Hey there, fellow football fanatics! Ever wondered why West Ham fans are always blowing bubbles before kickoff? It’s not just because they love bath time – there’s actually a pretty cool story behind it. Let’s dive in!
Why Do West Ham Blow Bubbles Before Every Match?
The Bubble Legacy
So, picture this: It’s the 1920s. The world’s just getting over a nasty war, people are trying to have fun again, and music halls are all the rage. This catchy little tune called “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” hits the scene and everybody’s humming it.
But how did it become West Ham’s anthem? Well, that’s where things get a bit misty. There are a few theories floating around, kind of like… well, bubbles!
The Schoolboy Connection
One story goes that it all started with a bunch of football-mad kids. Back then, schoolboy soccer was huge in West Ham. We’re talking thousands of fans showing up to watch 14-year-olds play!
There was this school called Park School, and they had a killer team. Their headmaster, Cornelius Beal (cool name, right?), was besties with West Ham’s trainer. Beal loved music and would write special lyrics to popular tunes for his players.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. One of the star players was a kid named Billy “Bubbles” Murray. Why “Bubbles”? Because he looked exactly like the kid in this famous painting used to sell soap. No joke!
Whenever Billy played well, the crowd would sing about him to the tune of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”. Pretty soon, it caught on with the grown-up West Ham fans too.
The Swansea Theory
Here’s another idea: Some folks reckon Swansea Town fans first sang it at Upton Park during an FA Cup match in 1921. West Ham supporters loved it so much, they nicked it for themselves. Cheeky!
The Band Plays On
Ever been to a match in the old days? You might’ve seen a proper brass band playing before kickoff. Well, back in the day, the local gas works had a band that would play at West Ham games. And guess what their favorite tune was? You got it – “Bubbles”!
If they didn’t play it, the crowd would just sing it anyway. Talk about peer pressure!
Why It Stuck
So why has this song lasted nearly a hundred years? It’s simple – it’s all about hope and dreaming big.
Think about it. The lyrics go:
“I’m forever blowing bubbles,
Pretty bubbles in the air,
They fly so high,
Nearly reach the sky,
Then like my dreams,
They fade and die.”
Sound depressing? Not to a West Ham fan! It’s about always having hope, even when things look tough. It’s about dreaming of glory, no matter what. And let’s face it, being a football fan isn’t always easy. But we keep coming back, don’t we?
Bubble Mania
These days, “Bubbles” is as much a part of West Ham as claret and blue. You’ll hear it:
– Before every single home game
– When the team scores
– At away games (opposing fans love it, I’m sure)
– At weddings, parties, probably even funerals of hardcore Hammers
And yes, they actually blow real bubbles at the stadium before matches. It’s like a foam party, but classier.
More Than Just a Song
“I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” isn’t just a catchy tune. It’s a badge of honor for West Ham fans. It’s a way of saying, “This is who we are. We might not always win, but we’ll always dream big.”
It’s been sung at Wembley during cup finals. It echoed around Europe when West Ham won the Cup Winners’ Cup. And you can bet your last pound it was belted out when England (with three West Ham lads in the team) won the World Cup in 1966.
Conclusion
Some people say the song’s too old-fashioned for modern football. But try telling that to thousands of fans swaying and singing their hearts out at the London Stadium.
Tradition dies hard in football, and for West Ham supporters, those bubbles are a part of their DNA. It’s what makes them unique. It’s what makes them Hammers.
So next time you’re at watching a West Ham game, listen out for those familiar notes. Picture nearly a century of hopes, dreams, and passion all wrapped up in one simple song about bubbles.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself humming along too. Just don’t let any Millwall fans catch you!
