A man known as Knollsy gained news when an incident occurred during a West Ham football game.
The football enthusiast was watching David Moyes’ side play AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion in May 2023 when relatives and friends of West Ham players were assaulted by opposition fans.
Who is Knollsy?
Chris “Knollsy” Knoll was one of many Hammers fans that confronted a group of hooded AZ Alkmaar fans during a game between West Ham and the Dutch side on May 18, 2023.
Knollsy, a father of four, was 58 at the time of the occurrence.
After stepping in to prevent home supporters, some of whom were wearing balaclavas, from accessing the West Ham area of the stadium, the electrician, who had recently undergone a hip replacement, sustained a battered face.
Knollsy, from West London, told the MailOnline about what transpired at the game: “I just did what I had to do.”
“I don’t like bullies and had to stop them. I thought the best form of defence would be get to the top of the stairs and attack. I knew they were swinging punches and I just did my best to stand there and take it.”
Pictures posted online after the match showed Knollsy with a torn t-shirt in the stands.
What happened at West Ham vs AZ Alkmaar?
AZ Alkmaar fans were enraged after West Ham won 1-0 in the Europa Conference League.
David Moyes’ team advanced to the final 3-1 on aggregate thanks to Pablo Fornals’ 94th-minute score.Following the Hammers’ victory, AZ Alkmaar fans attacked a group of West Ham players’ family, friends, and coaching staff seated behind the dugout.
Several West Ham players went to their aid, including sports director Mark Noble.
Manager Moyes’ elderly father was among those seated in the area assaulted by the crowd.
Moyes said: “I can’t explain what happened and why it happened. The players were involved because it was the family section. That was probably the reason for the reaction.
Pascal Jansen, the Alkmaar manager who was born in London, said he was “ashamed” of the scenes.
Before the game, there had already been incidents between West Ham and AZ fans.
A local news station described a “grim atmosphere” earlier in the evening as football supporters in hoodies triggered confrontations on the streets of Alkmaar.
