Home Supporters Information

As stated above, the Boleyn has, for the most part, gone under a large facelift since the induction of the Premier League. West Ham were not one of the founding members, but were promoted for the 1993-1994 season. The South Bank Terrace was closed in the Summer of 1993, as work began on a two-tiered, all seated stand named after Bobby Moore, who died in February of the same year.

Opened mid-way through the season, the lower tier was initially given to away fans, which was only a short-term arrangement. Now, it is where the ‘hardcore’ sit, and has been the most atmospheric stand at the ground for several years now. The majority of fans here have a preference for standing, which has resulted in a crack down by Stewards. For the most part, the Upper Tier is quieter, and most people tend to sit. The rake is quiet steep, but the back rows offer a clear view of the pitch.

  The second stand that was renovated at the Boleyn was the North Terrace. This shut one-year after the South Bank was closed, but work took less time than the Bobby Moore Stand, largely owing to the smaller lower tier. The stand was entitled the Centenary Stand, for self-explaining reasons. By early 1995, the Stand was fully open, and visiting supporters were relocated here. Initially their allocation was in the corner that joined onto the West Stand, though that was soon reversed. Away teams are offered 3,000 tickets, and the stand is shared with home fans; the lower the allocation taken, the more Home fans are permitted to sit there. Over the last couple of seasons, many fans have felt the atmosphere is superior here than in the Bobby Moore stand. The Upper Tier is the Club’s Family Enclosure, so the noise volume is normally fairly quiet, though once or twice a season it gets lively!   2002 saw the opening of the Dr. Martens Stand, on the West Side of the ground. The old structure initially started off as terracing, but seats were added, as they became commonplace elsewhere. However, with its pillars and aging façade, a new stand was needed. The new structure can hold some 15,000 supporters, and is the most eye-catching at the ground. The entrance is built around two turrets, replicating those on the crest. Unlike many modern stands, the Dr. Martens does not rely entirely on plastic cladding, which gives it more character than many. Inside, the concourses are very wide, though the inevitable queues for Beer and food ensue on matchdays. The lower tier offers, for the most part, close views of the pitch and players, though the initial rows are below pitch level, and are at the mercy of the weather. Legroom is probably the best in the Upper Tier, which again boasts a steep rake. The views are more than acceptable, but anyone that suffers from vertigo may get put off. To enclose the adjoining corners with the Bobby Moore and Centenary stands, another one and a half blocks were added to these stands during the construction of the Dr. Martens stand, and the lower tiers also had corner sections built into them. These corners are also very vocal and passionate about their team.   The only stand that has not seen any building work for some years is the East Stand, which was built in 1969. This two-tiered enclosure used to be a great place to watch matches from, as the front row was just a metre or two away from the pitch. Following the construction of the Dr. Martens stand, the pitch was moved westwards. This was also done to enable more room on the east of the ground to cater for the planned renovation of the East Stand, which has yet to take place. On sunny days the heat shines directly on this stand, which can scupper enjoyment of the matches. Also, the Upper Tier has a handful of pillars; unsurprising considering its age. These often obstruct the restricted view seats on sale. The façade is typical-corrugated metal, and looks very outdated.

Away Supporters Information

Away fans enter the Boleyn Ground now via the Priory Road entrance and are situated in the Centenary Stand. This used to be the preserve of the home fans but now a good chunk of this section is reserved for away support. Allocation is about 6-9% of ground capacity, dependant on what allocation your club takes up.

All said and done, those lucky enough to sit near the front of the stand will get an excellent view of the game, but the same can be said if you sit in the middle as well. Also one of the better places is right at the back. Granted, you may not always get the perfect view, but at least you can stand up all game if you wish. In saying that, away support tend to stand up throughout.

The Centenary Lower is just over ten years old, but it already shows signs of wear and tear. The legroom is ok, but nothing great, and the seats situated next to the East Stand are now a long way away from the pitch following its shift towards the Dr. Martens enclosure in 2002. The rake is acceptable, although the overhang of the Upper Tier will block those at the back seeing the Boleyn in its entirety.

The concourses have televisions (which show early kick offs and Sky Sports), as well as refreshment and toilet facilities. Beer is served for the majority of games, but can be prohibited depending on the opposition. The food menu inside is what one would expect inside a ground, but the prices are quite expensive.

Coach parking on the club website gives no further details than “By Police direction,” but a nearby parking lot (about 20-30 minutes walk roughly) for coaches is: Hackney (Waterden Road, Stratford, E15) Operational, 0800 - 1800, MUST pre-book. Contact First Group (020) 8533 9757 ext 200.

Matchday Arrangements

The ticket office is open early on Matchdays, though any away fans hoping to buy or collect tickets will be out of luck. Always go through your club if you are visiting the Boleyn.   Turnstiles will open around 1.30, though sometimes there will be delays as security checks are completed. The away entrances are on Priory road, which is only accessible from the Barking Road. No through access to the home turnstiles in the Centenary Stand is possible. Searches of bags, like the majority of grounds, take place, and sometimes body searches will also occur. This largely depends on the opposition.   Stewards and Police work closely together, and since the turn of 2007 the latter have been more visible, particularly on the Underground and any area where fans could clash. They tend to be friendly, though some may prove to be unwilling to help, or unsure of the correct information.   Programme sellers are situated outside and in the ground, and often a seller will walk around the pitch at half time. The programme costs £3.50, which is a lot considering the quality of it.   Smoking is banned in the Boleyn Ground; how the stewards react to the Smoking Ban is not clear, but they have been lenient in the past despite the clubs desire for a smoke free ground.   The ground is not as vocal as it used to be; it is sadly another victim of redevelopment. For the derby games, and those against the top teams, the crowd will be at its best. The worst atmospheres are present at the ‘Kids for a Quid’ games, owing to the amount of children inside and adults who are not regular visitors to the ground.

Away fans are normally allowed to leave the Stadium at their own accord; although with the increased Policing measures this year they may be required to stay in their seats for a few minutes after the match has ended.

For local derbies, those heading towards the Underground station are likely found to receive a Police escort.   Coaches are often parked on Barking Road or Priory Road; whilst these pick-up points are close to the exits, traffic is sluggish after the game, so leaving the area can take thirty-minutes.