brings you the latest Cass Pennant column as the terrace legend gives his take on the unforgettable Europa Conference League triumph, lifts the lid on his pilgrimage to Prague, meeting Knollsy and delivers some home truths for UEFA and a response to sneering pundit Jason Cundy.
West Ham fans of a certain age might remember Cass Pennant’s contributions in the OLAS fanzine back in the day.
Well now the former West Ham ICF member turned author, producer, writer, actor and speaker has teamed up with Hammers News to give his views on his beloved Hammers, tell some great stories and give a fascinating insight into his life.
In his latest column Cass relives the European triumph, his pilgrimage to Prague, meeting Knollsy and delivers some home truths for UEFA and Jason Cundy plus much more besides.
My pilgrimage to Prague and avoiding the big rip-off
It was only a matter of weeks ago that we were in a Premier League relegation battle with a few games remaining. It was my sole focus that our club should stay up and I couldn’t buy in to the European cup run hype.
However, for some of my close friends the opposite applied and it was all: ‘should we book our flights to Prague for the final now?” I’m still not certain whether this was a show of total faith or a means of relieving some of the tension from getting smashed 5-1 at home to Newcastle and scoring three away goals but still losing to a mediocre Palace side.
It doesn’t really matter because in the same week we both confirmed our place in the final and sealed safety. It was on and I had left it too late to get a flight and gave up on any chance of a match ticket when I saw that fans were only allocated 5,000 tickets to ensure enough space for the corporate offering.
What was UEFA’s thought process behind that? For me, they’ve clearly shown that the fans don’t matter and are just tolerated. What an irrational choice regarding the stadium capacity, no matter how perfect the Czech Republic capital city is as a host venue.
With many fans booking their travel from as early as the quarters and most jumping on it from after the semi, the flight prices went through the roof. I checked a flight at a reasonable time from Gatwick and it was £1,400! I’d given up hope until my good friend, Rob, called and said he had a plan to get us there. All we had to do was get a train to Paris and then we could fly directly to Prague (further evidence that everything is designed to put the boot in on the travelling English fans) where we could get an apartment with seven beds for next to nothing for our small group.
I’d rather face Millwall than Mrs P!
I was buzzing but it was short-lived as the very next day we had our flight cancelled with a laughably lame excuse from the travel company. We’re certain that they checked their analytics and smelled a pound note and I was gutted as I couldn’t afford to let the trip cost more than the family holiday; I’d rather face Millwall than Mrs P!
Rob wasn’t up for admitting defeat and so rearranged for us to go from Luton to Poland, hire a car and drive the 4.5 hours to Prague. What’s more, he cracked the travel, accommodation and fan zone passes for less than £350 each. Happy once again, I was bouncing off the roof when my old mate Barry ‘Chicken Run’ gave me his Heineken hospitality ticket (he couldn’t leave his pub and between him and his source Wayne I owe them big), the party was back on!
We arrive in Prague’s Old Town the eve of the game, having been drinking most of the way from Katowice, and set out for a scout around the main square. Who should be the first person I bumped in to but the now famous Knollsy! I don’t know who was more pleased about the encounter and I think it was a class act by the club to get him out there and to the game – a real nice touch as in the past it has been too easy to label every Hammer a hooligan.
Aside from the obvious, the trip was amazing just for the chance to go wondering around with fellow Hammers continuously pouring in from every direction. Those who know me know I love a photo and so I jumped at the opportunity to grab a few whilst there with some old faces from way back along with a generation that have now seen us win silverware.
Everyone had a different story of how they made it to Prague from as far afield as New Zealand, USA, Thailand
One of my favourites is this one of the GB News’ ‘Hammerette’ Dawn Neesom who sent me this great picture of her wearing an Old School FC tee by a statue-sized replica of the Europa Conference League trophy. You can go to the site for exclusive clothing offers.
West Ham were there in numbers but there was not a hint or atmosphere of trouble and no one was looking for it. It was a brilliant build-up to the game. One hazy memory of the pre-game celebrations was when a familiar face threaded his way through the crowds of Hammers with his wife and son towards me. He was an Italian Fiorentina Ultra who I’d first met over 20 years ago, who has a soft spot for West Ham and someone I’ve kept in touch with over the years. I’m extra glad I did as Luca done me and a few others a big favour – without going into details, he simply did what true fans do for one another no matter their team. We owe him a few beers but he was mostly made up that Bill Gardner was staying in his hotel!
Everyone I spoke to out there had a different story of how they made it to Prague to avoid ‘the big rip-off’ and they came in their numbers from over land and sea. From New Zealand, USA, Thailand, and then there was a guy who got married at Rob’s wedding venue business at Apton Hall, Rochford. He’d left his wife straight from the reception to fly to Prague. The Daily Mail ran the story quoting he had his new wife’s blessing as he had met West Ham first. You name them, everyone was represented there. I believe the reports of 20,000 fans without tickets! Some people really did go above and beyond to cheer on our team and amongst the most extreme was on old face from Canning Town who paid £5,000 for two tickets. He was happy to do so as they were selling on resale for as much £3,000-4,000 each, I used to play in the same Canning Town card school as him some 40-odd years ago and thought, ‘blimey, he did do well out that card school…’
West Ham showed the world they truly are massive
Come kick-off, a good few of us were worse for wear but everyone was ready to stay the course, either in the fan zone or in the Eden Arena stadium. I’ve raised this before but whatever happened to having a match ticket? Like at the London Stadium, mine was stored on my phone (my family always say I should never be allowed a smart phone) but unlike the experience at Stratford, I had a smooth entry without the usual tech dramas.
Wow, once you’re inside and you see that West Ham fans have filled their end and then expanded all along both sides you know it, West Ham are Massive! You all saw the game and no matter where you watched it, you know the West Ham way. Don’t let us score too early, don’t let us score first, you know what will happen, okay if we score first we need another goal so it feels like 1-0. We scored the pen, we lived the dream for however many minutes and then, as if scripted, we let them back in and the thoughts and fears we had kept to the back of our minds all game began to resurface.
Come one West Ham, ffs, finals are there to win, then the clock and then what, extra time, pens or what are the rules for this one, but the game played on 88, 89th until… Bowen’s on fire. With a minute of the 90, he burst onto a Lucas Paqueta ‘we buy any car’ through ball and held off being brought down before slotting the ball home to win West Ham’s first European silver wear since the all English ‘65 team of the Cup Winners Cup. It was just like he had dreamed and it sparked off mental celebrations (for me, partly because I had him to score any time).
Clueless UEFA and my response to sneering Cundy
Shame on UEFA for their choice of a 20,000-seater stadium for any European final but for those who were there, they know that no 60,000 plus stadium would ever match the atmosphere of that proper old school football ground of Slavia Prague. The wild celebrations of the team and backroom staff were on par with those that made the Prague pilgrimage to watch from the stands!
talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy may sneer about UEFA’s third tier tournament, but the reaction to West Ham’s triumph sets the precedent for other clubs following to now make a big thing of winning it. Did you watch the Man City Champions League celebrations in comparison? It looked like they were merely celebrating another win bonus.
To be honest, I had major reservations that this tournament would cost us relegation but I was happily wrong and the final is one that I’d put up there with any other that I’ve been too. Oi! Cundy! IRONS, IRONS, IRONS.
Moan: The ground was claret and blue as were the streets and everyone attending the fan zone. I did see the odd orange and white top on but they all looked rightly embarrassed with their choice. It is so frustrating that our crowning moment would be in orange instead of our traditional claret and blue! These are not our colours!
Shout out: Rob, Aran, Danny and Chris who were my trip companions. Rob, you did a great job sorting getting us there. Luca, I’m not sorry for your team’s loss but I look forward to seeing you again (London or Florence). Wayne and Barry, thanks for my match ticket and Heineken Dave for the hospitality. Further thanks go to Ironwork Tour Fan Zone for the pre and post-match celebrations and finally to Dawn Neesom for best match outfit. Go to Old School FC to get yours. Maybe see you all at the Ironwork Boat Party on July 2nd – it’s going to be a Claret and Blue summer!
Spare a thought: Those above looking down, arms crossed, with that all knowing wink: Jeremy Clarke aka LowLife 1957 – 2023.
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