In this episode of The West Ham Syndrome, we look back at the 2000/01 season, a campaign that didn’t end in disaster or success, but still feels important when viewed in hindsight.

Under Harry Redknapp, West Ham came into the season following a top-half finish, with a squad that mixed experienced leaders and emerging Academy talent. Off the pitch, the club was changing too, with the Dr Martens Stand being built at Upton Park, adding to a sense that the club was trying to move forward.

The season itself followed a familiar pattern. A slow and frustrating start, followed by a strong run of form between September and Christmas where performances improved and results followed. Then came a post-Christmas drop-off where momentum was lost and league form tailed away.

We discuss the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Leeds, how the transfer money was reinvested, and what that moment came to represent for the club. There’s also a look at an FA Cup run that briefly lifted the season, including a memorable win away at Manchester United, and the sense that once the cup run ended, the campaign lost its focus.

Along the way, we reflect on the squad itself, the leadership, the blend of youth and experience, Paolo Di Canio, Freddie Kanouté and the moments that still stand out from the season.

A balanced but frustrating year and a season that helps explain the West Ham Syndrome.

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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.

Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow.

Stay connected with us:
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This week on The West Ham Syndrome, we sit down with one of the voices and chroniclers of West Ham United: Martin Godleman, author, journalist, broadcaster, filmmaker and stadium PA announcer at the London Stadium.

In this conversation, we explore Martin’s lifelong connection to West Ham and his evolution as a writer, beginning with Our Days Are Few, his raw and compelling account of the turbulent 2003/04 season, a year haunted by relegation but rich in story. Martin also reflects on We’re West Ham, We Play on the Floor, comparing two very different post-relegation journeys.

We then dive into No Goal, his brilliantly crafted alternative history imagining a world where Geoff Hurst’s controversial second goal in the 1966 World Cup final was ruled out. What changes? What remains? And how does West Ham's identity shift as a result?

Martin then walks us through the creation of 125 Beautiful Games and what truly makes a West Ham match “beautiful.” We look ahead too, asking what moments from the past five years would make the next edition.

Of course, we couldn’t chat to the stadium announcer himself without digging into the art of the role.

Finally, Martin shares what he believes writers must capture to express the true essence of West Ham: the narrative of struggle, hope, despair, resilience — and above all, belonging.

Plus: our trademark quick-fire round, featuring heartbreaks, heroes, favourite kits, and what Martin would contribute to the virtual West Ham Museum.

You can explore more of his work on his website: https://godleman.com/ and read his blog 'Our Days Our Few' here: https://ourdaysarefew.com/.

In the episode Martin references the song 'Shine' by Shannon Noll which you can listen to here: https://open.spotify.com/track/6iFkab3O65fAbvpNj7wGXW.

Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow.

Stay connected with us:
📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com
📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)

Thanks for listening to The West Ham Syndrome. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a review, it really helps the show grow.

Stay connected with us:
📧 Email: thewesthamsyndrome@gmail.com
📱 Follow us: @thewesthamsyndrome (Instagram & Twitter/X)