West Ham fan ‘Knollsy’ speaks out after earning praise for fighting off Alkmaar hooligans who tried to attack families in the stands.
The brave supporter, who fought violent Dutch ultras on Thursday night after they attempted to attack the wives and relations of players said, “I’m no hero.”
Chris Knoll, 58, stepped in when violence broke out after the game against AZ Alkmaar. He also revealed that he’s still recovering from his recent hip replacement surgery.
His actions did stop a large group of the thugs seen wearing balaclavas making their way up the steps. The players were so worried by the violence that they stopped celebrating and ran to help.
Chris spoke to MailOnline: ‘I’m not a hero. I just did what I had to do. There was another guy who was fending them off. I don’t like bullies and just had to try and stop them.
‘I just thought the best form of defence was to attack. You could see they were intent of causing trouble and I did not want them to get to those behind us.’
Chris said: ‘We were in our seats and we just scored and I saw all the flares go off. It was getting a little bit rowdy.
‘I saw them all congregated on the side of the pitch and then they broke down the barriers and headed to the first group of West Ham fans. I know what they were intent on doing and was not going to let it happen.
‘It was fairly obvious what was going to happen because they were intent on coming to us. They were the ultras, you could see that from what they were wearing. I just decided I wasn’t going to let them come up.
‘I just thought the best form of defence would be to get to the top of the stairs where they were coming up and just stood there and tried to stop them. I know they were swinging punches and I just did my best to stand there and take it.’
New video shows brave West Ham fans fend off Alkmaar ultras trying to attack players’ families
He said: ‘If you’ve seen the pictures, there’s about five or six guys in front of me and I’m sort of trying to fend them off.
‘Somehow, I don’t know how, two got behind me, right. And as I’m dealing with the other guys, there’s one guy who’s just constantly bagging me in the side of the head. That’s what caused the bruised eye. Its not too bad, but I might go to hospital to get it checked out.’
‘She knows what I am like, and I don’t like bullies. My kids are the same, they will always stand up and be counted,’ he said.
‘I’ve been a season ticket holder for about five years and always go to the home games. I can’t go to the away games as it takes over your life, and I’m not sure the wife would be too happy as I’ve got work as well.
‘Apart from what happened at the end it was a fantastic night, and so pleased we are in the final.’
Chris claimed that he had beaten off four of the thugs, but two of them landed multiple blows to his face. His left eye remains badly bruised, and there are red marks on his side.
Chris said he hasn’t been able to get tickets for the final in two weeks time.
He said: ‘If I can get a ticket and a couple for the two who were with me in Amsterdam I will be there to cheer on the Hammers.
‘I’d love to be at the final. Hopefully it will be trouble free and we can just enjoy and fantastic match.’
Alphonse Areola, the goalkeeper for West Ham, called Knoll a “legend”, while his wife Marrion said he was ‘the night’s biggest hero’.
David Moyes said that his 87-year old father was also in the stand where trouble kicked off.
Chris Knoll, the 58 year life long #Hammer who defended @WestHam players’ families from so called ‘Ultra’ idiots last night immortalised by @CanningTownLen Best fans for the best club #WHUFC #COYI #WestHamUnited pic.twitter.com/CYD1wxLTMU
— Dawn Neesom (@DawnNeesom) May 19, 2023
Here’s how Twitter users reacted as West Ham fan ‘Knollsy’ speaks out after receiving praise for fighting off Alkmaar hooligans…
@ChicagoHammers: How can we buy him a beer?
@lewyitfc: Respect to him… proper old school… first thought wasn’t to get a phone out and film it… it was look after his own! Agree, sort him out with a ticket.
@ilsongal71: Well done mate Forest fan here ,If we stay up and get to play you next season there’s a pint waiting for you in Nottingham 👍
@PeterCLG: Respect for standing in the way of the upcoming punches and kicks and stopping any harm comigtto the more vulnerable. As we Leeds fans say MARCHING ON TOGETHER!
@BigginsWayne: Blimey. That bloke, and his mate, deserve more than a ticket to the final. I want to see the pair of them going up the steps with the West Ham players to lift the trophy.
@itspels: True diamond geezer. Fanbase, club and fans around the country need to make sure no ban whatsoever is placed upon him. Stepped up and protected people when a clubs security and country’s police force shied away from a situation that was cowardly from the AZ fans. Top top bloke!
@martin_burney: Massive respect to knollsy… to those filming it and just watching….this is how you do it… proper old skool… well done that man 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫧⚒🫧
@craigforrest1: I don’t condone violence but in this case it was necessary! Protecting the West Ham #WHUFC family section. These cowards would need an army to take down Knollsy. These lads clearly don’t know what the East end is all about. Fack around and found out. #COYI @footy_prime
@Dan_EIO: I am sure he won’t be without Final tickets for long – in fact, he will prob get in the squad and a cameo towards the end too if he wants it. Legend ⚒
@CatoAnthony: I’m sure the players will sort him out after what he done what a legend
@AL_UK_1: #Knollsy what a man. Protecting folk from idiots
@Bribam3: Should get a life time free season ticket home and away, much respect from nufc
@JoshuaT61414968: Someone’s got to sort him out surely
@WestHamUSA: I’m not a violent guy at all, but you’ve got to protect your own when they’re attacked. What a legend.
@Champblueboy: Legends, give both a seat on the plane, travel with the players, full hospitality, VIP directors box, overnight hotel, a signed shirt and full expenses paid 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 @_DeclanRice @jasoncundy05 COYI
@JohnVella68: As others have said, let’s hope that he, and the others who stepped up to protect their fellow fans, are recognised and rewarded by the club for their bravery. A complimentary season ticket is the very least they deserve.
@HenryG773: Don’t know the fella but well done to him, ..Tony Gale described on Talksport today how grateful he was for his intervention, as were many more no doubt ⚒️
@DunilB: Well done Knollsy – a hero and a gentleman. I hope your team go onto win the final.
@littlewood88: Get a crowd fund together and I reckon the footballing world will club together to pay for both of those men to get to the final. Fair played to them
@Chris_Mills_: Well done there. Absolute legend, look at the number of cowards he is up against ⚒️⚒️⚒️
@alanbs37: Amazing this, fair play to him and any others who helped. I’m a Liverpool fan, but completely appreciate what he did. Good luck in the final hammers.
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