WEST Ham United author Pete May was invited by the Czech Republic
branch of the British Council to visit Prague as a "fan
ambassador" while West Ham's youth team played Sparta
Prague's youth side in a friendly match at Spart'a training
complex.
Pete, the author of West Ham: Irons In The Soul, lectured to a
group of Prague students (16 years plus) on the history of West Ham
United and what it is like to be a football fan in England.
He dressed them up in Hammers scarves and hats, taught them to
shout "Come On you Irons!" and showed them a DVD of
Hammers victorious Play-off final, which they clapped at the end.
The group then did a workshop where they learned the lyrics of
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles and other useful chants such as
"Alan Pardew's claret and blue army!", "We all
follow the West Ham over land and sea" and of course
"Super Tomas Repka!" in homage to the Czech Republic
defender.
There was also "One-nil to the cockney boys!", "Is
that all you bring at home?" and "Who ate all the
pies?".
West Ham United Goalkeeping Coach Ludek Miklosko, a former Czech
Republic international, also answered questions from the students
and the day before England fan Mark Perryman held a seminar on how
England fans are trying to get away from the hooligan image and lay
out giant flags for both sides at England home games and visit
schools wherever England play.
The friendly match finished 2-2, after Hammers had led 2-0 at
half-time, and was even shown live on the Czech TV national
news.
Pete May's new book Hammers In The Heart: West Ham's Journey Back To The Premiership is out in late October, published by Mainstream.