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swindon hammer 9:01 Sun Feb 11
Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Yes I know it's a strange thing to say but hear me out.

I was watching Villa vs Birmingham earlier and the passion and atmosphere was brilliant because you just knew how much it meant to both sets of fans.

The same when Norwich play Ipswich, Tottenham play Arsenal, Derby/Forest, Newcastle/Sunderland etc etc.

Yes we all dislike Tottenham and they don't like us but we all know their man rival is Arsenal and even Chelsea before us.

I look on in envy sometimes when I see the atmosphere and 5 day build up to those Derby matches I mentioned and how much it means to their supporters.

I can never get too hyped up about the rivalry with Millwall because our fan base is so much bigger and we are rarely in the same league to prolong the hatred/rivalry. Even our own fan base seem split on who they hate more out of Tottenham and Millwall.

Obviously I don't want them to be better than us but would it be more of a rivalry If Millwall were doing much better than they currently are and we were playing them more often?

wanstead_hammer 9:06 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

We only ever cross paths with the pikeys once in a blue moon.
the younger lot class the front wheels as the sort of enemies now. Mind you, everyone else hates them as well.
The 4b2s are the ones who should sing no one likes us!

We'll just ave to wait for next seasons cup draws again...

Bullet 8:44 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Would be good to play them regularly, but doesn't look like happening anytime soon. Doesn't mean I want them to be successful far from it. I hate them more than any other. Still our main rivals, always will be, but difficult when we never play them.

one iron 7:16 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Young westham fans have no links to millwall,the westham old boys do,i want to play them every week hate them, just bullies,and you all know what I fill about bullies.

Bromley Reject 5:32 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

When I started doing Panini albums (about 9 years old) the West Ham page had "record home attendance 53,000 vs Tottenham Hotspur" I assumed that Spurs were our main rival, I hadn't even heard of Millwall.

40 years later and I have really really tried to hate Millwall, but I just can't. Proper team, proper supporters. Agreed, a lot of them are still throwing rocks at the moon and all that, but as far as derbies go, it's Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea, sorry.

pdbis 5:12 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

They belong in the same non league division as Crapton Orient.

4ever-blowin-bubbles 5:07 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

NO we dont need them

Your mum 3:55 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Man U & Spurs have always been derby type games for us..

whoareya 3:52 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

1949 clips https://www.britishpathe.com/video/guards-move-into-london-docks/query/LONDON+DOCK+STRIKE+

SurfaceAgentX2Zero 3:11 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

The East End dockers were also heavily involved in the Battle of Cable St in 1936, when they stood shoulder to shoulder with their Jewish neighbours against Mosley's Blackshirts.

I've thus always been convinced that anti-Semitism expressed at UP was a manifestation of hatred of Tottenham rather than hatred of Tottenham being a manifestation of anti-Semitism.

marty feldman 2:45 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

It was by Charles korr who was indeed an American .good book but seriously banged the two north London clubs down the west ham supporters throats .

gph 2:30 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Got a vague memory it was written by an American, but can't swear to it.

Mike Oxsaw 2:11 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

gph 1:38 Mon Feb 12

Thanks - I'll have to do some digging.


Now.


Where did I put my Fred West Night Gardening Manual?

gph 1:38 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

The General Strike wasn't the only strike the dockers were involved in.

I think there was a strike in 1957 which coincided with the start of our 1957-8 promotion campaign, and there is book that includes an examination of the connection between the two events. I haven't read it, and I can't remember what it's called, but I'm pretty sure it's been discussed on here.

I meant to read it, but didn't get around to that.

Mike Oxsaw 1:24 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

SurfaceAgentX2Zero 11:20 Mon Feb 12

4 generations from now, but in the 60s, plenty of families would still have living relatives who were around, and working in the docks, at the time - my father, for instance, would have just turned 16 (but he opted to follow king & country rather than join the docks). The man who married one of my cousins (in the 70s) was the docker son of a docker, and the emotion about the subject was clearly apparent at their wedding reception.

If you actually grew up in and around the area, it was as much a part of the fabric of society as the Co-op or local pub.

wanstead_hammer 11:36 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

No.
The Vanarama South is where they belong.

SurfaceAgentX2Zero 11:20 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Mike Oxsaw 8:48 Mon Feb 12

'It's not something you can just drop, like you can your old phone when a new version comes out.'

The general strike was four generations back and there's little or no evidence for the strike-breaking thing anyway. It's really nothing to do with that any more. There was a fierce rivalry before that time anyway. I suspect it's now more about jealousy, resentment and underground trains on their side and a reaction to this upstart behaviour from a smaller club on ours. Plus habit and a father to son tradition on both sides.

Mike Oxsaw 9:37 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Would you rather West Ham play Millwall or Bolton Wanderers twice a year?

G-IRONS 9:23 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Taking the knockout competitions seriously especially the FA Cup would increase our chances of playing them.But do we need Millwall to be more successful.Errr no.

Sven Roeder 9:09 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

I think we need us to be more successful and them to sink into League 2
And then draw them in the CARABAO CUP and beat them 12-0

Mike Oxsaw 8:48 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

If our board thought a local derby with the 'wall was financially beneficial (to them), they'd be shovelling (West Ham's) cash over the river so fast you couldn't count it.

The snowflakes associated with the club would, however, knock it firmly on the head as "it would attract the sort of supporter the club no longer wishes to be associated with."

It's an interesting scenario though - I'm too young to have been around when the General Strike was broken, but I shared the terraces in the late 60s & all of the 70s with dockers, many of who's families were directly affected, and the passion (hatred) even then, a generation later, was strong enough to feel in the air. It infuses you by osmosis.

It's not something you can just drop, like you can your old phone when a new version comes out.

Hammer and Pickle 8:06 Mon Feb 12
Re: Do we need Millwall to be more successful?

Wish Millwall all the best - they are scum.

I’d rather the 1st men’s team were playing in the weekend all the same.

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