Alan Curbishley's side are heading to North America in July to take on the
elite of Major League Soccer
03.04.2008
West Ham United have been chosen to take part in the 2008 Pepsi MLS All-Star
Game in Toronto, Canada on Thursday 24 July.
In the high-profile match, which kicks off at 7pm local time and is set to
be televised around the world, the club will take on a selection of Major
League Soccer's best players. These will be chosen from the 14 participating
clubs, under the name of the MLS All-Stars and could potentially feature LA
Galaxy and England's David Beckham. The fixture will be played at BMO Field,
home of Toronto FC. Last year's game, also played under the theme of 'MLS
Takes on the World', saw the All-Stars win 2-0 against Celtic.
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "It is an honour to be taking part
in the MLS All-Star Game this July. The club has a strong global fan base
and we are working hard to increase our international exposure as well as
help the game develop at grassroots level across North America. Our players
are all looking forward to the challenge. It will be a great experience both
for the established names in our squad and our talented youngsters. We are
sure it will be a competitive and memorable occasion."
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said: "Toronto's support of Major League Soccer
has been nothing short of extraordinary ... The TFC supporters and other
fans from around the league will provide a vibrant and enthusiastic setting
for the game." Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating
officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment who are staging the game in
conjunction with MLS, added: "This midseason event will earn exposure for
our great city in more than 100 countries, while providing an economic
injection to tourism."
West Ham United and England defender Matthew Upson said: "It is a fantastic
opportunity for us to take on the MLS All-Stars in Canada. Football is huge
over there right now and it will be a really exciting match in front of a
sell-out crowd where we will get to test ourselves against some of the best
MLS players which will serve as great preparation for the new season."
The match will have special significance for Jonathan Spector, the West Ham
United and United States defender, who could come up against some former
colleagues and international team-mates. "It will be a lot of fun," he said.
"They will be in the middle of their season, it will be pre-season for us,
so the goals of the two teams will be completely different but it is
certainly something that we will all be looking forward to. It will be a
good test for us in our pre-season preparations.
"For me it will be nice to play in the MLS All-Star Game. It is a big game
for them and they have played some big clubs. Chelsea have gone out there
and some other really well known clubs. It is an honour that West Ham has
been selected to participate in the game. I am certainly looking forward to
it." Spector added that he believed the MLS would continue to go from
strength to strength. "It has taken a lot of time and will probably take a
lot more time but the league continues to grow. They keep adding more and
more teams and it is exciting to see that as an American."
Major League Soccer is now into its 13th season since being launched back in
1996 and has steadily grown into the 14-team competition featuring teams
from across the United States and Canada. Further expansion is taking place
all the time with an additional two teams due to be taking part by 2010.
Clubs are divided into two divisions - Eastern and Western - and play a
30-game campaign before the end of season play-offs to determine who is
crowned MLS champion. Houston Dynamo have won the last two titles.
whufc.com will have more information as and when confirmed regarding the MLS
All-Star game. Also to come are full details of the programme - with the
North American tour commencing in the United States before the high-profile
international climax in Toronto, Canada. For more information on tickets for
the MLS All-Star Game, visit www.torontofc.ca or www.mlsnet.com
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Man Utd game goes live - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd April 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's Premier League visit to Old Trafford has been brought
forward for the purposes of live TV coverage. The Hammers will face the
reigning Premier League champions on 3rd May - as planned - but the kick off
time has been brought forward to midday as the match has been selected for
live broadcast by Sky Sports. Alan Curbishley's side have beaten Man Utd
three time in their last four meetings, most notably when a single Carlos
Tevez goal ensured Premier League survivial for the Irons on the final day
of the 2006/07 season. The only previous meeting between the two sides thus
far this term saw the Hammers fall behind early on to a Ronaldo goal before
late strikes from Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson ensured United ran out
2-1 winners.
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Dux on MLS friendly - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd April 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have finally confirmed that they will face an MLS select in
Canada this summer. KUMB.com revealed last month that the Hammers would be
facing the best of the USA's Major Soccer League in Toronto on Thursday,
24th July. Scott Duxbury, talking to whufc.com after the fixture was finally
confirmed earlier today said: "It is an honour to be taking part. The club
has a strong global fan base and we are working hard to increase our
international exposure as well as help the game develop at grassroots level
across North America. "Our players are all looking forward to the
challenge. It will be a great experience both for the established names in
our squad and our talented youngsters. "We are sure it will be a
competitive and memorable occasion."
United's American defender, Jonathan Spector added: "For me it will be nice
to play in the MLS All-Star Game. It is a big game for them. "It is an
honour that West Ham has been selected to participate in the game. I am
certainly looking forward to it."
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Strike off - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Good news for travelling Hammers fans - the tube strike planned for next
week has been cancelled. The RMA and TSSA announced plans last week to
strike between Sunday 6th April and Wednesday 9th, which would have meant
misery for thousands of United supporters who would normally use the
underground in order to attend West Ham's fixture against Portsmouth.
However the 72-hour walkout was suspended earlier today after thousands of
station staff agreed to suspend industrial action. The Hammers face
Portsmouth at the Boleyn Ground next Tuesday night; Pompey are next in
action this weekend when they take on West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup
semi-final.
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Reid tempted by Selhurst move - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd April 2008
By: Staff Writer
On-loan Kyel Reid has said that he would not be averse to making his current
loan move with Crystal Palace permanent. The left-sided midfielder joined
the Championship outfit on loan a week ago and made his debut for the Eagles
as a substitute at the weekend. Having made only intermittant appearances in
the West Ham first team it seems as if the 20-year-old's future may lie
elsewhere - and with that in mind, Reid has revealed that he would be happy
to drop down a level in order to gain first team football. Talking to the
Croydon Advertiser, the winger said: "I will sit down with Alan Curbishley
at the end of the season and see what his plans are for me. Then I will have
a chat with my agent and see what his opinion is and what offers I have. "My
ultimate aim would be to break into the West Ham first team - but if that
doesn't work out then I'll have to look elsewhere. "If it doesn't work out
for me at West Ham then Palace would be a good move for me - I'm a south
London boy so it would be an easy transition for me."
Reid has made just two starts since signing professional terms with the
Hammers in the summer of 2005.
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Carr on Bondz - KUMB
Filed: Wednesday, 2nd April 2008
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr has been speaking about the decision to offer a new contract to
centre-half Bondz N'Gala. The highly-rated 18-year-old put pen to paper on a
new deal earlier this week having become a regular performer at reserve
level under Kevin Keen, having emerged from Carr's youth set-up. Talking to
whufc.com, Carr said: "Bondz has signed a professional contract and at the
moment the youth team and the Academy are having a good little spell. "We
are getting players into the first team and the boys are still getting good
results. Things couldn't be better at the moment. "I am really pleased with
the way things have gone in the last couple of months. We have got more to
come, we hope."
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Fears grow for injured Upson - Setanta
by Tom Adams, 03 April 2008
Fears are growing that Matthew Upson may miss the remainder of the season
for West Ham as a result of a calf injury. The England international has not
played since the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool in March and reports claim that
scans have revealed the recurrence of an injury that kept him out for the
final three months of last season. West Ham's medical staff are currently
the most over-worked in The Premier League with no less than 15 first team
players currently jostling for space on the treatment table, and manager
Alan Curbishley has made no secret of his intense frustration at the growing
injury list.
"We are completely stretched to the limit," said Curbishley in the East
London Advertiser. "Everyone can see the problems we've had if they look at
the back of the programme. It's frightening - we've got another team out
there. "It's just been the story of the season - lots of people have been
out injured long-term and the players that have been playing have had to
play every week without a break. It's got to the chronic stage. "We want to
finish the season as strongly as we can and we need to put some wins on the
board. We'll just have to see who we've got for Tuesday [against
Portsmouth]."
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Yeovil take ex-West Ham winger on trial - FansFC.com
05:50 April, 4, 2008
Yeovil Town manager Russell Slade has said the club are giving a trial to
Shaun Newton. The 32-year-old, released by Leicester in January, could play
for the reserves on Tuesday night against Bournemouth and Slade said he is
also keen to sort out the future of Yeovil players like captain Terry
Skiverton.
"You have to look at the bigger picture," he said. "The likes of Terry
Skiverton are pivotal to anything we do in terms of restructuring." "It's
important that we get his contract signed up and done and dusted."
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Matthew Upson set to miss rest of West Ham's season - the Mirror
4/04/2008
Matthew Upson looks set to miss the rest of West Ham's season after failing
to recover from a calf injury. The England defender, one of 15 first-team
players now sidelined, sustained the injury during last month's 4-0 defeat
against Liverpool. Upson was expected to be missing for just a week, but
scans have revealed a recurrence of the problem. Since limping out of the
hammering at Anfield, West Ham have conceded 10 goals in four-and-a-half
matches.
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West Ham trials for 12 American prospects
tribalfootball.com - April 03, 2008
West Ham United have handed trials to 12 top American prospects as part of
their link-up with United Soccer Leagues. The USL provides the second and
third division of professional football in the United States, as well as
Under-23, Under-20, youth and women's leagues with clubs across the US,
Canada and Caribbean. Ryan Lehman, of Atlanta Fire United, told the USL
website: "The biggest difference I have noticed between soccer in the US and
soccer in England is the speed of play. "The players also have a lot more
discipline in their training. Where a few kids would tend to slack off back
home, everyone here is focused on what they are doing and what the coach is
saying." "The trip has been great so far," added midfielder Lehman. "We are
staying in a hotel that overlooks the stadium. Everything is just amazing.
Heading over here, I knew it would be fun, a once-in-a-lifetime experience -
but it has gone far above my expectations."
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West Ham delighted after being named MLS Allstars opponent
tribalfooball.com - April 03, 2008
West Ham United will be the opponents for the annual MLS Allstar game in
July. In the high-profile match, which kicks off at 7pm local time and is
set to be televised around the world, the club will take on a selection of
Major League Soccer's best players. These will be chosen from the 14
participating clubs, under the name of the MLS All-Stars and could
potentially feature LA Galaxy and England's David Beckham.
Hammers chief Scott Duxbury said: "It is an honour to be taking part in the
MLS All-Star Game this July. The club has a strong global fan base and we
are working hard to increase our international exposure as well as help the
game develop at grassroots level across North America. Our players are all
looking forward to the challenge. It will be a great experience both for the
established names in our squad and our talented youngsters. We are sure it
will be a competitive and memorable occasion."
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Ipswich boss demands better from West Ham, Portsmouth target Haynes
tribalfooball.com - April 03, 2008
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton is demanding more from Portsmouth and West Ham
target Danny Haynes. Magilton told the Evening Star: "If my players are
being linked with Premier League clubs then it shows they are doing
something right. "Danny has done well for us this season and is progressing.
He has added some extra qualities to his game and it shows that he is
improving if he is being linked with Premier League clubs. "He signed a new
contract this season though. He's a key part of our squad and I'm looking
for him to play his part over the rest of the season."
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