Iron Men Page #6

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It's still not comfortable,

but it's still our seat.

- They're a bit hard.

- It's rotten.

It's rotten.

There's no leg room.

- No, no leg rom.

- But it's our seat.

Good evening

and welcome to Upton Park.

We've got 90 minutes'

commentary

for the visually impaired

and blind supporters.

Definitely 8:
30.

[commentator]

I have some breaking news.

The kickoff has been delayed

by 45 minutes.

West Ham

against Manchester United

in the final match here

will now kick off at 8:30.

[crowd] I'm Forever

Blowing Blues

Tonight's winners will secure

a European place next season.

It's a crucial game for both

teams and there is added drama

as 112 years

of football history

in this part of London

will end tonight.

Then like my dreams

they fade and die

Fortune's always hiding

I've looked everywhere

I'm forever blowing bubbles

Pretty bubbles in the air

United!

United!

He wants to stay with Daddy.

[chanting]

[cheering]

Go on! Go on!

...a good, strong challenge

from...

[commentary] Lanzini cuts it

back. Oh, it's in!

A wonderful goal by Sakho

under just five minutes.

West Ham take the lead 1-0

against Manchester United.

What an atmosphere!

What a start to this final game

at Upton Park.

[chanting]

Slaven Bilic controlling

the touch line.

West Ham manager, who was a

player here for two seasons.

So popular.

[indistinct commentary]

Could be two. Oh!

Denied by the keeper.

[whistle]

The first half comes to an end,

the very last halftime whistle

at this ground.

Tomorrow morning it will be

nothing but a memory,

a piece of football history.

With such vital European points

at stake though,

West Ham leading 1-0

and playing their part

in this historic goodbye.

Don't think it'll kick in until

they all start spilling out

and then we'll know that

that is the end and that is it.

Yes. It's going to happen.

[cheering]

It's a night that no one here

will ever forget.

They're witnessing

the end of an era.

I don't think the seats

in the bottom section

have been used all night.

Every man, woman, child

up on their feet singing,

shouting, to try and help

West Ham to a famous win here.

Manchester United

on the attack.

Good run, in the box,

goal for Manchester United.

Levels the score. 1-1.

Get them!

[crowd gasps]

Martial again.

They can't stop him.

What a goal

for Manchester United!

They now lead

by two goals to one.

[tolling bell]

[Ray] West Ham,

we kind of expect to be

messed up a little bit,

and not have a great season

because next season

is going to be great.

We say that every year.

"Next year."

[commentator] Just 15 minutes

of football left at Upton Park.

West Ham! West Ham!

West Ham on the attack.

Payet towards Antonio

all on his ownio!

Goal! Two-all!

Fantastic header from Antonio.

Delivered it by Payet.

West Ham are back in it, 2-2.

West Ham! West Ham!

[man 1]

This magnificent old stadium

has a power in me,

a passion that it generates.

[man 2] It's madness,

but it's like positive madness.

We're going to use this energy

from the fans.

Come on, you Irons!

[man 3] It's a dream team

that we see even more.

The team need to us

to be that 12th man.

It ain't the stadium,

it's the people are West Ham.

[commentator] 11 minutes left.

Come on!

West Ham have a free kick.

[no sound]

Payet places the ball.

The penalty box crowded.

Players, nudging, jostling,

Here he comes.

[wild cheering]

West Ham are in the lead!

The whole crowd erupts, the

whole of East London erupts!

Have we just seen the last goal

in this historic ground?

It's 3-2 to West Ham United.

[shouting]

Three minutes for Manchester

United to fight back.

Can West Ham hang on

for this famous victory?

[whistling]

[final whistle]

The whistle blows.

What a great finish!

So much drama for the fans,

for the players, of course,

for the manager.

The man of the match

is club captain Mark Noble,

who has seen so much

in this stadium

as both player and man.

What a night for him,

what a night for those fans,

what a night for football.

The cheers will fade,

the cheers will remain

in their memory

as the final curtain falls.

[singing

"I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"]

It's the fans that make

this place what it is.

The 12th man in your team,

through thick and thin,

your support

has never ever wavered.

Now, we want to salute

the supporters from our roots

in the Thames Iron Works,

the pals that went to

the Great War together,

those that brought us

to victory at Wembley,

those that never ever

miss a game,

those who've handed down

the cast-iron loyalty

from generation to generation.

And particularly,

we'd like to pick out

a very special young lady.

She came here for our first

game at the Boleyn in 1934.

There she is.

82 years on. She's celebrating

her 100th birthday

where else but at the Boleyn?

She's even danced with

the late, great Bobby Moore.

She is our centenarian,

the wonderful Mabel Arnold.

[cheering]

We're honored to have

you here this evening, Mabel.

We salute you.

Come and join me over here.

You just captained West Ham

to one of the most

memorable wins

in our last-ever game here.

- How are you feeling?

- Um... Emotional, blown away.

That is the best atmosphere I've

ever played in my life, by far.

[cheering]

This is a family,

this ain't a football club.

When you come

to this football club,

you get embraced

and every West Ham fan

out there

is my family, and thank you.

We'll see you next season.

[indistinct chatter]

- You're good?

- Oh, fantastic.

[indistinct]

Come on. Come on.

Well done.

[no sound]

Today, tonight, we're

saying goodbye to our home.

This has been a part of my life

and a part of the lives

of many, many fans,

but we've got to say goodbye

and let go.

It will now be the past,

it will remain in memories,

memories in our heart

for rest of our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the ground will be shutting

from midnight,

which is 20 minutes.

[Mabel]

When I got up off my seat,

and moved out into that aisle,

and I looked around,

and I thought,

"Oh, God, it's all finished."

Oh, ain't it quiet out here?

You'll be alright.

- God bless.

- God bless. Take care.

[man] We'll go to a new ground.

This will always be our home,

our church.

Upton Park, the Boleyn,

that's our place.

[woman] Take care.

This is the back way in.

[indistinct chatter]

You too? You too?

- You too?

- Nah.

- You sure?

- Yeah.

Alright.

Good, mate, how are you?

You can have what

you want off me, mate.

This is the kit man.

Don't go shy, geezer. Come on.

- Alright, mate?

- Good, mate, how are you?

This is the only man in the club

with a bigger nose than me.

[laughter]

Yes, bruv.

How are you? Feeling good.

Incredible, innit?

[commentator] So, here it is,

a new era, a new start,

as West Ham welcomes fans

to their new home.

- Irons!

- Come on, you Irons!

You want hot sauce on that,

don't you?

How are you? Nice to meet you.

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