New Stadium progress report
WHUFC.com
The concourse of West Ham United's new home has a familiar feel to it, with all three of the Hammers' World Cup winners adorning a giant model shirt.
In this, the summer of the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup triumph, the names of West Ham's three home-grown heroes of 1966 are now displayed in all their glory.
The imposing shirts, each four-metres wide, were installed in succession over the past 24 hours and now sit as both a permanent and striking tribute to the Club's famous three sons, Bobby Moore, Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.
Five-time Hammer of the Year and 1980 FA Cup final hero Sir Trevor Brooking has likewise been honoured, joining the legendary Billy Bonds and newly-crowned Hammer of the Year Dimitri Payet.
As has been the Club's commitment to supporters from the outset, West Ham will celebrate its heroes of yesteryear throughout the Stadium, with six such shirts already in situ around the world-class arena. Elsewhere on the concourse, Hammers fans will be greeted by a colossal set of the iconic crossed hammers, complete with the lettering TIW, a nod to the rivet hammers used in the Thames Ironworks.
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Chadwell Chatter - Darren Randolph
WHUFC.com
Hello everyone,
When I look back at the season I don't think it could have gone any better for me. I played a lot more football than I thought I would play and have got into the Ireland team and helped us qualify for the Euro Finals this summer. I have played league games and had a great cup run. As first seasons go it has been pretty unbelievable. There is a great feeling around the football club and it is probably one of the best changing rooms I have been part of. I know everyone talks about a great team spirit but we genuinely have that and there is no little cliques in the dressing room and everyone gets on. We have a laugh and a joke and that is down to the core players and the boys who have been there the longest – players like Nobes, Ginge, Tonks and they make it easy for everyone else who comes in. At the start of the year it is a bit weird coming into the dressing room when you have seen all the players on Match of the Day and then you are playing alongside them. You get to train with Adrian who has been on fire for the last four seasons but it is very exciting to play alongside these players. Chris Woods has worked with some great keepers and with his experience and the keepers he has worked with, I am only going to improve. The performances help and when you are playing well it builds confidence, not only for myself but the whole team as you have seen throughout the season. This will be a busy summer with the Euros and the Club are going to America for a pre-season tour.
The fans in Seattle are very enthusiastic about their sports and it will be a big thing for them having West Ham United there. They have got a nice stadium and great facilities and I am a bit gutted that I will miss the trip!
Darren
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Declan Rice - It has been a great season WHUFC.com
West Ham United's rising star Declan Rice has enjoyed a memorable campaign for the U18s and the Development Squad and was rewarded for his impressive displays when he won the Dylan Tombides Award. Rice signed his first pro contract back in December and went on to make 17 appearances for the U18 side. He also featured for the Development Squad and played in the second leg of the U21 Premier League Cup Final where he helped the team came away with a famous victory. Rice follows in the footsteps of Josh Cullen and Reece Oxford to have picked up the prestigious award and hopes he can continue to show his best form for the Hammers. Rice said: "I am delighted and very honoured to have won the award. I didn't get to meet Dylan but I have heard he was a lovely lad and he was an excellent footballer. "All the time people are talking about him and it was lovely to see his brother Taylor score in Mark Noble's Testimonial. "I have got my head down this season and all the hard work has paid off. I signed my first pro contract and it has been a great season for me. "I just need to keep working hard and see what happens in the future."
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Randolph helps Ireland to warm-up draw
WHUFC.com
West Ham stopper Darren Randolph played 90 minutes for the Republic of Ireland on Friday night as they drew a Euro 2016 warm-up match against the Netherlands 1-1.
Martin O'Neill's side grabbed the opening goal courtesy of a Shane Long strike in the 30th minute before former Newcastle United striker Luuk de Jong equalised in the final ten minutes.
Southampton forward Long put away a left-footed strike in the first period against a Dutch side containing the likes of Premier League duo Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay, but de Jong headed home with five minutes remaining to earn a share of the spoils.
Holland did not qualify for this summer's tournament in France, yet it was still a respectable result for the Republic of Ireland who play their final friendly game against Belarus on Tuesday before the tournament kicks off in June.
Randolph, who is expected to start the Euros as Ireland's number one goalkeeper, had little to do at the Aviva Stadium as the visitors had just one attempt on target; their equalising goal.
Ireland have been drawn in the toughest-looking European Championship group, and face the highly-rated Belgium and Italy after an opening fixture against Sweden.
The match on 13 June against the Scandinavians is in Paris' Stade de France, before they travel to Bordeaux to face Beligum before the Italians take on O'Neill's team in Lille.
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EXCLUSIVE: Sullivan on transfers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan is expecting another busy summer of transfer activity and hopes to sign a number of new players over the next few months.
Mr Sullivan is working tirelessly behind the scenes alongside Slaven Bilic to bring the best possible players to Club and has already made multi-million pound offers for some of the best talent in Europe.
West Ham have already announced the arrival of Norway international Havard Nordtveit, who will join up with his new team-mates at the start of July.
With the Club qualifying for the Europa League next season, the Board are determined to help Bilic possess the strength in depth to cope with the prospect of additional fixtures, should the Hammers progress into the group stage.
West Ham enjoyed a memorable campaign in the final ever season at the Boleyn Ground and much of that was down to the new arrivals who arrived last summer, including Hammer of the Year Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio.
Mr Sullivan is hopeful the Club can find the same calibre of players and says they will continue to work hard to get the best possible deals for West Ham United.
"We have done well with our signings and we hope we can sign a few more this summer who will do equally as well or better," he added.
"We know that we need a top striker which is the hardest thing to sign. We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and that will cost us £25m or £30million. That is where the bulk of the money goes.
"We also need the occasional long shot which is the cheaper player that may come good. We want to sign more players.
"There might be a few fringe players who we will let go and use that to bring in two or three more players.
"We have already signed one player for next season and there will be other signings. I would think that four, five or six players will come in this summer depending on how many go and hopefully we do just as well or even better next season."
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West Ham linked with Cameroon international KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 27th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are one of a number of clubs said to have taken a look at Cameroon international Henri Bedimo. The left-sided full back, who featured for Lyon in Ligue 1 last season is available on a free transfer this summer. And the Hammers are just one of several clubs who are reported to have investigated the possibility of signing the 31-year-old this summer. Although West Ham, West Bromwich Albion and Premier League newcomers Middlesbrough are all said to have made tentative enquiries into the player's availability, fellow Ligue 1 side Nantes are currently considered front runners to sign Bedimo who has spent his entire professional career in France. West Ham currently boast just one dedicated left back on their books, that being former Ipswich defender Aaron Cresswell. Joey O'Brien, a right back who has also played on the left will leave the club this summer following the expiry of his contract. And whilst Angelo Ogbonna can also fill the role, Slaven Bilic will be keen to ensure he enters next season with a more adequate alternative.
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PSG favourites to sign Lacazette - but still no bid KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 27th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Paris St Germain are widely considered favourites to sign Lyon striker and West Ham target Alexandre Lacazette. The Ligue 1 champions parted company with leading goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the 2015/16 season and are currently seeking a replacement, with the Lyon star said to be top of their list. However it remains the case that no other club has yet come close to matching West Ham United's ?€40million bid for the 24-year-old, who has been on United's radar for several months. The Hammers, who had been keen to complete an early deal before the summer transfer window opens on 1 July baulked at Lyon's ?€50million valuation of Lacazette, whose 23 goals for Lyon last season helped his club finish second in Ligue 1 behind PSG (albeit by 31 points). And although West Ham's bid remains on the table, Lyon - in seeking to maximise their windfall for parting with Lacazette - are unlikely to accept any offer until all other interested parties have ruled themselves out of the reckoning.
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Hammers "excellent" midfielder deal
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 26, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
ClaretandHugh has learned that West Ham did an extraordinary piece of business in convncing midfielder Havard Nordtveit to join the club on wages of around £35k a week. The former Borussia Moenchengladbach man joins the club on July 1 with the Hammers reportedly beating off off competition from several top European outfits to land their man. Nordtveit, 25, signs on a five-year deal and returns to London six years after leaving Arsenal to join Monchengladbach. However, to have picked him up on such "sensible" wages is a coup for the Hammers who did a great job in selling the club to the player. And it's another indication of the club to ensure that they get true value for money with a source saying: "He's a genuine utility player and to have picked him up on the sort of wages we are talking about was excellent business. "He can play as a defensive midfielder which is his strongest position but is also capable of slotting in to the defence at right back or central defence."
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Irons give £12.5k to the Tories
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 27, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
West Ham have decided to swim in some murky political waters. It emerged this morning that for reasons of their own they have donated£12,500 to the Tory Party which frankly seems bizarre at best and totally out of order at worst. The explanation they have given via a spoksesman is that as a private compay they "make donations to whatever causes they see fit."
Whether or not many fans would agree that this is a worthy cause can be judged by this cut http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-tory-black-white-ball-7335521
Ok, in the great scheme of things £12.5k is nether her of there and let's remember that Karren Brady is a Tory peer, David Gold is a regular donator to the party whilst David Sullivan once described himself as a moderate Conservative Whatever one's politics, and I readily admit I don't share theirs, it's a strange and odd decision. It should be added – for balance – that the club supports many other charities but gifts to political parties? That will attract a lot of criticsm at a time when they are auctioning club memorobilia off to support the Hammers academy. Frankly, it wouldn't matter to me which party was the beneficiary of a £12.5k gift from a football club. I would consider it ill advised, unecesary and wrong because it is divisive.
Not sure that our manager – an avowed Socialist – would be very impressed either!
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Hells Bell arrives at the Olympic Stadium Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 27, 2016 in News, Whispers C and H
A massive stage prop called Hells Bell has arrived at the Olympic Stadium ahead of its transformation into a music concert arena in just eight days time. As the WestHamification of the former Olympic Stadium continues a series of events will be staged there before the Hammers move in on the 1st August. Saturday 4th June sees the first ever music concert to be staged at the venue. Rock fans have paid between £65 and £95 each to watch the 'Rock or Bust' concert, part of AC/DC's European tour. Later in the summer, 14,000 runners take part in the Great Newham London Run on Sunday 17th July. All runners in the will have their very own Olympic moment as they finish in the Stadium over the running track finishing line. The London Anniversary Games will be hosted on the weekend beginning Friday 22nd July. The Stadium will play host to the IAAF Diamond League Athletics meet on 22-23 July, the IPC Grand Prix Final will also be incorporated into Saturday's programme. World record holder Bolt will grace the track at the London Anniversary Games, along with many of the world's best athletes and Paralympic stars.
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West Ham will sign "£25million or £30m striker" as part of a summer of spending, says David Sullivan
08:02, 28 MAY 2016 UPDATED 08:02, 28 MAY 2016
BY AARON FLANAGAN
The Hammers have set out a clear plan for the close season as they hope to build on the success of last year's transfer window
The Mirror
West Ham are preparing to splash the cash on a new striker this summer. Co-owner David Sullivan has confirmed the Hammers' intention to buy a £25million-£30million striker in the coming months to lead the team into the Olympic Stadium. Marseille hotshot Michy Batshuayi is one of the names touted, while Lyon are holding firm over Alexandre Lacazette. But some shock names have also been thrown into the hat, with ambitious attempts to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jamie Vardy in the pipeline. West Ham's dealings in the transfer business, which included the arrivals of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio, saw them in the mi x for a Champions League place this season. And Sullivan wants to build on that success in front of 60,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium. He told West Ham's official website: "We have done well with our signings and we hope we can sign a few more this summer who will do equally as well or better. "We know that we need a top striker which is the hardest thing to sign. We need a 20-goal-a-season striker and that will cost us £25m or £30million. That is where the bulk of the money goes. "We also need the occasional long shot which is the cheaper player that may come good. We want to sign more players. "There might be a few fringe players who we will let go and use that to bring in two or three more players. "We have already signed one player for next season and there will be other signings. I would think that four, five or six players will come in this summer depending on how many go and hopefully we do just as well or even better next season."
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Irons take edge over Spurs on striker
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 28, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham have moved in front of Spurs as the battle for Michy Batshuayi rumbles on towards the opening of the tranfer window. The Belgian international striker – having made it c.ear he is leaning towards a Premier League move – is concerned about penning a long term White Hart Lane deal. He believes he's likely to be used as a back up to Harry Kane and see West Ham nd possibly interested Liverpool as better options.
Marseilles are believed to want a 40 million euros fee and that saw the Irons cool on the player but news that they may have a real chance – given the Kane situation – is re-igniting interest. So concerned is Batshuyi at the prospect of a possible move that some reports claim that to even consider a Spurs move he would want contract clauses allowng him to leave for a set fee if guarantees over playing time are not met. As a result the Irons – with the Olympic Stadium an inducement are in a position to tempt him with the prospect of regular first team football – and are likely to set up new talks once the Euro Finals conclude.
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POLITICAL 'DONATION' ROW ENGULFS HAMMERS
By Iain Dale 27 May 2016 at 09:14
WTID
A furious row has broken out over the fact that the Conservative Party has registered a donation of £12,500 from West Ham United with the Electoral Commission. The club paid the sum for a table of ten at the party's Black & White Ball fundraiser which took place at the Hurlingham Club in South West London earlier in the year. Karren Brady hosted the club's sponsor Betway at the event.
The club's defence is that it is a private company and it can do what it likes. Local Labour MPs Mike Gapes and Jim Fitzpatrick are naturally less than gruntled. However, they fail to mention the Directors' Box season tickets which were made available to more than one Labour Minister during their time in government. I suspect the value of those would far exceed £12,500.
In the wider scheme of things it's a trifling sum, but from a PR point of view it certainly counts as an own goal. To my mind if any high profile company is going to make a political donation (and you could question whether this is a donation in the normal sense of the word, seeing as it was for event tickets) it is probably best to split it between several parties, given that its customers will be voters of all persuasions.
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