And On The 6th Day God Created Bobby Moore

3.8/5 ( ratings)

A darkly humorous guide to the history of West Ham United football club and the East London area.
From the awful deprivation of the 19th century, through the battles of the working classes to achieve a decent standard of living for their families; the devastation of the Blitz; the violence of London's underworld; the decline of the once-booming Docks; East Enders have always suffered in comparison with the rest of the Capital. However, the redevelopment of London's Docklands boded well for a better future, as East London's skyline rapidly changed and the young and the affluent began to migrate there.
And throughout it all there stood that colossus of East End life - the thing of beauty that is West Ham United. At the heart of the community for over a century, the Hammers have endured more heartache than most teams.
From their humble Thames Ironworks roots, through the glorious flowing football of the Ron Greenwood era and the emergence in the 1960's of three of England's greatest-ever footballers; the Holy Trinity that were Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
The legends continued through the decades: Brooking, Bonds, Di Canio, but there was also the turbulence of the Redknapp era and the ominous entity known as 'the Inter-City Firm'; one of the most notorious football hooligan crews Britain has ever known.
The book was reviewed on 'They Fly So High' website thus:
"I was taken on a poignant roller-coaster ride through West Ham United's history.
The author successfully charts the social and political climate through his lifetime journey supporting the Hammers; with all of the major highs-and-lows recounted for the reader...
The book was a great read from cover to cover and, for me, a reminder of WHY we support the club we do and what it means to be a West Ham United supporter. The Cup Finals, the yo-yo promotion and relegation seasons, the legends to have pulled on the claret'n'blue shirt; even the infamous I.C.F. hooligans all get a mention in this humorous guide to the history of the club...
The book is also interspersed with 'Fan's Memories' and is definitely on my list to give as an ideal present..."