 West Ham have strong rivalries with several other clubs . Most of these are with other London clubs , especially with Tottenham Hotspur in an East versus North London derby and with Chelsea in an East versus West London rivalry . The rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham has been fuelled by players such as Michael Carrick , Martin Peters , Paul Allen , Jermain Defoe and Scott Parker leaving the Hammers to join Tottenham . The rivalry deepened with the appointment of former Hammers manager Harry Redknapp as Tottenham 's manager . Since the 2006 – 07 Premier League season , West Ham have developed a strong rivalry with Yorkshire club Sheffield United due to the dubious circumstances surrounding the transfer of Carlos Tevez , who helped West Ham avoid relegation at Sheffield United 's expense . 
