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«10 Quickies» is a series of short interviews here on scandinavianhammers.com. Each day until the new season kicks off we ask a new West Ham related personality or site the same 10 questions and present the answers for you here on our website. Today we spoke to Ryan Archer from West Ham Fan TV!
SH: Time to promote yourself! Who are you?
RA: My name is Ryan Archer, I was born and raised in the East End of London. I am also proud to be part of the fast growing YouTube channel West Ham Fan TV. If you like hearing open and honest opinions about the club we love, then make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel …. you can also find us on Twitter and Facebook. (Subscribe to West Ham Fan TV’s YouTube channel here!)
SH: Why do you support West Ham?
RA: Being born in Mile End and raised in Canning Town there was no choice really, there was only ever one club for me. A few of my mates supported other clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd, but most of us supported West Ham. I will never forget the first time I went to watch a game at the Boleyn Ground. It was the 13th of February 1995, we played Everton under the lights. I can still remember to this day the noise of the crowd when Tony Cottee put us 1-0 up, and from that second I was hooked and have been going ever since. I just love everything about the club. We go through every single emotion together as fans, but one thing about us is – we always stick with the club through the good and the bad times…..
SH: Who is your all-time favourite Hammer?
SH: What is the best West Ham game you have seen?
RA: There are so many to choose from down the years ….. beating Man Utd away in the FA cup when Di canio scored the winner was special. Any victory over your London rivals, especially spurs is always good as well with the 3-0 win at the lane in 2013 as one of the best. But just for atmosphere and passion, it has to be the last ever game at the Boleyn ground. It had everything and I went through every single emotion in 90 mins. And to go on and win the game in the way we did, beating man Utd 3-2, was the West Ham way. Them memories will stay with me forever, I am so glad I can say I was there that night ……
SH: Which team do you «hate» the most?
RA: This is an easy choice for me really, it will always be Tottenham. I just hate everything about the club really. I hate going to «the lane». It is one of the worst away grounds getting to and from and i just hate the arrogance of most of their fans. You would think they win the league every season the way their fans go on, when in fact they have bottled it twice in the last 2 seasons which sums them up really …..
SH: Any pre-match rituals and how does a match day look for you?
RA: I always like to get to Stratford a few hours before kick off. I meet up with a few mates in the pub for a couple of drinks and relax before the long walk to the stadium from Stratford High Street. After the game, win, lose or draw, we always film «Fan Cams» where the fans stop to give us their thoughts on the game (which can be very entertaining at times). Then we go back to our studio to film «Post match pint» which is a show where me and the rest of the boys sit round a table with a pint to discuss the result of the game.
SH: What are your thoughts on the London stadium and the move in general?
SH: 4th place in the league or FA Cup win?
RA: As much as i would love to see West Ham in the Champions League, for me it has to be the FA Cup…. We were so close to winning it in 2006 and that day still haunts me now. It’s been 37 years since we last won it and for a club like ours that is too long. The FA Cup is the best cup competition in the world and to win the FA cup at Wembley, and watch our players parade the trophy in front of our fans would be unbelievable. It’s giving me goosebumps just thinking about it now …… just hope I get to witness that in my lifetime.
SH: If you could sign 2 more players for West Ham, who would it be?
RA: We have done some unbelievable business so far in this window. What I like about all these signing, is that they are not here as squad players to make up the numbers. They are all here to improve our starting eleven. I think it’s obvious we need to add another striker and i think Andre Gray would have been perfect for us. Also we need another creative midfielder. The option of taking Jack Wilshere on loan from arsenal, or even signing him, is one the club should definitely push for. On his day, a fully fit Jack Wilshere is one of the best midfielders in the league. But that is the only risk, will he stay fully fit….?
SH: Whats your predictions for the 17/18 season?
RA: If we can get of to a good start and get the new signings into the team, I do not see why we can’t push for the top 8 this season. With all the players we have giving us different options this season, we can upset a few teams both home and away. But, with teams around us also improving it will be difficult to break into that top 8. The players will have to perform week in week out to help us achieve that. I would also like to see us take the cup competitions seriously and hopefully we can have a day out at Wembley in one of the finals this season.
Many thanks to Ryan, it was a pleasure! And please don’t forget, SUBSCRIBE to WHUFTV on YouTube!
Twitter: @ryan84archer / @WestHamFanTV Facebook: @westhamfantv YouTube: West Ham Fan TV