Daily WHUFC News - 12th March 2014

Carr honoured by Willow Foundation
WHUFC.com
Academy Director Tony Carr MBE has been recognised by Bob Wilson's Willow
Foundation charity
11.03.2014

Academy Director Tony Carr MBE has been recognised by the Willow Foundation
for his long service to West Ham United and youth development. Carr was also
honoured at the charity's London Football Legends Awards, which were hosted
at the the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel in central London. There, Carr was
presented with the Willow Award in recognition for his contribution off the
pitch in coaching hundreds of youngsters through the Academy of Football.
The Willow Foundation was established in 1999 by former Arsenal and England
goalkeeper Bob Wilson following the death of his daughter Anna from cancer
at the age of 31. The charity provides unique and positive Special Days for
seriously ill people aged between 16 and 40. The London Football Legends
Awards were attended by a host of the capital's biggest football names,
including former Hammers Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Trevor Brooking and Jimmy
Greaves, and raised thousands of pounds for the Willow Foundation. "When I
got the phone call asking me to attend the dinner because I was being
presented with this award picked by a panel of judges, that in itself was
humbling and I was grateful to accept it," Carr, who was presented with his
award by former Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Gary Mabbutt told
West Ham TV. "Basically, it was in recognition of my long service to the
Club and the acheivement, not only my own, but of the Academy generally over
a number of years. "It was good. I bumped into Geoff Hurst and we had a long
conversation. He is living down in Cheltenham now and had been invited to
present one of the prizes. I also had a long conversation with [former
Chelsea player and manager] John Hollins and [Arsenal legend] Frank
McLintock and other guys who I have known throughout the years and bumped
into at various stages. "Jimmy Greaves was there and he gave a very good
presentation and talk and was quite jovial, so there were lots of old faces
there and lots of London football legends, so it was nice to be part of
that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
'There's nothing like being here'
WHUFC.com
American Hammers had plenty to smile about despite missing out on live
football at the Boleyn Ground
11.03.2014

West Ham United's dedicated foreign legion go to great lengths to watch the
Hammers, not least those from the United States of America. So it was to the
despair of many an overseas Hammer to discover that the visit of Hull City
had been rearranged owing to the Tigers' FA Cup progress. Postponement or
not, for Andrew Goldberg and Jackson Cooper rescheduling was hardly an
option. With flights and accommodation already booked, all that remained was
to fathom how to mark a first trip to the Boleyn Ground, without any
football that is. As Goldberg of New York explained: "Alas, when we made our
plans and convinced the wives to let us have a boys' weekend, we didn't
realise it was Cup quarter-final weekend, and we are now coming nearly 7,000
miles roundtrip to sit in the pub!"

Goldberg, who had hoped to surprise best mate Joel Zuercher for his 40th
birthday, came knocking at the Club's door, keen to revive their east London
knees up. Ironically, so did fellow American Cooper, having already garnered
support and sympathy on Hammers fansites. The Club, of course, were
delighted to oblige, with Hammers historian John Helliar stepping in to
conduct a private Boleyn Ground tour. Birthday boy Zuercher and Cooper were
presented with shirts for their troubles, before soaking in the sights
behind the scenes. Zuercher, who spent five years of his youth in London,
first watched the Hammers down Arsenal in the 1980 FA Cup final and has been
hooked ever since. "It has been great and I really appreciate the Club doing
this," he confirmed. "It was totally not what I was expecting but this has
been fantastic. "Getting a chance to hear all the history, to actually see a
pitch that I've seen so many times on TV. To see all the stands that the
supporters talk about, the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, the Bobby Moore Stand,
it's just awesome to be here in person. "Back in the States it's great now
because you can watch just about every game on television, which makes it
easy to follow, but there's nothing like being here. "I have a very patient
wife and two children and I hope I get another chance to come back!"

Compatriot Goldberg, meanwhile, was amazed at the Club's response, admitting
he had made contact in hope rather than expectation. "Honestly, I didn't
expect much," he told West Ham TV. "If you did this in the States, you would
probably hear back in about a year from the Club, saying thanks and no! But
I just threw it out there and West Ham got back two days later. I couldn't
have been more excited then and I can't be more excited now. It has been
fantastic. It makes up [for the postponement] and more."

Cooper, sporting two Hammers shirts no less, was every bit as impressed by
the Hammers' hospitality, hailing his once-in-a-lifetime experience. He
said: "I'm feeling great. This is unbelievable, I had no idea this was going
to happen. I came in and I got a shirt right away with my name on the back.
It has just been a phenomenal trip. "I'm not saying it's better than seeing
a match but I'll be back, I can see a match another time, but this will
probably never happen again. An unbelievable experience, I mean we went
through every stand, every crevice of the Stadium. "At first, it was
actually kind of heart breaking, I was like how could this happen but then
the chain of events that happened - once in a lifetime. Going from there to
actually being by the pitch, having my name on a jersey, being in the
stands, everything has just been wonderful. "I watch every game and
sometimes even, being on the west coast, we have matches that will be about
four in the morning. I just remember waking up, or staying up the whole
night. Just great memories, the Championship Play-Off final was
unbelievable. So it kind of built upon itself and I fell in love with the
Club like everyone probably does."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mohamed Diame aiming to help West Ham get back to winning ways
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo | Last Updated: 11/03/14
12:27pm
SSN

West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame insists the whole squad remain focused on
picking up as many points as possible to secure their Premier League
survival. The Hammers have moved clear of trouble at the wrong end of the
table after picking up four wins in their last five games to lift themselves
six points above the drop zone. West Ham saw their good run of form ended by
Everton last time out and Diame insists they are keen to get back to winning
ways as soon as possible. Things are good amongst the squad," Diame told the
club's official website. "After the game against Everton, I think it was
important to have some rest and a break to come back here and start again
and try to find the win again. "Now, we are back to league action and we are
in a better position than a few months ago, but we want to keep picking up
points. "We just need to keep going and need to make sure we take as many
points as possible by the end of the season."

Diame believes West Ham can go to Stoke this weekend and claim the three
points like they did last season. "Of course we can win there again, but
Stoke did well in their last (home) game by winning against Arsenal, so we
need to go there and try to give our best and come back with the win,"
concluded Diame.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
THE DAY WE WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO THE BOLEYN GROUND
By Sean Whetstone 11 Mar 2014 at 18:11
West Ham Till I Die

West Ham United's move to the Boleyn Ground laid the foundation for its
success as a professional club but ironically the move was forced on it by
it's original founder Arnold Hills, who found the concept of professional
sport morally repugnant.

Between 1900 and 1904, a series of small episodes occurred that showed the
growing estrangement between Arnold Hills and West Ham United. Among them
were the rejection of some of his nominees as prospective directors and
disputes over the rent for the Memorial Ground and the services provided
with it. At the end of the 1903 season, Hills informed West Ham rather
sharply that he trusted that they would be able to make new playing
arrangements for the coming year. He also wanted them to vacate the office
space they had been using in buildings owned by the Ironworks. Hills stated
that his refusal to rent the Memorial Ground to the club after 30th April
was because it was needed 'for the Amateur Thames Ironworks Team'. Although
Arnold Hills may have done West Ham a great favour by forcing the club to
move, the way in which he handled it left bitter feelings between the
directors and the Hills family. In late April 1904 the directors heard a
rumour that the Clapton Orient football team (a leading amateur club in East
London at the time) might use the Memorial Ground. Clapton Orient went on to
become a professional team and were later renamed Leyton Orient when they
moved to Leyton.The West Ham board of directors voted to 'publish a copy of
Mr Hills' letter to us in full in the press' if any team besides Thames
Ironworks used the Memorial Ground."

The directors had looked at the Boleyn Ground even before they knew they
would have to vacate the Memorial Ground, but they were not prepared for
Arnold Hills's sudden action or the new rent. As soon as the lease was
signed, the board passed formal resolutions to start a 'million penny'
collection scheme to aid the new ground and to 'communicate with
advertisement contractors with regards to hoardings on our new ground and
also ask the brewers for their personal assistance'. The result of Hills's
ultimatum was thus a firm slap at two of his cherished causes: amateur sport
and temperance. The final move to the Boleyn Ground was made on 1st May
1904. The rental provisions included the amalgamation of West Ham United
with the Boleyn Castle Football Club, 'taking their best players into our
reserve team'. The first match was played on 1st September 1904 against
Millwall Athletic. A crowd 10,000 spectators attended to watch West Ham win
3-0 with goals courtesy of a brace from Billy Bridgeman and the other from
Jack Flynn.

Boleyn Ground 1904

During the first season at the Boleyn Ground in 1904, West Ham turned the
previous season's £800 loss at the Memorial Ground into a £400 profit at the
Boleyn. There was a small decrease in wages, but this was more than
outweighed by the 100 per cent increase in rent for the ground (from £331 to
£662). The important difference was in the gate money, which rose from
£2,900 to £4,300. This was accomplished even though the club did not improve
its record on the field." Before the 1904 season, the West ham chairman's
report had been a combination of gloom (the past season's problems) and
optimism, 'with a new ground and new surroundings and with an almost new
team, the success that we have long hoped for will at last be ours'' The
directors had done much more than hope. They had raised more than £3,000 in
loans and had obtained a new site. The only creditors named in the club's
balance sheets were Arnold Hills (£107) and the Thames Ironworks Club (£85).
Both these debts were settled in 1905. New loans came from the chairman, the
three retiring directors who stood for re-election and the new directors.
The loss of the Memorial Ground had given the directors a chance to plan for
a new future. From 1905 the tone of West Ham United was set. It would be a
team competing at the highest level, one that depended on quality football
to attract supporters. It established itself in the heart of an area where
playing football was the usual recreation. The inclusion, for the first
time, of local politicians as vice-presidents, was another sign of the
attempt to consolidate community ties; the club was guided firmly by members
of the local business and professional class who were willing to invest
money and time. The directors could no longer be seen as extensions of Hills
or the Ironworks: they were civic personalities in their own right.

Source: West Ham United The Making of a Football Club (1987) by Professor
Charles Korr. The book is now out of print but second hand copies appear on
Ebay & Amazon.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United set to join growing transfer hunt for Gus Poyet's son Diego
Mar 11, 2014 11:30 By Paul Gorst
The Mirror

West Ham United have reportedly become the latest side to show an interest
in Charlton Athletic's teenage midfielder Diego Poyet. The 18-year-old, who
is the son of Sunderland boss Gustavo, is highly-rated despite making only a
handful of appearances for the Addicks. Poyet, who has played just seven
times for the Championship side, has attracted the attention of Hammers boss
Sam Allardyce, according to talkSPORT. Tottenham and Southampton are also
thought to be keeping an eye on the situation. However, any reports linking
him with a switch to Sunderland can probably be dismissed after the
Spanish-born teenager revealed that he wouldn't want to play under his dad.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the youngster said about a possible
link up with the Black Cats boss: "There were rumours of me moving to
Sunderland, but for the time being I'd rather do it for myself. I've always
said I wouldn't want to play under him. "My dad is my biggest critic. It has
disadvantages, but it has advantages because he has the knowledge and I can
learn from him. We used to have a kickabout, but not all the time. "He
didn't want to pressurise me or push me when I was young into doing
something. He just let me get on with it." Meanwhile, Chris Powell has been
sacked as Charlton boss with the London outfit sitting bottom of the
Championship.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com



---
This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active.
http://www.avast.com