Former Player Blog – Kevin Lock

Plaistow-born 1975 FA Cup winner Kevin Lock says West Ham United's name could be on the trophy again this season!
Plaistow-born 1975 FA Cup winner Kevin Lock made 165 West Ham United appearances between 1972 and 1977…
 
I have spoken to a lot of fellow fans recently and and this is the most excited I have been about West Ham for at least the last ten years! I just think there is a whole buzz and vibe around the Club!

I go to home matches regularly with my grandson and it’s just a great feeling going along to games at the Boleyn Ground expecting to see a good, entertaining performance.

I am really excited about the end of this season and what the future holds for my Club.

It’s not just the football itself but the whole character of the Club seems to have changed under Slaven Bilic. He has instilled that never-say-die attitude in the team and they literally never give up, no matter how the game is going for them.

That comeback at Norwich City instilled even more belief in the players and they have carried that on through the FA Cup replay win over Liverpool and the three Premier League wins last week.

The encouraging thing for me is that West Ham have not just relied on one player this season. While Dimitri Payet has come in and created and scored goals, we seem to have had someone ready to step up in every game.

One player who I really like is Cheikhou Kouyate – I think he is one of the best and most valuable members of the team, and he is certainly underrated for me. He is strong, gets to the ball quickly and uses it well.

Like I said, though, it is not just Dimitri or Cheikhou who has done well this season, but all the players in the squad.
I remember back in 1975 when we won it, we were all in a steakhouse down opposite Upton Park station listening to the semi-final draw
We’ve got an FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to this weekend at Manchester United and I am backing the boys to go there and win, such is my belief in what they can achieve this season.

I remember back in 1975 when we won it, we were all in a steakhouse down opposite Upton Park station listening to the semi-final draw, and we were in the hat with Birmingham City, Fulham and Ipswich Town.

We were in mid-table, while Ipswich were flying at the top of the old Division One and we really didn’t want to draw them, but we did. We held them nil-nil in the first game and then beat them 2-1 in the replay at Stamford Bridge, with Alan Taylor getting both goals.

What I am saying is that, while we might not be favourites to go to Old Trafford and win, if you have the belief and talent in your squad then you can do it.

After the win over Liverpool and the brilliant win at Blackburn, this team believes it can beat anyone in the FA Cup and, like in 1975, I have this feeling that our name is on the trophy.

If we can win, it means we will have European football at our new Stadium and my grandson Jack and I cannot wait to be there to see it, as we hope to be Season Ticket Holders at the new Stadium.

I was obsessed with West Ham when I was a kid and I can see Jack has the same feelings for the Club as I do. He went to his first game at the age of eight and is 14 now and is a massive fan.

We watched the Liverpool FA Cup replay together on TV and he was chanting and singing along with the fans as if we were at the ground!

I just want to get these Season Tickets for him because he is taking on the family’s support for West Ham to the next generation.

West Ham is in our blood and there’s nothing we can do about it. I want him to experience this Club for the rest of his life.
 
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United