Daily WHUFC News - 12th July 2014

Match Preview - Stevenage
WHUFC.com
Team news, ticket and travel details and much more ahead of West Ham
United's opening pre-season match
10.07.2014

STEVENAGE v WEST HAM UNITED
PRE-SEASON MATCH
LAMEX STADIUM
SATURDAY 12 JULY 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: DARREN DEADMAN

In brief

West Ham United kick-off their 2014/15 pre-season schedule with a trip to
the Lamex Stadium to take on League Two side Stevenage.
The Hammers have spent the past week at a training camp at Evian in eastern
France before returning to England on Friday.
Manager Sam Allardyce has promised to take a full first-team squad to
Hertfordshire, with the players expected to be given 45 minutes each as they
make their first appearances since May.
Stevenage have contested one pre-season match already, winning 3-0 at
non-leaguers Arlesey Town on Wednesday evening.

Who are they?
Stevenage FC was formed as Stevenage Borough in 1976 before adopting their
current guise in 2010.
On the pitch, Stevenage rose through the non-league pyramid before reaching
the Conference National in 1994, winning the FA Trophy at Wembley before
being promoted to the Football League for the first time in 2010. The
following year, Stevenage were promoted to League One and upset Premier
League Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round.
After reaching the League One Play-Offs in 2011/12, Stevenage finished
bottom of the table last season and were relegated to League Two.
Manager Graham Westley is in his third spell in charge at the Lamex Stadium,
having previously taken charge of the Boro between 2003-06 and 2008-12,
winning the FA Trophy in 2009 and back-to-back promotions in 2010 and 2011.

Team news
The Club's four summer signings - Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron
Cresswell and Diego Poyet - could all be given their first appearance in a
West Ham shirt.
Stevenage have made huge changes to their squad following relegation from
League One in May. No fewer than ten players have left the Lamex Stadium,
with the same number being signed by manager Graham Westley. Among the new
arrivals who could feature for the hosts are experienced former Burton
Albion and Aberdeen striker Calvin Zola and Harold Wood-born former
Peterborough United winger Chris Whelpdale.

Referee
Saturday's referee will be Darren Deadman, who was appointed as a Football
League referee in 2005 after starting his career in the Isthmian League.
Cambridgeshire-based Deadman has taken charge of West Ham United twice
previously in competitive fixtures - a 1-0 Championship defeat at
Southampton on 18 October 2011 and the 1-1 draw at Birmingham City on Boxing
Day of the same year.
Incidentally, the biggest match of Deadman's officiating career to date was
the League Two Play-Off final at Old Trafford in May 2011 when he took
charge of Stevenage's 1-0 win over Torquay United.
Deadman will be assisted by Alan Young and Neil Hair, while the fourth
official will be Gerry Daish.

One to watch
Stevenage
Midfielder Simon Walton, 26, joined Stevenage from League Two side
Hartlepool United. Walton began his career with Leeds United, making 38
first-team appearances for the club before embarking on a nomadic career
that has seen him play for no fewer than ten other Premier League and
Football League clubs.
Permanent stints with Charlton Athletic, Queens Park Rangers and Plymouth
Argyle have been interspersed with loan spells with Ipswich Town, Cardiff
City, Hull City, Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra and Sheffield United. A
tenacious player, Walton will add bite to the Stevenage midfield as they
attempt to gain promotion back to League One at the first attempt.

West Ham United
West Ham United are expected to give a debut to summer signing Cheikhou
Kouyate following the Senegal international's switch from Belgian champions
Anderlecht. A tall and athletic player, Kouyate can play at either
centre-back or in a holding midfield role, with the latter being the
preference for a player who can break up opposition attacks with outstanding
regularity.
A London 2012 Olympian, it will be interesting to see how the 24-year-old
settles into a West Ham midfield that could also include Mark Noble, fellow
countryman Mo Diame, fellow new boy Diego Poyet and captain Kevin Nolan.

Tickets
West Ham United's allocation of 1,392 Standard Tickets have completely SOLD
OUT. However, Hammers supporters will be allowed access to home sections,
provided they behave respectfully and appropriately.
Tickets can be bought online here until 4pm on Friday 11 July and can be
collected from the Lamex Stadium ticket office from 12noon on matchday.
Tickets are expected to be available on the day through the turnstiles for
the East and North Terraces. Turnstiles will open at 1.45pm.
Standard Ticket prices: £15 Adults, £12 Concessions (60+/U22s/Disabled/Armed
Forces), £10 U18s, £5 U12s

Travel
Coach travel
There will be no coach travel to this fixture.

By car
Address: Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 8RH
Distance from the Boleyn Ground: 45 miles
Directions: Take the northbound A1(M) out of London and leave at Junction 7
and take the A602 towards Stevenage. Go straight across the first roundabout
and, as you approach the next roundabout, you can see the floodlights of the
Lamex Stadium on the right. Free parking (500 spaces) is available on your
left at Fairlands Valley car park. However, with a large crowd expected,
this car park is expected to fill up very quickly. Supporters are warned not
to park in the Roaring Meg retail park, as parking is restricted to 90
minutes on matchdays. Fans are also warned not to park on grass verges along
the A602 as vehicles left here are at risk of being ticketed.

By train
Tickets: An Adult return between London Kings Cross and Stevenage costs
£10.50
Before the match: Stevenage railway station is on the East Coast main line
and has regular First Capital Connect services running from London Kings
Cross. Eleven trains leave Kings Cross between 11am and 1pm, with the
quickest services taking between 20-25 minutes to reach Stevenage. From
Stevenage station, you can either take the No4 bus, a taxi or walk the mile
to the Lamex Stadium. To walk, turn left after the ticket barriers and take
the next stairs on the right, prior to the bridge. Head along the A602
Lytton Way, with the railway and car parks on your right hand side. At the
roundabout with Stevenage police station, take the second exit into Six
Hills Way. At the next roundabout, take the third exit (right), continuing
along the A602 Monkswood Road, passing Asda on your right and North Herts
College. After about half a mile you will arrive at a roundabout and the
Lamex Stadium will be directly in front of you.
After the match: Fast services leave Stevenage for Kings Cross at 17.06,
17.36 and 18.06, with slower alternatives leaving at 17.04, 17.10, 17.30,
17.41 and 18.10.

Where to go for a pre-match drink/meal
The Broadhall Suite at the Lamex Stadium is a supporters' bar open to fans
of both teams on a matchday, serving drinks, bar snacks and hot food. The
Broadhall Suite opens at 12noon and children are welcome. Nearby, the
Roaring Meg retail park offers a number of eating options, as does the
Stevenage Leisure Park next to the railway station.

Weather
The forecast is for a warm afternoon with sunny intervals and a maximum
temperature of 23C (74F).

Last meeting
West Ham United have never played Stevenage in a competitive fixture.
However, the Hammers did send a West Ham United XI to Broadhall Way on 29
January 2002, when a team containing Steve Potts, Svetoslav Todorov and Titi
Camara was beaten 1-0 by their then-Conference National hosts.
Stevenage 1-0 West Ham United XI
Friendly match, Tuesday 29 January 2002, Broadhall Way
West Ham United XI: Andersson, Newton (Allen 65), Riddle, Potts, Iriekpen,
Uddin, D.McMahon, Morris (Johnson 10), Todorov, Camara, McCann
Subs not used: Jackson, Eastwood, Khan

Old boys
Striker Lee Boylan reached the FA Youth Cup final with West Ham in 1996
before going on to make a single first-team appearance for the Hammers. He
later had two spells with Stevenage, scoring 22 goals in 69 games in total.
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Ray Houghton bookended his career with
West Ham and Stevenage, while fellow Academy graduates Tony Stokes and Bondz
N'Gala turned out in Stevenage colours in 2007/08 and 2012/13 respectively.
A number of players have been on the books of both clubs, but not made
first-team appearances for one or the other, or both.
Mitchell Cole spent time on West Ham's books as a youngster before enjoying
a successful playing career that saw him win two FA Trophies and the
Conference National title during a four-season stay with Stevenage between
2006-10. The midfielder suffered from a heart condition and sadly passed
away in December 2012. Six months later, a number of West Ham players,
including his brother-in-law Joe Cole, turned out in a tribute match played
in his honour at the Lamex Stadium.
Goalkeeper Rob Burch was loaned to Stevenage twice by Tottenham Hotspur,
either side of a temporary spell with West Ham in December 2004, while
one-time Republic of Ireland U21 international and West Ham trialist Terry
Dixon made three appearances for Stevenage in 2010/11.

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Macca hails successful week
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald believes the Hammers' training camp in France sets them up
perfectly for Stevenage
12.07.2014

Neil McDonald says West Ham United's training camp in France has served as
the perfect warm-up for Saturday's pre-season match at Stevenage. The
Hammers begin their summer schedule with the 3pm kick-off at the Lamex
Stadium, with each player set for a 45-minute run-out. Following a
successful week in Evian-les-Bains, assistant boss McDonald is happy with
the work put in so far. "It was a successful week," he said. "We've had good
sessions on and off the pitch and everyone's got to know each other, which
is great. "Everyone's looking forward to playing the first game at Stevenage
now, and we've left behind a fantastic venue to go to for pre-season. "The
pitches, facilities and everything about the place have been fantastic."

McDonald reckons Sky Bet League Two side Stevenage will give the Hammers a
strong test in their first run-out of pre-season. He added: "The players are
all ready for 45 minutes at Stevenage, which is great. The work we've got in
has been a gradual build up to make sure they get through that. "These games
are always difficult - they are going to be a week ahead of us, so they may
be physically better at this stage, but hopefully we can keep the ball and
move it to the tempo we try to set and get through the 45 minutes with no
injuries. "After Saturday, we'll have another few days training before going
to Ipswich, and the games get you switched on mentally and physically."

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Tonys give crest the thumbs-up
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr MBE and Tony Cottee believe the Club's proposed new crest does
West Ham United proud
10.07.2014

West Ham United ambassador Tony Carr MBE believes the Club's proposed new
crest strikes the perfect balance between the past and the future. Carr,
whose association with the Hammers dates back nearly 50 years and spans
player, coach, Academy Director and now ambassador, says the crest possesses
all the essential ingredients. The crossed hammers allude to the origins of
the Club at the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, the claret and
blue have been the Hammers' colours since 1900, while West Ham's forthcoming
move to the Olympic Stadium will place it at the heart of the most vibrant
and iconic part of London. "I think it's good that the crossed hammers are
the most important part of the crest because they are our trademark and are
where it all started as shipbuilders," said Carr, who initially joined West
Ham as a trainee striker in 1966. "The crest reflects and acknowledges the
history of the Club and also look forward to the transition into the new
Olympic Stadium. "It's simple and clear. West Ham United and London say it
all. It's excellent."

Carr's sentiments were reflected by one of his most famous and successful
Academy graduates, Tony Cottee, who lent his voice to a video presentation
explaining the evolution of the Club's crest over the past 119 years.
Supporters were shown how the Hammers have used no fewer than 15 crests
during this history, with the current design coming into effect in 1999.
Since then, every other Barclays Premier League club has produced a new
crest of their own.
With West Ham on the cusp of a historic move in 2016, the Club will be
investing millions of pounds in this evolution process to ensure the Olympic
Stadium truly is the Hammers' new home. Having viewed the video himself, the
former striker was enthused by the enhanced impact of the famous crossed
hammers.
"I am pleased with it," said Cottee. "I spoke to the Club about six weeks
ago about what the new crest could potentially contain and personally I
didn't see any need to retain the Boleyn Castle as it's part of our history
we didn't need to include. "It was really important to keep the crossed
hammers, so in general I am really pleased with it. Before, I think the
hammers were in front of the castle, but I actually preferred the old badge
with just the crossed hammers worn by John Bond, Bobby Moore and Malcolm
Allison back in the 1950s. "I think there is something special about the
crossed hammers and any West Ham fan will tell you they identify with the
hammers and the Thames Ironworks and 'Come on you Irons!'. To be a hammer is
something to be proud of."

While harking back to the very origins of the Club, the proposed crest also
looks forward to the move to the stadium which did London proud in 2012, and
the benefits of leaving fans the world over in no doubt which city West Ham
calls home. "There is a modern twist as well, as the inclusion of London at
the bottom is something the Club have thought long and hard about," Cottee
continued. "It's a new era for the Club. We're going to the Olympic Stadium
in a couple of years' time and I think it's right that the Club prepares
properly for that historic move and it's right to bring a new badge in and
we are a London club. "Personally, I cannot wait to see the players run out
at the Olympic Stadium in two years' time. I think we need to go into a new
era in terms of not only moving to a new ground, but in terms of our playing
performances and, just as importantly, our commercial awareness around the
world. "The Premier League is a worldwide brand now. If you look at other
Premier League clubs, they are marketing around the world and we've got to
do that to compete. To do that, you need something unique and I think the
simplistic design of the two crossed hammers is a great way to promote our
name around the world."

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Updated crest Q+A
WHUFC.com
Your questions answered on West Ham United's crest consultation
07.07.2014

Following the launch of West Ham United's online crest poll, whufc.com is
keen to respond to the many questions being posed by supporters. The Club
is pleased to see fans taking such a keen interest in the matter and
thankful for your continued input on what is a hugely important decision. We
hope that the following proves helpful and allays any concerns that
supporters may have.

Why are there two shades of claret in the crest?

The two shades are a graphical representation of the HMS Warrior's bow, the
inspiration behind the new crest shape. However, they will only ever be
visible in a 3D form and this is not how the crest will appear in the
majority of its applications. The 3D presentation of the crest will
primarily be used across digital platforms.

As the following variations show, the two shades do not apply to single
colour versions of the crest, nor to the more traditional flat crest, as
would appear on the playing shirt.

The proposed crest has been carefully designed to be adaptable with a
variety of colour applications and will follow a colour palette that has
represented the Club's historic colours since 1900.

That said, the Club is still fully absorbing feedback and, should there be
overall support for the direction of the crest, these factors can be
considered and potentially incorporated ahead of producing final brand
guidelines.
West Ham United crest
West Ham United crest
Why is West Ham United on two lines, rather than one?

It was initially the Club's preference to have West Ham United on one line.
However, as we have stated throughout, this has been a very exhaustive
process and all options have been subject to a comprehensive range of tests
applying the potential crests across a wide range of platforms. While it
looks aesthetically pleasing, it was felt it does not work when applied
practically as the typeface appears too small and loses clarity when applied
to large format crests, similar to those which could be displayed at the
Olympic Stadium.

In addition, the consultation showed supporters felt West Ham United should
be bigger and bolder with many favouring a greater focus on the West Ham
typography, but this cannot be achieved across one line.

Why were supporters not presented with a series of options?
With no obvious second option arising from supporter consultation, the Club
felt the most transparent way to proceed was with the one, clear direction.
The Club was always determined to present a final design that had widespread
support, rather than a series of alternatives, some of which would clearly
neither have been the preferred option of supporters or the Club.
The only viable alternative would have seen 'London' replaced by the Olympic
Stadium. Again, this was neither the preferred option of the Club, nor the
fans and so was ultimately overlooked.
Other proposed changes were relatively minor ones. Suggestions of 1895, the
acronym WHUFC or a change to a circular shield, were, in the grand scheme of
things, supported by a very small proportion of respondents.
We appreciate that design is highly subjective and while the final proposal
may not be to everyone's taste, it is an honest reflection of the key
elements that the majority of supporters chose to highlight.
Why was I unable to leave a comment?
Supporters' comments were submitted in the first stage of consultation and
have since been carefully studied and integrated. The nature of the poll's
two questions means that supporters are still able to offer a variety of
views, albeit within in a framework in which we can clearly and
scientifically quantify responses.
The process has been long and exhaustive one, with no decision taken without
the most careful considerations. Ultimately though, once consultation on the
key design elements had ended, it was for the Club to find the most
appropriate means of reflecting the majority view in a final proposal.

Are you changing the Club's name or is this the first step towards changing
the Club's name in the future?

No, absolutely not. We are not changing the Club's name. We are, and will
always be, West Ham United.

Is this the right time to be considering changing the crest? With the move
to the Olympic Stadium, is it too much too soon?

The one consistent message that has been fed back by supporter groups is
that the success of the move and the Stadium will rest on its acceptance
among fans as the home of West Ham United. The Board are 100 per cent
committed to this and this principle is guiding everything we do at the
Club.

As a result there will be a huge, multi million pound investment into the
application of branding at the Olympic Stadium. The move offers an
opportunity to work meticulously to get every detail right and that is what
the team at the Club are working around the clock striving to do. So is it a
case could be a case of never?

The Club first suggested the idea to the Supporter Advisory Board and have
since conducted extensive consultation with the fans on the possibility of
evolving the Club's crest as we look to the future in our new state of the
art Stadium in the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

This is part of broader work the Club is carrying out, working with
supporters to establish how to better communicate West Ham's values and how
to best recognise, pay respect to and celebrate almost 120 years of history.
The Club feels this is the right time to have this discussion as we look
forward to a defining moment. We want to do something that really reflects
our history, heritage and values while also setting out our ambitions for a
bright future.

How long has the current crest been in use?

The Club's existing crest is now 15 years old. It is worth noting that,
historically, the Club's crest has been updated roughly every ten years. By
comparison, every Premier League club has updated their crest at least once
since 1997, some on multiple occasions.

It was the Club's view, one that has now been endorsed by supporters, that
the time may be right to mark a defining new era for the Club.

Are you looking to remove the Castle?

This is something we've considered from the outset and has the backing of
the vast majority of supporters. Our view is that retiring the castle from
our Club crest would be a fitting way to respectfully signal a departure
from the Boleyn Ground. Fans are overwhelmingly in agreement that it does
not make sense to have the Boleyn Castle in our Club crest when we no longer
play at the Boleyn Ground.

Will the crossed hammers be in the new crest?

We believe that the hammers are the fundamental symbol/icon of our Club and
should be the most prominent feature of any evolution of the Club's crest.
This is the Club's proposal and, based on feedback, is wholeheartedly
supported by the fanbase.

Can you assure fans the new crest will be claret and blue?

West Ham United has been synonymous with Claret and Blue since 1900. We have
no intention of changing this in any evolution of the Club's crest and are
confident the fans agree with us on this.

Can the new crest be displayed in different colours?

Absolutely. As with the existing crest, any evolution of the crest can be
presented in different colour waves in line with the brand guidelines. For
example, mono colours, such as white, coming off claret. However, to
reiterate, as above, any new crest will be claret and blue.

Why are you considering adding London to the crest?

This appears to be the issue that has created most debate. Consultation
shows that many supporters understand and back the Club's direction in this
regard, while others question London's relevance, claiming that the Club has
a stronger claim to Essex.

There is, however, no denying that the Club is located in London at present
and the Club feels this should be celebrated as we move to a London icon.

West Ham United is our name and should be placed in prime position - it is
the Club's view that any inclusion of London would be secondary in position
and prominence to a bolder typographic representation of our name - West Ham
United - on the crest. It will never be instead of, or on a par with, the
Club name.

London, of course, is fundamentally rooted in our history. From our origins
at the Thames Ironworks, who proudly displayed their London location on all
their vessels, through to the golden era of West Ham teams sporting "West
Ham United London" on pennants and rosettes when competing in European
competition.

Our absolute goal is to return to those days of competing at the highest
level on a European and global stage and therefore believe it is appropriate
to sport our city on the crest.

The Club believe recognition of our London location would be a signal of our
vision to compete at the highest level and enhance the Club's global
standing. What's more, with increased international recognition, the Club
will become a more attractive prospect to high-profile players.

This is all part of the virtuous cycle we are aiming to nurture with our
move to the Olympic Stadium. The more fans we can attract, the more
investment will go into the playing staff, the better our team will perform
and this, in turn, feeds further revenues for investment… and so on.

Have you considered including 1895?

Yes, this is something that continues to be discussed, but interestingly the
research has shown that supporters, on the whole, are not keen on its
addition.

Feedback thus far has argued that many clubs were established in this era
and West Ham was not the first hence the year itself need not have
particular prominence on the crest? Additionally, many fans have made
reference to the change of name to West Ham United in 1900.

Do the Club want to put the Olympic Stadium on the crest?

The Club has been clear throughout the process that this is not our
preferred option. It is however an option we have discussed with supporter
groups and has been a feature of consultation.

Though there is seemingly widespread support for a return to the confident
simplicity of the crossed hammers, fans also recognise the need to include
something forward-thinking, pointing to a new dawn in the West Ham story.
Interestingly, some fans who objected to the inclusion of London were
instead keen to see a representation of the Olympic Stadium.

The Club are seeking a crest that boldly displays all the best bits of the
last 119 years, but one that also celebrates a move to such an iconic venue
and what that can mean for our future prosperity.

The Olympic Stadium has witnessed huge success, which has been seen and
admired the world over. No other Club is moving to London's iconic venue and
to ignore that entirely, would, at the very least, be a missed opportunity.

The Club, however, think that incorporating London into the crest may be a
favourable option to signify our future at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It
remains the Club belief that West Ham United has too strong an identity to
be wholly defined by any one Stadium past or present

If agreed, when and where will the new crest be used?

If agreed, a new crest won't become the official Club crest, nor appear on
the playing shirt, until the 2016/17 season, our first in the Olympic
Stadium. There is no suggestion, nor has there ever been, that the castle
would be removed while still playing at the Boleyn Ground.

In the event that a new crest was agreeable to fans, the castle would be
respectfully retired when the Club leave the Boleyn Ground.

Is this decision just about increasing sales and revenue overseas?

Absolutely not. At its core, this process has evolved through exploratory
work with supporters to ensure that the Club do not miss this unique
opportunity to best reflect our history in the new era and in a way that is
acceptable to supporters.

The project had advanced with a core team, all of whom understand and feel
great passion for West Ham, with the assistance and guidance of West Ham
supporters willing to give their time to contribute and help to ensure the
Club gets it right on behalf of the West Ham faithful.
The team have been meticulous in terms of staying true to the guiding
principle that any evolution must suitably honour West Ham's rich heritage
and be acceptable to supporters.

The process had been extensive in this regard while also seeking to embrace
a new and thoroughly exciting era at the Olympic Stadium.

We do believe also that there is a strong case for evolving the Club's crest
in a way that will also support our strategy to attract international star
targets and help to engage new supporters all over the world, who we hope
will develop the same love of West Ham that we possess.

So while this has never been the guiding principle, there is an opportunity
that we believe merits serious consideration.

Will fans be given a say/vote in the design of the new crest?

Yes, supporters will absolutely be given a say. Online consultation in
respect of the elements that matter most to supporters concluded on Friday
26 June 2014 and the outcomes of said consultation will naturally inform the
Club's design choices.

That said, design is a subjective matter and the Club has entrusted a team
of world-class designers and experts to work on this crucial piece of work
and it will be they who produce the final crest, albeit taking into account
all of the feedback received thus far for the fans' consideration.

The final design will reflect the feelings of all of the stakeholders and
the fans alike.
If fans don't want the new crest, will you stick with the old one?

Yes. The Board have made it clear that any decision on the evolution of the
crest will only be made with the fans' support so the fans will absolutely
make the ultimate decision.

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O'Brien delighted with first week
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien says West Ham United have enjoyed a productive week on their
training camp in France
11.07.2014

Joey O'Brien hailed the impact of a hard week's training in France as the
Hammers prepare for Saturday's first pre-season test at Stevenage. The
Irishman has been part of a squad going through two to three training
sessions daily during their stay in Evian-les-Bains, which comes to an end
on Friday. He says the training camp has helped get everyone back into the
flow of pre-season and he cannot wait to run out at the Lamex Stadium "It's
been a great week," O'Brien confirmed. "All the lads know we need to do the
training to build up the fitness, but you want to play games as soon as
possible to get back in the swing of things so we're all looking forward to
Saturday. "We've got Stevenage and Ipswich before we got to New Zealand and
those games are always tough because we haven't played for six, seven, eight
weeks. You need to find your feet again, and no matter what you do, playing
matches is completely different from the running sessions. "You need to get
back in the swing of things and that's why you play pre-season games
back-to-back. "These games are important for getting to know the new
players, their positions and all that. "It's where the team shape is formed
and where you can put into practice the little ideas from the training
pitch."

As for O'Brien himself, he is delighted with where he is at come the end of
the first week's training and is now looking forward to kicking on. He
added: "I'm feeling really good. I was doing a bit in the off-season and the
first few days are about easing yourself into it. "The work progresses as
the weeks go on."

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West Ham: Fans polled over new Hammers club crest
By Frank Keogh
BBC Sport

West Ham fans are awaiting the results of a poll on plans for a new club
crest before the move to the Olympic Stadium. A redesign proposes a castle,
linked to its current Boleyn Ground home, is removed, and the word 'London'
added underneath. West Ham say the new design is "bolder, cleaner and more
vibrant" and will help its profile around the world. But some Hammers fans
are unhappy at the removal of the castle, and say using the word London is
unnecessary.
Supporters were given 48 hours until Friday evening to vote on the new
designs. Results of the poll, conducted by Yougov, are likely to be
announced next week. The club say its badge has been altered on average once
every 10 years, although the current design has existed since 1999. Any
change would be introduced for the 2016-17 season, when West Ham move to the
Olympic Stadium - about four miles from their current ground.

The east London outfit is the latest club to look at a makeover, and say the
change will only go through with the backing of fans. Everton altered its
new design in October 2013 after feedback from fans, while last month Hull
City unveiled a crest which did not contain the club's name. "Every Premier
League club has updated their crest at least once since 1997, some on
multiple occasions," said a West Ham statement. Graeme Howlett, editor of
West Ham fanzine Knees Up Mother Brown, says he likes the proposed Hammers
crest. New design is a throwback to earlier crests - West Ham legend Bobby
Moore at the Boleyn Ground in 1967 However, he noted a poll on the fanzine's
website demonstrated opposition, with 67% of replies from more than 500
votes saying they did not like the design. "A certain element, not just
football supporters, are against any change per se," he said. "The main
issues as I see it are removal of the castle, as well as including the word
London - a lot of people are not entirely sure why that's there - and United
is not in the same style as West Ham. "I think it's fresh, sleek and modern.
We are the Hammers, but I'd like to see the word United given more
prominence."

The Boleyn Ground is said to have received its name from a house that stood
next to the ground, called Boleyn Castle, and which supposedly had been home
to Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.

History: Founded as Thames Ironworks in 1895 - nicknamed Hammers
Stadium: Moved to Boleyn Ground in Upton Park nine years later
Move: Will play home games at Olympic Stadium in Stratford from 2016-17

West Ham's proposed badge redesign was announced following an initial
consultation with supporters, where 77% of respondents were in favour of
some change. The Premier League club believes using the word London in its
branding will make it a more attractive proposition internationally. "Our
absolute goal is to return to those days of competing at the highest level
on a European and global stage and therefore believe it is appropriate to
sport our city on the crest," added the statement. "What's more, with
increased international recognition, the Club will become a more attractive
prospect to high-profile players."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham keen on Chelsea winger Christian Atsu, say Sky sources
Last Updated: 11/07/14 7:37pm
SSN

West Ham are interested in taking Chelsea winger Christian Atsu on loan,
according to Sky sources. Atsu, who featured for Ghana at the World Cup,
joined the Blues last September from Porto but was immediately loaned to
Dutch side Vitesse. Aston Villa, Hamburg and Espanyol are also understood to
be keen on the 22-year-old, whose pace and trickery troubled Jurgen
Klinsmann's USA before they ran out 2-1 winners in that Group G contest. But
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is expected to afford Atsu the chance to impress
during pre-season before sanctioning any second spell away from Stamford
Bridge. West Ham have already added striker Mauro Zarate to their ranks and
have sought to further boost their attacking options - having scored just 40
goals in 38 Premier League games last term - by lodging a £12m bid for
Ecuador forward Enner Valencia. His Mexican side, Pachuca, have admitted a
deal is close but are continuing to press for a sell-on clause.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack Rodwell in demand as half the Premier League ready to make move
By Graeme Bailey | Twitter @graemebailey | Last Updated: 11/07/14 10:12am
SSN

Sky Sports understands clubs from both England and Europe are interested in
signing Jack Rodwell from Manchester City. City are yet to officially open
talks with any interested parties, but a host of teams are jostling to land
the England international, either on loan or on a permanent basis. The
23-year-old joined City in 2012 when they paid Everton more than £12million
for his signature, but lack of first team opportunities have hampered his
progress and he has played just 26 times to date. But Rodwell, who can play
in midfield or defence, is still considered to be one of the finest young
talents in English football. Sky Sports can reveal that Newcastle,
Sunderland, Stoke, Hull, Southampton, West Ham, Tottenham, Swansea, West
Brom and former club Everton, as well as teams in Spain and Italy, all have
an interest in landing him. City sources have confirmed to Sky Sports that
no discussions have taken place about Rodwell and he is set to link up with
Manuel Pellegrini's squad for pre-season, although bids are expected in the
next week.

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NEW INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO THE BENEFITS OF A FOOTBALL LED OS
By Sean Whetstone 11 Jul 2014 at 15:32
West Ham Till I Die

An investigation has been launched into the benefits football stadium-led
regeneration projects can bring to local communities ahead of West Ham
United's move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016. The London Assembly has
launched the inquiry to ensure the Hammers' use of the 54,000-seat stadium
delivers "a genuine regeneration legacy for local communities".

As part of its investigation, the committee proposes to carry out site
visits to football clubs involved in stadium development schemes including:
Arsenal FC, Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Manchester City FC, and
Brentford FC.

Gareth Bacon, chairman of London Assembly's regeneration committee said: "We
want to ensure that all Londoners – and especially communities living
nearby, benefit from the stadium for years to come."

The investigation will seek to:

Review evidence from past and current stadium-led regeneration schemes to
assess the benefits of stadium development programmes to both football clubs
and local communities; Review the role of the Mayor in stadium regeneration
schemes and assess the extent to which his objectives for stadium-led
regeneration in the London Plan are being met; and Develop recommendations
for the Mayor to ensure current stadium development schemes – in particular
the Olympic Stadium – deliver a genuine regeneration legacy for local
communities.In broader terms it will also look to address the
following:Football stadium schemes as catalysts for regeneration; Economic
regeneration impacts of new stadia; Social regeneration impacts, including
relationships between football clubs and communities and non-football uses
of stadia; and Realising football stadium schemes: planning; development
contributions; funding.

There is an allegation that this investigation will look into the thorny
issue of state funding for football stadium which has been prompted after
alleged lobbying from certain rival London clubs to London Assembly members.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
TONY AND TONY BACK NEW CREST
By Sean Whetstone 11 Jul 2014 at 13:00
West Ham Till I Die

West Ham United ambassador Tony Carr MBE believes the Club's proposed new
crest strikes the perfect balance between the past and the future.
Carr, whose association with the Hammers dates back nearly 50 years and
spans player, coach, Academy Director and now ambassador, says the crest
possesses all the essential ingredients.

The crossed hammers allude to the origins of the Club at the Thames
Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, the claret and blue have been the
Hammers' colours since 1900, while West Ham's forthcoming move to the
Olympic Stadium will place it at the heart of the most vibrant and iconic
part of London.
"I think it's good that the crossed hammers are the most important part of
the crest because they are our trademark and are where it all started as
shipbuilders," said Carr, who initially joined West Ham as a trainee striker
in 1966."The crest reflects and acknowledges the history of the Club and
also look forward to the transition into the new Olympic Stadium."It's
simple and clear. West Ham United and London say it all. It's excellent."

Carr's sentiments were reflected by one of his most famous and successful
Academy graduates, Tony Cottee, who lent his voice to a video presentation
explaining the evolution of the Club's crest over the past 119 years.

Supporters were shown how the Hammers have used no fewer than 15 crests
during this history, with the current design coming into effect in 1999.
Since then, every other Barclays Premier League club has produced a new
crest of their own.With West Ham on the cusp of a historic move in 2016, the
Club will be investing millions of pounds in this evolution process to
ensure the Olympic Stadium truly is the Hammers' new home.


Having viewed the video himself, the former striker was enthused by the
enhanced impact of the famous crossed hammers.
"I am pleased with it," said Cottee. "I spoke to the Club about six weeks
ago about what the new crest could potentially contain and personally I
didn't see any need to retain the Boleyn Castle as it's part of our history
we didn't need to include.

"It was really important to keep the crossed hammers, so in general I am
really pleased with it. Before, I think the hammers were in front of the
castle, but I actually preferred the old badge with just the crossed hammers
worn by John Bond, Bobby Moore and Malcolm Allison back in the 1950s.
"I think there is something special about the crossed hammers and any West
Ham fan will tell you they identify with the hammers and the Thames
Ironworks and 'Come on you Irons!'. To be a hammer is something to be proud
of."While harking back to the very origins of the Club, the proposed crest
also looks forward to the move to the stadium which did London proud in
2012, and the benefits of leaving fans the world over in no doubt which city
West Ham calls home.

"There is a modern twist as well, as the inclusion of London at the bottom
is something the Club have thought long and hard about," Cottee continued.
"It's a new era for the Club. We're going to the Olympic Stadium in a couple
of years' time and I think it's right that the Club prepares properly for
that historic move and it's right to bring a new badge in and we are a
London club."Personally, I cannot wait to see the players run out at the
Olympic Stadium in two years' time. I think we need to go into a new era in
terms of not only moving to a new ground, but in terms of our playing
performances and, just as importantly, our commercial awareness around the
world.
"The Premier League is a worldwide brand now. If you look at other Premier
League clubs, they are marketing around the world and we've got to do that
to compete. To do that, you need something unique and I think the simplistic
design of the two crossed hammers is a great way to promote our name around
the world."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manchester City transfers: Midfielder Jack Rodwell on radar of NINE Premier
League clubs
Jul 11, 2014 22:30 By Bill Cooper
Everton, Newcastle, Sunderland, Stoke, Southampton, West Ham, Spurs,
Swansea, West Brom are tracking him - as are Inter Milan, Valencia and
Villarreal
The Mirror

Jack Rodwell is a £10.5million target for nine Premier League teams.
Newcastle, Sunderland, Stoke, Southampton, West Ham, Tottenham, Swansea,
West Brom and his former side Everton are all chasing the Manchester City
misfit. Italian giants Inter Milan, along with Spanish sides Valencia and
Villarreal, also want the England midfielder, who wants to leave the
champions after two miserable years with the top flight champions. Rodwell,
23, has been unable to nail down a regular spot in City's starting line-up,
and has made just 26 appearances since joining in a £13.2million switch from
Goodison in August 2012. A source said: "Jack is very disappointed at the
way his career has stalled since joining City. He had high hopes that it
would be a great move for him, but it just hasn't worked out. "He needs to
get back on track, and it looks as though the best way for him to do that is
to move on. He simply hasn't had the chance to make an impact at City."

Despite not getting the opportunity to stake his claim on a first-team place
City will want to claw back most of their outlay on Rodwell, who still has
three years remaining on contract. The source added:"Jack is a Southport
lad, so a return to Everton would appeal to him - not least because he would
be suited to manager Roberto Martinez's style of play. "But he also has a
lot of time for new West Brom boss Alan Irvine, who was one of his coaches
at Goodison. "The most important thing, though, for Jack is getting the
chance to play first-team football week-in, week-out. That's what he needs
at this stage of his career."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Argentina World Cup hero Javier Mascherano goes from Mullins' back-up to the
Maracana
Jul 10, 2014 22:30 By John Cross
The Mirror

Javier Mascherano has reached a World Cup Final – eight years after being
unable to establish himself in the West Ham first team. The Hammers have a
proud World Cup heritage, but this bit of their colourful past is one former
managers Alan Pardew and Alan Curbishley would prefer to forget - a
world-class midfielder kept out of the side by Hayden Mullins. Mascherano
arrived at Upton Park, along with countryman Carlos Tevez, in what proved to
be a highly ­controversial transfer from Brazilian club Corinthians in
August 2006. But he started just seven games under Pardew. All of them ended
in defeat – and the struggling Hammers failed to score a single goal in
those fixtures. Pardew was sacked in the December, and Mascherano made even
less of an impression on successor Curbishley, who didn't play him at all
before the player moved to Anfield at the end of the January transfer
window. He went on to play at Barcelona where he won every trophy possible,
and now he is the driving force behind Argentina's World Cup campaign -
which saw them beat Holland on penalties on Wednesday to set up Sunday's
final against Germany. While there are suspicions that financial clauses in
the West Ham deal prevented Mascherano from playing as much as Tevez, at the
time Pardew insisted it was more of a selection and fitness issue.
Mascherano shrugged when asked about that bizarre time at Upton Park and
said: "In football, you have to work. You have to keep the mentality. When I
couldn't play at West Ham, I kept my mentality. I went to train every day to
be a better player. "I didn't have the chance to play in the games in which
I wanted to play at West Ham. But when I went to ­Liverpool I had my chance
to show my quality."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan kills Poyet loan deals speculation
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 11, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

David Sullivan has rejected speculation that Ricardo Vaz Te or any other
player will be heading out of Upton Park for Charlton as part of the Diego
Poyet deal.
The Hammers co-owner has totally dismissed the claims circulating around
south London that the Addicks could get up to two Irons on season-long loan
deals.
The speculation originated from sources at The Valley but the Hammers
co-owner speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh immediately denied them. Vaz
Te's name was being mentioned regularly as a possible arrival but Sullivan
has made it clear that neither he or any other player is on his way. The co
owner negotiated the deal which has seen Poyet arrive at the Boleyn leaving
the Addicks expressing public unhappiness on their website. And he told us:
"The Poyet deal has been concluded and there are no players going the other
way. "The transfer fee was resolved through negotiations without the need
for a tribunal."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hearn: "I don't dislike those West Ham mongrels"
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 11, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

What you see is not always what you get and that's more true of Barry Hearn
than most. And as the Hammers old adversary hands over the reins of Leyton
Orient to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti, ClaretandHugh's associate
editor Sean Whetstone spoke with Hearn He talks of the missed opportunities
between himself and the Hammers and declared: "Tell those West Ham mongrels
I don't dislike them." Barry Hearn believes this is the perfect moment to
hand the O's over to Italian business Francisco Becchetti and is convinced
the new 90% shareholder will take the club forward . And he said: "It will
like going from Primark to Harrods!"

Hearn retains the ownership of Brisbane Road stadium on which he has a 999
year peppercorn lease from Waltham Forest Council. He has leased the stadium
to Leyton Orient for 20 years with an option for another 20. And the new
owner has made it clear his immediate priority is promotion to the
Championship and remaining at Brisbane Road in the short term. However,
Hearn – who takes the honorary title of life president – hasn't fully
discounted a future ground share at the Olympic Stadium. But he made it
clear there's no rush revealing though that the only hurdle would be
agreeing the financial terms with the new stadium operator. He said: "I'm
confident Francesco would make the decision if or when the time was right.
"The stadium operator will be announced in the next few months by the LLDC
with AEG the favourite to be awarded the contract."

Turning to the stormy relationship he has experienced with the Irons over
recent years he declared: "I really hope Becchetti can meet with Sullivan
and Gold to see how the two close neighbours could work together for mutual
benefit. I think there was been a lot of missed opportunities during my
reign" When I asked Hearn whether there was even the remotest chance of
investing in the Irons he said: "No disrespect to West Ham but I am Leyton
Orient fan and I will never buy into another football club for the rest of
my life" His last words were "Tell those West Ham mongrels I don't dislike
them!"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valencia "due in London on tomorrow"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 11, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham are expecting Ecuadorian striker target Ennar Valencia to arrive in
London tomorrow for talks. As ClaretandHugh reported earlier in the day, the
£12 million midfielder/striker target was believed to be on his way to
London yesterday. But a source explained to us that the player had failed to
appear and although they didn't suspect anything sinister there was never
any certainties in these circumstances. However we have learned over the
last few minutes that Valencia is hoping to organise a flight to London. We
were told exclusively: "He's in a part of the world where flights are few
and far between but we expect him to be in London tomorrow. Jesus Martinez,
President of his club Pachuca, confirmed that should Valencia leave it will
be for the highest fee ever received for a player in the Mexican League.
Valencia netted 18 times in 23 games for Pachuca last season and grabbed
three in the World cup -two against Honduras and one against Switzerland.

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