Huddersfield ace Tom Ince knows he will get stick at West Ham – and it is not his fault
Town star will get boos after his dad, Paul, enraged them way back in 1989
TOM INCE knows what is coming on Monday — plenty of stick because of his old man.
But the Huddersfield winger, 25, reckons the Hammers' move to their new London Stadium means it will be a little quieter than the last time he played in the east of the capital.
Ince believes West Ham may have lost some of the intimidation factor by moving out of Upton Park.
Memories are long in East London and the mention of Paul Ince often brings a scowl, plus a few boos and jibes for his son.
Ince learned the hard way how strong feelings are towards the man Hammers fans used to love, when he was barracked for the whole 90 minutes when playing for Blackpool at Upton Park in October 2011.
It left him wondering why he was the target, then he found out why.
Ince Snr outraged West Ham fans by posing in a Manchester United shirt BEFORE moving to Old Trafford in 1989 — and has not been forgiven.
Those fans will not get the chance to tell him what they think of him as he will be nowhere to be seen at Monday night's clash.
But Ince Jnr said of his previous experience: "I could hear exactly what they were saying but that's what made Upton Park what it was. It was a tight pitch and the fans were on top of you.
"Don't get me wrong, they are fantastic when it comes to supporting their own team and maybe they intimidated other teams.
"I keep getting stick for his actions but I'm proud of the name on my shirt and what he did and achieved.
"If people want to criticise me because of that and because of the fact my old man was a good player, then so be it.
"I probably should say, 'What were you thinking?' more to him but he's quite an intimidating man these days. So I just say, 'I'm getting stick because of you'.
"That's why West Ham were maybe so strong at Upton Park.
"They've had an indifferent time at the London Stadium adjusting to the surroundings and the size of the pitch but they're still a massive club with massive expectation.
"But I watched in pre-season when they had games there and with the running track around the pitch, it looked like a friendly game.
"And, as for opposing teams, if they feel they can go there and be confident they're not in that cauldron-like atmosphere, it's something they have to relish.
"If we can quieten the crowd, that's half the battle."
Ince knows he will still be the target — even though it is not down to him.
And the fact his old man is steering clear will only increase the focus on him.
But the former Derby County and Blackpool star is experienced enough to know that whatever comes his way will prove that he is doing something right.
He added: "Dad's definitely not going, that's for sure — that says it all, really.
"He and I know I'm going to get stick and there's going to be criticism but you have to enjoy it.
"I believe you must be a half-decent player if you're getting stick.
"It's the same as I get at Leeds but it's one of those things you take it on the chin and as a footballer, you block it out.
"People say what they want to say but I'm here to do a job on the pitch."