The West Ham Syndrome

No Place Like Home - Joseph Fordham on Documenting the Last Days of Upton Park | Season 2: Episode 2

In 2015, with West Ham's move from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium announced, photographer and creative director Joseph Fordham set himself a task: to collect 112 portraits and personal accounts from fans, players and club figures - one for every year West Ham had called Upton Park home. What followed was 374 days of matchday photography, interviews over email, recorded conversations in the club bar, and one memorable trip to Gloucester to photograph Sir Geoff Hurst. The result was No Place Like Home, a self-funded, self-published book that sold 2,000 copies and captured a moment in time that can never be repeated. In this episode, Joe joins Andrew and Max to talk through the making of the book - how the idea came to him on a train, how Tony Carr opened a door that led to Sir Geoff Hurst, how David Gold gave up 45 minutes of his time and lit up talking about the old days, and why it took him nearly a decade to look back at the finished product with genuine pride. We also get into the fanzine that followed - 10 issues of irreverent, offbeat fun produced out of the Truman Brewery - Joe's complicated feelings about the London Stadium and what No Place Like Home has grown into since. Plus the quickfire round: first game, favourite player, best goal, worst heartbreak and what the West Ham Way really means. A proper love letter to the Boleyn Ground and the people who made it home. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542518/support] Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow. Stay connected with us:  📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)

The 2006 FA Cup Final, 20 Years On | Season 2: Episode 1

We're back! Season 2 of The West Ham Syndrome is here and we're kicking things off with a special episode marking the 20th anniversary of the 2006 FA Cup Final. On 13 May 2006, West Ham United faced Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in a match now widely regarded as one of the greatest FA Cup finals ever played. We take you through West Ham's road to the final, the context surrounding that season, and every moment of a game that had absolutely everything. We also take an honest (and slightly painful) look at how close West Ham have come to a final in the twenty years since. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542518/support] Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow. Stay connected with us:  📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)

Renford Rejects - the West Ham Episode | Season 1: Episode 18

In this episode of The West Ham Syndrome Podcast, we’re doing something slightly different. Instead of focusing on matchdays, players, or club politics, we’re heading back to the 1990s to revisit a memorable crossover between West Ham United and the Nickelodeon series Renford Rejects — specifically the Series 3 episode, “Another Italian”. For many fans, Renford Rejects was part of growing up: a football show aimed at younger audiences that still managed to capture the spirit of the game surprisingly well. In this episode, a prank phone call leads to a dream trial at West Ham’s Chadwell Heath training ground, with Harry Redknapp and a late-90s squad featuring names like Paolo Di Canio and Rio Ferdinand making cameo appearances. We talk through the episode, reflect on the 90s football culture it represents, touch on the familiar faces who appeared in the series, and consider why moments like this stick in the memory. A slightly lighter, nostalgic detour — but still very much part of the wider story of West Ham and what it means to grow up with the club. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542518/support] Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow. Stay connected with us:  📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)

West Ham and the Financial Impact of Relegation (Interview with Chris Weatherspoon) | Season 1: Episode 17

West Ham United are ranked 20th in Deloitte’s Football Money League, placing them among Europe’s highest-revenue clubs. And yet, as this season has shown, they remain firmly entangled in a relegation battle. How can a club with elite-level revenues still be financially vulnerable? In this episode of The West Ham Syndrome, we’re joined by football finance journalist Chris Weatherspoon to unpack the financial realities behind Premier League survival and what relegation would really mean for West Ham United. Drawing on Chris’ detailed analysis, we explore how revenues typically fall by around 46% after relegation, why broadcast income can halve overnight even with parachute payments, and how rising costs, including a £161m wage bill, £83.5m in transfer amortisation, and significant short-term transfer liabilities, complicate the picture. We also discuss why headline rankings like Deloitte’s Money League can create a false sense of financial security, the unique advantages of West Ham’s London Stadium deal, and why modern football increasingly produces clubs that are rich, but not resilient. 🔗 Read the original article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6773309/2025/11/07/west-ham-relegation-finances-impact/  (“West Ham United’s finances if they were relegated” by Chris Weatherspoon) Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542518/support] Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow. Stay connected with us:  📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)

"The only religion is West Ham". The Belfast Hammers with Peter O'Prey | Season 1: Episode 16

In this episode, we’re joined by Peter O’Prey – lifelong Hammer, retired teacher, and the founder and Chairman of the Belfast Hammers. Growing up in Belfast during the height of the Troubles, Peter reflects on what life was like in a deeply divided city and how supporting West Ham United became a source of solace, identity, and connection during turbulent times. From early supporter groups like the Twin Hammers to the founding of the Belfast Hammers in 1999, Peter explains how the group was shaped around one simple principle: “The only religion is West Ham.” We talk about the stories behind Peter’s 2024 book of the same name, the matches that defined a lifetime of following the club (both glorious and grim), and what a matchday pilgrimage from Belfast to East London really looks like. Along the way, there’s nostalgia, heartbreak, humour, and plenty of classic West Ham pain. The episode also features a quick-fire deep dive into Peter’s West Ham memories: favourite players, goals, kits, managers, and what he’d contribute to a virtual West Ham museum – before finishing with a thoughtful reflection on what “the West Ham way” truly means. 🎟️ Event plug: We’re also delighted to help promote an upcoming Belfast Hammers event, An Evening with Sir Trevor Brooking, celebrating one of the club’s true legends. 👉 Tickets available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-sir-trevor-brooking-tickets-1810390981159 [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-evening-with-sir-trevor-brooking-tickets-1810390981159] 👥 Get involved: You can connect with the Belfast Hammers and follow their work through their Facebook group here:  👉 https://www.facebook.com/TheBelfastHammers/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheBelfastHammers/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2542518/support] Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow. Stay connected with us:  📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com 📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)