West Ham United’s very own cult hero Chris Knolls, or Knollsy as everyone will know him, arrived in the capital of Czechia to a hero's welcome following his fight last month when his side overcame Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
The Irons fan was photographed with West Ham legend Tony Cottee this afternoon, looking forward to seeing his team in their first European final for 47 years.
TC and Knollsy in Prague! ⚒ pic.twitter.com/IqFoti5LxA
— West Ham Central (@WestHam_Central) June 7, 2023
The Angel of Alkmaar: Why Is Knollsy a West Ham Cult Hero?
The 58-yeal-old lifelong West Ham United fan became an unlikely hero last month when his club beat Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to reach the final of the Europa Conference League but the post match celebrations from jubilant West Ham fans and players were cut short due to fans from the Dutch side attempting to enter the friends and family area of the West Ham players where the wives and parents were, up steps Chris Knoll, better known as Knollsy who stood at the top of the stairs fighting around 40 fans off to protect the players loved ones.
Knollsy arrived at Prague airport and was seen fighting back tears as he welcomed to the city by grateful Hammers fans celebrating him.
Knollsy, who watched his team lift the FA Cup in 1980, will be hoping he gets another chance, over 40 years later, to watch his side lift a major trophy. Due to his heroics after the semi-final Knollsy was handed a ticket to the final in Prague as his side face Italian giants, Fiorentina.
Jokingly, Knollsy has said, should trouble flare up again he’ll have to step up and be the hero once more. Hopefully Prague stays trouble free and everyone can enjoy a wonderful occasion with a good game of football to look forward to.
West Ham manager David Moyes has only won one trophy during his managerial career and that came in the form of the FA Community Shield in 2013 when he was managing Manchester United so is tonight going to be the night when David Moyes finally gets his hands on a major European trophy?