Is Ignorance bliss?

 The missus and I watched the Amazon Prime documentary about West Ham's last few months at the old Boleyn ground the other day.  It was quite well made and they spoke to people from all echelons at the club.  From Chairman David Sullivan in his hideously over-the-top bad taste mansion, all the way down to the man who sold dangerously spicy rib-meat baps out of a dodgy looking hole in the wall yards from the entrance to the stadium.  

The documentary also spoke at length to the guy who produced their version of Patgod. Well, it would have been their version of Patgod had we still printed hard copies,  were happy to sell it in the street, and took to tattooing the fanzine's name across our necks!

Anyway, the documentary revolved around the last few games at Upton Park and the relocation to the Olympic Stadium and the countdown to the move.  We both pondered whether this would be more or less painful than what happened to us?

None of us knew that when we won the last game of the 2010-11 season against Southport and relegated them (10 years ago this month!) that this would be our last match at Rockingham Road.  Within weeks Southport had been reprieved, Diamonds had been wound-up and Ladak was being conned into taking on the white elephant of Non Park.

We've since experienced an insane decade of court cases, multiple relegations and promotions and trying to create a workable stadium from the least hospitable quadrangle of grass in the country.

But, looking back, was it better to have been ripped from Rockingham Road without realising what was happening?  Or would we have liked an orderly transition period where we could have said goodbye to the old girl?

I still don't know the answer, although I did roll my eyes somewhat at unhappy Hammers fans bemoaning being practically given a spanking new 60,000 capacity ground just down the road.  It obviously wasn't quite as plush as Non Park, but you can't have everything can you?

I do know that if I'd known we were due to leave Rockingham Road I would have snapped a few more photographs of her in her pomp.  Sure, like everyone else I have a fair few images, but I regret not taking a shed load more.  This is why I'm a sucker for images like the ones below when they appear on places like Facebook.  Jamie Loveday posted them, from big post WW2 FA Cup games.  You can just about make out you are looking at Rockingham Road but just look at those images!  Thousands of locals filling the ground.  Flat caps and filterless fags abound.  Absolutely brilliant!