For 112 years Upton Park was the heartbeat of a community. Before West Ham United’s move to the sleek, but soulless by comparison, London Stadium in Stratford, matchdays in E13 pulsed with tradition, grit, and the unmistakable claret and blue spirit of the East End. In the final years of the Boleyn Ground, journalist and lifelong Hammer Alastair McKay documented his fellow fans — capturing the faces, the rituals, and the quiet poetry of a football culture now vanished. His photographs are a time capsule of a world when Green Street’s cafes bustled with pre-match energy, and generations gathered to cheer, hope, and suffer together.

The final game at Upton Park’s Boleyn Ground on May 10 2016 was the end of an era — a dramatic 3–2 victory over Manchester United sealed by a late Winston Reid header. It was a night charged with emotion, nostalgia and pride, as fans said goodbye not just to a ground, but to a way of life. In this Q&A, McKay reflects on memory, belonging, and the beauty of being a Hammer.

“Football is a beautiful thing because it’s so unpredictable. Money, television and FIFA are doing their best to destroy that beauty, so I think it’s up to the fans to keep things honest and down to earth.”

Alastair McKay

“I’m from North Berwick in East Lothian but my parents were living in London when I was born. I have always supported West Ham, on account of being born in Harold Wood, and the fact that my dad told me he used to go to Upton Park.

I always supported West Ham, on account of being born in Harold Wood, and the fact that my dad told me he used to go to Upton Park. As all old West Ham fans do, he used to talk about how close the players were to the crowd, and how you could reach out and touch them at the corner flag. My mum worked at the Trebor sweet factory in Forest Gate. The family moved back to Scotland when I was very young, so I had to sort out a Scottish team. I quickly found Celtic, because they were winning everything, though we used to go and see Hibs, who were more local. They were a good team. I also went with my grandad to see Brechin City. My mum’s Auntie Elsie (not really her auntie) lived across the back green from my grandparents, and used to wash the Brechin team’s kit. The sight of all the red strips hanging on the washing line was the most glamorous thing I had ever seen. 

“Mr Moon has left the stadium…”

I’ve been a season ticket holder at West Ham for around 20 years – since moving back to London. 

What do I miss most about Upton Park? Being closer to the action was the main thing. The ground itself was a bit of a mess, but I loved the friendly chaos of Green Street, and the coded announcements in the ground about how “Mr Moon has left the stadium”. I think if Mr Moon had gone to the London Stadium, things would have been better. I also miss Carlos Tevez.

I’ve always taken photos. I started out taking pictures at gigs, and I think football has a lot of the same energy. I loved the whole culture around the Boleyn Ground and I wanted to preserve it somehow. 

I love the classic American street photographers. I won’t name them, because that would make it seem like I want to be mentioned in the same breath. I once interviewed Chris Boot (formerly of Magnum, and a photography book publisher) and he said an interesting thing about just taking pictures and not worrying about them, because they ripen with age. This was in the time before everyone had a smartphone, and using a camera was a conscious choice. Tony Ray-Jones was great too. 

“I loved the whole culture around the Boleyn Ground and I wanted to preserve it somehow.”

Alastair McKay

Football is a beautiful thing because it’s so unpredictable. Money, television and FIFA are doing their best to destroy that beauty, so I think it’s up to the fans to keep things honest and down to earth. It’s a fantastic escape, and – quite literally – a level playing field where hard work and talent can bring success, which isn’t the case in all walks of life. I could live without the endless moaning, though maybe this is a West Ham thing.”

Properly documenting and curating British football culture and its rich subcultures is vital to preserving the stories, moments, and identities that have shaped generations of fans and communities. In an age where memories risk being lost in the endless scroll of digital content, capturing the essence of matchday rituals, terrace fashion, grassroots movements, and iconic atmospheres becomes more important than ever. These elements form the soul of the game, connecting the past with the present and grounding future narratives in something real and human. It’s a mission Lower Block remains deeply committed to—ensuring football’s visual and cultural legacy is not just archived, but celebrated and made accessible for those who lived it, and those yet to discover it.

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