WHUFC.com
Supporters thinking of travelling to watch the club play in China next month
will be able to buy tickets soon
19.06.2009
The Premier League have issued an update regarding ticketing for the 2009
Barclays Asia Trophy to be played in Beijing between 29-31 July.
West Ham United are one of three English clubs taking part along with Hull
City and Tottenham Hotspur. Local side Beijing Guoan make up the quartet
involved in the prestigious pre-season tournament. with full fixture
information available by clicking here.
The Premier League said: "Ticketing for the Barclays Asia Trophy is close to
being finalised and pricing and purchase details are expected to be
confirmed before the end of June. We are aware that a number of websites are
offering tickets already but fans should know that these sites are
unofficial and that tickets have not yet gone on sale either in the UK or
China."
--------------------------
West Ham United Barclays Asia Trophy Travel Packages:
We are delighted to be able to offer West Ham United fans the opportunity to
see the club in action during the prestigious Barclays Asia Trophy this
Summer in Beijing:
We are providing West Ham fans a personalised travel service to enable you
to enjoy your trip to China no matter what your budget:
Sample packages
27th July- 2nd August 2009
Return flights from Heathrow to Beijing (via Amsterdam) with KLM
6 nights at the 3* Perfect Inn
Airport- Hotel- Airport Transfers
from £695 per person
27th July- 2nd August 2009
Return flights from Heathrow to Beijing (via Amsterdam) with KLM
6 nights at the 5* Doubletree by Hilton, deluxe room
Airport- Hotel- Airport Transfers
from £769 per person
For more information, to make a booking or for a personalised quote please
contact a member of our specialist team on:
Telephone: 01926 332 223
Email: leisure@tmguk.com
Details regarding match tickets and their pricing will be released shortly,
the above prices do not include your match tickets.
TMG Sport has worked in partnership with The Premier League for their three
previous pre-season tournaments:
The Asia Cup, Kuala Lumpur 2003
The Asia Trophy, Bangkok 2005
Barclays Asia Trophy, Hong Kong 2007
The tournaments saw TMG Sport manage the travel logistics for Birmingham
City, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City,
Fulham, Liverpool and Portsmouth as they competed in the respective
tournaments.
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Swede dreams for Noble
WHUFC.com
Mark Noble played an integral role as England Under-21s booked their place
in the UEFA Euro semi-finals
9.06.2009
Mark Noble has headed into the weekend on a high after leading England into
the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship semi-finals in Sweden.
The West Ham United midfielder will be able to switch off a little after
playing a key role in the victories against Finland and Spain that ensured
the Young Lions a place in the last four even before Monday night's final
Group B game against Germany in Halmstad. As such, Noble may be rested for
that fixture and could have more than a week to fully focus on next Friday's
semi-finals, and the increased hopes of lifting the trophy come the final on
29 June.
Noble, who has been spending his spare time writing a blog for theFA.com and
is enjoying plenty of golf and bike-riding with his team-mates, was one of a
number of Young Lions who caught the eye for Stuart Pearce's side as they
saw off Spain with a 2-0 win on Thursday night.
The Iberian nation had gone into the tournament as favourites but England
were in no way overawed as second-half goals from Frazier Campbell and James
Milner put them to the sword in Gothenburg.
"I thought we thoroughly deserved it," said Noble, who is aiming to go one
better with the U21s after losing in the semi-finals of the 2007 edition.
"Spain knocked it about well but that's the way they're brought up and we
always knew they were going to do that.
"But we played really well as a team, broke out and scored a couple of goals
and that's what we needed to do to book a place in the semi-final. No one
can take that away from us and we're over the moon."
While Spain are left to battle it out with Germany for the other
qualification place, England can start to size up their potential opponents
in the semi-finals with Sweden, Italy, Serbia and Belarus all playing their
second group games on Friday evening. For now, though, the England No10 said
all in the squad are looking only to the final group game against Germany on
Monday.
"We're taking one game as it comes, done a bit on Finland, done a bit on
Spain and now we play Germany in the last group game. Our aim was to come
here and win our first two games as we thought that would be enough to earn
us a semi-final place and that's where every team wants to be."
A win or a draw on Monday will confirm top spot but with progression
secured, any reshuffling by Pearce could mean a second appearance of the
tournament for Noble's club team-mate James Tomkins. The 20-year-old
impressed in a late cameo role in the 2-1 success against the Finns last
Monday and would relish the chance of a first competitive start for his
country at this level.
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Hammering out racism
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will be supporting Kick It Out's One Game One Community
initiative again
19.06.2009
West Ham United will be backing the 2009/10 One Game One Community week of
action organised by Kick It Out as part of the continuing fight against
racism and prejudice.
This year's campaign is due to take place between 15-17 October 2009. The
club has provisionally earmarked the home match with Arsenal on Saturday 24
October as the focal point of our initiatives.
With the other 91 professional clubs in England and Wales taking part, the
weeks have a strong community focus and play a role in celebrating diversity
and inclusion across all other areas of the game.
Grassroots clubs, schools, community groups and fans join the professional
game in coming together in symbolic activities and initiatives, which
resulted in over 1,000 events taking place last year.
West Ham United striker Carlton Cole played a significant part in leading
the club's efforts in the 2008/09 season. He said: "If you can get positive
words and messages out to people on a regular basis, then it may go a long
way to making racial abuse of any kind a thing of the past.
"We need people working together, communicating and pulling in the same
direction, like we try to do as a team on the pitch. The aim is to get the
message across that any form of prejudice is not accepted in football."
Kick It Out is looking for West Ham United fans to take part this October
and there are many ways that you could get involved in this year's weeks of
action; you could host an event, run a competition or arrange a football
tournament. Kick It Out may also be able to help with part funding your
event through the One Game One Community Development Grants.
Kick It Out offers a wide range of resources to support activities taking
place, including T-shirts, sweatbands, key rings and badges as well as flags
and banners which will help to link your event with football's most
established equality and inclusion campaign.
Visit kickitout.org to view the full range of resources and to find out more
about the One Game One Community Development Grants.
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All change on the pitch
WHUFC.com
Work has already begun on getting the Boleyn Ground pitch ready for the
first home game of the season
19.06.2009
With the players away and all of the summer pitch events at the Boleyn
Ground completed, the West Ham United groundstaff have been hard at work
this week preparing the playing surface for the first home game of the
2009/10 season.
Head groundsman Dougie Robertson and his team have joined forces with a
specialist company to get the annual reseeding underway. After working
12-hour shifts for the past four days, Dougie is pleased with how the
operation has gone so far.
"We raked all of the existing cover over, taking it back to clean sand. Then
we relevelled, added more sand and reseeded."
Such is the speed of the operation, the groundstaff and hope to give the
fledging pitch its first cut in just ten days time.
"We have been seeding and fertilising so the contractors were finished on
Thursday night when we took over. We will be continuing to water it right
through and hopefully we'll be cutting the pitch in ten days' time. As the
seeds starts to chit, you roll it and that increases the growth.
"The pitch will be perfect in time for the first home game."
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Masters time again
WHUFC.com
Kenny Brown and Rufus Brevett will be among those pulling on the claret and
blue on Saturday
19.06.2009
The London Masters event is back and Hammers fans can once again go along to
show their support after last year's triumph.
A team of West Ham United veterans will be out to defend their crown at
Wembley Arena on Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea,
Fulham and Queen's Park Rangers. Although the full lineup is yet to be
confirmed, the squad is set to include Kenny Brown and Rufus Brevett again
along with the likes of Steve Lomas, Ian Pearce and Michael Hughes.
Last year, West Ham progressed to the Grand Masters Final after winning the
London event only to be knocked out in the first round. Doors for this
year's capital contest open at 6.30pm with kick-off from 8pm
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Memorial date set
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
A memorial to the 13th (Service) Battalion of the Essex Regiment is to be
unveiled at the Boleyn Ground later this year. The regiment - who were more
commonly known as 'The Hammers', or 'The West Ham Pals' - consisted mainly
of West Ham United supporters and Thames Ironworks employees. Formed in
December 1914 shortly after the onset of war many of its men were killed in
action on the Western Front during the ensuing campaign. Despite rumours
that an original memorial to the men may have been destroyed by the Blitz
during the Second World War, it is unclear whether one was ever actually
commisioned. However some 90 years after the First World War ended that is
all finally set to change thanks to the efforts of a website dedicated to
the memory of those who fought in the 13th Battalion.
http://westhampals.blogspot.com/ is a blog dedicated to the battalion and is
packed with information including (often harrowing) first hand accounts from
those involved in the fighting. With the assistance of West Ham United FC,
they have arranged for the memorial to be placed at the Boleyn Ground, where
it will be unveiled ahead of the home game with Everton on 7th November.
Despite having initially earmarked a spot in Castle Street, the club later
insisted that the memorial take pride of place by the Boleyn's main
reception area, where it will be seen by more visitors to the club.
The blog's owners have commisioned local family funeral directors H L Hawes
& Son to produce the memorial. To discover more about the regiment, make
sure you've got a good hour to spare and head off to
westhampals.blogspot.com.
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LBM seeks Portugal return
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
Luis Boa Morte has revealed that he wants to end his playing career in
Portugal. The winger, who has one year of his four year contract at West Ham
remaining insisted that he wants to stay in London in order to see out the
final year of his contract - but intends returning home thereafter. "I
thought I should stay [at West Ham] and fight for my place," Boa Morte told
Desporto. "But I still intend to play abroad. "I have one more year at West
Ham and then two more after that. Where I play those two years, assuming all
goes well, we will see. "But I intend to finish in Portugal. I would love to
play at least one year at Belenenses; I also like Setubal and Guimaraes."
The Portuguese midfielder has enjoyed something of a renaissance in recent
months with an excellent second half to the 2008/09 season. However with
Gianfranco Zola pursuing Inter midfielders Jimenez and Mancini it seems that
a reserve spot is the best Boa Morte can hope for at the Boleyn next season.
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Boa Morte up for Hammers fight
Portuguese winger keen to silence critics
By Chris Burton Last updated: 19th June 2009
SSN
Luis Boa Morte has revealed his intention to remain at West Ham and push for
a starting berth. The Portugal international endured a difficult 2008/09
campaign with the Hammers as he struggled for consistency. Certain sections
of the Upton Park support publicly lambasted his below-par performances and
he was tipped to move on this summer. However, with one year still remaining
on his current contract at West Ham, Boa Morte is determined to silence his
critics and prove his worth. "I thought I should stay and fight for my
place," he told Desporto. "I still intend to play three more years abroad.
"I have one more year at West Ham and then two more after that. Where I play
those two years, assuming all goes well, we will see." While keen to remain
on foreign soil for the foreseeable future, Boa Morte has admitted than he
would welcome the opportunity to end his career in his homeland. "I intend
to finish in Portugal," he added. "I would love to play at least one year at
Belenenses. I also like Setubal and Guimaraes."
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Zola hopeful over Jimenez
Spurs also reported to be in race for Chilean midfielder
Last updated: 19th June 2009
SSN
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has stated his intent to sign midfielder
Luis Jimenez from Inter Milan. The 25-year-old Chilean is highly sought
after, with Tottenham also rumoured to be in the race for his signature. The
Hammers manager could possibly complete a double signing from the Serie A
champions, with Brazilian Mancini also on Zola's radar. Although the Italian
is wary that the move may be hindered by work permit problems, he is still
hopeful of bringing Jimenez to Upton Park. "Let's hope (we can sign
Jimenez). He is one of those lads who play the way I like. It's not easy to
sign non-EU players in England but I think these problems can be solved,"
Zola told La Gazzetta dello Sport. Jimenez, who has been capped 20 times for
Chile, struggled for first team football under Inter boss Jose Mourinho
during last season's title-winning campaign. He was captured by the Italian
giants last summer after impressing during his loan spell at Giuseppe Meazza
the previous season.
Zola has also not given up on securing a loan deal for Italy Under-21
striker Mario Balotelli. The 18-year-old is another player who has failed to
force his way into Mourinho's first-team plans. Balotelli is one of West
Ham's top summer targets but Zola says a potential deal has been scuppered
by his current club. "I have done everything I can to sign Mario and it
would be both in our interests and his," he added. "There is no place for
him at Inter and he is a natural talent. He is very extroverted and he knows
his attitude sometimes upsets people, but he is intelligent and is still
learning to handle situations. "He is bold and brazen and that's an
attribute."
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West Ham confirm Jimenez interest
Friday, 19 June 2009
Independent.co.uk
West Ham coach Gianfranco Zola is hopeful they can wrap up the transfer of
Inter Milan midfielder Luis Jimenez in the near future. The Chilean winger
is set to join the Hammers on a one-year loan deal with the option to make
the transfer permanent. When asked about Jimenez, Zola told Gazzetta dello
Sport: "I hope it is completed soon. He is one of those lads who plays the
kind of football I like. "In England it's not easy to sign non-European
players but I think these problems can be solved." Jimenez has reportedly
been granted a work permit for a switch to Upton Park, despite not playing
the required number of matches in the last two years in Europe. The South
American was limited to only two Serie A starts last season, as injury
prevented him from forcing his way into Jose Mourinho's squad. The
25-year-old joined Inter in the summer of 2007 on loan from Ternana.
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West Ham boss Zola desperate to hammer out deals for Inter duo Balotelli and
Jimenez
Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 5:15 PM on 19th June 2009
Gianfranco Zola has urged out of favour Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli
to quit the San Siro and join West Ham this summer. The gifted Italian
under-21 international has two years left to run on his contract with the
Serie A champions but looks set to be forced out by frustrated boss Jose
Mourinho and Zola is keen to beat the long queue of interested suitors to
the striker's services. The former Chelsea manager has lost all patience
with the promising 18-year-old, having repeatedly expressed his displeasure
over his lazy attitude in training which resulted in the pacey attacker's
exclusion from his first team in January. In demand: Zola is desperate to
secure the signature of out of favour Inter striker Mario Balotelli before
facing serious competition for the promising teenager But that has not
deterred Zola who is actively looking to add more firepower to his squad for
the forthcoming campaign owed to the uncertainty surrounding injury prone
Dean Ashton's long-term fitness. 'I have done everything I can to sign Mario
and it would be in both our interests and his,' he told Italian daily
Gazzetta dello Sport. 'There is no place for him at Inter and he is a
natural talent. 'He is very extroverted and he knows his attitude sometimes
upsets people, but he is intelligent and is still learning to handle
situations. 'He is bold and brazen and that's an attribute.'
Zola remains hopeful that the Hammers can soon wrap up the transfer of
another Inter target, midfielder Luis Jimenez. The Chilean winger is set to
join the Hammers on a one-year loan deal with the option to make the
transfer permanent. 'I hope it is completed soon,' Zola added. 'He is one
of those lads who plays the kind of football I like.
'In England it's not easy to sign non-European players but I think these
problems can be solved.' Jimenez has reportedly been granted a work permit
for a switch to Upton Park, despite not playing the required number of
matches in the last two years in Europe. The 25-year-old, who joined Inter
in the summer of 2007 on loan from Ternana, was limited to only two Serie A
starts last season, as injury prevented him from forcing his way into
Mourinho's squad. It is also understood that the Barclays Premier League
outfit are discussing terms to sign a third Inter star, 28-year-old
Brazilian
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Hammers targets help Italy see off hosts
by setanta.com staff , 19 June 2009
setanta.co.uk
Inter's Mario Balotelli scored but was later sent off in Italy Under-21s'
2-1 victory over their Sweden counterparts. Balotelli, a target for former
Under-21 coach Gianfranco Zola at West Ham, put the Italians ahead in the
23rd minute but was dismissed for violent conduct only a quarter of an hour
later. Another player linked with a move to Upton Park, Robert Acquafresca,
doubled his side's lead just after half time before Ola Tolvonen pulled one
back for the hosts at the death. Italy clung on to claim three points that
see them replace Sweden at the top of Group A of the European Championships.
In the late game in Group A, Belarus picked up their first point of the
tournament with a 1-1 draw against Serbia.
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Hammers out to bag Balotelli By Darren Lewis 20/06/2009
The Mirror
Football Spy
Gianfranco Zola is set to raid Inter Milan for highly-rated striker Mario
Balotelli. Mirror Sport revealed in April that Zola is desperate to land the
frontman (above), who yesterday scored then was sent off in Italy's match
with Sweden in the European Under-21 Championship. The Upton Park chief has
now confirmed he is trying to secure a loan deal for the 18year-old, who has
grown impatient as Inter boss Jose Mourinho has relied on experience. Zola
confirmed: "I have done everything I can to sign Mario and it would be in
both our interests and his." The Hammers boss also confirmed another Mirror
Sport exclusive when he admitted he is trying to bag Balotelli's Inter
team-mate Luis Jiminez. The deal for the Chilean striker would also be a
loan move.
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I'm taking Physio on my hols
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
SCOTT PARKER took his factor 30 sun cream, swimming trunks, a good book and
a West Ham physio on holiday with him this summer. The midfielder is still
undergoing rehab on a groin injury which wrecked his run-in. Parker missed
the last eight games of the campaign as the East London club's bid for
seventh in the Premier League faded in the last weeks. Boss Gianfranco Zola
is determined Hammer-of-the-Year Parker should regain full fitness and his
influence as a tough-tackling ace. So the Italian came up with the novel
idea of packing one of his medical staff off with Parker and fellow crock
Valon Behrami on their close-season holidays. West Ham's push for the Europa
League faltered under a late wave of injuries to first-teamers such as
striker Carlton Cole and winger Behrami. Behrami is back at home but working
towards a return for the first game of the season at newly-promoted Wolves
after damaging knee ligaments on March 1. The Swiss ace, 24, said: "I have
to thank West Ham for saying I could go home and someone would come to work
with me. "They are a good club and this proves it. Things are going well and
I'll be back in mid-August."
Zola is anxious for West Ham to keep their sick-list as short as possible
but equally he prefers to operate with a relatively small squad of around 21
senior players. That means injuries have an even bigger impact than at rival
Premier League clubs but a recent overhaul of the medical department and
plans to move to a new training ground are designed to cut down the injury
toll. Parker, 28, is back from holiday and due to report back for pre-season
training early next month.
Boss Zola is in Sardinia but is still working hard in the transfer market.
However, he has received a setback in his pursuit of Inter Milan forward
Mancini. The Brazilian has had his head turned by last-minute offers from
rival European clubs offering Champions League football. Hammers chief
executive Scott Duxbury even flew to Italy to oversee that deal and one for
Inter midfielder Luis Jimenez early this week. He came away convinced the
pair would sign. There are only minor details in the Jimenez deal to sort
out but Duxbury will not know until next week whether Mancini will be
joining him at Upton Park.
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