Daily WHUFC News - 16th June 2013

On this day - 16 June
WHUFC.com
A couple of West Ham United players faced each other on this day 17 years ago
16.06.2013

Anniversary
Croatia 3-0 Denmark
UEFA European Championship Finals Group D
16 June 1996
Two Hammers players came face to face at Euro 96, when Croatia took on Denmark in a Group D fixture at Hillsborough. Danish defender Marc Rieper scored two goals in 42 games for the Hammers in the season preceding the tournament, while fellow defender Slaven Bilic, who joined the Hammers in January of that year from German side Karlsruher, was earning his seventh cap for Croatia. It would be Bilic who would end the match far the happier, as the Croats went on to claim a 3-0 victory which secured their place in the quarter finals with a game to spare and knocked defending champions Denmark out. The game was still finely poised going into the final nine minutes, with Davor Suker's opener the difference at that stage, but a second goal from Zvonimir Boban and Suker's 90th minute breakaway strike gave Croatia a comfortable win. Croatia were defeated 3-0 by Portugal in their final group game, before exiting the tournament at the last-eight stage with a 2-1 loss to eventual winners Germany.

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Trust hails Learning Academy trials
WHUFC.com
The first West Ham United Community Sports Trust Learning Academy trials proved to be a great success
15.06.2013

West Ham United Community Sports Trust social inclusion officer George Chukwuma has hailed the success of the Trust's first-ever Learning Academy trial.
Nearly 50 teenagers turned out to show off their skills in a bid to win a place at the Learning Academy, which will see youngsters educated through sport, learning the transferable skills that are required by athletes. Trust partner Newham College will offer participants the opportunity to choose from a variety of vocational and academic courses, giving talented young sportsmen and women the opportunity to develop their skills and career. Following the first of two trials, Chukwuma said the Trust was delighted with the interest shown in the course by local youngsters. "What is happening is that the Trust has partnered up with Newham College to work on a programme to try to get participants to join our Learning Academy," said Chukwuma. "They will do their education with Newham College and they come to train with us three days a week and also play a game on the Wednesday in the College League. "It's another little scholarship and giving local boys from the area a chance to do what they love doing, which is playing football, but at the same time educating them and giving them more opportunities in life. "They do not have to do a sports course at college. They can pick any course at Newham College, so that will be very good for them."

A second trial will take place on Saturday 22 June between 12pm-3pm at the West Ham United Community Sports Trust, 60A Albatross Close, off Woolwich Manor Way, Beckton, London, E6 5NX. East London-born Chukwuma himself worked his way up through the Trust himself, having started out as a volunteer, and he believes many other local youngsters can follow a similar path by joining the Learning Academy. Chukwuma added that the most-promising youngsters to attend the Learning Academy could even forge themselves careers in the game if they are good enough. "The boys who came to the first trial and who will attend the second have an opportunity, and if there are any good, talented players we can direct them to the right people and get them the right coaching.
"We want to move them all forward and get them opportunities, which is why these types of courses are so good for the local boys from this area. "Those involved in this course get their FA Level 1 coaching badge if they want to take that route into coaching. They also get Community Leadership Levels 1 and 2 and we also give them great experience to go out into the local community to work with clubs and schools. "It will provide them with opportunities and qualifications and experience which will all be good for them."

West Ham United Community Sports Trust is involved in a wide range of programmes across east London and Essex, including the Kickz social inclusion scheme, Health and wellbeing projects, Employability, training, apprenticeships and enterprise schemes, Football development, Multi-sports coaching and participation and the West Ham United Inspire Learning Centre. Equalities, inclusion and cohesion are themes that are common across all programmes that the Trust delivers. Within these there are specific initiatives to promote inclusion and participation in specific areas, such as disability sports, girls' and women's sports, Asians in sport (as part of the PL4Sports Project) and Faith & Football. The importance of the Trust's role will only increase within the context of the club's proposed move to the Olympic Stadium and the need to deliver, long-term, the London 2012 community and sporting legacy.

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The Running Man
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis speaks of his promise as a young athlete before football took over
15.06.2013

It may not come as a huge surprise that speedy Hammers winger Matt Jarvis was a talented athlete as a youngster. The former Gillingham and Wolves man competed at county level for Surrey, where he grew up, before full-time football took over for him at the age of 16. He recently told athletics magazine Spikes of his promise as a junior and the West Ham TV cameras were on hand to capture his thoughts. Jarvis said: "I used to swim and do athletics, as well as play football, so I used to do lots of different things. "I don't know why I used to do it, but I used to run the 800m, 1500m and the long-distance cross-country rather than the sprints. "But I used to enjoy it, especially the cross-country. You'd be running up hills and through forests, and it was enjoyable. "My biggest achievement in athletics would be doing a run in Nottingham, which was a European qualifier. I was running a year above my age group, and I was the top Surrey runner, so that was pretty good. "Football was always the priority for me - I'd play a game of football if there was a clash between that and an athletics meeting - and when it went to 16 and leaving school that was when everything else had to take a sidestep. "I do watch athletics on TV now - more the track - I like to keep an eye out and watch."

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Penfold's progress
WHUFC.com
Jamie Penfold will run and cycle 400 miles in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK
15.06.2013

West Ham United fan Jamie Penfold will honour the memory of Hammers and England legend Bobby Moore OBE when he undertakes an amazing endurance challenge in June. Penfold will run and cycle more than 400 miles from Newcastle United's St James' Park to the Boleyn Ground over six days between 17-22 June to raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK. The professional photographer will run three marathons over three consecutive days along Hadrian's Wall before cycling from Newcastle to east London via Wembley over the next three days. Penfold, who was picked as a London 2012 Torchbearer in recognition of the fundraising he has done for the charity, is hoping to raise £5,000 for the Bobby Moore Fund. The charity was founded in 1993 following the death of West Ham and England captain Moore from bowel cancer at the age of just 51. Since then, the Fund has raised more than £19m for research into and raising awareness of the disease. "I've been training for a couple of months now," confirmed Penfold. "It will feel such an achievement when I reach London on 22 June, knowing that I've done it in memory of such a great man. "Bobby was cruelly taken from us at the age of 51, 20 years ago this year. He never got the recognition he deserved in life and that is why the Bobby Moore Fund is so important. "Hopefully every pound raised is another step towards finding a cure for this terrible disease."

To follow Penfold's progress between 17-22 June, visit his blog here http://memoriesandemotions.co.uk/

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Andy Carroll transfer decision due this week as striker returns from holiday to answer West Ham's offer
15 Jun 2013 23:01
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce revealed last night that Andy Carroll is just days away from giving his answer on a £100,000-a-week permanent move to West Ham, writes the Sunday People's Steve Bates . Hammers boss Allardyce, currently on holiday at his Spanish villa, expects the on-loan Liverpool striker to rubber-stamp a £15million six-year deal when he returns from his own sunshine break in Florida this week. Speaking from his bolt-hole in Spain, Allardyce confirmed that all the elements of the switch are in place and Carroll's decision is imminent. Big Sam said: "We are both out of the country but most of the negotiations are done and the financial agreement between us and Liverpool is in place. "It's about communicating with Andy and his agent between London, here in Spain where I am and Florida where Andy is. "I've no real need to speak to him over his decision. I've spoken to him enough times so he knows what I think and it's up to him. "He's back in the next few days so we should have a definitive answer by the end of next week."

The Hammers will smash their wage structure to land the 24-year-old, who was signed from Newcastle for £35m by Liverpool. It is also believed the Merseysiders will give Carroll a £2m "golden goodbye" pay-off as he did not ask to leave Anfield.

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West Ham's Gary O'Neil is dealt Hammer blow
Express.co.uk
Published: Sun, June 16, 2013

WEST HAM midfielder Gary O'Neil wants to stay at Upton Park despite being named on the Premier League's free transfer list, which was released on Friday.
The midfielder filled a crucial role for the Hammers last season after a shoulder injury ruled out Mark Noble for a lengthy period. Negotiations have been ongoing between 30-year-old O'Neil and the east London club but there is no sign of a deal being struck.

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Henderson Close to Loan Return
Saturday, 15th Jun 2013 22:30
Twtd.co.uk

TWTD understands that Town are close to completing the re-signing of West Ham keeper Stephen Henderson on a season-loan loan. Henderson spent two spells with the Blues during 2012/13, initially between October and January when he made 16 appearances before returning later that month and playing eight games prior to being recalled by the Hammers after their young keeper Raphael Spiegel suffered a finger injury. With West Ham recently having signed Spanish keeper Adrian on a free transfer from Real Betis as competition for last season's first choice Jussi Jaaskelainen, Henderson's opportunities at Upton Park would be limited during the campaign ahead.

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West Ham United eye Chelsea cast-offs Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou as they wait on Andy Carroll decision
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt10:00PM BST 15 Jun 2013

West Ham United are considering rescuing Florent Malouda's Premier League career 10 months after the French international was exiled by Chelsea. The 33-year-old winger is available on a free transfer having been forced to play out the final year of his contract by training with Chelsea's academy players. Malouda was ostracised after refusing to take a pay‑cut to leave Chelsea last summer and has not featured since the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in May 2012. Chelsea tried to force Malouda out and were angry that he would not leave despite offers from other clubs. It had been assumed that Malouda, who spent six years at Chelsea after signing for £13 million from Lyon, would move to Brazil but he has now been offered to West Ham. The London club must now weigh up whether he still has the desire to play in the top flight. Malouda is not the only player with Chelsea links being considered by West Ham. The club have also been offered the chance to sign Salomon Kalou, who left Stamford Bridge last year after his contract expired and moved to the French club Lille.
It is understood, however, that the 27 year-old Ivory Coast international is keen to return to England and would want to join West Ham if an offer is made.
Meanwhile, West Ham are increasingly confident that Andy Carroll might remain at the club. A fee of £15.5 million has been agreed with the striker's club, Liverpool, but Carroll has stalled on finalising the move leading to concerns at West Ham that he might not join them. West Ham are considering other options, including Vitesse Arnhem's £12 million-rated striker Wilfried Bony, but hope when Carroll returns from holiday at the end of next week he will sign for them. West Ham are also monitoring whether Demba Ba might leave Chelsea and would like to sign their former striker on loan.

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