My Club: Kriss Akabusi

HAMMER TIME ... Olympic hero Kriss Akabusi is a season-ticket holder at West Ham

IF Andy Carroll does not want to sign West Ham, then West Ham don’t want Andy Carroll.

That’s according to British athletics legend and diehard Irons fans Kriss Akabusi, who feels the massive money Sam Allardyce is willing to pay for the Geordie striker could be better spent elsewhere.

SunSport caught up with the former 400m runner for an exclusive chat on his beloved club, from his thoughts on the move to Olympic Stadium to sneaking into Upton Park as a youngster.

TB: Why are you a West Ham fan?

KA: When I was a little boy in 1969, I was on holiday and I went into this caravan which was decorated in claret and blue. One of the pictures I saw on the wall was of Clive Best, who was a black player who played for West Ham.

People might not be able to believe it today but back then there were very few black players in the First Division. So straight away I changed my allegiance from Liverpool – who I only picked because they were top of the league – and became West Ham United from then on.

What are your memories from your first game?

I can’t because what we used to be able to do is go to Upton Park, wait for about 20 minutes after kick-off and then sneak in. I can’t even remember my first official game! I didn’t start paying to go to games until I joined the army.

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