Name: Gavin O'Luanaigh
Age: 34
Nationality: British
Home Town: London
Occupation: Sports
Years in Malaysia: 5
Football Team: West Ham United
Years a Fan: 29
Favourite Player: Frank Lampard
Dislikes: Fans who swap club when they feel like it / Tottenham
fans especially now they have so many of our players |
Reason for Supporting
West Ham:
Growing up in East London pretty much decides that
you will either be a West Ham, Charlton or Tottenham fan.
Charlton are considered West Ham's younger brother whereas
Tottenham are more of the illegitimate, criminal brother
so it had to be West Ham. Also having your Father, Grandfather
and all your cousins supporting West Ham helps to make up
your mind. In addition they are still the only club to have
won the World Cup (providing Geoff Hurst - 3 goals, Martin
Peters - 1 goal, and captain bobby moore for the england
team that won the world cup final in 1966) the old UK myth
is that England won't win again until West Ham have 3 more
players in the team. Looking at the current team I suppose
you can consider, Lampard, Joe Cole, Rio and Jermaine Defoe
in that category so who knows.....
First Memories:
Dense Crowds, The smell of Burgers, An old man
telling everyone that he hasn't missed a game for 40 years,
rough language on the terraces, the euption in the crowd
when a goal goes in, the almost ghostly silence when a goal
is scored against you. Also the West Ham team used to catch
the coach to there away games near to my house and I used
to see them get on the coach and get their autographs, happy
days :)
Favourite thing about the game:
Overall when you see the passion in the average
fan in the UK or anywhere around europe it is almost tribal.
The game is very disciplined these days with players like
giggs told to play percentage rather than take on his man,
but sometimes players get that little trigger in their head
which says 'go on you can take them all on and score' I
love being at games where a central defender (who obviously
in his younger days could have dribbled around all of his
classmates with his eyes closed, ges back to his schooldays
and tries to dribble the ball all the way to the goal. Sol
Campbell used to be good at this as is Rio Ferdinand if
he bothered to do it more often, and I liked to watch a
guy at Crystal Palace many years ago called Eddie McGoldrick
who would go on these mazy dribbles beating 5 or 6 players.
What does the game need:
Competent referees, more similar to rugby, Goalline
and Penalty replays (after he has blown for the penalty
it should be checked) and West Ham winning the EPL :)
Current Teams:
Currently I am recovering from a Torn Meniscus
and wil lbe out for 2-3 months however usually in Malaysia
play for the British Malaysian Team (Saturdays) and OJFC
(Sundays). Now given up indoor football as I can't afford
the hospital bills.
In the next 5 years:
Hopefully I will still be involved in Sports, have
become a FIFA Agent and transfered Ronaldinho to West Ham
Utd for him to play out his remaining years.
Gavin has been in Malaysia for around
6 years now and has been working in the Sports Industry
the whole time. Plays reguarly when not injured for the
British Malaysian FC amongst other clubs and enjoys all
sports.
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