In this episode of The West Ham Syndrome Podcast, we’re joined by author and Hammer Rob Banks, whose writing charts the emotional highs and lows of following West Ham United across more than four decades.

Rob is the author of four West Ham books, including the cult classic An Irrational Hatred of Luton, West Ham ’til I Die, The Legacy of Barry Green, and An Irrational Hatred of Everything. Together, they trace West Ham’s journey from the FA Cup highs of the 1970s, through the near-miss brilliance of the 1985–86 season, the upheaval of the Premier League years, and into the modern era.

We talk about how Rob’s fandom began, why certain seasons and rivalries still matter so deeply, and how football in the 1980s and 90s was shaped by wider social and cultural change. We also discuss his move into long-form video essays on West Ham history — exploring managers, seasons, and stories that don’t always make it into official club narratives.

Along the way, there’s reflection on heartbreak, hope, memory, and what it really means to follow West Ham United over a lifetime — plus a quick-fire round that every Hammer will have an opinion on.

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