Redknapp, Keown and Carragher on their memories of Upton Park

My dad, cousin — the ground is in my blood JAMIE REDKNAPP

UPTON PARK has played a big part in my family life. My dad played and managed there, my uncle and cousin — Frank Lampard Snr and Jr — played there and it’s where I made my full league debut in 1990. I was only 16 and playing for Bournemouth but this was West Ham, they were one of my teams growing up. I knew how intimidating that crowd could be so I was nervous but excited — playing at grounds like that was what it was all about. It was a night game, too, and games under the lights at the Boleyn have always been special. Somebody gave me a DVD of the game a few weeks ago. I did OK, even though we lost 4-1! Going there with Liverpool we said the most important thing was to keep the crowd quiet because with their tails up the atmosphere was unbelievable. It will be the same tonight and I can’t wait for a fitting send-off for a fantastic ground.

The fans hated me with a passion but I loved it! MARTIN KEOWN

ONE thing that was always apparent about Upton Park was the passion — the fans certainly hated me with a passion! I became almost a pantomime villain there but I loved that battle. Somebody once told me the abuse was a sign of respect but with 30,000 people screaming you have to make sure you have the last laugh. I won headers and made blocks I never normally would have, all because their hatred was driving me on. Once when I was celebrating a win, an aggressive man started making eye contact with me. He followed me along the touchline — it was probably for the best we couldn’t reach each other. Maybe I was over-celebrating, but they started it! Even though it was hostile, Upton Park was a great place to play. I wonder if they will lose that 12th man at the Olympic Stadium because the Boleyn is one of the great stadiums. The way it pops out from rows of terraced houses gave it a community feel. You don’t get that at new, polished grounds. You can’t stand in the way of progress but it will be a shame to say goodbye.

Crowd gave you stick but always took it, too JAMIE CARRAGHER

MY first memory of Upton Park is a happy one: I’d never been there as a fan, so my first experience came in 1996 in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup final. We won that match 2-0 and it set me on my way to my first honour as a Liverpool player. It was a ground I always loved playing at, because of the hostile atmosphere and how close you were to the stands. I had some difficult afternoons there and got subbed off at West Ham a couple of times towards the end of my career. You were guaranteed a lively reception from the fans behind the dugout but it was never a problem — they could give plenty of stick but they would take it, too. It was just a proper ground to play football, a stadium I always enjoyed.