Dublin Hammers - Christmas Party 2013

The Christmas Party - 9th December 2013

The Dublin Hammers Christmas Party marked the beginning of the festive season, and as ever there was a great night had by all. Despite Liam’s annual worry that nobody would turn up, he was yet again proved wrong as we all showed up, brought our better halves, friends and relatives! A number of attendees had travelled a fair distance to get to the event and no I don’t mean from Tallaght! Staunch Hammers fans Boston Gerry, Donegal John and Galway Eugene turned up and were joined by a few lads from Luxembourg along with my inlaws from Cork.

The President supplied the umbrella for the raffle and this “star” prize was added to the array of bottles, the DH hat and T shirts, the WHU Scarf, Mug, DVDs and Monopoly! Josh Holland promised to do a drawing of any player as the star prize. Josh had sent a drawing of the great Martin Peters as the real star prize, but Liamo’s workmates conspired to lose it in the post! (Lost in the post? A likely story... has anyone been round to the secretarys house to check it's not hanging on the wall? Ed.)

Anyway the raffle was preceded by the biggest prize of all – the free trip draw. And the winner was... Eddie Cox (one of which was delighted to collect the prize). The raffle started in earnest and Donegal John won the star prize (no, not the umbrella), the Cox family did well and Cora is looking forward to a long cold winter that will allow her the opportunity of watching the DVDs of the great Hammers victories dating back to the mid 60s! The prizes disappeared quick and fast as Liam was hungry and was looking forward to the food. And the final prize, yes... you guessed it... the umbrella found a new home with Jimmy Conway’s wife, Emer.

The food arrived and was quickly devoured and then remarkably we were treated to a bit of a DH danceoff (and this was still early in the evening!). Up stepped Tommy... facing his challenge was the President... in a scene resembling something from a bad gay bar the lads gave it their best, but the preseident was no match for the slick moves of Tommy Travolta. Next on the floor came Daryll 'snake-hips' Cox... his smooth moves ensured there was not a challenger in sight!

Then the singers stepped right up to the microphone... Kevin Murphy 2, President Fran Ryan (Human!!), Brian Madden, Eddie’s brother – Mr Sinatra himself and a host of others serenaded us throughout the evening. The DJ brought Liam back to his younger days as he played all the Ska classics and he kept all of us happy with a great mix of current classics and golden oldies! The floor was packed throughout the night as we threw various shapes and it was crammed as “Bubbles” blasted out at the end of the night.

Finally with the bar closed and the music finished it was time for the President’s Annual Address. Up stepped the longest serving President in the western world, Fran Ryan and silence descended on the room. The President paid tribute to his old friend Nelson Mandela who had sadly passed away. Like the great Nelson, President Ryan has also been responsible for implementing a number of dramatic changes in the Dublin Hammers as he reminded us of his SNA (Support Not Abuse) and the more recent SAS (Stand Against Sam) campaign. But in a dramatic departure from previous years and in recognition of our poetic President up in the Aras he presented us with a poem that he had written, which he believed truely reflected his feelings on West Ham’s season. The poem “They Couldn’t See What I Could See” is printed here by kind permission:

They Couldn’t See, What I Could See
by President Philip Francis Ryan

Oh what happy days for our little group
We signed Andy Carroll “Oh what a coup”
And Stuart Downing, a winger supreme
Oh what a team or is it a dream
We also signed a full back called Razvan Rat
But he can’t make a tackle, he’s as blind as a bat
Oh in this Club there was so much glee
But they couldn’t see, what I could see.

The team could be picked by the roll of a dice
But we left it all to Sam Allerdyce
Kevin Nolan makes Gerry look like a cage fighter
I think they both drink the same amount of Budweiser
With no centre forward, six midfielders Sam did play
And he couldn’t find room for Ricardo Vaz Te
The back four is suspect with a defender called Guy
But then again, they couldn’t see, what I could see.

So I started a campaign called “Stand Against Sam”
But the rest of the Club couldn’t give a damn
Then there was support from Chairman, Eddie Cox
But Liamo and the rest couldn’t give a rocks
John Thompson tells the committee every year “You’re Gone”
He’s saying it now about Sam, but with much more aplomb
I have nothing against Sam, he never hurt me
But he couldn’t see, what I could see.

The campaign now has grown, there’s also Jimmy Conway
And when the young lads give out, we should heed what they say
When Dessie does the “Spot the Ball” an odd win would be nice
I think in ten years I have won just twice
In the report Gerry Murtagh might say I am in space
But I want you to know my heart’s in the right place
So what is it I saw, that you couldn’t see
I’ll tell you what it was... it was our history!

With that we all finished our drinks and headed home – happy to have been part of another fantastic DH Christmas Party but we pondered the wise words of our President!

My congratulations to all those involved in organising the party, the room was decorated brilliantly, the Santa Hats, Reindeer Ears, Elves Hats, Christmas Glasses and Lighting Noses were hilarious. The karaoke and DJ were excellent. The food was top notch. And finally, thanks to the staff in Brannigans – we hope you enjoy this party as much as we always do!

Special thanks to Gerry Murtagh for the report and photos, also Brian Madden for the extra photos.

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