Daily WHUFC News - 9th September 2012

Maiga shines for Mali
WHUFC.com
Modibo Maiga was the pick of West Ham United's international stars on
Saturday
07.09.2012

Modibo Maiga was on target for Mali on another busy afternoon for West Ham
United's internationals. The Hammers' new No11 scored the third for Mali as
they ran out 3-0 winners in Botswana in a 2013 African Nations Cup first-leg
final-round qualifier. Cheick Diabate's penalty and Mahamadou Ndiaye had
given Mali the lead before Maiga wrapped up the scoring with 20 minutes to
go. Meanwhile, Mohamed Diame (pictured) started for Senegal as they lost
their first-leg to the Ivory Coast 4-2. The match swung from end-to-end but
it was the hosts that eventually ran out winners at the Felix
Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Adibjan, courtesy of goals from Salomon Kalou,
Gervinho, Didier Drogba and Max Gradel. Diame will be looking to overturn
their lead in the secon leg next month.

On Friday, Winston Reid led the way as he helped New Zealand get off to a
winning start in the final stage of the Oceania 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
Shane Smeltz and Chris Wood scored the goals as the All Whites clinched a
2-0 win at New Caledonia. The Stade Numa Daly fixture saw Reid make his 11th
appearance for New Zealand in two years as he continues to be an integral
part of the side. Next up for the All Whites on Tuesday is a
top-of-the-table clash with the Soloman Islands, who also recorded a 2-0 win
against Oceania champions Tahiti.

Elsewhere, Yossi Benayoun was a second-half substitute in Israel's 1-1 draw
with Azerbaijan. The on-loan Chelsea player, now in his second spell with
West Ham United, came on in the 73rd minute for Itay Shechter. Bebars Natcho
opened the scoring for Israel but Azerbaijan hit back and equalised through
Ruslan Abbasov in the 65th minute.

Joey O'Brien was an unused substitute as the Republic of Ireland snatched a
2-1 win away to Kazakhstan. The home side had outplayed their opponents for
much of the game and grabbed a deserved lead in the 38th minute when Kairat
Nurdauletov nodded home. Defeat seemed all but sealed until Robbie Keane
slotted in an 89th minute penalty that seemingly earned a draw. But there
was to be more drama as Kevin Doyle volleyed home just a minute later to
grab a 2-1 win

James Collins' first appearance for Wales in 18 months ended in
disappointment as the centre back was sent off for a strong tackle after 26
minutes as they lost 2-0 in Belgium. Barclays Premier League duo Vincent
Kompany and Jan Vertonghen scored either side of half time as Wales
struggled to find a foothold with ten men. Gareth Bale almost levelled the
tie with a superb free-kick but Athletico Madrid keeper Thibault Courtois
was able to tip it round the post.

Meanwhile, Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut as a second-half
substitute as the Young Lions lost 3-1 to Germany in Hamburg. Turgott came
on in the 75th minute for Liverpool's Adam Morgan but it was another of the
Reds starlets who stole the show. Summer signing Samed Yesil scored a superb
double, opening the scoring after just two minutes, showing fine trickery in
the box before smashing the ball home. After Yesil's opener the Under-19s
rallied and drew level on 31 minutes when Nick Powell expertly chipped
Odisseas Vlachodimos. But Yesil once again put the hosts in front when
Jordan Pickford was only able to palm the youngster's initial effort
straight back at him and he tapped the ball into the empty net two minutes
into the second half. SC Freiburg's Sebastian Kerk completed the scoring,
slotting the ball calmly past Pickford to ensure that there was no way back
for England. Daniel Potts was also part of the squad but was an unable to
play after picking up a minor injury in training on Wednesday. Both Turgott
and Potts will be hoping to be part of the Under-19s squad for the UEFA
European Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands, Ukraine and
Estonia later this month.

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'There's Only One Stevie Bacon'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's long-serving club photographer has recently released his
entertaining autobiography
08.09.2012

To all West Ham United supporters, 'There's Only One Stevie Bacon' - and now
it's official! The Hammers' official club photographer for more than 30
years, Steve Bacon has had unique view on goings on at the Boleyn Ground.
Now, he has put his memories down on paper in his new autobiography,
entitled 'There's Only One Stevie Bacon' in honour of the famous terrace
chant. The book is now on sale at the Stadium Superstore. Speaking at a book
signing on the opening day of the 2012/13 season, Bacon revealed his delight
at releasing his autobiography in the same month that the club had returned
to the Barclays Premier League. "My book has now been released and luckily
it has coincided with our return to the Premier League, which was always a
hope of mine," said Bacon. "It was a very good August for me. "The first day
back against Aston Villa was fantastic. It was a lovely day and an even
better result. I wasn't working because I had a knee operation two weeks
prior but it was good to be out and see the supporters."

The book has been an on-going project for Bacon who revealed it was the
perfect time to write and publish his personal memoirs. "I did a book of
photographs in 1996, but people have often said 'You must have a good story
to tell and we would love to hear it'. I'm now 60 so this was the perfect
time to do it. "I spoke to the author Kirk Blows, who is another West Ham
United supporter, and between us we sat down and wrote the book which I am
delighted with."

The book contains many touching anecdotes from Bacon's time as club
photographer, but he was able to pinpoint one particularly comedic memory,
while paying tribute to a 'special' personal favourite. "It is probably some
of the memories I have from the Lou Macari era because, although he may not
have been that popular at the time, we really clicked. "John Lyall was also
another very special person who was totally unique, but in terms of comedy
it would have to be Lou. We went to Ireland one year and were playing all
kinds of pranks on each other and we got fogged in which has never happened
before in the airport's entire history!"

This isn't the end for Bacon as a snapper, however, as he hopes to return
from his knee operation to the club in a matter of weeks. "I had to miss the
end of last season which was a shame but it simply became too painful.
Thankfully I have had it fixed now and hopefully I will be back at the club
within a matter of weeks."
One matchday food outlet has even named a dish in Bacon's name - the 'Steve
Bacon Burger' - and the man himself admitted he cherishes his relationship
with the club and all who are a part of it. "I am very flattered and often
very embarrassed by it. I put it down to longevity. If you are in the same
place for long enough, you are always going to become part of the furniture.
"I am a local lad who still lives ten minutes from the ground, so to become
so heavily involved with the fans and the club is something very close to my
heart."

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Sir Geoff Hurst backs West Ham's bid to lease Olympic Stadium
BBC.co.uk

Sir Geoff Hurst believes former club West Ham must move to London's Olympic
Stadium to fulfil their ambitions of becoming a "top" Premier League side.
The Hammers are one of four bidders under consideration to lease the £486m
stadium after the Paralympics. "In the long term [moving] is far more
beneficial," Hurst, 70, told BBC Sportsweek. "The future of the club, I
think, should be in the Olympic Park." "I feel strongly that is where we
have got to go," added the World Cup winner.
West Ham won the backing of Olympic executives ahead of Premier League
rivals Tottenham to lease the stadium, before the deal was scrapped last
year amid legal wrangling.

Olympic Stadium timeline
November 2010: West Ham and Tottenham named as preferred bidders
February 2011: West Ham win backing of Olympic bosses
April 2011: Spurs and Leyton Orient launch legal bids over decision
October 2011: Government confirms Hammers' bid collapses
December 2011: Olympic bosses relaunch tender process
March 2012: Four bidders submit new proposals
Jul-Aug 2012: Stadium hosts Olympic and Paralympic Games
October 2012: Decision expected on successful bidders
2014: Stadium will reopen with new tenants

The Hammers, who have played at current home Upton Park since 1904,
submitted another proposal in March after the bidding process was restarted.
League One side Leyton Orient and the UCFB College of Football Business have
also tabled bids, while a plan to turn part of the stadium into a Formula 1
track is another under consideration by the London Legacy Development
Corporation. Hurst, the only man to score a World Cup final hat-trick after
his heroics for England against West Germany in 1966, says he is "1,000%" in
favour of West Ham moving to Stratford. The Olympic Stadium, which currently
has an 80,000 capacity, will be reduced to 60,000 post-Games, while Upton
Park only holds 35,000 fans. "Nobody has a greater feeling about West Ham
United at Upton Park than I have," said Hurst, who scored 248 goals in 499
matches spanning 13 years for the Hammers. "We want to be in a big stadium
with more access, we want to be a top Premier League club. With the support
we've got, which is fantastic, we should be mid-table and above in the
Premier League. "We don't want to be yo-yoing up and down as we have been
doing."

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Upton Mark: West Ham keen for fan favourite Noble to sign new contract
The Mirror

West Ham have opened talks with Mark Noble over a new contract. The midfield
player's ­current deal expires at the end of this season. If there is no
agreement about an extension, then the club could lose the 25-year-old on a
free ­transfer next June. Noble – a graduate from the club's famed academy –
has played a crucial role in the Hammers' ­impressive start to the season
which has brought six points from the the first three games with victories
over Aston Villa and Fulham. He has excelled in his new role as the
deep-lying ­midfield player protecting the back four and figures prominently
in manager Sam Allardyce's plans. Noble is hugely popular with the fans,
too. He was voted the club's Player of the Year when they gained promotion
back to the Premier League in May. Now West Ham want to ensure his long-term
future lies at Upton Park. The indications are that he will be offered an
extension to his contract that will keep him at West Ham for the next five
years.
Fulham were strongly linked with Noble during the summer as they looked for
a replacement for Danny Murphy who moved to Blackburn. But Noble stayed –
and West Ham now want to ensure that his future his secured by the January
transfer window.

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'DADDY' SAM ALLARDYCE IS TOPS FOR RAY WINSTONE
Daily Star
9th September 2012 By Tony Stenson

HARD-MAN actor Ray Winstone is backing West Ham boss Sam Allardyce to
breathe life back into his favourite team. "He's the daddy. I don't want to
fade and die any more," he said, referring to the Hammers' famous signature
tune, 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'. Winstone, 55, an East Ender and
life-long Hammers fan, was impressed with Andy Carroll's swashbuckling debut
last week and believes Big Sam should get the credit for his snatch of the
day. And Winstone whose remake of The Sweeney is set to become a box office
smash, said: "Sam has done well. He has brought steel and heart to the
dressing room. "We are going to need that if we are to do well in the
Premier League. "We look all right. There are one or two teams in the league
who don't look all right and that's great for us. "Survival in the Premier
League is obviously what we want. "I was very worried at the end of the last
one. "We were very lucky to come up in the Play-Off Final.Blackpool were the
better side but thank God they couldn't finish! "We did it. We had some
dodgy moments and some draws at home we could have done without. "But the
thing I loved about the side was that they had heart. "I think that had been
missing for a few years. I am not talking about players like Mark Noble –
who would die for the club – but some others."

Winstone knows a decent start to the campaign is vital and said: "The first
games of the season are very important. If we can give ourselves a platform
going into the tough period, we will do all right. "We are not going to win
any medals this year and I don't expect us to. But I think we will stay up
and winning the FA Cup would do me fine."

Winstone is full of praise for co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold and
the job they have done since taking the helm. "Their record speaks for
itself," he added. "Since coming here they have been very tough about
­balancing the books. "We are not Liverpool or Man United but we are a big
club – we won the World Cup by the way! "We are a brand that hasn't realised
its full potential yet. But the club is in very good hands."

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