West Ham United: The 5 Biggest Rivals Ranked
Founded in 1885, West Ham moved on from Upton Park where they’d played since 1904 in 2016 when they moved to the former Olympic stadium, now known as the London Stadium.
Although West Ham have never been a glamorous club, or one that wins many trophies, they have been an East End institution for a very long time and the Hammers’ fans are some of the most dedicated and loyal in the country. In this article, we will have a look at some of the biggest rivals of West Ham United.
Considering history, fans’ opinions, game atmosphere, and intensity, here are the 5 biggest rivals of West Ham United ranked.
5. West Ham vs Sheffield United
Argentine duo Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez helped West Ham stay in the English top flight at the expense of Sheffield United, causing outrage among Bramall Lane fans. West Ham violated Premier League rules B13 and U18, the latter concerning third-party ownership, with the arrivals of the two players. Tevez was instrumental in West Ham’s fight against relegation, scoring the decisive goal against Manchester United, which led to Sheffield United’s relegation.
This led to a legal battle and eventual financial compensation between the clubs, marking the beginning of an intense rivalry. Tevez’s contributions were crucial, as he played a part in 55 per cent of West Ham’s goals in their final five games. The controversy and the subsequent animosity between the clubs have made Sheffield United one of the biggest West Ham rivals.
4. West Ham vs Manchester United
This rivalry is not a very deep one. In a recent survey, when every club’s fans were asked to vote for their biggest rivals, Man United fans voted West Ham as their 6th biggest rival behind Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Leeds, and Arsenal.
In the same survey, West Ham ranked Man United as their 4th biggest rivals. Thus, Man United is among the biggest rivals of West Ham United. The top three rivals of West Ham will follow next.
3. West Ham vs Chelsea
The east-west rivalry between these two London sides heated up with the Blues’ habit of poaching some of the Hammers’ best players, most notably John Terry, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard. The latter was sold to Chelsea for an £11 million transfer fee. Lampard took a while to find his feet at Stamford Bridge but turned out to be one of the best top ten Premier League signings ever – despite being a regular whipping boy for Hammers fans.
Both sets of fans share a dislike for each other, a Chelsea fan was quoted saying ” this game is right up there with Arsenal and Tottenham. A victory against West Ham, especially away, is almost always more satisfactory than beating other teams outside the top four”. All these things make Chelsea one of the most hated rivals of West Ham United.
2. West Ham vs Tottenham
While many West Ham and Tottenham supporters might consider Millwall and Arsenal as their primary enemies, the rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham is also notably fierce and ranks among the biggest rivalries in London football. West Ham fans voted Tottenham as their biggest rivals, and the atmosphere during their matches justifies why Tottenham is among West Ham United’s most hated adversaries.
In the 1990s, the on-pitch competition was fairly balanced, with Arsenal dominating London football. However, as West Ham faced relegations, Tottenham began challenging for the top positions, widening the class gap. Tottenham supporters’ condescension fuels West Ham fans’ disdain, creating animosity based less on football or geography and more on mutual perceptions. Spurs belittle the Irons, who, in turn, fight to prove their relevance, making this rivalry a reliable source of entertainment and intriguing narratives.
1. West Ham vs Millwall
The rivalry between Millwall and West Ham United is one of the oldest and most intense in English football. It began in 1885 when Millwall FC was formed by dockers and shipbuilders on the Isle of Dogs in London’s East End. Ten years later, West Ham United, originally Thames Ironworks, was founded to boost worker morale. Both teams, supported by rival dockworkers, first faced off in the 1899–1900 FA Cup in what became known as the Dockers derby.
In 1910, Millwall moved south of the River Thames to New Cross, ending their status as East London neighbours. Despite further relocations—Millwall to The Den in Bermondsey in 1993 and West Ham to the London Stadium in Stratford in 2016—they remain just under four miles apart. The rivalry has a notorious history of football hooliganism, with violent incidents such as the 1976 death of a Millwall supporter and the 2009 Upton Park riot where a Millwall fan was stabbed.
While they meet less frequently now, the animosity between Millwall and West Ham fans remains intense. If the teams were to clash more often, there is hope that their rivalry could evolve similarly to Arsenal and Tottenham’s, where passion and hatred are present but violence and hooliganism are minimized.