West Ham Away Advice

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AmericanCherry

Trialist
Hey everyone, I’m an American supporter who just secured a ticket to West Ham away (I’ll be in Europe for work). It’ll be my first ever Bournemouth match and I’m looking for any sort of advice you can offer to help enhance my Matchday experience. I’m really looking forward to it and will hopefully get to meet some of you in the away section that night. Thanks!
 
AmericanCherry said:
Hey everyone, I’m an American supporter who just secured a ticket to West Ham away (I’ll be in Europe for work). It’ll be my first ever Bournemouth match and I’m looking for any sort of advice you can offer to help enhance my Matchday experience. I’m really looking forward to it and will hopefully get to meet some of you in the away section that night. Thanks!
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Good for you! Lucky barstward. Where are you in the US?
 
GrahamH said:
Only been to Fulham once, it's an interesting old ground with a brand new stand and it really is almost in the Thames. Very picturesque.

Some people enhance their match Day experience by visiting the pub before hand and having a skin full. I would not recommend this approach.
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I think he is going to West Ham not Fulham, clue in the thread title...........:)
 
AmericanCherry said:
Hey everyone, I’m an American supporter who just secured a ticket to West Ham away (I’ll be in Europe for work). It’ll be my first ever Bournemouth match and I’m looking for any sort of advice you can offer to help enhance my Matchday experience. I’m really looking forward to it and will hopefully get to meet some of you in the away section that night. Thanks!
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West Ham is a tricky one because it's not designed as a football stadium and so rightly gets criticised for sightlines etc. The away end is split in two with a massive gap, which doesn't help the atmosphere. In my opinion it's not as bad as many people say though - the atmosphere when I've been has been okay and West Ham fans tend to be one of the more vociferous sets of supporters in London despite their ground. It being a Monday night game against little old Bournemouth might affect this though.

Transport links are excellent from there and so you have loads of options for going for a drink before the game. One of the more popular is around Hackney Wick where there's a load of typical east London poncey bars and brewery tap houses. All very expensive but you should be alright given the dollar value. I don't think there's ever a designated away pub because there's so many options.
 
AmericanCherry said:
I will be flying to London from Paris the day before the match. Haven’t booked any hotel for Sunday and Monday nights yet
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You probably know that West Ham play in the former Olympic stadium. It was built on derelict industrial land and although not dangerous the neighbourhood is a bit bleak and soulless. Most people access the stadium via Stratford, which is essentially a metro station with a big shopping mall.

I’d suggest going via Pudding Mill Lane on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) instead. Far fewer people and much shorter lines. Pudding Mill Lane is also on the same side of the stadium as the away section.

The DLR connects to either, or both, of Canary Wharf (aka Wall Street on Thames) or Greenwich, which is a historic district with lots of maritime connections. Both offer places to eat and drink, plus sightseeing at Greenwich. I would say they are both a bit expensive but at today’s exchange rate you’ll be laughing.
 
AmericanCherry said:
Hey everyone, I’m an American supporter who just secured a ticket to West Ham away (I’ll be in Europe for work). It’ll be my first ever Bournemouth match and I’m looking for any sort of advice you can offer to help enhance my Matchday experience. I’m really looking forward to it and will hopefully get to meet some of you in the away section that night. Thanks!
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Ah, this is my specialist subject. I lived nearby for 5 years until recently. There are plenty of hotels in and around the Westfield complex which is walking distance. Also plenty of restaurants there.

Pre-match, I would recommend going canal-side at Here East. Some nice bars and restaurants without being too busy. If you're looking for busy (and not wearing red!), then your best bet is Stratford centre - a lot of football fans visit The Goose and other pubs around there. Don't expect high glamour!

If you do meet some West Ham fans, they will love it if you say: 'Cor blimey guvnor, how do you like them apples?' in a cockney accent (like Michael Caine).
 
StewieJT said:
Ah, this is my specialist subject. I lived nearby for 5 years until recently. There are plenty of hotels in and around the Westfield complex which is walking distance. Also plenty of restaurants there.

Pre-match, I would recommend going canal-side at Here East. Some nice bars and restaurants without being too busy. If you're looking for busy (and not wearing red!), then your best bet is Stratford centre - a lot of football fans visit The Goose and other pubs around there. Don't expect high glamour!

If you do meet some West Ham fans, they will love it if you say: 'Cor blimey guvnor, how do you like them apples?' in a cockney accent (like Michael Caine).
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Used to go to Plexal at Here East. Great transport links.
 
Can't add much, the accessible minibus usually goes past Pudding Mill Lane station, it's not far from the ground and as said, near the away entrance. I assume the price of pre match grub and beverages won't worry you to much but around the ground catering is expensive for the quality you get ( and there's usually a lot of queuing involved) . I'm sure you'll find better away from the ground : )

There'll be people recommending any number of "Craft or Real ales", be wary of them if you're not used to them ( and the ales) : )

Hope you're more Jim than Dwight : )
 
If you’re after authentic east end match day experience you need to hunt down some pie and mash or jellied eels.

If you’re not, Westfield shopping centre has plenty of bars, last time I walked through the bat & ball had taken over quite a few units on the walk through from the station.
 
Presumably no one needs to tell you that you need to buy an “away” ticket via AFCB (or someone on here)… Sitting amongst home fans would deliver an entirely different experience, particularly if we score and you start cheering loudly.
 
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