Daily WHUFC News - 17th May 2014

Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan blogs for whufc.com on the hardships of the past season, and his
hopes for the new one
15.05.2014

Hi everyone,

It's been one of those seasons but it's great to know that we'll be back in
the top flight next year, which has been the gaffer's main priority.
Now that we know we are going to be in the Premier League I'm convinced that
there's only one way that we're going to go and that's to get better and
better as the years go on.

This year's been really difficult with injuries, obviously a few suspensions
as well along the way, but it's nice to be able to put this season to bed
now and look forward to next season. I really think that given the backing
in the post season and then pre-season that we can push on next year and do
the business.

The highlights from this season have been beating Tottenham three times,
that's always great. Coming back from what was a difficult few weeks for
myself and scoring those goals in the three or four games in February that
made sure we got the points on the board is great to look back on.
I think that over the course of the whole season everyone will look back at
it and think we've had to work really hard.

If we didn't have the squad we have, or the lads we've got here then I don't
think we'd have survived and I don't think many other teams would have
survived with everything that's been thrown at us.

It's credit to the gaffer and all the boys for making sure that we are here
now and for making sure that we're going to enjoy another great year in the
Premier League next season. We're going to be a lot better and I'm sure that
we'll be in and around that top ten.

To round off the season the players enjoyed a fantastic Player Awards
evening and it's great that we're able to interact with the Club's
supporters.
It also gives you the chance to find out their opinions because it's easy on
a Saturday afternoon for people to give you a bit of stick but the awards is
their night and it's about the boys enjoying it and interacting with the
people who care the most.

I look forward to seeing you all again next season!
Kev

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Ex-Hammers triumph in charity match
WHUFC.com
The annual Great Ormond Street Children's Charity match saw a host of
Hammers legends return to the Boleyn
16.05.2014

A team of West Ham United greats rolled back the years to defeat a Great
Ormond Street Children's Charity 8-2 on Friday evening. More than 1,000 fans
turned out to watch the likes of Dean Ashton, Steve Potts, Alan Dickens and
Rob Lee pull on their boots and turn on the style at the Boleyn Ground.
Their opponents were a team comprising ordinary footballers representing the
world famous Central London Children's Hospital, with a post-match charity
raffle raising thousands for the most worthy of causes. Organised by
Football For Fans, the match saw Ashton lead the line alongside Iain Dowie,
with the pair combining to score two goals each as the Ex West Ham United XI
roared into a 5-1 lead within half-an-hour.
Ashton was delighted to return to the stadium he graced with such class
during his playing days. "It is for a great cause and that's why we are here
and for me personally it's great to get back out there and enjoy playing at
such a great place," said the former West Ham and England striker.
Great Ormond Street Lee also hit the target before Frank McAvennie arrived
from the substitutes' bench to find the back of the net from the penalty
spot to loud cheers from the stands.

Fan favourite Jimmy Walker lined up between the sticks for the veterans, who
also fielded George Parris, Don Hutchison, Lee Bowyer, Stuart Slater, Kevin
Keen,Kenny Brown, Paul and Martin Allen and were managed by Julian Dicks
and Alan Devonshire.

Midfielder 'Mad Dog' Allen was equally pleased to pull on his kit again for
a worthy cause: "It's a great charity supported by everybody and I was lucky
to be invited when you see the faces down in our dressing room! I was here
for the KUMB awards dinner just a few nights ago at East Ham Working Men's
Club where I enjoyed some pie and mash and my pre-match meal was also pie
and mash, which is not too good for the diet!"
Great Ormond Street

McAvennie, who has spent the past week holding his popular pitch events at
the Boleyn Ground, also spoke warmly of turning out for the Chidren's
Hospital, adding: "It's all good. I started my pitch events ten years ago
and we did one day, but it's taken off and it's brilliant. West Ham have
been great to me and the fans have turned out to support the event, and
they've turned out again to support Great Ormond Street, like they do every
year. "It would have been different class to have played with all these lads
during my career!"

The final word went to Walker, the 2005 Championship Play-Off final winner
who became a terrace favourite for his fine goalkeeping and entertaining
Programme column 'Walker's World'. "It's great to be back, brilliant. There
are some proper legends here who have played hundreds of games for the Club
and it's also great that there are a couple of lads who I played alongside
too. They've all put a bit of timber on, which I'm happy about, especially
because a few of them have put some timber on!"

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Winter World Cup causes stadium dilemma
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th May 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United face a potential stadium problem with the news that the 2022
Qatar World Cup will almost certainly be moved to the winter.

West Ham, who move into their new, rented home at the Olympic Stadium in
little more than two years from now have an agreement in place that allows
them use of the stadium during the traditional football season - ie from
August to May.

However a winter World Cup would almost certainly result in a minimum
two-month break for the Premier League - meaning West Ham will have to make
special arrangements with site owners to use the venue outside that
established window or face the prospect of playing some home games in the
2022/23 season at a neutral venue.

Speaking about the proposals to move the 2022 World Cup Finals to winter in
an interview with RTS, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said: "The technical
report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the
executive committee decided, with quite a big majority, that the tournament
would be in Qatar."

Although due to be mostly complete in time for next summer's Rugby World Cup
Finals, West Ham United will move into the Olympic Stadium in the summer of
2016, after it is transformed into a 54,000-capacity UEFA Category 4 venue.

The club are paying just £25million of the £175million conversion costs,
with the remainder being picked up by Newham Council (£40million), the LLDC
(£20million) and the taxpayer (some £90million). That's in addition to the
£537million alrady spent on building the stadium.

The Hammers will pay just £2million per annum to rent the stadium.

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West Ham captain Kevin Nolan says Sam Allardyce right for club
Last Updated: 16/05/14 11:14pm
SSN

West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan insists Sam Allardyce is the right
person to guide the Hammers up the Premier League next season.
Allardyce signed a new two-year contract 12 months ago but speculation is
rife the club's owners could be in the market for a change at the helm.
The Hammers finished 13th on 40 points and Nolan, who came to prominence
under Allardyce during their time at Bolton Wanderers, believes West Ham are
fortunate to have such a professional manager. "It's been one of those
seasons but it's great to know that we'll be back in the top flight next
year, which has been the gaffer's main priority," he told the club's
website. "Now that we know we are going to be in the Premier League I'm
convinced that there's only one way that we're going to go and that's to get
better and better as the years go on. "This year's been really difficult
with injuries, obviously a few suspensions as well along the way, but it's
nice to be able to put this season to bed now and look forward to next
season. "I really think that given the backing in the post season and then
pre-season that we can push on next year and do the business. "If we didn't
have the squad we have, or the lads we've got here then I don't think we'd
have survived and I don't think many other teams would have survived with
everything that's been thrown at us. "It's credit to the gaffer and all the
boys for making sure that we are here now and for making sure that we're
going to enjoy another great year in the Premier League next season. "We're
going to be a lot better and I'm sure that we'll be in and around that top
10."

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NO PARKING AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM PLEASE
By Sean Whetstone 16 May 2014 at 18:35
West Ham Till I Die

The LLDC have a documented strategy to discourage West Ham fans from parking
close to the Olympic Stadium when we move there in two years time.

The Olympic stadium itself has just 257 car parking places of which 49 are
reserved for disabled badge holders and 39 for VIP's. A further 25 are
dedicated to athletics..

There are a number of local off-street car parks near to the Olympic stadium
venue that will have parking management strategies to ensure that the
short-stay parking needs of shoppers and other customers are accommodated
whilst the longer-stay parking demands on match days are restricted. Each of
these smaller car parks will restricted a maximum stay of two hours before
facing a financial penalty and possible towing away as a deterrent.

A number of areas have been also highlighted as potential sites that may
encourage unofficial, or pirate car parking during match days. These are
areas of land that are privately owned. They believe many of these areas
identified areas will undergo redevelopment and any remaining areas will
face planning restrictions to prevent illegal parking.

Westfield Stratford City shopping centre has a total of 4,997 parking
spaces.

The report says it will be necessary to ensure that the use of Westfield car
parking is discouraged for spectators on match days. They acknowledge that
some spectators will make use of the shopping centre as well as the stadium,
either by shopping (or drinking/eating) before or after the event, or by
sharing a car with someone who uses the shopping centre whilst they visit
the stadium.

They want to give sufficient discouragement to spectators to ensure
significant numbers do not use the Westfield car parks on event days whilst
allowing Westfield customers to make use of the car parks on event days
without financial penalty.

To achieve this, drivers will be able to re-programme their parking token
during the period of the match so it will subsequently allow them to depart
without incurring increased charges. This will be facilitated by the
provision of "event day" token machines provided across each level of
shopping and retail. Those who have attended the stadium event will be
unable to re-programme their token as this facility will only be available
whilst the event is on. The spectators will face punitive parking charges on
departure if they have not re-programmed their token during the period that
the event is on. The re-programming facility will be made available from ten
minutes after the beginning of
an match (Start + 10) to visitors to Westfield who have existing parking
tokens. Any driver who arrived earlier than ten minutes after the beginning
on a match (Start + 10) and intends on departing the car park any time
between ten minutes prior to the end of a match (End – 10) and two hours
after the end on a match (End + 120) will be told that they must
re-programme their token using the machines available during the event
period to avoid significantly higher exit charges.

If you want to park in Westfield on match days you obviously need to bring a
wife, husband, partner or friend and leave them with your credit card to do
the shopping while you watch the match in the Olympic Stadium.

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