What Is This Curse That Continually Hits West Ham United?

Written by James Bailey

West Ham United. Three times winners of the FA Cup and former holders of the European Cup Winners Cup. According to their fans they even won the World Cup with their players Martin Peters, Geoff Hurst and of course the late, great Bobby Moore playing key roles in England’s ‘sixty-six’ success. Many more legendary players have since donned the famous claret and blue strip… Bonds, Brooking and Di Canio to name just a few. Recently dubbed a ‘feeder club’, the West Ham Academy has produced such young English talent as Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe. Relegated in 2003, First Division football beckoned for West Ham and additionally those Premiership clubs capable of flexing financial muscle circled their star players, worsening the fall for the London side. Despite quickly bouncing back and finishing runners-up to Liverpool in a pulsating FA Cup Final, ever since injuries, transfer regulations and financial problems have continuously struck blows to the club. Though what is this curse that continually hits West Ham United?

Fighting for their survival once again during the 2006-07 season, this time the Hammers survived with Argentinean Carlos Tevez hailed as the saviour. Tevez popped up to score the Irons' winner against Manchester United - his employers now - on the last day of the season saving West Ham and instead condemning Sheffield United to the dreaded drop. However after a substantial investigation, West Ham were found to have breached Premier League rules when they signed Tévez and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano from Corinthians. Their punishment extended to a £5.5 million fine, though to Sheffield United’s dismay, West Ham escaped without a points deduction. With the case still being disputed, the Yorkshire club are seeking £30 million from the Hammers to compensate for money lost when they were relegated from the Premier League. With a full trial scheduled for this year, it appears likely West Ham will be summoned to pay a large sum of money for ‘damages’.

With this payout looming on the horizon, the credit crunch couldn’t have come at a worst time. Having already lost their shirt sponsors XL, after the travel company went bust, West Ham’s financial situation is in crisis with Chairman Björgólfur Guðmundsson losing his investments in the Icelandic bank, Landbanksi, after it entered adminstration. Speaking publicly about the situation following the Icelandic bank collapse, Guðmundsson, a keen football fan, said that he would be listening to any offers made by other companies around the world to buy West Ham United Football Club.

Many cited that the financial woes for West Ham were initiated by previous Chairman Eggert Magnússon, who overindulged in the summer of 2007 when the team agreed sky-high wages for some players who then didn´t live up to expectations. The purchases included Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Freddie Ljungberg and Julien Faubert. All who have since also been sidelined for long periods of time due to sustaining injuries. Dyer broke his leg, Bellamy underwent operations on his knee and groin, Ljungberg suffered various ankle problems and Faubert ruptured his Achilles tendon during a pre-season friendly.

Whilst Ljungberg has since departed and Bellamy is reported to be on his way out, Faubert has become a first team regular. Dyer’s return from his 17 month lay-off was delayed until last week due to the flu, though as the forgotten man of English football perhaps manager Gianfranco Zola can inspire him and the rest of the squad to play such silky football the Italian used to produce week in week out. With Zola’s men sitting in mid-table, it will be the former Chelsea man’s task to keep the players focused on the pitch and not the boardroom where many financial dealings will need to be made.

Either West Ham are incredibly unlucky, or the numerous injuries inflicted and financial problems are the result of a magical curse cast on the Upton Park team. A Hammers fan commenting on an internet forum sums up the supporters view perfectly, “Who was it that put the curse on West Ham? Was it a disgruntled fan? Alan Pardew? or Titi Camara? Perhaps it was you!”