Iron Clad Hammers

In an announcement made by the English FA earlier this evening, Sheffield United’s appeal against West Ham’s punishment for fielding ineligible players during Premier League games which aided in their relegation dog-fight, was duly thrown out. It did not come as a surprise, to me at least. Other than the obvious reasons of the complications in re-ordering next season’s fixtures, I have a theory of my own.

1. M.O.N.E.Y

Well it is the same reason all over again isn’t it? The £5.5million fine they suffered is peanuts compared to the USD$2.2 billion estimated net worth of Eggert Magnússon. That monetary potential that the Hammers currently possess, can be equated as their capability to compete in an increasingly money driven game. Not much can be said about The Blades on that.

2. Marketing Potential

The Hammers are more recognizable in recent times with the likes of Paolo Di Canio, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe all donning their jerseys in the late 90s onwards, and more recently Tevez, Reo-Coker, Lucas Neill, Anton Ferdinand. This could translate into a more marketable team playing in a branded league. Sheffield United on the other hand has Keith Gillespie as their most recent and famous player. Not forgetting the fans who witnessed their glory days, may they rest in peace.

3. Tourism

This may seem a weird reason. West Ham in the bustling city of London, Sheffield has her woods and parklands (how sad, she is not even listed on few UK tourism websites). A vibrant London with Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham AND West Ham form part of city life, where football plays an integral part. Sheffield, well she has her beauty, but not the commercialized beauty that mass tourism thrives on.

For the sake of the bigger picture, West Ham has secured their Premiership status...for now.

Here’s some statistics below to help put numbers to the words.

West Ham

Location: London

Stadium Capacity: 35,500

Best League Finish: 3^rd

FA Cup Wins: 1964, 1975, 1980

Cup Winners Cup: 1965, 1976(losing finalist)

Intertoto Cup: 1999

Chairman: Eggert Magnússon

Sheffield United

Location: Sheffield (North of London)

Stadium Capacity: 32,609

Best League Finish: 1898(1st)

FA Cup Wins: 1899, 1902, 1915, 1925

Chairman: Terry Robinson

The Blades were simply hammered into the ground in this fiasco. West Ham’s place in next season’s Premiership you could say is more or less iron-clad.