West Ham’s ‘Angel of Alkmaar’, identified as Knollsy, arrived in Prague tonight and fought back again tears as supporters clamoured to thank him the moment yet again.
Chris Knoll, 58, became an global feeling last thirty day period right after he fought off thugs who experienced intended to attack West Ham supporters, which include the wives and girlfriends of the staff at AK Alkmaar.
He arrived in Prague now to cheers just after he was given tickets to tomorrow night’s Europa conference league remaining towards Italian aspect Fiorentina soon after MailOnline contacted West Ham United executives.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the Television production employee from Hampton, Middlesex, discovered he had rejected the celeb life style of Television, interviews and publications to go back again to remaining ‘an everyday soccer supporter’.
But he additional smiling: ‘I hope you can find no difficulties right here, simply because I might have to do it all once more.’
West Ham’s ‘Angel of Alkmaar’ Chris Knoll, also known as Knollsy, arrived in Prague currently to a great deal clamour from his fellow West Ham lovers
As the father of 4 disembarked from a coach at Prague’s key railway station, he said: ‘I am basically below, and it feels incredible.
‘I just acquired mobbed by West Ham followers as I arrived off the practice, and that suggests more to me than everything. I have to say it yet again, but I only did what would’ve been expected.
‘There have been women of all ages and youngsters and they could’ve been attacked. I acted instinctively, whilst I experienced a emotion there was something lousy in the air in advance of.’
A online video confirmed ecstatic supporters cheering and singing as they fulfilled their hero in Prague, who beforehand admitted he ‘nearly cried’ when he was granted a ticket to the ultimate.
He included: ‘I want West Ham to earn the cup, the admirers to have a wonderful time and it for it all to be peaceful and for us to take the trophy household tomorrow evening.
‘I have been a West Ham supporter, all my everyday living, and I applied to be attacked mostly by Chelsea admirers when I was eight or 9 years aged. So I know how poor soccer hooliganism can be and I really don’t condone it at all.
‘Our place is identified as Fantastic Britain due to the fact it is excellent.’
He wiped a tear absent from his cheek as he added: ‘I get emotional when I think of followers staying attacked for adhering to the golf equipment that they love, specially folks of color.
The West Ham enthusiast held off AZ Alkmaar ultras as they attempted to flood into the loved ones stand final thirty day period
He was later on noticed sporting a big black eye after his heroic acts, for which he has come to be an right away legend
Knollsy has been provided tickets for tomorrow night’s Europa Convention League last
‘Football need to be for everybody and is.
‘I am not a hero or gladiator as I have been named. I am somebody who just enjoys football and West Ham United.’
He arrived with his son-in-regulation Freddie who was also with him on the night time of the supposed attacks in Holland last thirty day period.
Knollsy sported a big black eye pursuing his viral movie from the battle, which saw him put himself in harm’s way to shield other folks soon after West Ham’s victory more than AZ Alkmaar.
He refused to make it possible for hooded thugs to get to the seating space where the players’ associates and children have been seated as he single-handedly fought off Dutch ultras.
He been given huge plaudits on social media when it was uncovered he experienced not too long ago gone through a hip replacement but continue to rose to the protection of his fellow supporters.
Observing the combat, West Ham gamers Michail Antonio and Flynn Downes leapt more than the hoardings and built a beeline for the stands, followed closely by teammates Lucas Paqueta and Stated Benrahma.
Stability groups eventually managed to drive their way in and independent the crowds when other guards jumped in to hold again the furious footballers.
A online video showed ecstatic admirers cheering and singing as they achieved their hero in Prague, who previously admitted he ‘nearly cried’ when he was granted a ticket to the ultimate
The moment the circumstance was less than manage, David Moyes’ side toasted their 3-1 mixture win – sealed by Pablo Fornals’ damage-time winner – which fired West Ham into future month’s Europa Conference League ultimate.
Knollsy added: ‘I am so delighted that one thing excellent has appear out of a unfavorable.
‘Hopefully tomorrow will be a day that I’m hardly ever heading to neglect for the reason that I was at the 1980 FA Cup ultimate, and I keep in mind that way too till my dying day.
‘As regards to Holland, you do what you have to do when you have to do it. I did what any one else will do. And I feel the 99 for every cent of West Ham admirers would’ve reacted the identical.
‘I am 58 yrs outdated now, and I’m getting a little bit outdated for that kind of things.’
Times soon after battling off the supporters Knollsy was presented a standing ovation as he attended West Ham’s 3-1 victory around Leeds.
A movie later went viral in which he looked psychological as scores of admirers chanted ‘Knollsy is enormous just about everywhere we go’ outside the Carpenters Arms pub – a short walk from the London Stadium.
Followers have absent crazy for the super lover considering that the incident, as he has even been supplied his individual WWE-model motion determine.
West Ham enthusiast Knollsy appeared psychological as supporters chanted his name outdoors the Carpenters Arms pub following heroically battling off Dutch ultras
Knollsy has experienced his individual WWE-model action figure intended soon after he heroically fought off Dutch ultras who had been seeking to achieve locations the place loved ones associates of West Ham gamers were being sat
It has absent up for sale on eBay – but will never occur low-cost as bidding attained a whopping £370.
One West Ham supporter who witnessed the scrap beforehand posted a heartfelt concept of thanks and support to Knollsy.
They wrote: ‘A little bit of context: we have been sitting down driving Thilo Kerher’s girlfriend. Knollsy was apprehensive about her and walked to the best of the stairwell, fending off the storming Alkmaar followers. He’s a lovely bloke and did what he felt was right at the time. He stopped people followers.’
The concept gained a stream of support from other social media buyers who applauded Knollsy’s steps.
Right after the game, supervisor David Moyes reported: ‘I are unable to demonstrate what happened and why it took place.
‘Players have been involved due to the fact it was the family section… that was probably the motive for the reaction.
‘I never want that in anyway to blight the night mainly because the West Ham followers weren’t looking for problems. Ideally they are going to (UEFA) look into it.
‘My household were being there and I had mates in that section. You might be hoping they would check out and get on their own absent from it… I didn’t recognise it mainly because I was much too joyful.
He was specified a standing ovation for assisting to defend the people of the club’s gamers following the match towards AZ Alkmaar
West Ham are established to deal with Fiorentina in the Europa Convention League remaining in Prague on June 7
‘Security desired to take me inside of but I had to make positive my gamers were not concerned.’
Just one amazed social media user likened Knollsy’s feat to the Fight of Stamford Bridge – exactly where a famous Norse axeman held off an whole Saxon army, killing 40, as he blocked a slender bridge in 1066.
He explained: ‘Buy that man a beer. It is really like a scene from the Battle of Stamford Bridge – 1 dude holding again the horde.’
Other folks compared him to the character Hodor from Activity of Thrones and the Spartans in the film 300, where the famed warriors stopped an invading military 100 instances their dimension.