Wednesday, September 9

Daily WHUFC News - 9th September 2015

On this day - 9 September
WHUFC.com

Classic match

Aston Villa 2-4 West Ham United
Division One
9 September 1961

The Hammers travelled to Birmingham to take on Aston Villa on this day in
1961, having won two, drawn two and lost two in a balanced start to the new
campaign.

Their record would be improved with a strong display at Villa Park, which
saw them run in four goals to collect both points on offer in front of a
32,000-strong crowd.

Centre forward John Dick scored twice, while Tony Scott and Alan Sealey were
also on target on a successful afternoon for the Londoners, helped by two
errors by home goalkeeper Geoff Sidebottom. Those mistakes helped West Ham
twice come from behind during a topsy-turvy game which saw all six goals
scored in the second half.

Vic Crowe put the home side in front a minute after the break, but Dick
equalised within 60 seconds. Peter McParland made it 2-1 to Villa on 58
minutes, only for Scott to equalise again on 62 and Dick to put the Hammers
ahead for the first time on 64. Sealey would seal the points, fittingly,
with 16 minutes remaining.

Villa and the Hammers would be locked together in the Division One table for
much of the 1961/62 season, with the two claret and blue clubs finishing in
seventh and eighth place respectively.

Complete record - 9 September

1922 West Ham United 4-0 Rotherham County (Division Two)
1929 West Ham United 5-1 Newcastle United (Division One)
1933 West Ham United 1-2 Burnley (Division Two)
1935 West Ham United 1-0 Bradford Park Avenue (Division Two)
1936 Newcastle United 5-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1946 Fulham 3-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1950 Blackburn Rovers 1-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1957 West Ham United 0-3 Sheffield United (Division Two)
1959 Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1961 Aston Villa 2-4 West Ham United (Division One)
1963 Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1967 Sunderland 1-5 West Ham United (Division One)
1972 Chelsea 1-3 West Ham United (Division One)
1978 Burnley 3-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1989 West Ham United 1-1 Swindon Town (Division Two)
1998 West Ham United 3-4 Wimbledon (Premier League)

Played 16, Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 7, Scored 39, Conceded 31

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Woods - Randolph has got his just rewards
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Goalkeeping Coach Chris Woods has nothing but praise for the
way Darren Randolph kept his composure to keep a clean sheet against
Liverpool and hopes to see him keep out the Newcastle forwards on Monday
night. Randolph did not enjoy the best of starts to life in the Premier
League when the Hammers suffered a 4-3 home defeat against Bournemouth. But
the Republic of Ireland international refused to let his confidence drop and
bounced back in style when he played his part in a memorable 3-0 away win
over Liverpool at Anfield.
Woods says it was just rewards for the hard work he has put into training
since he joined the Club during the summer and with Adrian serving the final
game of his three-match ban, Randolph has another chance to impress Slaven
Bilic and show that he should be a first-team regular.

Woods said: "After the Bournemouth game he worked hard on the training
ground and his confidence was still high going into the Liverpool game. "He
didn't have a lot to do but when he was called upon. he did very well and
coming out of the game his confidence will be even better. He works hard at
his game and he got his just rewards. "He made some important saves against
Bournemouth but the goals went in and he couldn't do anything about them.
All credit that he has dug in and concentrated on what he needed to do."

The spirit among the camp has been sky high over the international break
following the victory at Anfield and Woods is now hoping the team can record
their first home win of the season and make it a night to remember under the
lights when they face Newcastle. Woods added: "There is no substitute for
hard work and you need to take your chances when they come along which we
have done in the two away games. We need to build on that and keep moving
forward. "I have been going there (to Liverpool) as a coach for the last 15
years and never got a victory so it was very nice to come away with the
three points. "It is such a formidable place to go and get the victory and
it is one that should stick in the memory of the players. "It is nice to go
into an international break having a good result because you enjoy that
time. We want to keep the momentum going and hopefully we can do that
against Newcastle."

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Dickens' tale of two clubs
WHUFC.com

Broadcaster Ian 'Moose' Abrahams begins a week-long series of interviews
with the players who became West Ham United's Boys of '86 – starting with a
revealing conversation with midfielder Alan Dickens…

When a subject was suggested to me for today's Moose Meets… I thought he had
a great idea. I said to myself 'It is a far, far better thing that I do,
than I have ever done' in speaking to Dickens – not Charles, but Alan.

You see, as Alan will explain to you, his time at Upton Park could be summed
up in true Dickensian language: "It was the best of times, it was the worst
of times."

I met Alan earlier in the week in the home dressing room here at the Boleyn
Ground – an area which has changed considerably since the early 1980s, when
Alan made his debut.

Tall, with an eye for goal from midfield and wearing No10, having come
through the ranks he was seen as the next Trevor Brooking.

I put it to Alan that there were Great Expectations on him when he got into
the first team.

"I think at the time, being a young player and with Trevor Brooking being
such an amazing footballer, it was an honour and a privilege to be linked
with his name," said Alan.

"It kind of happened when I was 13 or 14 when I played district games and
people said that I played a bit like Trevor and it kind of stuck. But, as
time went on it became a real burden.

"I was bought up watching Trevor play and he was outstanding. Even in
training he was a fantastic footballer and I think the shoes were too big
for me to fill."

Despite being labelled the next Brooking, Dickens never spoke to the Hammers
legend.

"I never, ever spoke to Trevor about football at all. I was a young
apprentice while Trevor was here so never spoke to him about football. I
don't know why, but he never said for me to do this or to do that.

"I think, as young players at West Ham, you were in awe of the first team
players, you were bought up that way. We knocked on the dressing room door
and asked if we could pick up the kit, and being a fan they were my idols –
not just Trevor but the likes of Billy Bonds too."

Dickens career began with him winning the FA Youth Cup in 1981. Alan told me
he was still a schoolboy at the time and went to school the day after
lifting the trophy!

His first-team debut came against Notts County at Meadow Lane in December
1982.

"We had a lot of injuries and John Lyall told me on the Friday that I was
going to play. Notts County were quite a decent team, but I don't think I
was nervous, I was just looking forward to it.

"All my family all drove up to Nottingham to watch, but I didn't know until
I got home afterwards that they got stuck in traffic and didn't get there
until half-time, and I scored after six minutes so it was a real
disappointment for me and for them.

"It was such a surreal day. I can't remember anything really about the game
or even the goal, but I think I got the bus home from Upton Park and I
remember standing in my street, thinking 'Did that really happen?'.

"No-one was at home for me to talk to as they were coming back from the
game. I went out that night with my mates to a party and didn't believe it
had happened until I saw the papers the next day, and even then thought 'Was
that really me?'."

The first chapter in Dickens' career had been written and the rest of the
season was a success.

"I stayed in the team and played 15 games that season, scoring six goals,
but I didn't realise what was happening. You don't realise when you're 18
what's going on – you just go out and play football.

"The money never came into it. When I broke into the first team, I was still
an apprentice and think I got £25 a week."

Alan was a member of the side which finished third in 1985/86 but, in 1989,
left for Chelsea. Looking back, Stamford Bridge proved to be a bit of a
Bleak House for Alan.

Born and bought up in the East End, why did the self-confessed Hammers fan
leave for west London?

"I look back and ask the same question to myself," said Alan with a heavy
sigh, "the main reason was that John Lyall got the sack that summer and
there was a whisper that Lou Macari was going to be the manager and that
things were going to change at West Ham.

"I had no intentions of leaving whatsoever, but I was friends with the son
of the Chelsea manager Bobby Campbell and he rang me lots of times saying he
wanted me to join.

"Even when I signed for Chelsea, I should have been on such a high, but the
feeling was never there and I thought to myself I perhaps should have stayed
where I was.

"I was 24, had been bought up in West Ham, still lived round the corner, my
Mum was round the corner and perhaps I should have stayed here."

Contrary to popular opinion it was not injuries that meant Alan was not a
success at Stamford Bridge. In fact, Alan is completely honest – it was
probably down to him.

"I should've been a little bit stronger, Chelsea's changing room was
completely different to West Ham's. At West Ham, everyone looked out for
each other, while at Chelsea it was every man for himself and I'm not very
good at that. I like being part of a team.

"They had some strong personalities – Graham Roberts had been at Spurs,
Peter Nicholas was the captain of Wales, there were Kerry Dixon, Dennis Wise
and Andy Townsend, all strong characters. They'd been the top players at
their teams and all wanted to be the top man. If you didn't look after
yourself, you got left behind and I got left behind. I have no regrets. It
makes you the person you are."

There's always MORE you could write when it comes to Dickens. Alan's story
is a real down to earth, honest story.

Speaking to Dickens was a novel idea ahead, and his story is one of how the
grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

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U18s unlucky against Arsenal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U18s were unlucky to lose 1-0 to their Arsenal counterparts
after a strong performance went unrewarded. From the first minute to the
last, the young Hammers looked to dominate possession however it was the
hosts who took the lead shortly before half-time after a ball into the box
was inadvertently turned in by defender Tunji Akinola. Under the watchful
eye of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who has recently re-joined the club in
a coaching capacity, it was former Gunner George Dobson who went close to
breaking the deadlock after ten minutes. The midfielder burst through the
defence, and baring down on goal, forced an excellent save from the Arsenal
goalkeeper. Buoyed by the early chance, the Hammers grew in confidence with
Marcus Browne and Dobson dominating the midfield. Despite being in the
ascendency, it was the hosts Arsenal who took the lead in somewhat fortunate
circumstances as Akinola, who had an impressive game, could do nothing to
stop a cross deflect off his outstretched leg and past Tim Brown. After the
break, the Hammers refused to be cowed and they responded strongly. Defender
Declan Rice, only recently returned from Ireland U17 international duty in
Hungary, went close with a header. Browne swung in a teasing delivery which
Rice, candidate for man of the match, attacked viciously, yet saw it fly
just over the bar. Young striker Idris Kanu also went close, reacting
quickest to Browne's parried long-distance effort, he fired just wide from
an acute angle. The U18s are next in action a week on Saturday when they
host Chelsea at Little Heath on Saturday 19 September.

U18: Brown, Sylvestre, Borg, Carter (Eggleton), Akinola, Rice, Powell,
Dobson, Kanu (Henry), Browne, Diangana (Lewis)
Subs not used: Boness (GK)

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Keepers battle it out
WHUFC.com

The West Ham United keepers stayed behind for an extra challenge after
training and West Ham TV was on hand to see who came out on top.
Goalkeeping Coach Chris Woods had just put Adrian, Darren Randolph and
Raphael Spiegel through their paces in an intense session at the Club's
training ground. But he also decided to join in on the fun as the keepers
battled each other in a crossbar challenge.

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Boys of '86 set for Boleyn return
WHUFC.com

West Ham United will continue to bid a fond farewell to the Boleyn Ground
with the second themed match of the season for the visit of Newcastle United
on Monday 14 September.

The Hammers will honour the Boys of '86 – the squad of players who achieved
the Club's best-ever league finish of third in the old Division One exactly
30 years ago.

The likes of Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Ray Stewart, Alan Devonshire,
Alan Dickens and Mark Ward will all be back at the Boleyn for the Barclays
Premier League clash with the Magpies - for which a VERY LIMITED number of
tickets remain available to buy here.

The Boys of '86 thrashed Monday's visitors 8-1 in April 1986, with Alvin
Martin scoring a hat-trick past three different goalkeepers! Send your own
memories of that famous season to programme@westhamunited.co.uk and the best
will be included in Monday's Official Programme.

To get you in the mood for what promises to be a memorable evening of
nostalgia, we will be building up to the big game – which will be screened
live in the UK by Sky Sports and across the world – with a host of features
across our digital and social media platforms.

Hammer Time – The popular Hammer Time panel show will see Boys of '86
captain Alvin Martin joined by long-serving Daily Mirror reporter and West
Ham fan Steve Stammers, who was in the Press Box throughout that
unforgettable campaign.

Interviews – Broadcaster and programme columnist Ian 'Moose' Abrahams has
interviewed many of the Boys of '86 over recent seasons, and we will be
bringing you the best of those interviews on West Ham TV and whufc.com each
and every day between now and 14 September.

Highlights and Goals – We will be broadcasting highlights and goals from our
favourite Boys of '86 matches throughout the week leading up to the visit of
Newcastle United, including the day Alvin Martin scored a unique hat-trick
past three different Magpies goalkeepers!

Competition – We want you to be involved, too! Follow us on Twitter
@whufc_official and submit photos of your favourite Boys of '86 memorabilia
– programmes, ticket stubs, shirts or signed photos, for example – using the
hashtag #MyBoysof86 and the best entries will win a special prize!

Star Guests – The Boys of '86 will be back at the Boleyn Ground on the night
itself and will be presented to the crowd. West Ham TV will be there to
cover this fantastic occasion, so make sure you log-in or subscribe now –
completely free of charge!

Programme – Monday's 100-page Official Programme for the visit of Newcastle
United will feature exclusive interviews, photos and much more Boys of '86
themed content, along with all the latest news from West Ham United. You can
order online here now, or pick up a copy in or around the Boleyn Ground on
matchday, priced £3.50.

Social Media - We want you to get involved on the night too, so please pull
on your original or retro kit from the best league season in West Ham United
history and send us a photo on Twitter or Instgram using the hashtag
#Boysof86.

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Kevin Nolan: Former West Ham midfielder trains with Leyton Orient
BBC.co.uk

Kevin Nolan is training with League Two side Leyton Orient. The 33-year-old
midfielder is looking for a new club after recently leaving West Ham by
mutual consent. "It is great to have such a model professional in Kevin at
the club and I am more than happy for Kevin to come in and train with the
squad," Orient boss Ian Hendon told the club's website. "It is good for our
players to be training with a vastly experienced and talented Premier League
midfielder." Nolan made 157 appearances for West Ham, scoring 31 goals,
following his arrival from Newcastle in June 2011. The Hammers won promotion
to the top flight in his first season at Upton Park. He left after being
told he would not be guaranteed first-team football under manager Slaven
Bilic.

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Oh no, not again! Taylor to take Newcastle clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 8th September 2015
By: Staff Writer

The chances of West Ham United's forthcoming Premier League meeting with
Newcastle United passing without major controversy have taken a major blow
after it was confirmed that Anthony Taylor has been appointed as referee.
The bumbling official, who hails from Wythenshawe in Greater Manchester was
responsible for dismissing goalkeeper Adrian against Leicester City last
month - a decision that West Ham failed to overturn upon appeal. Taylor was
also responsible for the ludicrous dismissals of West Ham's Carlton Cole and
Everton's Darren Gibson in a Premier League meeting at the Boleyn Ground in
December 2012. And slightly more recently, in April 2014, the 36-year-old
was savaged once more by Hammers fans following his performance in a 2-1
home defeat against Liverpool - a game in which he awarded two incredibly
weak penalties to the visitors; game-changing decisions that swung the match
in their favour.

KUMB.com's match report from the game - headed 'West Ham Utd 1-2 Anthony
Taylor' - recalled how "the cretinous halfwit" incensed home fans with his
performance on the day. "Once again it was the man in the middle who was to
ultimately decide the outcome of the game," it read. "For without his
intervention Liverpool, who failed to score from open play, may well have
gone home empty-handed."

A Premier League referee since 2010, Taylor has taken charge of three top
flight fixtures thus far this season in which he has shown 13 yellow cards
and just the one red (to West Ham's Adrian).

Last season his tally of 115 yellow cards was only beaten by Mike Dean and
Martin Atkinson. And since being appointed by the PGMOL five years ago, he
had averaged one red card every five games.

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Former Chelsea and West Ham striker Carlton Cole banned from driving for the
third time
12:46, 8 SEPTEMBER 2015 UPDATED 12:50, 8 SEPTEMBER 2015
BY MIRROR FOOTBALL
Cole found himself in hot water after failing to tell police who was behind
the wheel of his Jaguar when it was clocked doing 33mph in a 20mph zone
The Mirror

Former Premier League star Carlton Cole has been banned from driving for two
years. The ex- Chelsea and West Ham striker found himself in hot water after
failing to tell police who was behind the wheel of his Jaguar when it was
clocked doing 33mph in a 20mph zone in central London. City of London
magistrates heard Cole, who is currently in the US after being released by
the Hammers in the summer, was asked to produce his ID on two occasions, but
failed to respond to either police notice. The 31-year-old claimed he was
"highly disorganised and does not deal with his post efficiently" but
insisted he had returned the form on time. Cole had requested for the
hearing to be adjourned. However, the former England international was hit
with a third ban in as many years, and ordered to pay £300 in fines and
costs.

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David Sullivan has no plans to sell West Ham
Posted by Hammers Newshound on September 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Sullivan repeats that he has no plans to sell West Ham when the club
moves to the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers' majority shareholder insists he
is in for the long haul and is desperate to establish the club as one of the
best teams in the country before eventually handing over to his sons.
In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with our friends over at Blowing
Bubbles Monthly, the 66-year-old claimed he would only ever consider selling
up if the deal would allow a huge injection of cash into the club's playing
squad. 'If the King of Saudi Arabia or a multi, multi-billionaire – like the
owners of Manchester City – wanted to take over and I felt it was for the
good of the club, I would step aside but I really don't think that will ever
happen. 'There aren't many multi, multi-billionaires left out there that are
interested in football and haven't already got a club. In fact I don't think
there is one that exists!'
Elsewhere in the September issue of the magazine, Sky Sports' Bianca
Westwood defends former captain Kevin Nolan in her column.
'I think he deserves a bit more respect and gratitude than he has received.
Some fans feel that, because they go to the games and pay good money, they
can say and do what they want. But these people have to remember that the
players are only human. One thing you can never accuse him of was being
lazy. He worked hard for the team and did everything he could.'
Elsewhere George Parris writes in his column that West Ham now have the best
squad ever compiled by the club in living memory and Nottingham Forest fan
John Payne explains why West Ham have got a gem in Michail Antonio. Blowing
Bubbles also asks whether or not West Ham were right to throw the towel in
on their Euro dream and if Morgan Amalfitano should get a chance to redeem
himself
The latest issue of Blowing Bubbles Monthly is now available to read for
FREE on your computer, tablet or mobile phone.

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DG's dignity at "porn" jibe
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Gold has responded with dignity to a jibe from a Twitter follower
declaring West Ham is "a club built on porn." It followed a comment from
celebrity fan, comic,James Corbyn, who had tweeted he was "pretty sure this
is the best transfer deadline day @whufc_official have ever had. Thank you
@davidgold David Sullivan and Karen Brady x"

That immediately drew out a certain Joe Peelgrini who snarled viciously:
"Club built on porn."

DG – who has seen more than his share of such malice on Twitter responded
with huge integrity to put @pellerspad in his place.

He declared: "Our club is built on tradition, a passion to succeed a fan
base that is unequalled and lead by men with belief. dg"

Very well said David. It's a tired old charge anyway showing as much
originality as the Tottenham Hotspur front line!

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Exclusive: Irons squad member out in the cold!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Morgan Amalfitano is still out in the cold with manager Slaven Bilic and
continues to train with the Under 21 squad despite getting a first team
squad number!. The boss exiled the midfielder to the Development Squad on
disciplinary grounds after it emerged the Frenchman missed a team meeting.
Amalfitano was also reported by many media outlets as having given the
manager attitude when Bilic questioned him about his absence.. And the
outcome was that the manager banned the 30 year old training ground at
Chadwell Heath and was later reported as saying: "I have to protect the
team." The reports added him as saying: "My first job is to protect the team
and keep them as a unit. If I feel that someone is damaging it in that way I
have to react and I have done that. It was quiet meeting between the two
of us. I had to do it to keep the harmony. He's not back training with the
first-team. He's not in the first-team anymore." It was believed that his
inclusion in the first team squad had seen the two bury their differences
but ClaretandHugh learned this morning that is not the case. A highly placed
source told us that the midfielder continues to train with the youngsters
and there had been no solution to the problem He explained that Matt Jarvis'
departure ftom the club was the only reason that Amalfitano would not have
been named in the squad.. We were told exclusively:" We have 25 players and
under the rules you have to allocate. Had we not loaned out Matt Jarvis he
would have been in the squad and Morgan wouldn't."

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Irons look at emergency loan window
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on September 8, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham are unlikely to be using the Football League's emergency loan
window to move on any of their big earners. James Collins and Joey O'Brien
are among those who were thought to be in line for possible moves into the
Championship under the window which opens tomorrow (Wed). But ClaretandHugh
was told there was little chance at present of either making a switch.
Collins has been linked with a possible move to QPR in the summer but
ClaretandHugh was told that he was unready to take the step down a division.
We were told: "It's James' decision but unless he has a change a change of
heart it's unlikely to happen."The player is in the last year of his Irons
contract which expires in June 0f 2016
Joey O'Brien has had plenty of injury problems in recent times and it
remains to be seen if any inquiries come for the defender but it seems more
likely that any movement outwards will be among younger squad members. The
20 clubs of the Premier League can loan players out to the Football League
sides which could prove mutually beneficial. The top flight side's players
gain valuable on-field experience, while the Football League teams could get
an undiscovered gem to help them gain promotion or avoid relegation.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com




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