Daily WHUFC News - 23rd May 2014

Big Sam outlines future plans
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is in positive mood as he looks to the
future
22.05.2014

Sam Allardyce has outlined his plan to lead West Ham United onwards and
upwards. The manager is in positive mood following his post-season review
meeting with the Board, where a number of plans were put into place with the
aim of playing a more expansive, entertaining brand of football in the
future. At the same time, the target of a top-ten finish has also been set
as the Hammers prepare for their move to the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium
in 2016. Big Sam and the Board will appoint a new attacking coach and
director of recruitment, while funds will be released for the signing of
players to improve the squad ahead of the Club's third season back in the
Barclays Premier League. "First of all, I want to say I am happy and proud
to continue for another season as West Ham manager," said Big Sam, who led
the Hammers to promotion in his first season in charge, followed by two
mid-table finishes in the top flight. "I have had good, fruitful meetings
with my employers and we are all in agreement that we want to move this
great Club forward in a united way. "To that end we - the Board, the staff,
the players - are unified in wanting to create an exciting team for next
season, one that is going to be better than last season. "We want to try and
achieve at least what we did in the first year back in the Barclays Premier
League, which was a top-ten finish."

With a challenging season that saw West Ham overcome injuries, suspensions
and agonising defeats to finish in 13th place now over, the manager is now
fully focused on bringing new talent to the Club. "We're already doing
everything we can to improve and increase the playing squad and we're hoping
to make signings as quickly as we can," he confirmed. Reflecting on his
post-season review meeting with the Board, Big Sam said there had been
agreement on the majority of matters relating to how to develop the squad
and improve both the playing style and results. "I sat down with the owners
and Karren Brady to discuss many things and the outcome of that meeting is
that we are all moving forward in a very positive manner," he continued.
"Things have been resolved satisfactorily on both sides - and we now look
forward to a productive summer and hopefully a very successful season."

Of the specific goals to emerge from the meeting, the manager welcomed the
additions of an attacking coach and director of recruitment to his staff.
"I'm enthusiastic about that idea. We all agreed that whoever comes in has
to be qualified and of the right type to supplement our already highly
qualified backroom staff, in whom I have complete confidence. "The
appointment is absolutely down to me and the challenge is to find the right
person to help us score more goals next season, because that is what we need
to do. "Regarding the plan to appoint a director of recruitment, I would say
there is always the need to expand that section of an ambitious football
club. "We need to compete in that area globally and being in charge of
recruitment is a very specialised position these days."

Finally, the manager shares the Board and supporters' view that the team
should play entertaining, attacking football whenever possible next season.
"There is no-one more disappointed than me when we don't play well," he
admitted. "Style of play is crucial, but it is also important that players
realise their capabilities and play to them on a consistent basis. "What we
are striving for is the players playing well, as they did in the final home
game of the season against Tottenham - a club who had spent many more
millions of pounds than us - but not for one game, but consistently. "We
will all be striving hard to achieve that consistency when we resume
training and if we can regularly find that standard, then I am sure the
supporters will be as happy as I will. "There were too many performances
last season that didn't measure up to the expectations we all have. There
were times when there were valid reasons why we fell short and other
occasions, particularly towards the end of the season, when the performance
was decent but we didn't win the game."

"Entertainment value, contrary to what some people say and think, is high on
my list and always has been because this is an entertainment business. "It
is also a results business, though, and we need to win matches. If we can
win games the right way next season then that has to be our ultimate aim and
number one priority, particularly at home. "We were magnificent at the
Boleyn Ground in our first season back in the top flight - only losing to
four teams. It was more difficult last season, but we have to try and get
back to that previous level. "I am not going to make any predictions at this
early stage - certainly not before looking to see what everyone else does
during the transfer window - but by the time we begin the new campaign we
should have a clearer picture of how far we feel we can go. We are all
aiming for a top-ten finish. "The past is the past, you can't change
anything - the crucial thing is to learn from it."

*Sam Allardyce was speaking in his column for the Evening Standard.

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Walker's World
WHUFC.com
Jimmy Walker fondly recalls an eventful five years with West Ham United - on
and off the pitch!
22.05.2014

He may have played just 20 times for West Ham United, but Jimmy Walker will
forever be loved by the Claret and Blue Army. The vertically-challenged
goalkeeper arrived from Walsall in summer 2004, saving a penalty from
Chelsea's Frank Lampard in just his third appearance before suffering a
serious knee injury in the Championship Play-Off final victory over Preston
North End the following May. While the injury, plus the arrivals of Shaka
Hislop, Roy Carroll and Robert Green, restricted his opportunities under
Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishley, Walker never allowed his lack of first-team
action to get him down. Instead, the Nottinghamshire-born goalkeeper
established himself as the life and soul of the Hammers dressing room, while
his entertaining Programme column 'Walker's World' lifted the lid on the
behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Chadwell Heath and the Boleyn Ground. Now
40 and working as goalkeeper coach at League One club Peterborough United,
Walker recently returned to east London to take part in a charity match for
Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
"I had a fantastic time here!" he confirmed. "Unfortunately, the injuries
didn't help matters but the fans remember the big games I played in. They
were great to me from the first game I played, right the way through to when
I was trying to get back from my knee injury and play games in the Premier
League. "Right the way through my time here, there was always something
going on - two Play-Off finals, then I did my knee, came back from that and
played in the Prem, then the FA Cup final and then we had the 'Great Escape'
at Manchester United with Tevez and all that - so what a fantastic time to
be at the Club. "I was just happy to be around the place and it was a
fantastic experience for me. I just wish I had been able to play a few more
games and really push for that No1 spot, but with the injury it was
difficult. I was here as long as I could be and enjoyed every minute I had
here."

While Walsall, where he spent 14 years in two spells as player and coach and
made more than 500 appearances, will always be Walker's club, his bond with
the Hammers is also strong. The goalkeeper's five years in east London
enabled him to learn all about why West Ham is one of the biggest clubs in
the country. "It's a special place. When I was leaving Walsall I had a
couple of options, but we had played here a couple of months before and it
just felt like a proper football club with the history and traditions and
the 30,000 fans behind the team every week. It just felt like the right move
for me. "I played a couple of games, then had a decent game in a win at
Chelsea when I saved a penalty in my first away game, which cemented my
relationship with the fans. It all went from there, really. "The players
they have had through the door here are unbelievable. The fans have been
treated and they respond to that, then the players respond to the fans."

Those fans will never forget Walker's World, which saw supporters queuing to
ensure they did not miss out on their chance to read the next instalment in
each Official Programme. With subject matters covering everything from
dressing room banter to players' clothing, there was never a dull moment
when Walker was about! "I loved that, I must admit!" he laughed. "I had
permission to go and cane the lads to everyone, whereas I previously had to
do it in the changing room with just the lads in there. It was a chance to
go and share it with 30 or 40,000 fans as well, which was brilliant. "It got
to the stage, if I remember right, when I'd walk in a room and the lads
would be going 'Sssssshhh, he's here!' so I was struggling for material in
the end and had to go fishing a little bit but I did all right on it, to be
fair."

The star turn in Walker's World was often Ghana full-back John Pantsil, who
would arrive for training in traditional and colourful African dress and
entertain his team-mates with his infectious personality. While Pantsil took
the banter in good spirits, other players were upset by Walker's public
ribbings. "I remember Johnny Pantsil's African garb, but it wasn't the worst
gear around in the changing room," Walker confirmed. "It was only Kieron
Dyer who really got the hump. He went on telly and I said he was wearing a
Bugsy Malone suit, which it was, and he was not happy with that at all! The
lads took it in good spirits and, in the end Kieron did as well because he
didn't have a lot of choice."

These days, the Programme column would likely be replaced by a Walker's
World Twitter page - something he himself would have relished back in his
playing days. "It would have been fantastic, but I think I might have got in
a bit of trouble on Twitter! I'd have to be a little bit more low-key now."

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Howes' delight at award
WHUFC.com
Sam Howes was delighted to receive the 2013/14 Young Hammer of the Year
award
22.05.2014

Sam Howes has revealed his delight at receiving the Young Hammer of the Year
award to cap a superb 2013/14 season. The young goalkeeper added another
trophy to his collection on Wednesday night as he and his England
squad-mates overcame Holland on penalties to win the UEFA European U17
Championship.
Howes was an unused substitute as the 1-1 draw was followed by a 4-1
shoot-out victory. The international honour follows his Club award, for
which he was selected by Academy Director Tony Carr MBE. That award was
fitting recognition of his eye-catching performances for West Ham United's
U18s and Development Squad. Howes' ultimately successful participation with
England at the UEFA European U17 Championship meant he was unable to attend
the Club's Player Awards, but that didn't stop him expressing his delight to
West Ham TV before he jetted off to Malta on international duty. "I'm very
pleased that my hard work this season has paid off," said Howes, who will
begin a full-time scholarship this summer. "I've played Under-18s football
and a bit of reserve team football, so I've got a lot to thank the staff
here for as they've been great with me since I came here. My family as well,
have given me their support, I couldn't have done it without them. "This
award is going to give me a lot more incentive to push on for next season. I
want to make myself a better goalkeeper, improve the areas I need to work on
and keep working on the parts I'm already good at."

The 16-year-old's rise through the ranks has been remarkable over the course
of the campaign, with the stopper becoming a regular feature for Nick
Haycock's Development Squad. His fine performances at Club level led to
international recognition in January and he impressed sufficiently in the
two caps he collected to earn a place in the squad for the European U17
Championship finals. Howes played against the Dutch in the group stage and
although he couldn't prevent his country from falling to a 2-0 defeat,
representing his national team is still regarded as the greatest honour of
his career so far. "I've played in the reserves and in a few behind closed
doors friendlies with some first-team players. I've trained with the first
team as well and made my debut at Under-17 level for England, so that was
probably my main highlight from this season."

Still a schoolboy, Howes has developed under the tutelage of the Club's
senior goalkeepers when training with the first team at Chadwell Heath. The
agile 'keeper has enjoyed every minute learning under the guidance of Jussi
Jaaskelainen and Adrian and is aiming to get even better next season. "The
main plan for myself is to push on and play as many reserve games as I can
next season and keep knocking on the door. "All the Under-18, Under-21 and
first-team staff have all been great. When I go up to Chadwell Heath to
train with them they've been brilliant and made me feel part of the squad.
The goalkeeping staff as well, with me being a goalkeeper, have been great
for the six years that I've been here. "Jussi has given me the most advice
because he's one of the most experienced 'keepers in the Premier League, so
it's good to get advice off him. It's also good to watch 'keepers like
Adrian and Raphael Spiegel to take tips from them which I can add to my game
and make myself a better goalkeeper."

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Sam Allardyce: We are united and moving forward positively at West Ham
Evening Standard
Published: 22 May 2014 Updated: 10:07, 22 May 2014

I wasn't anticipating writing another column beyond the end of what was a
tough season for everyone at West Ham but in view of all the speculation, I
thought it would be a good idea to put a few things straight.

First of all, I want to say I am happy and proud to continue for another
season as West Ham manager. I have had good, fruitful meetings with my
employers and we are all in agreement that we want to move this great club
forward in a united way. To that end we — the board, staff and players — are
unified in wanting to create an exciting team for next season, one which is
going to be better than last term. We want to try and achieve at least what
we did in the first year back in the Barclays Premier League, which was a
top-10 finish.

We're already doing everything we can to improve and increase the playing
squad and we're hoping to make signings as quickly as we can, although that
can never be guaranteed these days. Obviously my meeting with the Board was
private, but what I can say is there was clarification on a number of
subjects.
I sat down with the owners and Karren Brady to discuss many things and the
outcome of that meeting is that we are all moving forward in a very positive
manner, contrary to some of the speculation which has gone on in various
parts of the media.

Things have been resolved satisfactorily on both sides and we now look
forward to a productive summer and hopefully a very successful season. One
of the items on the agenda, which has since been made public, is the
imminent appointment of a coach with specific responsibilities in forward
play. I have absolutely no problem with that. In fact, the idea was received
with enthusiasm by me. We all agreed that whoever comes in has to be
qualified and of the right type to supplement our already highly qualified
backroom staff, in whom I have complete confidence.

I would also emphasise that the appointment is absolutely down to me and the
challenge is to find the right person to help us score more goals next
season because that is what we need to do. Regarding the plan to appoint a
director of recruitment, I would say there is always the need to expand that
section of an ambitious club. We need to compete in that area globally and
being in charge of recruitment is a very specialised position nowadays.
There is no one more disappointed than me when we don't play well. Yes,
style of play is crucial but the most important thing is that the players
realise their capabilities and play to them on a consistent basis.

What we are striving for is the players playing well, as they did in the
final home game of the season against Tottenham — a club who had spent many
more millions than us — not for one game but consistently.

We will all be striving hard to achieve that consistency when we resume
training and if we can regularly find that standard, then I am sure the
supporters will be as happy as I will.

There were too many performances last season that didn't measure up to the
expectations of all of us. There were times when there were valid reasons
why we fell short and other occasions, particularly towards the end of the
campaign, when the performance was decent but we didn't win the game.

Entertainment value, contrary to what some people say and think, is high on
my list — always has been — because this is an entertainment business.

It is also a results business, though, and we need to win matches. If we can
win the right way next season, that has to be our ultimate aim, particularly
at home.

We were magnificent at the Boleyn Ground in our first season back in the top
flight — only losing to four teams.

It was more difficult last season but we have to try and get back to that
previous level.

I am not going to make any predictions at this early stage — certainly not
before looking to see what everyone else does during the transfer window —
but by the time we begin the new campaign we should have a clearer picture
of how far we feel we can go. We are all aiming for a top-ten finish.

The past is the past, you can't change anything — the crucial thing is to
learn from it.

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Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss keen on entertaining style
BBC.co.uk

Sam Allardyce has backed a directive for West Ham United to play
entertaining football next season, after he was assured of his role as
manager by the club's owners. The Hammers issued a statement on Tuesday that
confirmed Allardyce's position, but also stated there would be a change in
playing style. "Entertainment, contrary to what some people say and think,
is high on my list," Allardyce said in a statement. "This is an
entertainment business." He added: "It is also a results business, though,
and we need to win matches. If we can win games the right way next season
then that has to be our ultimate aim and number one priority, particularly
at home." The 59-year-old took West Ham back into the Premier League in his
first season in charge via the Championship play-offs, and has since secured
their top-flight status in each of the last two seasons. However, there were
supporter protests at games towards the end of the last campaign centred
around a poor run of form, with one win in six, as the season drew to a
finale. Following talks with the owners, a new attacking coach will be
appointed to the backroom staff, and there are also plans to bring a
director of football to the club as the move from Upton Park to the Olympic
Stadium in 2016 edges closer. "I'm enthusiastic about that idea," Allardyce
added. "We all agreed that whoever comes in has to be qualified and of the
right type to supplement our already highly-qualified backroom staff, in
whom I have complete confidence."

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Allardyce calls for a United front
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 22nd May 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce says he is looking forward to the 2014/15 season - just days
after being told that his job was safe.

Despite a concerted campaign by some supporters to have the 59-year-old
removed from his position recently, Allardyce emerged from this week's board
meeting with his job intact - albeit with a brand new brief for the
forthcoming campaign.

Having ended a difficult 2013/14 season with the club's top-flight status
intact, no longer will Premier League survival alone be sufficient for an
increasingly-demanding board who have one eye on the impending move to the
54,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.

Now Allardyce has been instructed that anything less than a top ten finish,
achieved with the style of football for which West Ham became famous when
four strikers were still in fashion could result in his reign at the Boleyn
coming to the sort of unglamorous end that ultimately awaits the vast
majority of Premier and Football League managers these days.

To help achieve this target will be a new attacking coach and director of
recruitment, which may indeed prove helpful in the long run but right now
amount to nothing less than a clear indication of the board's lack of faith
in Allardyce's attacking intent and his relationship with agent Mark Curtis,
who now represents a number of players at West Ham including club captain
Kevin Nolan.

Regardless of having essentially been told 'it's our way or the highway' by
his bosses, Allardyce retained a positive tone when addressing the club's
supporters via its website today. "I have had fruitful meetings with my
employers and we are all in agreement that we want to move this great Club
forward in a united way," he said.

"To that end we - the Board, the staff and the players - are unified in
wanting to create an exciting team for next season, one that is going to be
better than last season. We want to try and achieve at least what we did in
the first year back in the Premier League, which was a top-ten finish.

"I sat down with the owners and Karren Brady to discuss many things and the
outcome of that meeting is that we are all moving forward in a very positive
manner. Things have been resolved satisfactorily on both sides - and we now
look forward to a productive summer and, hopefully, a very successful
season."

With view to working with his prospective new attacking coach, Allardyce
added: "I'm enthusiastic about that idea. We all agreed that whoever comes
in has to be qualified and of the right type to supplement our already
highly qualified backroom staff, in whom I have complete confidence."

Meanwhile he was equally fervent in his view of a new recruitment ace. "I
would say there is always the need to expand that section of an ambitious
football club," he said. ""We need to compete in that area globally and
being in charge of recruitment is a very specialised position these days."

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Jordan bids Hammers farewell
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 22nd May 2014
By: Staff Writer

Jordan Spence has been released by West Ham United - nine years after first
joining the club as a teenager. Right-back Spence, now 23, has spent almost
a decade at his boyhood club despite failing to break through into the first
team. And now, having made just 10 appearances the full back has been
released by West Ham. Taking to Twitter this afternoon to express his regret
at the parting of the waves, Spence wrote: "No conceivable way to summarise
what West Ham United FC has equipped me for, taught me and meant to me over
the past nine years. "It's an honour to have represented the club for this
period and I'd like to thank all that have supported me throughout. I wish
the club the very best and hope they give the fans what they deserve for the
coming seasons.
"As an east London boy, playing for this club has been a privilege. I look
forward to what opportunities and challenges await me in my future. Thank
You! #whufc"

Spence, who has represented England at all youth levels from Under 16 to
Under 21 made his debut for West Ham in the final game of the 2009/10 season
as an 88th-minute substitute against Manchester City. The following season
he made two starts under Avram Grant - the first of which came in the 3-2
defeat at Wigan that condemned West Ham to the drop and the second a week
later in the final home game of the season against Sunderland. Spence
enjoyed a run of seven games under Sam Allardyce last season, including four
further starts. However his appearance at Old Trafford in the 1-0 FA Cup
third round defeat in January 2013 was to prove to be his last for West Ham.
Everyone at Knees up Mother Brown would like to wish Jordan the very best of
luck for the future.
* Meanwhile another long-term Hammer who left the Club at the end of last
season, Joe Cole, is said to be interesting Thai club BEC Tero Sasana. The
Fire Dragons, who are based in Bangkok are hoping to tie up a deal for the
32-year-old despite General Manager Robert Procureur admitting this week
that "we're well aware Joe Cole will be incredibly expensive."

Cole has also been interesting a number of Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs
too since announcing his departure from West Ham following the completion of
the 18-month contract he signed in January 2013.

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SHOULD WE SIGN JOLEON LESCOTT OR PURSUE OTHER OPTIONS?
By S J Chandos 22 May 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die

So, the West Ham board have made their decision and it is that Sam Allardyce
stays in post. Yesterday, the stories started circulating about the various
'flair' players that the club are targetting. It commenced with the news
that the club were apparently in advanced negotiations to sign skillful
Argentine forward, Mauro Zarate, from Velez Sarfield. This was followed by
further reports that West Ham were exploring potential deals for, amongst
others, Bafetimbi Gomis from Lyons, AC Milan forward Niang and Norwich
City's attacking left-back, Martin Olsson. Are these type of deals a clear
declaration of attacking intent for the new season? Hopefully so, but lets
wait until that alleged 'interest' transmutes in to concrete new signings.

Elsewhere, there was another report that attracted less attention. Namely
that Joleon Lescott is allegedly prepared to take a 50% cut in his £90,000 a
week wages, at Man City, to stay in the Premier League. Now that may be
interesting news to West Ham (if true?), who have a long standing interest
in signing the former England centre-back. Securing a Bosman deal for
Lescott, at wages of £45,000 per week, is admittedly well worth thinking
about. But is it a priority acquisition, with Collins, Tomkins and
(hopefully) Reid covering centre-back? Perhaps, all things being equal, we
might be better served by targetting a defensive midfield player, who can
also be deployed at centre-back? Someone like Bordeaux's Ludovic Sane for
instance. A player who can play in both positions with equal proficiency.
Who knows, we might even be able to off-load Diarra and Maiga in a
part-exchange deal!

In a previous blog post, the question was raised whether a £20m budget was
sufficient to overhaul the squad? Firstly, do we know that figure is the
definitive budget available? If the budget does prove to be in the region of
£20m, we should remember that most deals are not settled up front, but
rather are paid via instalment agreements, often over an extended period. In
addition, there may be extra resources arising from outgoing deals, which
not only generates extra transfer funds, but also creates some slack in the
salaries budget. While some fringe players will go on free transfers or for
nominal fees, I am sure that others like Vaz Te and Maiga could command
reasonable fees. In addition, it may be that the decision is made to cash in
on a first team regular, to both 'shuffle the pack' and generate significant
extra income. Or they could, indeed, make the available resources stretch
further by going down the aforementioned player part-exchange route. Those
deals are more complicated, but can produce good, cost-effective results, if
carried off!

It was clear to me months ago that the squad needed an overhaul this summer.
The poor results in December-January cruelly exposed the squad's lack of
strength in depth and vulnerability to injuries and suspensions. Those
factors aside, when at full strength, we have a reasonable PL first XI and
substitutes bench. One that, in the final analysis, can keep us in the PL,
but which is not equipped to facilitate an assault on the top eight. To move
forward, it was obvious that we needed to add more quality and, thus,
increase competition for places. And that imperative has been further
compounded by the 'style of play' issue also coming to a head this close
season. Taken together, both factors, necessitate change.

The board declaration on the performance indicators/proscribed changes for
the new season is perfectly clear. Much is often made of the current manager
having 'hit his targets' since he joined the club, which is a fair enough
point. Now lets see whether these new targets/PIs are also successfully
achieved? I certainly hope so, because ideally no one wants to effect
managerial change in mid-season. Its a moot point, I know, but it did occur
to me that the changes imposed by the board could mean that we have,
intentionally or unintentionally, moved towards a more continental-type
model. One where various key functions (transfers, scouting and recruitment)
are hived off, to one extent or other, and this allows the Manager to focus
more squarely on first team affairs (a la a Head Coach).

In an interview, Mr Allardyce's former Bolton Assistant, Phil Brown, has
recently stated that winning over the Hammers fans is the greatest challenge
that the former Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle Utd and Blackburn Rovers boss
has faced; but one that he is most definitely up for! Lets hope so, he sent
out Hammers teams against Spurs, Fulham and Liverpool that played some good
quality football. But can he do it fairly consistently, over the course of a
season? The board need to secure the quality additions necessary to help
find a definitive/uncontested answer to that question.

SJ. Chandos

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West Ham's Sam Allardyce in humiliating U-turn: ''I must entertain fans next
season''
May 22, 2014 22:30 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce has performed a humiliating U-turn by claiming football is "an
entertainment business" after keeping his West Ham job. Big Sam had
previously dismissed the West Ham way as "not winning" and a "delusion" -
and insisted football is a "results-driven formula". And after his team were
booed off after a home win over Hull in March, he said: "When we look at the
table tomorrow when we get up, the performance hardly really matters". The
Upton Park board considered sacking Allardyce but offered a stay of
execution this week as long as the Hammers play better football - and finish
in the top 10. He also has to employ a new attacking coach while the board
will look to appoint a director of football to supervise transfers.
Allardyce now says he wants to help create "an exciting team for next
season". And he added: "Entertainment value, contrary to what some people
say and think, is high on my list and always has been because this is an
entertainment business. "It is also a results business, though, and we need
to win matches. If we can win games the right way next season then that has
to be our ultimate aim and No 1 priority, particularly at home."

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Spence thanks West Ham following release
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Thursday, May 22, 2014

Jordan Spence has thanked West Ham for giving him his big break after the
club released him. The versatile academy graduate can play at centre-back or
right-back but he has found it impossible to force his way into Sam
Allardyce's side and is now a free agent. "No conceivable way to summarise
what West Ham United FC has equipped me for, taught me and meant to me over
the past 9 years," he tweeted. "It's an honour to have represented the club
for this period and I'd like to thank all that have supported me throughout.
"I wish the club the very best and hope they give the fans what they deserve
for the coming seasons. "As an east London boy, playing for this club has
been a privilege. Look forward to what opportunities and challenges await me
in my future.."

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