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How West Ham became ‘massive’ – the origin of the chant that became the soundtrack to a season
It is often difficult to locate the origin of a football chant, but the tranquil city of Hasselt in Belgium is where a small group of West Ham United fans claim to have laid the foundations for their theme tune to the season.
On November 3, 2021, supporters congregated at the Irish Times Pub. The venue is a 30-minute drive from the Cegeka Arena, where David Moyes’ side were set to face Genk in a group stage Europa League tie.
Those in attendance felt it was time to think of something new to reflect the team’s progress. There were attempts at different chants and eventually there was one everyone took a liking to — “West Ham are massive, everywhere we go.”
Said Benrahma stole the show the next day, scoring twice in a 2-2 draw, but during the game, supporters were able to debut their chant to the masses. Four months on, it has caught on in more ways than one could have imagined.
The club have started selling t-shirts with the word “massive” emblazoned on the front.
Yet it is not merchandising that has seen its benefits. West Ham’s staff and players have also taken a liking to the catchy song.
Following the 2-0 victory against Sevilla that sealed West Ham’s place in the Europa League quarter-finals, Pablo Fornals struggled to contain his excitement. The Spaniard gave his own rendition of the chant and manager Moyes referred to it after the game.
“I have heard we are really massive,” said Moyes. “Tonight, we were massive the way we played. We played in great fashion and deserved it. It was a really good night and in the end, one we really enjoyed.”
Many will be familiar with hearing the much more antagonistic “Tottenham get battered, everywhere they go”. It was a popular chant before those at the Irish Times Pub decided to freshen up what West Ham fans sing to the tune of Rotterdam by The Beautiful South. Pedro Davidson, 53, was at the venue on the eve of the fixture against Genk.
“The derogatory chants about Tottenham and Chelsea weren’t for me,” he tells The Athletic. “I wanted to hear us sing positively about West Ham.
“It definitely took off at the pub in Genk. We were pretty much there all day and every so often, people would attempt new chants. Some bloke started singing, ‘West Ham are massive, everywhere we go’. That’s the only chant I kept hearing. In the away end at Genk, that’s when it really took off. It went on for about 10 minutes.”
Davidson, who is a season ticket holder, recorded a video of supporters chorusing the song.
Supporters, players and celebrity fans referring to the club as “massive” is nothing new.
In an interview with The Athletic earlier this year, rapper and die-hard West Ham fan Guvna B said: “West Ham are absolutely massive. Before we used to say it as a joke but every time we get a decent result, we start to believe it.”
When West Ham were embroiled in a relegation fight, the popular Twitter account @WestHamClips always ended their alternative commentary with: “We are still massive.”
In November, many took umbrage to Simon Jordan, the Talksport presenter, suggesting that West Ham were “opening themselves up to ridicule with the massive slogan”. Davidson strongly disagrees.
“It’s tongue-in-cheek and I love the fact all the other clubs take offence to it,” he says.
“We lost to Tottenham on Sunday and they were having a party after singing, ‘West Ham get battered’, and they also did it in the Carabao Cup game (when West Ham lost 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December). The biggest compliment is it wasn’t even our biggest game of the week but during the game, we were singing the ‘massive’ chant. It puts a smile on your face when you hear it.”
West Ham, fans
West Ham fans at the Cegeka Arena for their Europa League group-stage draw with Genk in November (Photo: Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Paul Hurley, 63, claims to be the mastermind behind the chant. Similar to Davidson, he was at the Irish Times Pub and follows the club home and away. He too became frustrated with fans singing about rival teams.
“I started it all,” he says. “In the build-up to the game against Genk, lots of people kept saying we’re massive but there wasn’t a chant for it.
“There were probably 200 West Ham fans at that pub. They were all singing, ‘Tottenham get battered, everywhere they go’. My mate was fed up and said, ‘We’re doing well in the league and in Europe — why do we keep singing about Tottenham?’.
“He started singing, ‘West Ham keep winning everywhere we go’. A few people caught on to it, then I started the massive chant and it caught on within seconds.
“The whole pub started singing it and then the following day against Genk. Whenever I hear the chant, it reminds me of the trip to Belgium. I’ve followed the club my whole life. It’s great that the chant has coincided with us doing well.”
This is an exciting time for West Ham. Tickets for next month’s Europa League quarter-final showdown with Lyon have sold out while many will look forward to another European adventure in the away leg. There is also hope that Moyes’ side will reprise last season’s sixth-placed finish in the Premier League — or better.
The soundtrack to their campaign sums up the positivity among West Ham’s fanbase. It is a mark of their success and something which fans will cherish for years to come.
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