West Ham fan Chris Knoll, nicknamed ‘Knollsy’, has become a hero among the club’s supporters after videos emerged of him fending off Dutch ultras during the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar. Hordes of hooligans attempted to break into the away end where families were situated, but Knollsy, along with many others, managed to hold them off, protecting players’ families as well as fans. A new video has surfaced of West Ham fans singing his name outside The Carpenter’s Arms, a pub just around the corner from the London Stadium. Sporting a black eye, the fan looked emotional as chants of “Knollsy is massive everywhere we go” rang around the pub. On Sunday, he was greeted with a standing ovation before he found his seat inside the London Stadium as the Hammers took on Leeds.
