Monday, May 9

More farewell Boleyn pieces

Can't move for farewell pieces on the Boleyn Ground. There's an artistic slow-motion BBC video of some iconic Green Street sites (including Ken's Cafe); yesterday's Observer had two-pages of memories from the likes of Stevie Bacon and Tony Cottee: Saturday's Guardian had a great piece by Owen Gibson that revealed how poorly the local traders have been treated (surely they should all be granted licences at the Olympic Park?) While The Daily Telegraph has a double-page feature talking to many of the usual suspects, Nathan's pie and mash, Gary Firmager and his stepladder, the West Ham Supporters' Club, the Tonkins brothers who run the two-for-one sweet stall and the nuns at Our Lady of Compassion church on Green Street. The Telegraph piece concludes: "So, it is a fundamental ambivalence that will frame Tuesday's curtain-call, an uncertainty that for all the financial benefits the Olympic Park might bestow, a large section of the community is losing its hub, its spiritual heart." All well worth a read, if your tear ducts can take it.

3 comments:

Keefyd said...

A great article in the Telegraph - super read.

Here's to add to the plethora of wordage:

https://keefydblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/farewellboleyn-the-final-game/

I know that this may not be popular, but I have not been going in and out on a yearly basis like most.........so it is al little difficult to have that intimate bond - after all I am a first generation Hammer.

My memories of my last game: https://flic.kr/s/aHskr6cZMR

Keefyd said...

may need to copy and paste the links if you wish to view/read

Pete May said...

Thanks Keefyd, works if you cut and paste. As you say, hopefully the move might inspire us to do a Leicester (at least in my dreams)…