WHUFC.com
Mark Noble retained the armband as the Under-21s saw off Spain in style at
the 2009 UEFA Euro
18.06.2009
Mark Noble will lead England into the semi-finals of the 2009 UEFA European
Under-21 Championship after an outstanding 2-0 win against Spain on
Thursday.
Stuart Pearce's side went into the game knowing victory in Gothenburg would
confirm their place in the last four but they were up against the
pre-tournament favourites Spain. After a keenly-fought first half, the match
opened up after the interval and superb strikes from Fraizer Campbell and
James Milner, following excellent build-up play, settled the contest in the
Young Lions' favour.
England recalled Nedum Onuoha in defence in place of the suspended Michael
Mancienne, following his dismissal in the Group B opening win against
Finland last Monday. That meant no place for James Tomkins, who figured as a
late substitute last time out. Noble flew the flag for West Ham United with
an accomplished display that befitted his status as captain although he was
feeling the effects of a tough game come the final whistle as his club-mate
waited to applaud him off the pitch.
The England No10 was a driving force in midfield while the likes of Milner,
Lee Cattermole and the outstanding Fabrice Muamba also shone. Pearce thought
his side had taken the lead just after the half-hour mark when Milner was
brought down but the Aston Villa man missed the resulting penalty. Spain had
their moments, most notably through Bojan's curler on 37 minutes, but
England took control after the break.
Campbell, on for first-half injury victim Gabriel Agbonlahor, had the
Spanish defenders constantly on the backfoot and fizzed in a low shot to
score after capitalising on a defensive mix-up in the 67th minute. Within
six minutes, fellow replacement Theo Walcott roared down the left wing after
bright play involving Noble and Cattermole before sliding it back for Milner
to wrap up the win.
With Germany winning 2-0 against Finland earlier on Thursday, England have a
two-point advantage on them before they meet in Halmstad on Monday. A win or
draw would confirm top spot for Pearce's side with their opponents in the
semi-finals on Friday week far from decided. Group A is wide open with
Sweden, Italy, Serbia and Belarus all still in with a shout for the two
last-four places after just one round of matches played in that section.
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Fans flock for new kit
WHUFC.com
The new away kit has proved a big hit with fans who rushed to buy it on
Thursday morning
18.06.2009
There was a big demand for the new West Ham United away kit when it was
launched at 9am on Thursday
There were groups of fans waiting outside the Stadium and Lakeside stores
before they opened as supporters vied to be the first to get their hands on
the kit Gianfranco Zola's side will wear on their travels during the 2009/10
campaign. By lunchtime, more than 400 had been sold at the club stores, on
top of the 5,000 items pre-ordered through the online Megastore before the
launch.
At the Stadium store, one of the first lucky customers to get their hands on
the new dark blue strip was Leanne West, who was joined by children Callum,
seven, and Niamh, three.
"We came to beat the mad rush. The kids have been off school because they're
not well so I just thought we should get there nice and early and get it,"
Leanne said.
"I only came down to get one for their father for Fathers Day but he guessed
what we were doing so he said to get them both one as well. I think it's a
lovely kit."
Callum was determined to look the part as he proudly posed in his new kit.
"I wanted the name, the number and the Premier League badges and it feels
like I'm playing for West Ham United. I think it's brilliant and I want to
wear it every single week."
The Lakeside store is open until 10pm on Thursday to help cope with demand.
Alternatively, if you cannot make it to either store, you can order your kit
through the official online Megastore
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Youngsters have day to remember
WHUFC.com
The Boleyn Ground hosted a successful Under-11s tournament for children from
the local area
18.06.2009
West Ham United Community Sports Trust have staged another hugely successful
day for football-mad youngsters on the Boleyn Ground pitch.
The event began with an inter-borough Under-11 competition for boys and
girls featuring 14 teams. West Ham United representative sides came out on
top in all the events but the day was a success for everyone - and not just
those who took the winners' medals but also the community coaches and those
watching on.
West Ham United Community Sports Trust CEO Mick King believes the U11 events
are an important tool in giving youngsters living in the vicinity of the
Boleyn Ground access to the club that they might not normally get.
"This is an exciting opportunity for participating teams from different
cultural backgrounds that have been selected from our existing partnership
work with local schools and junior clubs," King said.
"It also provided an opportunity for parents to visit the stadium, enjoy the
occasion, and observe their child playing on the Boleyn Ground pitch."
Full results
Inter-Borough Under-11 Boys' Tournament
Final: West Ham United/Newham 3-1 Mile End/Tower Hamlets
Inter-Borough Under-11 Girls' Tournament
Final: West Ham United 3-0 Mile End/Tower Hamlets Select
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Abseil proves a success
WHUFC.com
West Ham United staff have been playing their part in raising money for the
Bobby Moore Fund
18.06.2009
Corporate sales advisor, Kim Montague and matchday hostess Caron Pettit
joined more than 30 other brave souls abseiling from the roof of the Bobby
Moore Stand to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK.
Kim has worked at the club for 30 years and Caron for 20, and between them,
the pair raised more than £4,000 for the charity, being joined on the day by
Bobby's widow Stephanie, who also made the descent.
The club is in the second year of a formal three-year partnership with the
Bobby Moore Fund (Registered Charity No. 1089464) and is involved in many
fundraising initiatives. On Saturday 8 August, the club will stage the
second Bobby Moore Cup with the pre-season fixture against SSC Napoli at the
Boleyn Ground.
On the day, £1 from the sale of every match ticket will go to the Fund to
help tackle bowel cancer. In addition, West Ham United will match each £1
raised to double the total amount donated to the charity. Click here for
more information including details of the reduced ticket prices
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Season shape-up - West Ham
We look at how sides are gearing up for the new campaign
Last updated: 18th June 2009
SSN
West Ham fans will be looking forward to the summer sales with renewed
optimism this year after the club announced they had been taken over. In the
our Shaping up for the Season series, Tony Curtis looks at where manager
Gianfranco Zola will need to splash the cash to build on his successful
start at Upton Park.
What's happened so far
In terms of transfers, very little - with the major developments coming
through the change of ownership at the club. Asset management group CB
Holding have takeover the running of the Hammers from previous owner
Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson to end fears over the club's financial future.
Gudmundsson was left with debts of around £300million through the impact of
the global economic crisis and the collapse of the Icelandic bank he was the
majority shareholder of. The knock-on effect meant that the future looked
less than rosy for the Hammers, with little hope of them being able to
seriously compete in the transfer market. However with the takeover of the
club by CB Holding, which is owned by Straumur-Burdaras Investment Bank, now
completed West Ham can look ahead with renewed optimism. New chairman Andrew
Bernhardt has promised funds for manager Gianfranco Zola to strengthen the
squad.
However before West Ham fans start getting carried away and hoping that they
could make a late bid for Ronaldo, it is worth noting that the pledge from
Bernhardt has come with a fairly hefty caveat. "I can assure fans we will
sanction investment in new players, but all within the parameters of
sensible budgeting based on revenues generated by West Ham United," said
Bernhardt.
In other words, it will be up to Zola and Steve Clarke to spend 'sensibly'
and find some rough diamonds to polish into Premier League quality. Zola has
already dipped in the transfer market by signing Peter Kurucz on a four-year
deal after the Hungarian Under-21 keeper impressed on loan. However the
focus will now be on the other areas that Zola needs to strengthen.
What they need
Ask any fan of any club what position they will need to strengthen and the
inevitable answer will be 'a striker'. And in the case of West Ham, that
answer could not be more apt. With Diego Tristan released, David Di Michele
failing to secure a long-term deal after his season-long spell at the club
and Freddie Sears set to be sent out on loan, the Hammers are left with just
Dean Ashton and Carlton Cole as their front line strikers. Neither are
strangers to the treatment room, so Zola certainly needs to bolster his
forward options with a couple of fresh faces. The departure of Lucas Neill
means that Zola also has a gap in his defence to fill, while a touch of
creativity in the midfield would not go a miss.
What they'll get
Inter Milan's Luis Jimenez has been tipped to be the answer to their
problems in attack, while Rod Fanni and Matthew Bates could fill the boots
of Neill. But despite being given the green light to spend, Zola will not be
handed a small fortune so will have to spend wisely. The demise of Newcastle
and Middlesbrough means there could be one or two bargains - with Bates,
Michael Owen, Gary O'Neil and Obafemi Martins among those that could tempt
Zola to get out the cheque book. Darren Bent could also be tempted away from
Tottenham, although West Ham would face stiff competition for his signature
- as they would for Eidur Gudjohnsen, who is currently linked to a move to
the Hammers.
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KOVAC WANTS WEST HAM
Daily Express
Friday June 19,2009
By Katherine Fenech Have your say(0)
RADOSLAV KOVAC has pleaded with West Ham to sign him on a permanent deal. He
spent the second half of last season on loan at Upton Park from Spartak
Moscow.
He made 10 appearances, but the Hammers refused to cough up the £4million
fee demanded by his club. Midfielder Kovac, 29, said: "I hope that West Ham
will still be able to come to an agreement with Spartak."
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Czech hopes for Hammers deal
by Tom Adams , 18 June 2009
setanta.co.uk
Radoslav Kovac has not given up hope of securing a permanent move to West
Ham but the Czech midfielder is also fielding interest from a rival English
club. Kovac, 29, joined The Hammers on loan from Spartak Moscow in January
and made nine Premier League appearances, scoring his solitary goal in the
3-1 defeat to Everton on May 16. West Ham announced at the start of June
that they would not be pursuing a permanent deal and Kovac is expected to
resume training with Spartak on July 1. However, the midfielder claims he
may yet remain in The Premier League, whether at Upton Park or elsewhere. "I
hope that West Ham will manage to find a common language with Spartak," said
Kovac. "In general I would agree to move to Hannover, but I would like to
stay in England where one more club showed interest in me. "Now I am on
vacations in Prague and I will return to Spartak at the end of June
according to my running contract with the Red and Whites. Maybe my future
will be clearer by this time."
Sunderland have been linked with a possible move for the midfielder in
recent weeks.
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England starlet set to choose West Ham over Tottenham
Thursday 18 Jun 2009 13:17:00 by Editor
The Proud Cockerel
Charlton Athletic midfielder Jonjo Shelvey looks unlikely to join Spurs as
he bids for a move to West Ham. Tottenham have not followed up an enquiry
about Charlton Athletic's Jonjo Shelvey after being told the midfielder has
his heart set on a move to West Ham, TPC understands. The 17-year-old was
earmarked as one for the future by the White Hart Lane hierarchy but have
been told that the Romford-born player would rather hold out for a move to
his boyhood idols from the east end than make a switch to Spurs at this
stage of his career. Separate TPC sources at both Spurs and West Ham have
confirmed the situation but it remains to be seen whether the Upton Park
outfit firm up their own interest in the player, possibly leaving the door
open for a late move in the window by Harry Redknapp if he can convince the
starlet to change his mind.
Shelvey, who recently represented England in the UEFA European Under-17
Championship finals, played 16 times for Charlton in the Championship last
season and caught the eye with three league goals. But the club's relegation
and financial situation have made a summer sale probable with a £3m price
being mooted.
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Pole: Hammers move would be 'cool'
by Adam Marshall , 18 June 2009
setanta.co.uk
Patryk Malecki has indicated that two Premier League clubs are on his trail,
setanta.com can reveal. The Wisla Krakow youngster has been strongly linked
with West Ham in the Polish media but could not confirm Gianfranco Zola's
Hammers are one of the sides interested in buying him. Wisla are in
negotiations over a new contract with the right-sided midfielder but there
are other options available to the 20-year-old. "I feel very well in
Krakow," the Poland Under-21 international informed Interia. "I would like
to play as long as possible in Krakow. "Wisla know what my conditions are
and the club is looking into them in July, and it seems I have to receive
the offer. "Let's see, it's been less than two weeks. "West Ham? No [I
can't confirm]. All I know is that Greek and English clubs are interested in
me. "I was informed that I have two Premier League clubs who would like me
in their squad. "If West Ham really want me, it would be cool."
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West Ham legend Di Canio eyeing Romania job
18.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United legend Paolo di Canio is set to kickoff his big-time
managerial career in Romania. Di Canio, who has admitted he'd love to work
in England, is in talks with Politehnica Iasi about the top job. Iasi are
expected to make a decision by the end of next week.
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West Ham, Blackburn tracking Roma's Perrotta
18.06.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are keeping tabs on Simone Perrotta's situation at Roma. The
Italy midfielder is waiting to open new contract talks and his agent, Beppe
Bozzo, admitted: "Simone's desire, as we have said for some period, is to
remain at Roma. "However, we can't rule out a transfer at this stage. "We
will evaluate any eventual options that we are given with Roma, but it will
depend on what clubs make an approach." Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce
is also keen.
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