New pictures taken this week show how West Ham’s former home Upton Park is now nothing more than flats and building sites.
Murals of Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking remain on the back of the walls that once housed the Bobby Moore Stand just off Priory Road.
The ‘Hammers Social Club’ round the corner still stands but modern flats tower over it. ‘Long live the Boleyn’ is written on the back wall of an outside toilet with the writing in blue and the background in claret.
‘Long live the Boleyn’ has been written on one of the toilets next to the old Upton Park ground
View to the left used to be dominated by the football ground – now modern flats tower above
Murals of Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking are reminders of West Ham’s territory
The images are a far cry from the scenes you would see on match day or even during the week when fans would arrive at the stadium to buy tickets for the next game.
The last game to be played at Upton Park was West Ham v Manchester United in the Premier League on May 10, 2016.
West Ham won 3-2 and the bulldozers moved in a few weeks later to destroy any last remnants of the Chicken Run in the East Stand or the dugouts in the Alpari.
Barratt London’s Upton Gardens, which sits in place of the football ground that was first opened in 1904, consists of 842 one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats. The asking price ranges from £359,500 to £480,500
You used to be able to see Upton Park’s Alpari Stand from behind The Boleyn pub
Cranes and modern flats and apartments now dominate the skyline behind the pub
The famous Chicken Run – part of the East Stand – has been demolished and built on
The ground towered over the nearby properties close to Upton Park underground station
The ground started to become unrecognisable in April 2017 as the bulldozers ploughed on
By the summer of 2017, Upton Park was almost gone with progress made at a quick rate
Any sign of the stadium from the nearby streets has been gone and only cranes remain
Some West Ham fans still congregate in The Boleyn, a pub on the corner of Green St before making the four-mile journey to Stratford.
It hasn’t been a popular journey for many and some have chosen not to make it at all.
The problems at the London Stadium – where West Ham are now playing for a third season – are well documented. Spectators too far from the pitch, difficulty getting away from the stadium and the location itself.
Last season’s match against Burnley was the scene of a large protest against David Gold and David Sullivan, the club’s owners.
The release of new images comes at a time when the Hammers are also struggling on the pitch.
West Ham’s final fixture at Upton Park was in the Premier League on May 10, 2016
Mark Noble, West Ham’s captain, led his players out for the match against Manchester United
It was the last fixture that was played at Upton Park before it was completely demolished
Manager Manuel Pellegrini spent £100million on new players in the summer but his side are bottom of the Premier League without a win after four games.
The Hammers travel to Everton on Saturday as Pellegrini attempts to get his side moving in the right direction.
Pellegrini was given a vote of confidence earlier this week when West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady said she had ‘complete faith’ in him.
‘Having decided we did not want to go through another season like the last one, the board took action,’ Brady told The Sun.
‘We appointed a manager with the most successful career we have ever had in Manuel Pelligrini and spent over £100million on players he wanted that we all thought would improve the team considerably.
‘It hasn’t happened yet but I have complete faith that things will soon start to turn our way. The most important thing is to stick together.
‘It takes time for a new team to gel, but gel they will and anyway targeting the manager or certain players will help no-one.
West Ham moved into the London Stadium in the same summer they left their old home
Supporters have protested on several occasions against the West Ham board
They have struggled this season and find themselves bottom of the league after no wins
‘As a club, we will stand by them all, confident that they have the makings of an excellent side.
‘They need the encouragement of the many people, like the supporters and the Chairmen who love this club.’
After losing 1-0 against Wolves at home before the international break, Pellegrini admitted that there was reason for concerned.
Pellegrini added: ‘I don’t think it is a bad start, it is a very bad start,’ the Chilean manager said. We can’t lose six points here at home like we have.
‘Playing away against Liverpool and Arsenal, if you don’t play so well is understandable. Here at home to lose we must be very worried.’