TALKING TO BILL EDWARDS ABOUT EAST HAM UNITED

EAST HAM UNITED left their famous Manorway ground in 1999 and moved east along the A13 to form/merge 'Barking & East Ham United' in 2001 who later reformed as Barking FC in 2006. Many people in the local area won't even know their was a famous football club in Pennyroyal Avenue, Beckton where housing now stands. I wrote an article back in 2010 about East Ham and FORGOTTEN FOOTBALL. Here I speak to Bill Edwards who has some very fond memories of playing for the club. He was playing for the club during the 1980s when one of the most famous events in Essex Senior League history took place. 

In September 1985 a game between East Ham United Reserves and Tiltech was held up for over 10 minutes due to the filming of Full Metal Jacket in the nearby Beckton Gasworks. A number of canisters were let off on the film set with the wind carrying the gas onto the pitch with affected many players and supporters. I think it's safe to say the filming of a Hollywood blockbuster holding up a non-league match won't happen again!  

The club's last match at Manorway aka Ferndale Sports Ground came in December 1999 against Brentwood when only four committee men (two from each club) along with the gate boy, and the league chairman and treasurer along with a freelance photographer witnessed the game. All present were admitted under official passes so the official attendance was recorded as Zero. 

There were rumours of an East Ham United reforming a few years ago with a twitter account set up but nothing has been publicised since.  

WHAT'S YOUR FOOTBALLING HISTORY?

I started out in senior football with East Ham United. I was usually a squad player. I played a few games for the first team but usually ended up with the reserves. It was a great club to be involved in, especially with charismatic manager Rueben Gane involved. He is one of the funniest guys in local football. In my time there he did everything he could think of to publicise the club. We had a spot on LWT's The Six O'clock Show where Danny Baker came down and filmed us, basically taking the pee that no local people knew about us! 

I then joined the police and played a few games for the Met. Later I played a few games for Leyton Pennant and with Ilford when they reformed. I also spent some time with Romford when they reformed too, but I was in the reserves there. 

(NOTE - Rueben Gane had many jobs for club including groundsman and barman. His son Tim Gane is a songwriter and guitarist who co-founded the band Stereolab who even sponsored the club's shirts in the 1990s) 

WHAT WAS THE MANORWAY LIKE TO PLAY AT? 

The Manorway was terrible really! The changing rooms were no better than a large shed. You were sometimes pleased if you got subbed as at least you would have a hot shower before the hot water run out. We had an old grounds-man called Bert who would clamber through a hole he made in a wall to get the balls back when they were kicked out the ground. There was also a famous Shetland pony, who helped cut the pitch when he was hungry.

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF FULL METAL JACKET BEING FILMED AND WHAT AFFECT DID IT HAVE ON THE LOCAL AREA?

Hardly anybody locally knew about the filming of Full Metal Jacket. The area around the ground had hardly any houses there then. 

I think Rueben invited the crew to use the bar when it was open. I remember playing the game when they were filming. There was explosions going off about 300 yards away, but you didn't hear much though, as they add most of the sound later!  A few extras in their respective uniforms stood having a cigarette in a vantage place to have a watch of the game.

Another legend is that when David Bowie and Mick Jagger filmed the video for Dancing in the Street, they too had a drink in the clubhouse. But remember, Rueben would say anything to get people in!