West Ham's Century-Old Bubble Tradition Celebrated by Manor Solomon in Home Debut

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.