West Ham United legend Alvin Martin returned to east London to make a surprise Birthday visit to a very special Hammers fan – Bridget Hughes.
A former longstanding member of the West Ham United Supporters’ Club, who now resides at a nursing home in Wanstead, Bridget celebrated the magnificent milestone of her 102nd birthday, surrounded by friends who cheered with delight as the former England defender walked in to greet her.
Three-times Hammer of the Year and 1980 FA Cup winner Martin, who made 596 appearances across a 19-year playing career in the Claret and Blue, visited to wish Bridget many happy returns on behalf of everyone at the Club and to thank her for her years of loyal and unstinting support.
After presenting the centenarian with flowers and a personalised shirt to mark the special occasion, Alvin spent time chatting and sharing West Ham memories with Bridget, who still follows the fortunes of the team and cheers them on every day.
Born in Galbally, County Limerick in Ireland, on 17 September 1923 – just a few months after West Ham appeared in the famous White Horse FA Cup final against Bolton Wanderers at Wembley – Bridget first moved to England in the mid-1940s, to work in a furniture factory in Newbury, Berkshire. She then travelled to east London to be with her best friend Phyllis Cooney and the pair both worked together in the Tate & Lyle factory in Silvertown for some 50 years.
Bridget’s West Ham story began when she met the love of her life, Hammers fan Maurice Hughes. The devoted couple married on 10 September 1955, and their social life centred around the Supporters’ Club in Castle Street, Upton Park. Bridget continued her membership even after Maurice passed away and describes the Hammers as, without doubt, her second love after her late husband.
The pair first went to matches together in the late 1950s and she fondly remembers the team’s homecoming parade along the Barking Road after victory in the 1975 FA Cup final against Fulham. Bridget cites her favourite players as Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and, of course, Alvin Martin!
Bridget is cared for by the staff – her extended family – at the Cambridge Nursing Home in Wanstead, and loved by all of her friends, including Katherine O’Riordan – the daughter of one of Bridget’s best friends Peggy, who sadly passed away last year. And even now, at the grand old age of 102, hardly a day goes by without Bridget cheering on the Hammers, following matches and scores and keeping her Claret and Blue blanket close.
“You’ll hear Bridget, on a daily basis, scream ‘Up the Hammers!’,” says Katherine. “She’s a true fan, a lifelong fan
“Following West Ham United has truly been a blessing for Bridget, it's kept her going and been a wonderful anchor and mainstay in her life. Her love of West Ham United is Bridget's connection to Maurice who, I have no doubt, is always present in her mind when she's singing ‘Bubbles’.”
Alvin added: “It was fabulous to be able to go in there and see a lady with that amount of character, humour and personality, and the effect she has on everybody – it’s inspiring. It’s people like Bridget who make our Club what it is.”
The final word went to the birthday girl Bridget, who couldn’t allow her special birthday celebration to pass without a rendition of her favourite daily chant in honour of her team… ‘Up the Hammers!’
