Losing our ID or just sentimental?

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Whilst watching the marvellous victory over Wolves yesterday. Seeing Kudus & Paqueta sitting on the hoardings celebrating. It dawned upon me that West Ham now play in a full claret strip!
When & why did we stop playing with the traditional shirt with white shorts and socks? Got me thinking of how football was in the past. Pre- Premier League & how much better football & probably life was. Standing behind the goal in the old Southbank. Watching the greats. Bonds, Brooking, Devonshire to the teams featuring Bishop, Morley & Quinn. All wearing the Claret & Blue with white shorts and socks. Most teams seem to have lost their ID. Always remember Boro in a red strip with white stripe going across the chest. Birmingham with the Blue shirt & big white band running down the middle. The Sky Blue of Coventry with the Navy & White stripe running down each side of the chest.
Football used to be fun. Saturday afternoons were special. Midweek fixtures under the lights at Upton Park was something else. Stuart Slater ripping Everton apart in the QF of the FA Cup. What a night. Actually felt part of it. Was it because we were so close to the action.
It would be great. Even for just one game we could go back to retro kits. 1 substitute. No VAR. Divisions 1 to 4. Football was so easy then so much fun.

I remember the first influx

I remember the first influx of foreign players mainly South Americans after the 1978 World Cup. Alberto Tarrentini, Villa, Ardiles and all that Tottingham shite!!

Gradually they fell by the wayside, which I liked, as a young kid of 15 growing up. I didn't want foreigners playing and diving around like big girls pants. I agree, players with 1-11 on there shirts and the sub 12. Proper Saturdays with proper hard players.

I think the onset of the Premier League, Sky TV, another influx of foreign players. Plus squad numbers and more subs signalled the end of football as we knew it, unfortunately we have football as a business commodity now. But then again I'm a 60 year old fossil dinosaur!!

aahhhh

great memories lads and David Coleman and Brian Moore and Dickie Davis good times in deed . and Upton park so muddy you couldn't tell who was who

Dont get me started Enfield!

Its a shocker, the claret shorts but not the first time, 2019 we had the same!

Im old school, it must be a claret body with light blue sleeves, white shorts and white socks. And thats because my school was the 60's and the kit worn in 64 and 65. But my grandfather might have said it has to be claret socks as seen in the 20's and particularly the 1923 FA cup final. My son would probably agree, Claret socks as seen in the 90's and my grandson... probably light blue shorts like last season!

Also interesting to note is the colour of the claret in recent years, constantly moving from burgundy to a lighter red. Its not rocket science to have a pantone colour reference... you wouldn't see important Branded goods getting it so wrong!

So, I agree, we are in danger of losing identity.

I've noticed the difference

I've noticed the difference in the claret colour also. Back in the early 70's the claret was almost purple/ maroon. I remember clips of John McDowell. Thats the colour I like with the white shirts and white socks. Classic look in my opinion!!

https://www.mediastorehouse.com/memory-lane-prints/mirror/0200to0299-002...

It's not just the strip though is it.

All very well raving about Kudus and Paqeta but only two British (not even saying English here) players started the game against Wolves and neither of them have any relationship to speak of with the East End of London.
For me, our identity started watering down the day we sold some top players and built the West Stand and sited it well away from the pitch. It was further diluted when Brown sold out and the final nail in the coffin was losing The Boleyn. Even the badge doesn't recognise the East End any more, just a blunt "London". Yeah I actually envy Villa and Burnley for their strip and yes, I still hanker for the old days of West Ham and indeed, football in general. Didn't need Sky, no diving, a mans game and even the refs had a bit of character. Clive Thomas anyone? And as for VAR...............well thats just finished the game.