The train takes the strain as West Ham United fans from Kent head up to watch their side beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the Premier League

While Gillingham may be the county's only Football League team, many football fans in Kent let the train take the strain in a bid to support their Premier League side.

Traditional West Ham-heartland would appear to be heading out into Essex but, as I found out on Saturday, there's plenty of 'Irons' who make the quick trip up to the capital from the Garden of England.

It's only an hour's journey by train from Faversham to Stratford International, a mere 10 minutes if I had joined at Ebbsfleet. So the attraction seems obvious.

Gone are the days of Upton Park - instead West Ham play at the London Stadium these days - a venue best known for hosting the London 2012 Olympic Games. It's walking distance from the train station.

Matchday on Saturday was a 3pm kick-off against Nottingham Forest - only the third time this season the Hammers have been in that traditional timeslot thanks to television demands and European football.

The last time I'd been to these parts was for the Olympics so I wanted time to reacquaint myself with the area - having studied at the University of East London - as well as getting lunch before the game. I aimed to get the 10am train from Faversham.

Initially, the train seemed fairly quiet when I got on. Some carriages were virtually empty. But it soon filled up as the train went through Medway and north Kent before reaching our final destination.

Joe White, 28, had boarded the train at Rainham.

"I've probably been going up for about 15 years but I only got a season ticket when I began working five years ago,” he explained. “So I don't really miss a match now.

"It's so easy to get to. I just get on the train, get to Stratford and it's easy from there, really!"

Another Hammer Dale Lightfoot, 52, who got on