West Ham United are returning to the United States this summer for the 2025 Premier League Summer Series.
The Hammers will take on Manchester United at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday 26 July, Everton at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday 30 July, and AFC Bournemouth at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday 3 August.
Head Coach Graham Potter and his squad can be sure of a warm welcome from the many thousands of members of the Claret and Blue Army who call the US, or its neighbouring countries, home.
The fanbase in and around the States is comprised of both locals and expatriates, many of whom are members of the scores of Official Supporters’ Clubs set up to provide the West Ham family with homes from home on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
As part of the build-up to the Premier League Summer Series, whufc.com has spoken to the Hammers who run those Supporters’ Clubs, looking ahead to watching their team from London in action over the coming weeks.
This week, we catch up with Bahammers founder Rich Abbott about the noise West Ham United are making in the Bahamas - a nation of islands located to the south-east of the Florida coaat…
Can you talk us through the origins of Bahammers?
“We made the move to uproot our family from Sussex to the Bahamas in 2022. My wife and I both got jobs as teachers out here and we have loved the drastic change in lifestyle. We moved a few months after I’d just attended our home UEFA Europa League semi-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, which I figured would probably be as good as it gets for me as a Hammer. Little did I know that less than a year after our move I’d be watching us lift a trophy in our local bar with fellow West Ham fans singing about how massive we are.”
How many members do you have now?
“We have about 15 members, including recent contact with our first member on the outer islands (the Bahamas is a collection of islands, with New Providence - where we live - accounting for about 70% of the overall population). We are an eclectic group including Tony, who’s been here since the 1990s, and - by default - Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris, who I’ve yet to meet but has a house nearby and is a regular at our local when he’s on the island.”
How and where do you follow the Irons on a matchday?
“Matchdays are a mixture of watching at home, at friends' houses or at Spritz in Sandyport, our local (run by Mike, a long suffering Arsenal fan…).”
Has being part of the Official Supporters’ Clubs group enabled you to develop relationships with other Supporters’ Clubs in and around the US?
“Yes, we’ve made contact with plenty of supporters’ groups in the US as we’ve done a lot of travelling in the States since we moved here. I’m on the US supporters’ groups admin WhatsApp, which is a constant source of amusement and razor-sharp takes, and I recently watched a game with Scotty from the Baltimore Hammers. We put their badge on the window at Spritz and it was great to host him and his wife. I’m a big Seattle Seahawks NFL fan, so am hoping one day to meet the Seattle Hammers and some other people who fall in the middle of the Seahawks and Hammers Venn diagram. Any North American Hammers are welcome in the Bahamas anytime!”
What’s been the most memorable moment you’ve had with Bahammers?
“It’s impossible to look past the Prague final. It came at the start of our Bahammers journey, but after 30 years of avidly following this Club. I was - and still am - a bit sad not to have been in Prague or even London watching with my Dad, but have since come to realise how special it was watching with fellow fans on the other side of the Atlantic. A bunch of us watched the game together at Spritz and the feeling at full-time will live with me forever. Another moment that stands out is my son, Bear, who was three at the time, meeting the Prime Minister. He was wearing his Bahammers t-shirt and told the Prime Minister that we’re massive. The PM was suitably impressed.”
Have you visited London Stadium for a live game in-person?
“Having lived in England until I was 34, I have been to London Stadium (and Upton Park) many times. My Dad first took me to Upton Park in 1998. I’ve since been able to take him to London Stadium and took my son, Bear, to his first game there for the Betway Cup game against Celta Vigo last August. He was four at the time, but it was amazing to see the excitement on his face for his first live football match. He’s a big fan of penalty shoot-outs, so it couldn’t have gone better! We actually bumped into Tony and Eva - fellow Bahammers - at that game!”
West Ham United will be visiting the United States for Premier League Summer Series 2025. What’s the feeling among your members about watching the Hammers live in the US?
“Our members are very excited to have the team coming back for a second summer in a row, with various trips planned. The timing is really unfortunate for me, as we spend our summer back in the UK. I’m hoping to make up for it with a trip to London Stadium, but it would have been awesome to see us play at the MetLife Stadium in New York - where my Seahawks won their Super Bowl in February 2014.”
How ‘massive’ is West Ham United in the Bahamas?
“Well, ‘soccer’ is popular over here and you see shirts for the usual suspect big European teams, but we’re trying to change all that. I’d put money on us being the only Official Supporters’ Club out here, and we’re easily the most visible with our famous flag and badge stickers all over the place. We’re recruiting members where we can but, as our saying goes, while we may still be relatively small in number, we are undoubtedly massive everywhere we go.”
What do you think the Club should do to continue growing the fanbase across the United States and its neighbouring countries in the future?
“The Club has been amazing in reaching out to us and helping us set up as an Official Supporters' Club. We really appreciate it as we’re definitely in a ‘small market’ location! Allowing us to have our flag hung at London Stadium - its first game was the home win against Manchester United - meant a great deal. We now feel there’s a little bit of us there at home games. And Bahamians are a proud bunch - they love spotting it on the TV or in person!”
How can other supporters join Bahammers?
“If you’re based in the Bahamas and support West Ham I reckon we already know about you! But if not, get in touch via Instagram or email ([email protected]). Likewise, if you’re visiting from another North American group - or anywhere - get in touch and welcome aboard. The Bahamas is full of sun, sea and West Ham.”
