There are seven weeks to go before West Ham United’s first Championship match in 14 years and despite last season’s relegation from the Premier League and plenty of uncertainty, it is no surprise the first sign of loyalty has come from the fanbase.
Key players Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville could depart following the drop into the second division, club captain Jarrod Bowen is attracting strong interest from elsewhere and others have uncertain futures, yet it has not dissuaded 35,000 supporters from renewing their season tickets. The club is hopeful they will surpass the 40,000 mark for the 68,000-seat London Stadium in August.
“That dedication and commitment from our fans provides us with great motivation and a weight of responsibility — and this is something that we must embrace,” head coach Nuno Espirito Santo told West Ham’s official website. “The energy that we got from London Stadium towards the end of last season was a big positive, and we want that to continue.”
The Athletic has spoken to fans who have renewed to gauge how hopeful they are about the forthcoming season, what concerns they have, and if 2026-27 feels like a fresh start for the east London club, given recent changes at board level.
Andy Robery, 62, with daughter Katie, 23
“I go to games with my daughter and we sit in the Bobby Moore Stand. Since the fixtures were released, all my daughter’s been going on about is us facing Millwall! She’s never attended a game against them but I’ve been to a fair few. I’ve been going to matches since 1971, and I was always going to renew, but I’m well aware next season won’t be as easy as others think.
“I keep seeing posts on social media that we will get 100 points, but there will be loads of tough games and it will be a demanding schedule. The squad will need time to adapt, so if we start slow, I don’t want the fans to get on their back.
“I expect Bowen, Fernandes and Summerville to leave. (Tomas) Soucek is injured (the midfielder was forced off in the Czech Republic’s World Cup loss against Mexico last week), which is just our luck. (Jean-Clair) Todibo will go. There will be a lot of changes this summer. Honestly, it might even take a season for us to settle in the Championship. I hope we do well, but I don’t expect us to run away with it.”
Jay Thomas, 29, with father Richard, 59
“I’ve been a season ticket holder since the 2019-20 season. I sit in Block 140 and my weekends would be boring without me following West Ham. No VAR (in the Championship) is a huge bonus and I’m looking forward to hopefully attending some away games.
“We seem a lot more united as a fanbase. You won’t find many clubs being able to pull nearly 40,000 season-ticket holders in the second tier, especially when you consider how poor we were last season.
“Even if there are empty seats, it will be worth it because there will be hardcore fans and less tourists.”
Tom Deal, 23
“The club spammed the life out of me before I renewed. There was an email about Nuno staying, then constant emails about renewing. The club also knocked off 30 per cent, which probably helped convince a lot of fans to return.
“This is the most excited I’ve been for a season since I became a season-ticket holder 10 years ago. We have to back the team during the good and bad times.
“No VAR is a huge relief, because there will be a freedom to celebrating goals. Hopefully we can get rid of the dead wood and sign players that care about the club. I have high hopes for (Soungoutou) Magassa. Based on video clips he’s posted on social media, he seems a lot more engaged (for his second season at West Ham). I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Matt Davey, 40, with son George, 15 months
“I was initially unsure about renewing but with (Karren) Brady and (David) Sullivan gone, I’m happy I have.
“Last year, (my ticket) cost me £800 but it dropped to £680, so it was very reasonable. I have a newborn and his full name is George Jared Davey. My wife chose his first name, and I picked the Jared.
“The backstory is I was at the Emirates, in the home end, when Bowen scored against Arsenal (in a 1-0 win in February 2025). I went home that night and told her, ‘I’ve chosen his middle name’. My favourite NFL player is Jared Goff (the Detroit Lions’ quarterback) and I’ve spelt it that way, but it’s to do with Bowen, so I will be gutted if he leaves.”
Harrison Preston (second left), 25
“I’m looking forward to attending all the home and away games. There are a lot of matches to look forward to, like QPR, Charlton, Watford and obviously, Millwall.
“I have a few friends that gave up their season tickets — some even did last year, before we got relegated.
“I do have some concerns heading into the new season. I don’t think we’ll be prepared in time, and we always seem to be behind other clubs when it comes to our activity in the window. We should be closer to making a new signing but nothing seems remotely close.
“We got relegated for a reason, and we need to snap out of bad habits. When we were previously in the Championship, we got Sam Allardyce (as manager) and (key midfielder) Kevin Nolan in early-doors. These are the sort of characters we need.”
Louis Hart (far left), 28
“I’m from a family of die-hard West Ham fans. Following this club is all I know, so there was no way that I wasn’t going to renew. If we can keep Bowen, (Konstantinos) Mavropanos, Soucek and (Taty) Castellanos, that would be great. Bowen is a bit of a flip of a coin because he will have a lot of interest and I believe he is a Champions League player.
“But the one person I want us to keep is Paco (Jemez, the first-team coach). From what I’ve read about him, it’s clear he was the glue for the team and backroom staff. After he joined us, we improved massively and narrowly missed out on staying up. Keeping Paco might help convince some of the players to stay.”
Jamie Moore, 49, with son Jude, 20
“My son is supposed to be travelling to South East Asia in the new year, but he’s contemplating postponing it so he can attend the home game against Millwall in February!
“It cost just over a grand for me to renew my and my son’s season ticket. I started taking Jude to games when he was three. My other half gets in my ear about me renewing, but I’ve been doing it for so many years now.
“Us getting relegated was never going to put me off. I saw the club publish the figures about the number of fans who have renewed. It’s crazy. Being in the Championship will help reunite the fanbase. The fact there could be over 40,000 season-ticket holders next season shows how much potential this club has. Hopefully, there will be good times ahead.”
Sam Hunty, 33
“I will always renew my season ticket, regardless of what division the club is in. I love West Ham more than anything, and it’s my escape.
“I truly hope it’s a new era, and it does feel like an exciting time. Knowing Brady and Sullivan have gone after so many years of us trying to get them out is great, but Daniel Kretinsky needs to put actions into words to keep our trust.
“New season, new leadership at the top and a fresh start for Nuno; I’m glad we kept him because he knows the league (winning promotion to the top flight with Wolves in 2018) and can get us back to the Premier League. It’s important the club back him with funding this summer.”
Michael Bush, 39
“I’m looking forward to the rebuild of the squad. I’ve felt for a while that there are a lot of players who have used us to engineer moves to other teams. We have a great set of young players, and I think if we give a few of them a chance, it could be a very exciting time.
“It reminds me a bit of when Alan Pardew was manager (between 2003 and 2006) and he built his team around young, hungry players.
“Hopefully Kretinsky will start to make a difference, but Sullivan is still the second-largest shareholder. I don’t think it will be a complete new era until he is gone. Let’s see what happens.
“A lot of fans are underestimating how hard the Championship is. I’ve seen us relegated twice as a season-ticket holder and both times (2005 and 2012), we’ve had to come back up through the play-offs. It’s not going to be free-flowing, attacking football all the time.
“Nuno is under pressure to start well. I don’t think he has a clean slate. I still believe he had enough time to keep us up but he messed up his first few months experimenting with the team like it was pre-season. I was undecided about him staying but when you think about who we were linked with (as potential replacements), he was a good choice.
“We need to sign experienced Championship players to help guide our young players through the season. Tried and tested professionals to really help maintain a high standard.
“Wolves (who were also relegated) have made brilliant signings in Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez, and they’re the sort of players we could have done with getting. Our squad lacks leaders. If we can keep hold of Callum Wilson (the striker’s contract expires this summer), I think he would be a key player for us next season.”
