West Ham's Century-Old Bubble Tradition Celebrated by Manor Solomon in Home Debut
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israeli player Manor Solomon experienced West Ham United's century-old bubble-blowing tradition during his first home game, linked to the club's anthem "I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles," a ritual dating back to the 1920s and popularized locally by a school headmaster near the club's stadium.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Manor Solomon experienced West Ham's bubble-blowing tradition in his first home game on August 22, 2026.
- The ritual involves players passing through soap bubbles linked to the club anthem "I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles."
- The song originated in the US around 1919 and became popular in the 1920s music halls.
- Cornelius Bill, a local school headmaster, adapted the song for West Ham fans about 100 years ago.
- The bubble tradition is a key part of West Ham's matchday experience and fan culture.
- In 1999, over 24,000 fans set a world record by blowing bubbles for a minute.
On August 22, 2026, Israeli footballer Manor Solomon experienced a unique West Ham United tradition during his first home game with the London club against Charlton. As players exited the dressing rooms onto the pitch, they passed through a shower of soap bubbles, a ritual linked to the club's anthem "I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles." The song, originally written around 1919 in the United States by Jan Kenbrovin and John William Kellette, became popular in music halls during the 1920s and was adopted by West Ham fans about a century ago.
The connection to West Ham traces back to Cornelius Bill, headmaster of Park School near West Ham's former stadium, Upton Park. Bill, a football enthusiast and close friend of West Ham manager Charlie Paynter, adapted the song "Bubbles" for the school’s football supporters, who would sing it incorporating the name of the standout player. Over time, "I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles" became West Ham's iconic anthem, with the bubble-blowing ritual becoming an integral part of matchday experience.
A notable moment in this tradition occurred on May 16, 1999, when over 24,000 fans blew bubbles for a full minute to set a new world record. This century-old custom continues to be a distinctive and celebrated feature of West Ham United’s home games, now witnessed firsthand by Solomon in his debut at the London stadium.
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