West Ham legend Alvin Martin says the pride he felt at his son David’s dream debut for the club eclipsed anything he experienced during his illustrious career.
Alvin was at Stamford Bridge on Saturday to see David help West Ham secure a 1-0 win against Chelsea on a fairytale first Premier League start at the age of 33.
A former England international who played 596 times for West Ham, Alvin won the FA Cup with the Hammers in 1980 and is one of the best centre-backs in their history. But he says watching his son topped the highs he had as a player.
“I played sport at the highest level and the highs that you get are unbelievable, but they are way down the pecking order when something like this happens with your child,” said Alvin.
“It is an incredible feeling as a parent, you have seen him go through ups and down. About a year ago he made the biggest mistake of his career [playing for Millwall] and they were four of the hardest days I have ever had as a parent.
"To go from that, to the other side of the spectrum, and to enjoy something so wonderful, it is incredible.”
David, a boyhood West Ham fan, shared a tearful embrace with his dad at Stamford Bridge and has become a cult hero among supporters.
He will keep his place in the team when they travel to Wolves tomorrow. “The West Ham fans who were at Stamford Bridge were brilliant to my son and it meant a lot to me,” Alvin told Talksport. “When you hear people singing your name in a loving way it is inspiring.
“I thank them from the bottom of my heart. The thing that struck me was how much it meant to him.”
