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"Hello darlin', what can I get you?", calls the chirpy voice of Joan Holt, in Duncan's pie & mash shop on Green Street. "You're not from round here are you?", she questions, reflecting the stereotype of the friendly, tight-knit community that is so often associated with the East End. A little less than three minutes walk down the road looms Upton Park, the home of the historical West Ham United football club, a club steeped in tradition and heritage dating back to the end of the 19th century. This is the East End at its finest.

Green Street is located in the borough of Newham, an area which is so diverse with its racial and religious mixes that it is quite literally a microcosm of London as we know it today. This multi-ethnic blend was one of the stand-out reasons as to why London was given the 2012 games. Now with the Olympic Games just around the corner, some fear that Green Street and indeed the East End, may lose this mix. There are concerns that it will be big business and 'money men' who ultimately prove to be the lasting legacy on one of Britain's most vibrant areas.

Losing a legacy

Despite obvious fears of retailers taking the place of market traders, one of the biggest questions, is that of West Ham United's future. What will happen if one of the few pieces of traditional east London moves away from the area? Joan Holt commented: "This isn't the traditional East End anymore. You wouldn't find any born and bred East-Enders here, they've all moved away. From a business point of view the multi-cultural change has not benefited me, it's taken away a lot of my business. There used to be another pie & mash shop near the market but he had to close down."

West Ham as a club brings in roughly 36,000 fans on match days, and that's just gate receipts alone. This is a holiday for the traders and food outlets dotted around Green Street. What will happen though if West Ham move after 2012, or even before then? Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham, doesn't think that any proposed move would be disastrous to the area. He said: "It's not actually a major drive for business. They [the fans] use some of the pubs, and we may lose some of these places, but I can put up with that. Instead, we might get something a little bit better and certainly the development that comes will support the growth of the street."

About the possible West Ham move, the Mayor said: "West Ham need a bigger stadium. 36,000 is not big enough. The Premier League has changed the nature of football. West Ham will need to move if they are to survive as a major football club. We support them moving because we want to keep that business."

For him though, a move would see the end of his business. "Years ago we could survive without the football. Football was the icing on the cake because we had such a good fan-base, but now we're struggling big time. As a clubhouse we would not survive if they moved."

Much of this is down to the demise of the traditional East End. "Slowly people have been moving out into the sticks [countryside], so most people travel in for matches. With the change of people here now, a lot of the pubs are struggling, even the pie & mash shops. They'd struggle, but I think they'd survive because they can always get a passing trade."

Ms. Holt seems to think that the Olympics will have a welcome impact and will be celebrated in the East End. "I think it's good that the Olympics are coming here, it's good to have something nice here. Now whether I'll benefit from them is another matter. I'm sure that people will come over this way and have a look, because Green Street is different, an area where people do come down here and shop."

Champions' Statue

As to when West Ham move is another matter. Businesses such as the supporters club, who are independent from the club, and pubs around the area are preparing for hard times, with whispers that the club will be in a new stadium within three years. Whether this is for definite is not clear, as West Ham are officially unable to comment on the situation.

End of an era, or a new chapter?

So what does the future hold for Joan and the pie & mash trade? "We're all getting on a bit now, so I don't really know if we'll decide to sell up and move with West Ham, or if we'll just ride it out."

One of the proposed sites for the new stadium is the Parcel force depot in Canning Town, the original home of the club. Mr Tuck commented: "I think they'd get in before the Olympics. They could then use the stadium for football, or hockey. I've been looking at the bookings of the stadium here and there doesn't seem to be any indication that Upton Park will be used. So if they can move over to Canning Town, then they can use a shiny, new stadium as a venue."

It seems as though the legacy of the games has already begun for Green Street, with businesses who rely on the club facing hard times, and with strong signs of the club moving on to try and jump on the 2012 bandwagon, this may mark the beginning of the end of traditional east London.

Your views

romhammer
leave us where we are!!! the council could help us by giving planning permission to double the size of the east stand.keep the tradion for all west ham fans including the young ones growing up!ITS IN THE BLOOD

Chigwell_Hammer2007
I was brought up in Upton Park and attended the school that used to be next to the ground.It will be very upsetting to see the Hammers move away but a better relocation spot they couldn't find.Manor road West Ham is the home of the original Thames Foundry Iorn Works,where the team started and a new venue here would still contain the essence of our east end heritage.WHU need to move to bigger premises if they are to become one of the big boys of English football.So my final word would be "It's sad...but it's neccessary"

Rene Cahane
I understand that West Ham will need to move to a new stadium, but i still love The Boleyn Ground! A move close by before the olympics kick off would mean we get pick of the real estate (waste ground) and i hope we build a stadium that suits our position as the backbone of English football. Come on you Irons!

paul coughlin
no. upton park is our history and our future forget about the money and look at what the fans want who wants to turn into man u our individualism is what being a supporter is all about