'Chicken Run' before it was demolished in the summer of 1968

Around 1919 at the start of their Football league status, West Ham United spent £4,000 on ground improvements at the Boleyn Ground, including a new East Stand which became affectionately known as 'The Chicken Run'. These improvements raised the capacity to 30,000

The original structure on the East side of the ground consisted of a standing enclosure covered by a timber and corrugated iron structure known affectionately as 'The Chicken Run". The stand was surrounded by a similar sort of wire to that used on chicken runs and when you viewed it from the opposite side of the ground it looked just like a chicken run. This was dismantled in May 1968.

CHICKEN RUN

The opening of the lower portion of the new East Stand marked the beginning of another stage in the development of the Boleyn Ground. Holding around 4,000 standing spectators - the same capacity as the old " Chicken Run " which it replaces - and the seating portion above will take a further 3,500 when complete.

Those who occupy the new East Terrace will certainly notice an improvement on the old one, as there are no stanchions to obstruct the view from any part, and it is certainly equal to any comparable standing accommodation elsewhere.

2nd November 1968

The original intention was to open the seating accommodation for the game against Arsenal on Saturday 28th December 1969. After a delay of one week, due to icy weather conditions postponing the Hammers' final home League game of the year, the new East Stand was used for the first time for the visit of Bristol City on Saturday 4th January 1969 on the occasion of an FA Cup third round tie and the attendance of 32,526 produced then record receipts of £11,058.

It's cantilever style construction makes the Stand one of the most modern in the Football League. It had cost £170,000 to build and with no pylons to obscure the view of the pitch the Stand is an outstanding example of current constructional engineering. There are 3,486 tip-up seats in 17 rows above the East Terrace which had a capacity of 3,500 standing and had been opened two months previously.

NEW EAST STAND OPENED

4th January 1969

Centenary Stand

Sir Trevor Brooking Stand

Bobby Moore Stand

Plans have been submitted to increase the capacity to approximately 42,000 through the building of a new East Stand. The development will result in a fully enclosed stadium by joining the new stand to the Centenary Stand and the Bobby Moore Stand. Relegation to the Football League Championship in 2003 resulted in the development being delayed. However promotion to the FA Premier League via the Play-Offs in May 2005 resulted in the immediate re-submission of plans to Newham Council.

Planning Application on hold

All plans to increase capacity at Upton Park were put on hold with the announcement that the Club were bidding to become anchor tenants at the Olympic Stadium once the 2012 Olympics were over.

East Terrace Lower

Welcome to the new "Chicken Run"

THE EAST TERRACE (CHICKEN RUN) COMMEMORATIVE CERTIFICATE

Dr Martens Stand

Alpari Stand

Betway Stand

Application form given to every supporters who stood for the last time on the East Terrace at the match against Southampton on 7th May 1994 inviting them to apply for a commemorative certificate.

Image courtesy of Paul Ford

EAST STAND UPPER

Training sessions were a regular occurrence in the new East Stand during inclement weather

Image courtesy of Paul Ford

SUMMER 1994

Crush barriers were removed from the terraces, where 2,500 of the most vocal fans in the country stood each home game, and replaced by 1,200 seats. The transformation was not easily achieved. There were problems facing the club's architects and the Building Control Division regarding the installation of seats on the lower east terrace. The stand did not run true, the level were all different, with the problem resolved to produce an excellent viewing area, very close to the action on the field, however this was to change.

With the Boleyn Ground becoming an all-seater stadium the Upton Park pitch was moved further back from the East Stand nearer the new Dr. Martens Stand (West Stand), the East Stand seemed to have lost its famous atmosphere from past years. Until recently, the stand used to have the words DAGENHAM MOTORS written into the bottom tier through the seats, but was changed during the 2006/2007 season, despite the club splitting from their sponsorship with the car company back in 1997.  

EAST STAND TURNSTILES