A West Ham United fan known as ‘Knollsy’ has been hailed a hero for single-handedly taking on hooded AZ Almkaar thugs to protect the WAGs and families of the Hammers players after ugly scenes at the end of their historic European win in Holland.
Footage shows the well-known supporter standing at the top of the stairs swinging punches as hooligans try to get past and he prevents them from getting through before help from police and stewards arrive. Pictures emerged on social media of the hero Hammer with his t-shirt ripped but looking relatively unscathed and crossing his arms in the sign of the West Ham badge.
One fan took to social media to explain exactly what happened. He wrote: “Knollsy the legend. Stopped the home fans from getting to the players’ families. Give him a ticket for the final. A bit of context: we were sitting behind Thilo Kerher’s girlfriend. Knollsy was worried about her and walked to the top of the stairwell, fending off the storming Alkmaar fans.
“He’s a lovely bloke and did what he felt was right at the time. He stopped those fans. He was genuinely concerned about the players’ partners and ex West Ham players sitting all around us. He did what he had to do. I am proud to call him a mate. And glad he stoped what could have been a much worse incident. Knollsy has recently had a hip replacement and simply could not run. He’s also a proud man.”
The fan went on to share a video of West Ham captain sending a video message to Knollsy, adding: “When Knollsy was in a bad shape, Declan Rice left him this message. He always says it’s what made him recover. The man is West Ham through and through and would have done anything to protect our fans.”
And that sparked a flood of messages with one saying: “How can we buy him a beer?” Even rival supporters joined in. One said: “Well done mate from a Forest fan. If we stay up and get to play you next season there’s a pint waiting for you in Nottingham.” One added: “Well done Knollsy- a hero and a gentleman.”
David Moyes’s side won 1-0 on the night to seal a place in the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina – their first European final since 1976 when they beat Eintracht Frankfurt to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup.