West Ham United already have arguably the toughest set of famous fans going but can now count on the support of England rugby boss Eddie Jones.
West Ham may not have had the most intimidating team to face for much of this season but they’ve certainly got one of the most intimidating celebrity fanbases around.
A rollercoaster season has seen Slaven Bilic sacked and David Moyes revive the Hammers and his own career by turning the club’s fortunes around on the pitch.
The Hammers eased their worries with a 2-0 win over Watford last time out to reach the 30-point mark but know there is still some work to do yet to secure Premier League survival.
And the players and supporters can take some inspiration after England rugby boss Eddie Jones became the latest tough man to reveal his allegiance to the famous East End club.
It is an elite ground which now includes a WWE superstar and five boxers not to mention countless world famous actors, TV presenters, politicians and even The Queen!
Jones invited Moyes and assistant Stuart Pearce to his England training camp this week and the latter attended while the manager concentrated on training ahead of Saturday’s game against Liverpool.
“I told him Stuart I used to be a West Ham supporter,” revealed Jones, as reported by whufc.com.
“I used to love Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Frank Lampard – and that Claret and light Blue jersey I liked. They had those big tough defenders and Brooking was the artist at the front. He always reminded me of (Australia cricketer) Greg Chappell playing football.
“It was interesting talking [with Stuart] about how David Moyes is trying to revive West Ham now.”
The world’s best ever pound-for-pound boxer Floyd Mayweather recently pledged his allegiance to the Hammers.
And he joins an illustrious list which also includes the likes of John Cleese, Matt Damon, Barrack Obama and The Queen.
Lennox Lewis
The three-time heavyweight champion was born in the East End and always been a massive West Ham fan. Lewis was one of the best heavyweights of all time and it in prestigious company with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Vitali Klitschko and Michael Moorer as heavyweights who have won the title three times.
Gennady Golovkin
Legendary pound-for-pound world champ Golovkin delcared himself a Hammers fans after a visit to Upton Park in recent seasons. The fighter easily beat Sheffield United fan Kell Brook to extend his perfect record to 36-0 earlier this year. And he declared about the Hammers and their fans: “They are beautiful people and it feels like a big family. I have a lot of respect for them.”
Frank Bruno
A second former heavyweight boxing world champion who supports the Hammers is British national treasure Frank Bruno. Bruno ended his career with a record of 40 wins from 45 fights including 38 by knockout and went toe-to-toe with the likes of fellow Hammer Lewis, Oliver McCall and the great Mike Tyson. He grew up and trained in the East End and is a lifelong fan.
Kevin Mitchell
Now retired, well respected fighter Mitchell loves West Ham so much his nickname in the ring is the Hammer and he has the club’s crest on his shorts. The Romford-born lightweight won 39 of his 43 fights and is a friend of Hammers captain Mark Noble. He also fought and lost a world title fight against Australian Michael Katsidis at the club’s old Boleyn Ground back in 2010.
Triple H
Last year 14-time world champion Triple H – real name Paul Levesque – told the Daily Mail he was a Hammers fan, praising the club’s supporters for their passion. And the biggest name in wrestling has proved he really is into the Hammers as he discussed the importance of their recent 1-0 win over Burnley while in London to promote a WWE event coming to the O2 next May.
Former ICF hardman Cass Pennant
Cass Pennant
Cass Pennant, who stands at an imposing 6ft 5in is now a successful writer and filmmaker who is most well known for being a member, and leader, of West Ham’s infamous Inter City Firm (ICF) associated with the club from the 1970s. Pennant rose to prominence as one of the only black generals of a hooligan firm and was eventually sentenced to four years in prison in 1980 and was the first person to receive a long term sentence for football hooliganism. Nowadays Pennant focuses on his writing, filmmaking and following the Hammers and even had a film made about his life.
Ray Winstone
Well-known Hammers fan Winstone may be a Hollywood star nowadays but his roots are firmly in East London where he lived until he was seven. The actor, who has starred in Sexy Beast, Scum, and Beowulf, regularly follows the Hammers wherever he is in the world.
Danny Dyer
Danny Dyer
The Marmite Football Factory star became typecast in “hard-man” roles, an image which saw him present The Real Football Factories, its spin-off, The Real Football Factories International and Danny Dyer’s Deadliest Men. Most recently he appears in EastEnders, playing Mick Carter, a much-loved no-nonsense pub owner who guess what… supports West Ham.
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