Nearly 100 West Ham supporters came together to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the King’s Lynn Irons Club at a sold-out evening featuring four former Hammers players.
Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Alan Devonshire and Julian Dicks joined supporters at Briarfields Hotel in Titchwell for an evening of memories, stories and celebrations.
The event also marked 40 years since West Ham’s famous 1985/86 season, when John Lyall’s side achieved the club’s highest-ever top-flight finish by coming third in the First Division.
Guests began the evening with a meet-and-greet with the former players, with opportunities for photographs and signed memorabilia, before sitting down for a three-course dinner.
A question-and-answer session later gave supporters the chance to hear the quartet reflect on their playing careers and share stories from their time at West Ham.
Cottee and McAvennie played leading roles in the Boys of ’86 side which challenged for the league title.
Cottee went on to score 146 goals across two spells with West Ham, while McAvennie became a firm favourite with supporters after arriving from St Mirren ahead of the 1985/86 campaign.
Devonshire represented another important period in the club’s history, having been part of the West Ham side which lifted the FA Cup in 1980.
Former defender Dicks, meanwhile, became one of the club’s best-known players during the 1990s and was a four-time Hammer of the Year.
The evening also provided an opportunity to look back at two decades of the King’s Lynn Irons Club.
Established in 2006, the supporters’ group brings together West Ham fans from across Norfolk and beyond through matchday travel, social events and appearances by former players.
Mark Steele, Secretary of the King’s Lynn Irons Club, said: “This was a fantastic evening and a fitting way to celebrate two significant anniversaries. For our members and guests to spend time with four genuine West Ham legends, hear their stories and relive some of the club’s greatest moments was incredibly special.
“We are proud of what the King’s Lynn Irons Club has achieved over the past 20 years and grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. The atmosphere throughout the evening was fantastic and it was wonderful to see so many supporters sharing in the celebrations.”
Photo’s Ian Burt
