WHZ Top 3s: West Ham’s top three moments at the London Stadium
Welcome to West Ham Zone’s Top 3s series, where we will take look through Hammers history and decide which people or events rank highest with topics as varied as players, managers and goals…
West Ham fans are yet to be convinced about their new home after leaving the legendary Upton Park in 2016.
The decision to leave such an iconic stadium was always going to be a contentious one and Hammers fans were rightly concerned that they weren’t moving to a stadium built for football.
The London Stadium was constructed for the 2012 Olympics that were hosted in the capital and while it remains a good stadium for athletics it is missing some of the features that make some stadiums feel like home.
The pitch seems so far away from the stands and it is hard to create an atmosphere in such an open stadium. While the facilities are top-notch there are some things about a good stadium that you can’t build.
The jury is still out on the London Stadium but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been some memorable moments that occurred inside the 80,000 seater venue.
Here are West Ham Zone’s top three moments at the London Stadium.
3.) Andy Carroll’s goal against Crystal Palace
What a goal. Quite probably the best the London Stadium has ever witnessed. Andy Carroll’s goal in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace took the metaphorical roof off of the Hammers’ new home in 2017. Latching onto a Michail Antonio cross Carroll rose and smashed a bicycle kick into the Palace net. Cue scenes of absolute pandemonium. Extra marks here for the sounds of Hammers fans in shock and awe as the goal was replayed on the big screens. What a moment. What a goal.
2.) The opening of the Billy Bonds Stand
In March of 2019, the London Stadium rose to its feet to pay tribute to one of West Ham’s greatest ever players. Billy Bonds had a stand named after him in a short ceremony before a Premier League game against Newcastle. It was a fitting tribute to a man who had given so much of his life to the club as both a player and manager. It also helped the stadium to feel more like home with the name of a Hammers legend forever a part of the new stadium. It was an emotional moment.
1.) Lanzini blowing Tottenham’s title hopes
The best moment at the London Stadium has to be the moment it was loudest. Tottenham had the chance to close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table in May 2017 and West Ham were standing in the way of their title hopes. Manuel Lanzini stepped up and scored the winning goal in a 1-0 Hammers win and the celebrations were wild. The noise was unrivalled and the atmosphere was electric. It was a huge win over a rival and it effectively ended Spurs’ title hopes. He loves a goal against Tottenham does Lanzini.
In other West Ham news, the club could change its mind over a potential new rule according to a report.