A charity visit to Africa is set to provide Robert Green with a physical and
emotional challenge this month
19.06.2008
Robert Green is taking the first steps towards his charity climb of Mount
Kilimanjaro as he looks to raise money and awareness for the African Medical
and Research Foundation.
Before attempting to scale the continent's highest peak, the West Ham United
goalkeeper is in Africa for a visit to Kenya and Tanzania, where he will
visit three areas in particular need of basic medical care and increased
knowledge of health issues. As well as seeing Amref's programmes and
workshops at first hand, he will look to bring people together by staging
football tournaments.
"Africa's number one love is football and it seems a waste not to use it to
try and spread the message," he said. "If we can affect a few lives then
brilliant. It is pretty basic medical care that people are getting ... It is
a massive charity and they are doing fantastic work. I am going to see first
hand the work they do. The climax is the attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
It is going to be a tough challenge and one that I am looking forward to."
Before leaving England, Green staged a number of charity events including a
goalkeeper's golf day and a special charity tournament at the Boleyn Ground
which have already helped raise Amref's profile and secure much-needed
funds. The Kilimanjaro climb will be a spectacular end to a memorable few
months for the 28-year-old. "The last day is a 12-hour hike to go one mile
which sounds strange but I think the main challenge is the altitude
sickness. They say you feel pretty rough after each step ... One mile for
me usually is about a whole season!"
Green has had support from his West Ham United team-mates, many of whom also
do their own private charity work as well as support the club's two chosen
good causes in the Richard House Children's Hospice and the Bobby Moore Fund
for Cancer Research. Like others he was particularly keen to give something
back. "I wanted to use [the close season] to help people and affect some
good. It is something that for myself living in a professional footballer's
bubble you don't normally get to experience. I see a lot of hotels, coaches
and airports and not a lot beyond that and this is something that can help
me appreciate what I have got and what I can do to help people.
"I think what we do is a wonderful gift," he added. "You go out and play
football. There is massive amounts of pressure but the guys at Amref and
other charities are trying to save lives and that is real pressure." AMREF
has more than 600 people working throughout the Africa, attempting to
improve the lives of people in some of the harshest and poorest climates in
the world. If you would like to sponsor Robert on his climb, you can find
his page on www.justgiving.com/robertgreenkiliclimb.
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Irons target hot start - Echo News
By Rob Pritchard
WEST Ham captain Lucas Neill believes the Premier League fixture computer
has done the Irons an early-season favour. The Hammers do not face any of
the Premier League's big-four in their opening eight fixtures - during which
time they will host strugglers Wigan Athletic, Fulham and Bolton Wanderers
and travel to newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion and Hull City. And the
Australian insists there is no reason why Alan Curbishley's men cannot be
among the front-runners when they host Arsenal on their ninth Premier League
outing on Saturday, October 25. "When the fixtures come out it gives you
something to focus on straight away and you switch your mentality from being
on a break and recovering from last season to preparing and getting fit and
ready for the new season," the 30-year-old skipper told whufc.com "It is
good to be starting at home (against Wigan on August 16) as it should mean
we get off to a positive start and state our intentions for the season and
finishing at home (against Middlesbrough on May 24, 2009) as well is always
good.
"There are obviously two newly-promoted teams who will also be finding their
feet and Fulham, Bolton and Wigan all finished at the wrong end of the table
last season so, on paper, it does look like we could start very well, but
there are no easy games in the Premier League as we all know."
West Ham's cause will also be boosted by the return of forwards Craig
Bellamy, Kieron Dyer and Julien Faubert from long-term injuries, while
winger Matty Etherington and defender Danny Gabbidon should also be
available to face the Latics. And Neill is looking forward to a 2008/09
season in stark contrast to the 50-plus injuries the club suffered last
term. "Another thing the fixtures coming out does is give everyone the
chance to draw a line under last season and the injury problems we had," he
added. "The injured players and physios have been working very hard over the
summer to get everyone back for pre-season and it looks like the manager
will have a near-on fully-fit squad to choose from for the Wigan game. "As
captain, that is a very exciting prospect as I can really see this squad
reaching it's full potential this season."
Meanwhile, a West Ham source has dismissed stories linking the club to a bid
for Reading midfielder James Harper as "pure speculation". The
Chelmsford-born 27-year-old had been linked with a £3million move to Upton
Park.
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Aston Villa set to bid for Anton Ferdinand - Birmingham Mail
Jun 19 2008 By Bill Howell
MARTIN O'Neill is keen on West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand and could follow
up his interest with a firm bid for the 23-year-old, who has been made
available by Alan Curbishley at the right price. O'Neill is looking for
quality reinforcements ahead of the InterToto campaign in a month's time.
Ferdinand has been heavily linked with a £6million move to Tottenham in
recent weeks but O'Neill could decide to steal in and firm up his liking for
a player who has, perhaps, lost his way a little after five years of
guaranteed first-team football. O'Neill has Martin Laursen and Zat Knight as
his only fit central defenders with Curtis Davies out until October and
youngster Stephen O'Halloran recovering from a knee injury. Ferdinand, aged
22 – younger brother of Manchester United's Rio – could join former Hammers
team-mates Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood at Villa Park should O'Neill
push through a deal. West Ham have previously indicated they are willing to
listen to offers for Ferdinand with manager Curbishley seemingly under
pressure to cut the Upton Park wage bill this summer.
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HAMMERS TALK: Keeper Green being linked with Spurs and Villa - Guardian
Series
Comment | Read Comments (13)
WEST Ham goalkeeper Robert Green reported to be interesting both Tottenham
and Aston Villa, writes Sam Lom-Bor. The Times have reported that the
England shot-stopper's current contract situation has caught the attention
of Juande Ramos and Martin O'Neill. Both managers have been looking to boost
their squad in the goalkeeper area, and may take the delay of Green's
contract situation as a chance to obtain the 28-year-old. Green at present
is being paid a reported £28,000 a week and with West Ham unwilling to
increase his salary by more than £5,000, Tottenham and Villa may come
calling with offers for the one-time England international's services.
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Spurs face competition from Villa for £6m-rated Ferdinand - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 8:37 PM on 19th June 2008
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is considering a bid for West Ham
defender Anton Ferdinand. O'Neill needs to strengthen his defence this
summer with Curtis Davies out injured until October and Olof Mellberg now at
Juventus. West Ham are believed to be open to offers for the £6m-rated
Ferdinand who has been linked with a move to Tottenham.
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Toons Fab Battle with Hammers - The Sun
NEWCASTLE and West Ham are set to do battle as they chase Deportivo La
Coruna's Fabricio Coloccini. The centre-half has been outstanding in La
Liga and Hammers boss Alan Curbishley and his Toon counterpart Kevin Keegan
are keen to land him. Argentine star Coloccini, 26, would cost around
£12million and admits he is waiting to see where he will be playing next
season. He said: "There has been a lot spoken about my future but there have
been no concrete offers. "At the moment I am thinking about my selection for
the Argentina team and then about my holiday."
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Everton legend Southall: West Ham's Wright wasn't up to it
tribalfooball.com - June 19, 2008
Everton legend Neville Southall says former Blues goalkeeper Richard Wright
wasn't good enough for a club of their size. Southall told evertonfc.com: "I
think you had Richard Wright in Paul Gerrard. I didn't quite see the sense
in bringing Richard in because I thought Paul was as good, if not better
than Richard. "Paul had that experience of playing in the Premier League but
I think Richard probably got found out at that level. Again he'd been at
Ipswich where you could have a couple of worldies and then nothing for six
months. "Richard is a really talented goalkeeper but he couldn't really make
that step up to world class. It's a shame." Wright is currently No2 at West
Ham United.
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Hammers line up £9.5million Johnson bid - FansFC
07:30 June, 20, 2008
West Ham United Football Club are set to make a 'take it or leave it' bid
for Andy Johnson. The Londoners have been linked with the England
international for much of this year, despite the fact the striker has only
recently penned a new deal to remain on Merseyside with Everton. However,
this will not stop Alan Curbishley for making an official £9.5million bid
for the Toffees star, as he plans to link him up with Dean Ashton at Upton
Park next season. If, as is expected, David Moyes rejects this offer, then
the Hammers will finally end their interest in Johnson and turn their
attentions elsewhere during the summer window.
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