Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Special thanks to John Northcutt for providing many of the images on this page
A fanzine is a non-professional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest. The term was coined in an October 1940. Typically, publishers, editors and contributors to fanzines receive no financial compensation. Fanzines were traditionally circulated free of charge, or for a nominal cost to defray postage or production expenses. Some fanzines have evolved into professional publications (sometimes known as "prozines"), and many professional writers were first published in fanzines; some continue to contribute to them after establishing a professional reputation. The term fanzine is sometimes confused with "fan magazine", but the latter term most often refers to commercially-produced publications such as "Hammers News" published by M Press Sales Ltd.
A popular definition for a fanzine, includes that circulation must be 5,000 or less and the intention of the publication is not primarily to raise a profit.
Fanines are written in a variety of formats, from computer-printed text to comics to handwritten text. Print remains the most popular fanzine format, in the early days of Hammers fanzines these were usually photo-copied with a small circulation. The time and materials necessary to create a zine are seldom matched by revenue from sale of zines. Small circulation zines are often not explicitly copyrighted and there is a strong belief among many zine creators that the material within should be freely distributed. In recent years a number of photocopied zines have risen to professional status and have found wide bookstore distribution, including West Ham's most popular fanzine "Over Land And Sea".
The late 1980's saw the growth of the fanzine. Supporters inceasingly frustrated with the many changes they saw before them, and the football fanzines gave the real fans their only real voice. Below are the "Fanzines" and "Fan Magazines" associated with the Hammers...
HAMMERSCOPE
Hammerscope can claim to be the very first fanzine associated with the Hammers. This official publication of the West Ham United Supporters Club was priced at 1d and was aimed at all supporters of the club.
Circa. 1956 - 1960
Image courtesy of Stuart Allen
WEST HAM STATISTICIANS GROUP
First Issue: Newsletter No. 1 - November 1980
Last Issue: Newsletter No. 62 - August 1987
John Northcutt started the Statisticians Group to bring together supporters who enjoyed keeping statistics on the Hammers with a view to putting together a complete statistical history on the club. The club had around 135 UK members with a further 15 from abroad. With everyones help in the clubs seven-year existence John believed that they had achieved their aims.
The West Ham Statisticians Group also issued 3 Annuals
HAMMERS MONTHLY
First Issue: Vol. 1 No. 1 - September 1981
Last Issue: Vol. 2 No. 3 - December 1982
Hammers Monthly was West Ham United's Official Club colour magazine. With the team having returned to top flight football the club decided to publish a monthly magazine. This was to be the first of it's kind in London. Alas like many good ideas the magazine only lasted 9 Issues due to production difficulties.
HAMMERS REVIEW
First Issue: Newsletter No. 1 - September 1983
Last Issue: Newsletter No. 24 - August 1985
As far as I can tell this may have been the very first "Fanzine" type publication that featured the Hammers. Produced on a monthly basis at the start of the 1983-84 campaign by Paul Giller. This 12 page very basic photocopied publication, featured current season typed match reports along with a collection of past season's newspaper articles and cartoons. Relied too heavily on membership participation, the publication folded due to production costs.
HAMMERS NEWS
First Issue: Vol. 1 No. 1 - January 1987
Lastest Issue: Vol. 14 Issue 7 - March 2008
Hammers News was launched in January 1987 as a very modest tabloid newspaper, with just two spot colours. In 1991, full colour was introduced to the covers and centre pages, but it was not until August 1994 that the title adopted its very successful magazine format, with every page printed in full colour.
Hammers News has gained a well-earned reputation as one of the most impressive, authoritative magazines in the football publishing sector. It’s well-balanced editorial content and contemporary design combines the obvious strength and authority of an official club magazine – with exclusive access to the players and management – with a refreshingly candid approach to the views of the Hammers players and supporters, whose critical opinions are to be found in every issue.
THE EASTEND CONNECTION
First Issue: No. 1 - June 1988
Last Issue: No. 2 - August 1988
NEVER MIND THE BOLEYN
First Issue: No. 1 - Autumn 1988
Last Issue: No. 4 - Winter 1989
FORTUNE'S ALWAYS HIDING
First Issue: No. 1 - February / March 1989
Last Issue: No. 17 - April / May 1992
UTD UNITED
First Issue: No. 1 - December 1988
Last Issue: No. 3 - June 1989
THE BOLEYN SCORCHER
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1989
Last Issue: No. 4 - December 1989
OLAS - OVER LAND AND SEA
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1989
Last issue shown: No. 440 - August 2008
Over Land and Sea was at the forefront of Fanzines to hit the streets around Upton Park in 1989. Almost 20 years and 440 issues later editor (Editor G) Gary Firmager's voice can still be heard down Green Street. With Gary's vast knowledge and insight into our beloved club and his style of reporting that pulls no punches, coupled with the fantastic cartoon's of John Chandler, it's testament to why they have become the last surviving Fanzine devoted to the Claret n' Blue.
If you have not yet had the pleasure of seeing Gary - Picture it, Match day in Green Street standing on top of a roadside hand railing propped up against a lamp column clutching a handful of your favourite read, 30 feet from Ellis' programme stall.
"Keep up the good work Gary"
LOYAL SUPPORTER
First Issue: No. 1 - September 1989
Last Issue: No. 3 - November 1989
WEST HAM UNITED SUPPORTERS' ASSOCIATION
First Issue: No.1 - Summer 1991
This newsletter was a direct result of Hammers gaining promotion back to the First Division. The idea of the Supporters' Association was to keep fans in touch with the club. Alas this pubication fell by the wayside as so many fanzines did around that time. It promised much, but delivered little.
ON A MISSION
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1992
Last Issue: No. ?? - April 2000
HOME ALONE
First Issue: No. 1 - September 1992
Last Issue: No. ?? - August 1995 after which it was incorporated into OLAS
Home Alone was initially issued as an independent publicaion and later became the sister magazine of Over Land And Sea. This fanzine was aimed specifically at the programme buyers. This first issue was for the West Ham United v. Derby County game in the Barclays League Division One match player Sunday 20th September 1992
FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1994
Last Issue: No. 7 - May 1995
EX - The West Ham Retro Magazine
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1994
Latest Issue: No. 45 - December 2007
WE ATE ALL THE PIES
First Issue: No. 1 - January 1995
Last Issue: No. 8 - December 1995
THE COCKNEY PRIDE
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1995
Last Issue: No. 3 - October 1995
WATER IN MAJORCA
First Issue: No. 1 - March 1996
Last Issue: No. 12 - April 1998
THE ULTIMATE DREAM
First Issue: No. 1 - October 1996
Last Issue: No. 44 - October 1998
ON THE TERRACES
First Issue: No. 1 - August 1998
Last Issue: No. 120 - April 2004
Editor Marc Williams gave me the opportunity through the pages of "On The Terraces" to exhibit some of my illustrations and doodles.
the fanzine also allowing me to vent my frustration at the clubs ill-fated introduction of "The Bond Scheme" in 1993
THE ILL-FATED "BOND SCHEME"
UPN - UPTON PARK NEWS
First Issue: No. 1 - Summer 1998
This club newspaper was short lived with the First Issue coming out in the summer of 1998. Given free to Executive club members, Box holders, Club members and Season ticket holders.
IRONWORKS GAZETTE
First Issue: No.1 - November 1998
Last Issue: No.171 - February 2007
