Welcome to the Pleasuredome

After 112 years at Upton Park - West Ham United moved to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. They now refer to it as the London Stadium and it is plastered with the new style West Ham, stripping the heritage and Boleyn towers off the badge, using Bobby Moore as a marketing strategy and going on and on about Thames Ironworks in a cynical ploy to make us somehow forget about the Boleyn ground.

During 2016/17 I persisted as a season ticket holder at the new stadiun, but was immediately unhappy. The 'fishbowl' type atmosphere made things unbearably hot in summer and we found ourselves sitting amongst snooty people telling us to shutup and sit down; we were mixed in with other people wearing Man City and other teams' shirts and yelled at my officials. The horrible running track around the pitch was covered with green tarpaulin and the depth of bullshit we had been told by Karen Brady about retractable seats covering the running track was very apparent from the start.

I still go to the odd game now and again but will never be a STH again. I have pretty much given up trying to take pics. Unfortunately over-bearing security in and around the stadium, accompanied with threats to expel genuine fans daring to take photos of other fans, no longer allow me to take photos of West Ham fans as I would wish. After being frisked by over-zealous security on the concourse outside Westfield and told I had to hand over my camera to them before being allowed anywhere near the game was the last straw, and when that happened, I lost all care. Just another reason this stadium move sucks.

As three years have now gone by, I realise the depth of heartbreak I suffered with the loss of Upton Park. I feel devastated by it and can barely look at photos on Flickr of it being demolished. I look back now at photos taken, particularly on my wedding day at the game with Crystal Palace and feel particularly sad. Myself and people I know have been caused genuine depression by the loss of Upton Park and I know WH will never have a ground to call their own again in my lifetime.

GSB sold West Ham fans out. And Boris Johnson didn't help. We were lied to and robbed and all we have left now are memories and photographs. GSB turned West Ham into a business, rather than a football club, and they have claret and blue on their hands. They talk about 'family' and 'affordable' football yet price the average fan out of the match by charging £82 a ticket, and selling off half the big games to Sky so again, the average fan, has to endure a 5.30pm or a Sunday 4pm KO - how is that family friendly?