The Boleyn: (West Ham)
By Fay1982 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
West Ham United Football Club was formed in 1895 as Thames Ironworks, an amateur football club that mostly comprised of employees of the local ironworks company. They disbanded in 1900 before almost immediately re-launching as West Ham United FC. Because of their original roots as a working team they are still known as The Hammers or The Irons to their fans and the media.
They began playing at The Boleyn Ground in 1904, with the ground getting its name because of a believed association between Anne Boleyn and Green Street House, a location that the club rented from 1912 onwards. It has always been better known as Upton Park, however, owing to its location in the Upton Park area of London.
Stats
| The Boleyn Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1904 |
| Capacity | 35016 |
| Average Attendance | 34900 |
| Record Attendance | 42322 (West Ham v Tottenham (1970)) |
| Pitch Size | 100 x 64 (6400) |
| Nickname | Upton Park |
| Owner | West Ham United F.C. |
| Clubs Hosted | West Ham, Charlton Athletic |
| First Fixture | West Ham v Milwall (01/09/1904) |
| Final Fixture | West Ham v Man Utd (3-2 10/05/2016) |
The Boleyn Photos
By Egghead06 at en.wikipedia [Public domain]
By Egghead06 (Own work (Original text: self-made)) [Public domain]
By Oxyman (Own work) [GFDL
By The original uploader was Mat macwilliam at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [Public domain]
The Boleyn Seating Plan and Where to Sit
The Boleyn Ground is very much a traditional location in terms of the layout of the stadium. There are four stands, one on each side of the pitch that are quite close to the playing surface, allowing for an intimidating atmosphere when the home crowd are up for the fight.
- The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand – Named after one of the one of the club’s most famous sons, this used to be The Centenary Stand until 2009. There are two tiers with the upper tier being the Family Section. The lower tier is split between home and away fans, so expect a raucous atmosphere in there.
- The East Stand – This is the oldest and smallest section of the stadium. This houses some of the more vocal and passionate of the West Ham support.
- The Bobby Moore Stand – Named after another of the club’s most famous sons, The Bobby Moore Stand was formerly known as The South Bank and was built in 1993. It is two-tiered and had a small amount of renovation done to it in 2001.
- The Betway Stand – Both the newest and the largest stand at The Boleyn Ground, The Betway Stand was built in 2001 and named The Dr. Martens Stand. It was re-named because of sponsorship and is the section of the ground that houses the offices, board rooms, suites and dressing rooms.
Getting To The Boleyn
Owing to its location in Central London, access to The Boleyn Ground is relatively easy, though obviously be aware that travelling in the nation’s capital comes with its own risks.
Train – The best way to get close to The Boleyn Ground is by tube, so get the train to one of London’s main train stations and then use the Underground to head to Upton Park.
Bus – Buses 5, 15, 58, 115, 147, 58, 104, 330 and 376 all run to the stadium from elsewhere in London, so you’re not going to be short of options if bus is your preferred method of transportation.
Car – From the North take the A406 to the A124 then get onto the Barking Road. From the East use the A13 then the A117. From the South use the Blackwell Tunnel to the A13 then follow signs to the A124. Finally from the West, take the A406 to the A124 then travel on the Barking Road until you see signs for the ground.
By Air – Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and more all serve London, so you’ll have plenty of options if you want to fly to see the Hammers play.
Taxi – A taxi will take around 20 minutes depending on traffic and will set you back something in the region of £40.
Parking Near The Boleyn
Parking in Central London is always tricky and it’s no exception in the case of The Boleyn Ground. Your best bet is probably to park up at one of the tube stops further out of the city and get the Underground in.
Useful Resources
- Parking - Just Park
The Boleyn Hotels
The Central London location of the stadium means that hotels aren’t exactly difficult to come by. We’ve found a couple of options for you quite close to the ground, though, so you might want to consider these rather than looking all over the capital for a bed.
Prince Regent Hotel Excel London - £98+
Radisson Blu Edwardian New Providence Wharf Hotel - £116+
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London ExCel - £140+
Pubs and Bars Near The Boleyn
Much like with hotels there are countless pubs and bars across the city of London meaning you won’t be left short of somewhere to grab a pre-match pint! If you’d like some tips about where to go, though, then we’ve got some options for you here.
Cafe Football
Champs Sports Bar & Grill
The Bow Bells
Facilities
The Boleyn Ground’s facilities are a touch dated now, especially the away section that is quite small and cramped. You can get food, of course, and you’ll be able to get a drink if you’re willing to queue up for most of the half-time interval. If you want to place a bet then you’ll be able to do so on one of the many Betway kiosks dotted around the ground.
Prices
- Programme: £3.5
- Pie: £3.5
- Cup of tea: £2.3
Hospitality
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Given the age of the ground and the fact that West Ham are gearing up to leave it, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the hospitality available at The Boleyn Ground is a little dated. There are still plenty of options, though, including private boxes, sports lounges, exclusive bars and areas to enjoy premium dining.
For example, The 66 Club Restaurant is a popular place to go and pays a degree of homage to three West Ham players who made themselves legends when they won the World Cup with England in 1966. You’ll enjoy seating in the director’s box, champagne on your arrival, a fine dining menu with beers and wines, a complimentary programme and you’ll be hosted by members of that World Cup winning squad.
Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in the Carlsberg Legends Lounge. You’ll enjoy a two course buffet before the game, entertainment and interviews with football legends, padded seats in the VIP section and the lounge is available for an hour and a half after kick off. Whatever type of hospitality you’re hoping to enjoy you’ll almost certainly be able to get it at The Boleyn Ground.
Private Hire
One of the things West Ham prides itself on is that The Boleyn Ground is an iconic venue with a vast degree of versatility for your meeting and event needs. They are also keen to point out that the club’s location in Central London makes it an ideal place to hold any type of conference or event.
There’s enough room for 850 delegates across 10 function rooms that all have PA systems and plasma screens. There are also another 70 rooms with pitch-side views that are perfect for breakout rooms, training courses or even private dinners.
What about weddings? Are you the ultimate Hammers fan that wants to get married in your dream location? How about the Home Team Changing Room, is that dream location enough? You can get married in there and then have your photos taken on the side of the pitch.
Stadium Tours & Museum
Because West Ham are leaving The Boleyn Ground at the end of the season they are currently offering farewell tours of the stadium. You’ll see the inner sanctum of the ground, including the dressing rooms, the tunnel and the pitch side. Tours last an hour and will take place at varying time throughout the year. The tour costs £20 for adults and £15 for kids.
The Boleyn History
Despite the official name of the stadium being The Boleyn Ground, ask most football fans where West Ham play and they’ll tell you it’s at Upton Park. The ground has a storied history, not least of which includes a story about a V-1 flying bomb landing on the south-west corner of the pitch in 1944 forcing West Ham to play their games elsewhere for a time.
The club have been hoping to move away from The Boleyn Ground even since plans to develop the stadium fell by the wayside in 2003. Though the decision to move has now been confirmed, many West Ham fans will forever miss the atmosphere and excitement of trips to Upton Park, with fans singing and bubbles blowing in time for every kick off.
Future Developments
There will be no developments of The Boleyn Ground, but that’s not to say that West Ham’s future is going to stagnate. The confirmed in 2013 that it would move in to The Olympic Stadium from August 2016. They will have a 99 year lease on the ground that was purpose-built for the 2012 London Olympics.