Craig Dawson - A West Ham cult hero.

Craig Dawson looks set to leave West Ham, after having a deal agreed with Wolves.

Craig Dawson look set to leave West Ham United after the club agreed a deal with Wolverhampton Wanderers for £3.3million. Dawson is a cult hero for West Ham, scoring many important goals and providing great defensive performances.

Firstly, what is a cult hero? “Cult Hero” is defined as ‘A public figure who is loved by a relatively small group’. Craig Dawson was just that. Loved by everyone at West Ham, appreciated by the fans and recognised for everything he did for the club, though rarely acknowledged by fans of other clubs.

Joining in the summer of 2020, the signing of Craig Dawson was initially met with a poor response. He made his West Ham debut on the 29th of December 2020 against Southampton, where many remember him famously kicking Saints striker Che Adams in the head whilst attempting a clearance! Helping the Hammers keep clean sheets in his first 3 games with the club, this “poor signing” was starting to seem like a bargain. In his first season at the club, Dawson only suffered defeat in Claret and Blue 6 times in 24 games over all competitions whilst helping the team win 14 of those 24, and as a result, helping West Ham land a Europa League spot.

“With this group of players and this manager, we go into every game believing we can win” ~ Craig Dawson

Whilst playing European football, Dawson would go on a run of incredible form and started all 6 knockout games for the Hammers in the Europa League. This incredible run of form would earn him the nickname of ‘Ballon D’Awson’, and the fans fell in love. Tenacious tackling, strong in the air, rock solid at the back next to Kurt Zouma and even playing through an injury whilst West Ham had no other centre back options, Craig Dawson earned the status of ‘cult hero’ amongst the fans. Every West Ham fan wants the players to show passion, desire, commitment and persistence, such as the likes of Julian Dicks, James Collins, Christian Dailly; with these players, we felt as if they were one of us. They gave 100% every single time they pulled on the shirt and that is what West Ham fans love and adore. These types of players don’t come around too often but when they do, the fans make sure the player knows it. Craig Dawson has added his name to that list of players and will forever be seen as ‘one of our own’.

A proper West Ham player, Craig Dawson will be missed by everyone.