When Manchester United defender and former West Ham player Rio Ferdinand received a ban for missing a drugs test in 2003, the Hammers were always eager to remind him. West Ham took no prisoners inside their oppressive cauldron. (Wingers always ran faster at Upton Park.) Melbourne’s cavernous arena in Australia’s sporting capital certainly amplified the atmosphere, but compact stadiums can make for equally intoxicating affairs.īefore they moved to the London Stadium, West Ham United played at Upton Park, a sardine can of a stadium that made it possible for fans to reach out and grab players foolish enough to make a dash for the byline. The MCG had rarely looked or sounded better. They came together, a choir of 95,000 voices singing one glorious song. The poignant words roared across Melbourne. The match was a glorified exhibition between Liverpool and Melbourne Victory in July 2013, but no one inside the MCG particularly cared. The MCG has witnessed classic AFL grand finals and Boxing Day cricket Tests, but few occasions have rivalled the tear-inducing spectacle of 95,000 fans singing You’ll Never Walk Alone. Size isn’t everything when it comes to a sporting occasion, but it certainly helps. But nobody does self-deprecating humour quite like football supporters. Other sports may claim bigger venues and capacities. A sense of humour was snatched from the jaws of defeat on March 30, 2014, neatly showcasing why football crowds are so special. Tottenham celebrated a goal they hadn’t scored. The roar from the away end was deafening. Spurs fans had made the long trip to Anfield for nothing.Īnd they did. The 4-0 scoreline left no room for misinterpretation. Liverpool had knocked in a fourth goal without reply. Tottenham Hotspur’s players were just about done.
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