Just months after their first match as a team, Trans Pennine Irons represented the West Ham United badge with pride when they took part in the IFA (Internet Football Association) WorldNet and BTV (BigTamVets) 2025 tournament.
Competing in 30-minute matches at Cantley Park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, Leeds-based Trans Pennine Irons were one of 12 teams entered and were drawn in Group A alongside RC Lens, Watford and Birmingham City.
Their opening game came against French outfit Lens, who were the only international side in the tournament. The Trans Pennine Irons got an early point on the board, playing out a 1-1 draw with Lens, who won last year’s tournament.
A match against tournament organisers Birmingham was next on the agenda for the Hammers’ supporters’ group. The two sides failed to break each other down in a goalless draw ahead of Trans Pennine Irons’ final fixture, against Watford, in which the Hornets - who went on to lift the cup - clinched a 2-1 victory.
The plate was still up for grabs for the Hammers, however, and they picked themselves up to secure a 1-0 victory over Birmingham in the semi-finals to tee up a date with Manchester United in the showpiece - opponents they lost to 13-0 less than two months prior in the IFA Supporters’ Football League, on the same day that Graham Potters' men's team secured a 2-0 Premier League victory away at Old Trafford.
“It finished 0-0 [against Manchester United],” explained player-manager Damian Locke, who since the team’s formation has been called up to England’s Supporters’ side.
“We started really strong but couldn’t put the ball in the net. We hit the bar in the last couple of minutes, and Man United had a player sent off.
“They went first in the penalty shootout, scored all five, and unfortunately we missed our fourth one, so they won 5-3 on penalties. But it was a really good tournament, and we’re already booked in for next year.
"Considering we’ve only been in existence for less than nine months, to progress to the finals [was amazing]. [After losing 13-0 to Manchester United in the league], being very unlucky to lose on penalties just a few months later shows how far the team has progressed.”
When we last caught up with our West Ham representatives, who welcome members from all over the north of England, they were hoping to have a spot in a league secured so they could play regular fixtures against fellow supporters’ clubs.
Indeed, at the turn of the year, they were entered into the IFA Supporters’ Football League and played their first match on 18 January 2025 before picking up their first league point against Internet Mariners, Grimsby’s side, in May.
But perhaps their sweetest result since their formation came in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur…
“We beat Yorkshire Spurs, get in!” exclaimed Damien. “We beat them 4-3. We've also played York City and beat them as well. Things are definitely improving.
“We’d like to continue to improve and hopefully go one better next year and win the tournament.”
