Chris Knoll, famously known as Knollsy, was recently met with a hero’s welcome at the West Ham’s home game against Leeds United, just days after his efforts in helping to fend off hooligans at the previous match involving West Ham and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League.
The incident was started when an attempted mob of AZ Alkmaar ultras tried to reach West Ham’s family section. 58-year-old Knollsy, and another fan, defended the area and bravely thwarted the attempted breach.
The fans’ appreciation of Knollsy’s heroic efforts were obvious as he was given a standing ovation when he arrived at the pitchside – something which Knollsy himself believes is fully uncalled for. He declared in an interview that he’s “no hero”, however, this has obviously not stopped him from receiving praise from his fellow supporters who were all chanting, “We love you Knollsy, we do” on social media platforms such as TikTok. Outside the stadium, the appreciation for Knollsy continued as supporters chanted, “Knollsy is massive everywhere we go”.
AZ Alkmaar has since publicly apologised for the behaviour that led to the incident, mentioning in a statement that the series of events that occurred has become a “pitch-black evening due to the events occurring at the referee’s final whistle”. They stated that all possible efforts will be taken to identify the perpetrators and the appropriate measures will be enforced.
West Ham is a professional football club based in London, England that competes in the Premier League. Established in 1895, the club boasts an illustrious history with three FA Cups, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, and four Football League titles to their name. The club has long remained a popular side in England and throughout Europe, and continues to make headlines season after season.
Chris Knoll, or Knollsy, is a lifelong West Ham fan. Despite his humble demeanour, the 58-year-old has lived up to his name as a true hero for defending West Ham’s family members during last week’s AZ Alkmaar match. His bravery has been recognised and appreciated by his fellow supporters, who will continue to hold him in high regard.
