Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard holds West Ham United fans in high regard as the sides prepare to meet in the FA Cup a decade on from their epic final.
That final in 2006 became known as the Gerrard final, much to the frustration of Hammers fans who had their hearts broken that day in Cardiff.
Gerrard’s thunderbolt strike rescued a 3-3 draw in the dying moments that day before Rafa Benitez’s side held on to win on penalties.
After nearly 17 years of service, 709 appearances, 185 goals and 10 trophies, the 35-year-old is now in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
But as Slaven Bilic brings his high flying Hammers to Anfield in a bid to complete a rare treble over Liverpool, an extract from his autobiography is given huge relevance.
That’s because according to the man himself West Ham’s supporters will forever have his respect.
Speaking in his autobiography, Gerrard said the Hammers supporters are the kind that ‘make football special’ after the way they conducted themselves despite watching their side agonisingly miss out on what would have been their first trophy for 26 years back in the 2006 FA Cup final.
‘I’ll never forget that sporting gesture’
“Everyone associated with West Ham behaved with real dignity in Cardiff, just like the way I try to be in defeat,” he wrote in his autobiography.
“If they had won, Liverpool could not have complained. Too many of our players were too disappointing.
“West Ham were desperately unfortunate to lose.
“Having played so well, it must have been gut-wrenching to go home without the FA Cup, yet they were all gracious.
‘Fans like West Ham’s make football special’
“It really moved me that in their hour of utter desolation, West Ham fans stayed behind to applaud as I lifted the FA Cup. I’ll never forget that sporting gesture.
“I’m Liverpool through and through, head to toe, but I have a place in my heart for West Ham supporters after Cardiff.
“Fans like West Ham United’s make football special.
“Usually when we do a lap of honour with a cup, the opponents’ section is empty. The fans have disappeared, dragging their heartache with them. Not in Cardiff on 13 May 2006.
“The West Ham fans were tremendous, clapping us as we paraded the cup.”
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