Marvellous: a legend returns

  • by Staff Writer
  • Monday, 19th January 2015

West Ham fans of a certain age may recall a popular programme seller once colloquially known as 'Quasi'.

The life-long Hammers fan, who generally goes by his real name of Jeff O'Brien was a regular at both home and away matches - and on the supporters' travel club coaches - during the 1970s and 1980s.

He also sold match day programmes from a cabin at the rear of the old South Bank (today's Bobby Moore Lower) where his refrain of "programmes!" was a familiar sound to any season ticket holders at that end of the ground.

A distinctive figure in his trademark black leather jacket, rumours began to circulate around five years ago that Jeff had passed away - rumours that grew as a result of his absence from attending matches.

However KUMB was delighted to learn that following recent illness, Jeff is still alive and kicking - and once again selling programmes for the club on match days!

Although his appearance has greatly changed - the long, dark hair has mostly disappeared, for example - he still wears a black leather jacket (possibly even the same one) and has been spotted in the Bobby Moore Upper and at a recent Under 21 match.

KUMB member Oldun, who also travelled to away games during the 60s, 70s and 80s on the club's coaches - recalled: "Jeff would be about 60 now. I used to travel on the supporters club coach regularly with him in the late '60s, early '70s.

"Me and the other young lads on there used to look out for him and couple of other vulnerable people that used to travel away on the coach in those days. They were good days."

* Do you know Jeff? Please let us know where we can get in touch with him.


Jeff pictured back in the early 1980s helping the players off the coach



Memories of 'Quasi'
Posted by KUMB members on the KUMB Forum

"There are a few iconic times at West Ham that you can regail in the pub to give credibility to your longevity with the club, i.e. watching Bobby Moore pick up and blow the ref's whistle, seeing Frank Snr running round the corner flag, being in the Holte End at Aston Villa for Johnny Lyall's 'claret 'n' blue army' or being in the North Bank when the ball got kicked into the Chicken Run Upper and hit Quasi on the hand. We laughed all through the second half as every time we looked at him he was shaking his hand telling his colleague how much it hurt. It sounds very trivial now, but you just had to be there..."
- Nels

"My last memory was him giving digits to someone in the North Bank and then promptly tripping up on the netting behind the goal and falling flat on his face. He used to go to all the away games. I remember Bonzo talking to him at a pre season at Brentford like he was family before the game."
- TW2 Hammer

"I had the misfortune of seeing Jeff do an impromptu striptease on the way back from an away game back in the '70s. It was a sight for sore eyes; those pants and vest will haunt me the rest of my days."
- Pot Upnorth

"I remember one hot night when most in the Chicken Run were pissed and Quasi earnt a Police escort past us all. Happy days."
- Hugh Jargon II

"Jeff was selling programmes in the BMU before the Everton game. I said hello, shook his hand and he proceeded to give me some sort of funny Masonic handshake that went on for ages. I was genuinely pleased to see him back. For that 30 seconds it felt like I had gone back in time 30 years."
- A13 Reject

* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.



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