Like many, my journey to loving soccer, or football as the world knows it, was not straightforward. Growing up, I confess, I found the sport utterly baffling. Low scores, dramatic dives, and what seemed like constant complaining – it just didn’t click for me. This was a point of mild contention with my dad, a lifelong soccer enthusiast who had even tried to coach my brother and me in our younger years. Our collective disinterest led to early retirements from the pitch, much to his disappointment. However, as fate, or perhaps a father’s clever plan, would have it, a movie changed everything.
It was 2009 when my dad announced a movie night featuring “Green Street Hooligans.” My initial reaction to “a movie about soccer fans?” was lukewarm at best. But then he mentioned the fighting – rival soccer fans clashing – and my young mind, with its inherent fascination with action, perked up.
Now, I’m well aware that “Green Street Hooligans” isn’t exactly a cinematic masterpiece, and many West Ham United supporters have strong opinions about its portrayal of their club and culture. Charlie Hunnam’s cockney accent aside, something about the film was undeniably captivating. It wasn’t a ‘good’ movie in the traditional sense, but it resonated with me, much like those enjoyable-yet-awful blockbusters like the 1998 Godzilla or the Jurassic Park sequels. They are guilty pleasures, and “Green Street Hooligans” became mine.
Alt text: Movie poster for Green Street Hooligans, a film that sparked an unexpected love for football.
Ironically, the movie itself features very little actual soccer. There’s one game, and the focus is primarily on the fan culture. Yet, the day after watching it, my brother and I found ourselves at the store, picking up FIFA 09. My soccer knowledge was minimal. I knew the Seattle Sounders had just joined MLS thanks to my Seahawks fandom, but they weren’t in the game yet. Looking for a team, West Ham United stood out. I vaguely knew them, and after seeing “Green Street Hooligans,” and knowing they were featured, it felt like the natural choice (sorry Millwall, the movie painted your fans as the antagonists!). And just like that, I dove into the virtual world of West Ham in FIFA 09. Scott Parker, Carlton Cole, Matthew Upson, Rob Green, and the unforgettable Dean Ashton – these names became etched in my mind.
My virtual fandom soon translated into real-world passion. West Ham United became my team. Some of my most cherished sports memories are now intertwined with the Hammers. Ricardo Vaz Te’s dramatic playoff final winner at Wembley to secure Premier League promotion. The exhilarating 3-1 victory over Chelsea in our first season back in the top flight in 2013. Doing the double over Tottenham in the 2013-2014 season. The nail-biting FA Cup penalty shootout win against Everton in 2015. And the emotional, unforgettable final match at Upton Park, capped off with a comeback win against Manchester United. These moments, these highs of supporting West Ham, are priceless to me, and it all started with a movie that many West Ham fans themselves might dislike. But every time I revisit “Green Street Hooligans,” I’m still hooked by the opening chant, the raw passion of the fans, the essence of what some might call “Green Street Football” – the heart and soul of the game at its most fervent level.
Alt text: Passionate West Ham United supporters chanting their anthem at a football match.
“I’m West Ham till I die!
I’m West Ham till I die!
I know I am! I’m sure I am!
I’m West Ham till I die!”
