As 2017 draws to a close, West Ham TV's Watch With... presenter Chris Scull makes lists of things and asks if you remember them...
And so this is Christmas (well, it was earlier in the week). And what have we done?
Well, we've followed up three superb results with a Carabao Cup exit, a disappointing home defeat by Newcastle and a HUGELY controversial draw at Bournemouth on Boxing Day.
Let’s take a look at some of the more noted alleged West Ham fans who might, possibly and allegedly, have spent the festive season glued to the fortunes of the mighty Hammers...
3. Noel Edmonds
In between popping to hospital wards with presents (without a camera crew these days), it’s apparently true that the star of Noel’s House Party (if you exclude Mr Blobby) will be eagerly following West Ham’s fortunes over the yuletide period. Yes, Noel Edmonds is allegedly a West Ham fan.
The evidence, I hear you cry? Well, he’s on every ‘famous West Ham fans’ list I’ve ever seen. And that’s it. That’s the sum total of the evidence. I’ve got nothing else to add. I’ve never seen Noel at a game, I’ve never heard him talk about West Ham, there isn’t a single shred of evidence that Noel Edmonds is a West Ham fan, aside from the fact he features frequently on those lists.
The one tenuous and circumstantial piece of evidence I can find is that the protagonist of Deal or No Deal (dealer aside) was born, up the road, in Ilford. The other even more tenuous link is that Noel still sports some wonderful highlights in his hair – and the only other mature man I know similarly coiffed? Frank McAvennie. The defence rests, your honour.
2. Barack Obama
What seems like many years ago, the United States of America had a President who wasn’t Donald Trump; and his name was Barack Obama.
Barack is respected for many things, from his oratory skills to winning the Nobel Peace Prize, but many east Londoner’s will hold Barack in high esteem for one reason above all others; his passionate support of the Irons.
Let’s look at the evidence; in 2003, Barack came to Upton Park to watch a game. He is said to have been so enthralled with what he saw (presumably this was in the second half of our exciting, but ultimately unsuccessful, fight against relegation) that he nailed his colours to the mast as a West Ham fan for life.
He (again, allegedly) would check on results throughout his eight years as Leader of the Free World from afar. But now he’s out of work with time on his hands, perhaps we’ll see far more of him down at the London Stadium? I bet he can’t wait.
1. Her Majesty The Queen
Yes, sure, she’ll probably spend Christmas Day worrying about the message she has to deliver to the nation, but Boxing Day is going to be consumed by only one thing in the Windsor household; Bournemouth v West Ham.
For our esteemed sovereign is a huge iron. She was first drawn to the ‘West Ham way’ through her admiration of former manager Ron Greenwood, who she met several times and even awarded a CBE in 1981 (ALLEGEDLY).
Even more evidence is that she opened the new West Stand at Upton Park back in 2001. The soon to be wed Prince Harry also spent his 18th birthday a few years back picking up a ‘Harry 18’ West Ham shirt from the club shop. Plus, Harry, William and Kate were spotted in the West Ham dugout as recently as two months ago.
The Queen (very ‘allegedly’) is also very knowledgeable on our rivalry with Millwall apparently, and has been known to size-up any Millwall supporting staff in her household – possibly in case of a ruck (I’m making this up now).
However, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said of the rumours “which team she supports is not something we would know”.
But best to keep an eye out today for a regal-looking lady at today’s game with lots of security and about ten corgis; no doubt looking to grab a break from Christmas Day message-writing and wanting to taste this recent royal resurgence of ours in person.