In this episode of The West Ham Syndrome, we’re joined by Dr. Brian Belton, author of The Black Hammers: The Voices of West Ham United’s Ebony Heroes (2006). Nearly twenty years on from its release, Brian reflects on what inspired him to write the book, the process of researching and interviewing players, and what the stories of figures like Clyde Best and John Charles reveal about football, race, and community in East London.

We also talk about Fred Corbett, often cited as West Ham’s first Black player, and why Brian believes that story has been misunderstood, exploring Corbett’s true heritage and what it tells us about how football history is remembered and recorded.

In this special episode of The West Ham Syndrome Podcast, Andrew and Max kick off their series of episodes celebrating Black History Month by naming their all-time Black West Ham United XIs. From trailblazers like Clyde Best, who broke barriers in the late 1960s, to modern icons like Michail Antonio, the boys reflect on the players who’ve shaped the club’s history on and off the pitch.

After the chaos of Potter’s sacking and Nuno’s arrival, The West Ham Syndrome Podcast takes a deeper look at the club’s biggest recurring issue - how West Ham United is actually run.

In this episode, Andrew and Max dig into the long-term structural problems that keep the Hammers trapped in a cycle of false dawns: short-term managerial fixes, confused recruitment, and a lack of footballing identity. We explore how decisions from the top continue to undermine progress on the pitch and why even promising appointments eventually fall apart under the weight of poor governance.

From broken promises about “the next level” to the blurred lines between ambition and accountability, we ask: is West Ham’s biggest problem its ownership model, not its managers?