Why do West Ham fans blow bubbles?
If you've ever wondered why you were seeing bubbles during a West Ham game, this article explains it all; from the origins, the lore, the traditions and why the trend has lasted almost a century.
Soccer
By OG.com Staff
Have you ever wondered why there are bubble machines around the field at West Ham home games?
In this article, we’re exploring one of the most enduring and idiosyncratic traditions in soccer. Read on to discover how an old American show tune became part of the fabric of East London soccer culture.
Broadway song crosses the Atlantic
The song I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles was written in 1918 and first performed on Broadway in the same year. It came out of Tin Pan Alley and is credited to John Kellette. It’s a gentle waltz type number about chasing dreams that keep getting away.
By the 1920s the song had become popular in British music halls and gradually became a fixture on the soccer terraces. But it was yet to become a staple at West Ham.
How the song reached West Ham United
There are a number of origin stories for why West Ham fans blow bubbles, with evidence for all relatively thin, but the most colorful explanation has to do with a young soccer player called Billy Murray.
According to the legend, Murray’s distinctive curly hair reminded people of a famous painting called “Bubbles”, a portrait of a young boy created in 1886. The painting became nationally famous when it was used to advertise Pears Soap.
A local teacher named Cornelius Beal, a school teacher and friend of manager Charlie Paynter, would sing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” whenever Billy Murray played well. The tradition caught on in local schoolyards and eventually made its way to the terraces.
Swansea alternate theory
Not everyone agrees with the Cornelius Beal theory and many argue that I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles is actually a legitimate piece of West Ham lore. There’s a competing theory suggesting that supporters of Swansea Town, now called Swansea City, sang the song during their FA Cup run in 2021.
The central claim is that West Ham fans heard Swansea fans singing the song and simply borrowed the tradition. And while it didn’t stick with Swansea, it did stick with West Ham. This wouldn’t be the first case of a popular song from a time gone by simply working its way into the game day traditions of a few separate clubs, before becoming commonly associated with just one.
For example, Wolverhampton Wanderers fans are known for singing the 1968 Mary Hopkin song Those Were The Days. While many romantic accounts exist, the simple truth according to fans who were there at the time, is that it was a popular song on radio and after a few beers, fans would belt out what they could easily recall.
From anthem to spectacle: when soap bubbles entered the stands
Despite the less than clear origins, the song and the idea of bubbles stuck. The song experienced renewed popularity during World War II, especially around the time of The Blitz, which affected East London where West Ham is based.
As the song became more strongly associated with West Ham, fans would begin bringing bubble wands and soap liquid to Upton Park, also known as The Boleyn Ground. Over time seeing bubbles floating down from the terraces became a very ‘West Ham’ tradition and it stuck.
As well as allowing fans to bring in their own bubbles, West Ham started playing the famous song before kickoff.
Bubble machines and the move to London Stadium
The move from Upton Park, West Ham’s spiritual home for decades, even during the Premier League era, to the newly built London Stadium is one of the most controversial moves in the club’s long history.
Image: Arne Müseler
Despite improved facilities, greater capacity and easier access for fans, the general consensus among West Ham fans is that the new stadium is sterile and lacks the atmosphere of the old stadium.
In a bid to soften the blow of the move and preserve some of the traditions most closely associated with Upton Park, club chiefs decided to dial up the bubbliness of game day by installing electric bubble machines around the perimeter of the field. These produce bubbles as the team takes to the field and sometimes even when the team has scored.
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What the bubbles symbolize for West Ham supporters
It’s easy to become nostalgic and look for deeper meaning inside long-standing soccer traditions. But the truth is that the significance of the bubbles is self-perpetuating. They’re a West Ham tradition because that’s what fans used to do, for whatever reason.
Many clubs have quirky traditions that have persisted for decades purely because it’s quintessential to that club. But West Ham and bubbles might be one of the most idiosyncratic and recognizable soccer traditions to still exist.
FAQs about West Ham's bubble tradition
Why is West Ham associated with bubbles?
Their fans adopted the popular Broadway song I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles as a game day singalong. Later on, fans began bringing their own bubbles into the stadium.
What is the song West Ham fans sing before matches?
Fans in the 1920s would sing all sorts of songs, including popular radio numbers and chants local to them. It’s not clear what specific songs West Ham fans sang prior to adopting I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles as their unofficial anthem.
Who wrote "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"?
John Kellette wrote the music in 1918. The lyrics are credited to "Jaan Kenbrovin", which is a collective pseudonym for the real lyricists; James Kendis, James Brockman and Nat Vincent.
Who was Billy "Bubbles" Murray?
Billy Murray was a young West Ham player who resembled the child in a famous painting named “Bubbles” which was later popularized by its use in advertising for Pears Soap.
What is the Millais painting connected to West Ham?
It’s said that fans nicknamed Billy Murray ‘Bubbles’ because of his resemblance to the boy in the painting of the same name.
Does West Ham blow bubbles at every match?
Yes, there are always bubbles at West Ham home games, even since their relegation from the Premier League in 2026. Some of them come from the fans and some are provided by pitch-side bubble machines. West Ham fans rarely blow bubbles at away games.
When did West Ham start using bubble machines?
West Ham installed bubble machines in their new London Stadium home in 2016.
Did Swansea Town sing the bubbles song before West Ham?
According to local reports, yes. Swansea Town, now known as Swansea City, fans sang the song when they visited West Ham United for an FA Cup game.
Why don't some West Ham fans like London Stadium?
Upton Park, officially called The Boleyn Ground, was the home of West Ham United for 112 years, from 1904 to 2016. It was famous for its intense atmosphere and location in the heart of the local community.
Fans criticize the new stadium for being ‘sterile’ and ‘soulless’, lacking the intense atmosphere and local connection of Upton Park, where West Ham’s glory days were spent.