Daily WHUFC News II - 10th May 2016

West Ham United v Manchester United
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Preview Percy.

Oh gawd he's gone all teary-eyed on us. Preview Percy ignores our opponents
and remembers someone who was there at the biginning for him...

So here it is then. Last game at the Boleyn. Ever.

Man United then. Sod 'em. Normally I'd get the work experience kid with the
Harry Potter spectacles to do some research on their season so far but I've
already written about them enough this season. They have a cup final coming
up thanks, yet again, to some frankly bizarre refereeing. Fact is that much
like their neighbours from up the M62, the trophy room is pretty bare if you
only count stuff won honestly so, as I say, sod 'em.

Frankly this match is all about us. I've therefore given the work experience
kid the day off so he can do clever stuff on computers that appears to
involves access to the nether regions of the computer systems of the major
banks. Which could account for the shiny new Porsche his Mum dropped him off
in the other day.

So I thought I'd take this opportunity to have a bit of a reminisce over the
years I've spent at the Boleyn. If only I could remember them. Thinking back
to the early days in amongst all the matches, good and bad, there was one
constant back then. Ladies and Gentlemen...


Pre-match entertainment

Ok back in the day we used to get in early. A good 90 minutes before
kick-off. You could buy a pint in the bar and take it down onto the terrace.
Legally. After a while the strains of Whistling Jack Smith's "I was Kaiser
Bill's Batman" would ring out around an echoey ground. This heralded the
arrival of none other than Bill Remfrey, the legendary match-day host. Now
to call Bill "a bit old-fashioned" in his selection of music would be like
suggesting that Piers Morgan is "a bit irritating". Bill seemed out of step
with the 1960s and insisted on entertaining us with songs from 1950s'
crooners such as Perry Como and Dean Martin. In fact "Kaiser Bill's Batman"
was about as hip as it got for Bill, bless him.

Bill used to spend matches in a little, cockpit type thing perched on the
front of the upper tier of the old West Stand. At about 2:10pm he would
disappear "to go and get the team news", whereupon he would "leave us in the
company of James Last". Now if that means nothing to you I suggest you do a
"You Tube" search to establish just how horrible that prospect was to most
sane people. Last (not his real name) was a German orchestra leader who
specialised in taking established songs and wringing all life and soul out
of them. Today's equivalent would I suppose be Andre Rieu. Yup that
horrible.

Back in them days vinyl was the order of the day so off would go Bill,
climbing out of his little cockpit and into the back he would go leaving
Herr Last and his orchestra to commit grievous bodily harm on the hits of
the day. Of course the limitations of vinyl meant that one side of an album
could last a maximum of about 20 minutes or so. Dear old Bill, to give him
his full name, rarely returned to his little box before the record had
finished, meaning we were treated to the sound of a stylus clicking its way
through the run-out groove on the record. "Click, click, click" it would go.
Annoying, yes but still infinitely more pleasing to the ear than the 20
minutes that had preceded it.

Having returned to "Mission Control West Stand" Bill's next job was to read
out the teams. Now back in the 50's and 60's this was a piece of cake for
Bill. Even the presence of Sheffield Wednesday's Peter Rodruiges (a
Welshman, of course) caused no problems. However, in the 1980's the game
started to become more cosmopolitan as players from all over the world
started to end up in English football. We should have known Bill would
struggle – the Cup Winners' Cup run of 1980/81 saw some hilarious
interpretations of names from Romania and he Soviet Union as Politecnica
Timisoara and the superb (and eventual winners) Dinamo Tiblisi both paid
visits to the East End.

Mind you, it wasn't just foreign names that Bill could struggle with, though
to be fair to him some of his issues were more down to the public address
system, which, in true West Ham style, had probably been bought on the cheap
and was based on the "two paper cups and a length of string" technology
utilised in cheap kids' toys. One evening game against Southampton saw him
have to announce that the Saints' sub was one "David Puckett". This sounded
slightly different through the speakers, forcing Bill to repeat – with
barely concealed exasperation at the schoolboy sniggers that were going
around the ground – "I said PUCKETT".

Of course you can't reminisce about dear old Bill without remembering THAT
night against Cambridge. It was the Friday before Christmas and it was our
first season down in what we used to call Division Two (ie "The
Championship". If I recall correctly we were 1-0 down at half time to
Cambridge's Rod Stewart lookalike Alan Biley and it was cold. It snowed. A
lot. This was when it used to really snow. In December not April. Snowball
fights broke out all over the place. At half time Bill stuck on Mike
Oldfield's interpretation of "In Dulce Jubilo", an instrumental that had
been a seasonal hit. This got people literally dancing on the terraces, the
desire to avoid hypothermia matching perfectly the jaunty jigalong nature of
the tune. For the record, we went on to win 3-1 and something like 12,000
Hammers to this day will be seen grinning wistfully whenever they dig out
Oldfield's record on the radio.

I suspect Bill is no longer with us – I guess he would be in three figures
age-wise were he about now. In some ways he was representative of the club
as a whole – as the world moved through the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's we
always seemed to view the modern era with an air of disdain. Of course it's
a completely different kettle of fish these days, as the move up the road
demonstrates. However, before we go I shall raise a glass skywards and toast
a chap who was there at the start for me all those years ago.

Prediction – well it hardly seems to matter much does it but, for the sake
of good form I shall be taking the £2.50 that I was going to send to Lucas
Neil down to Winstones The Turf Accountants and place it on a home win 2-1.

Enjoy the game and thanks for the memories!

When last we met at the Boleyn

Lost 2-1. Sadly this game, took place before the penalty embargo we've
struggled with all season had been lifted. And, as is usually the case, had
M Atkinson done his job in the first match, the game wouldn't have taken
place in the first place,

Referee

Mike Dean. Oh THAT'S a good idea. High profile game live on tv. Why wouldn't
you give it to someone who loves himself that much.

Danger Man

Wayne Rooney has a habit of scoring against us - often with refereeing
assistance. Actually make that "usually".

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ExWHUEmployee Exclusive Column: Top forward targets approached, players to
leave. Please stay off the pitch.
May 8, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
ExWHUEmployee

I am still not fully over the weekend's result. The performance was way out
of character from a team that we have started to expect so much from. I
know there has to be blips in a season but at such crucial stages against
Manchester United in the cup and now is really crushing. The players just
didn't seem to turn up and I am sorry Bilic has to take some responsibility.
I am not for one second slating the man who has given this club a new leash
of life, it has still been a great season, but there are two things that
need addressing for me.

Antonio is not a right back. It is clear to see. You do not need to be a
football expert to spot this and of course all opposition managers will have
noticed it too. They will play down his flank and get crosses in, as
Swansea did with three of their goals coming from that side. He gets easily
beaten and is too often out of position. This is by no means a criticism of
the Runner Up in the Hammer of the Year. He has been superb and even
against Swansea, going forward Antonio was our best player. We have Sam
Byram who can play there, Tomkins and dare I say it Joey O'Brien who I
believe would be more equipped to play in this position. Even during the
second half he had Kouyate playing there rather than Antonio. We are
looking to sign an experienced right back to compete with Byram there have
been many targets identified. The latest is free agent in the summer,
Gregory Van Der Wiel who is Dutch and plays for PSG. An experienced right
back will be signed in the summer thankfully. Antonio has to be right wing
and not right back. I would have had him there and not Moses, who has known
for months he is returning to Chelsea. So I would have Byram at right back
and Antonio right wing for the Manchester United game.

The other problem we have is that there is no leader in the back line. This
is why James Collins is so important for me to play there. Individually it
could be argued that Ogbonna and Reid have more to their game but in my
opinion neither performs to the level that Ginge has set. The most
important thing however that Bilic appears to have overlooked is that he
organises that defence. He is a leader and despite being vice-captain I
don't see Reid as that. I think Ogbonna hasn't played as well since Collins
has been out and I think Antonio's been more exposed as well. For the
Manchester United game I would bring Ginge back in for Reid too.

We have been searching for a top striker for months now and have had so many
targets on the list. I have mentioned most of them in my previous columns.
I have told you about Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette, Zlatan
Ibrahimovic, Benteke and two Argentinian players that we have been linked
with Bou and also Icardi of Inter. Icardi has scored many goal in Italy and
we have been scouting for a number of years now. We have put in initial
enquires for all of these forwards. There is also a shock name amongst our
targets which the Boleyn Informer hinted at in his column this week. I
thought "rubbish" (or words to that affect) when I first heard it and even
now I don't really believe it. I have done my enquiries and there does
seem to be truth in it. It would be a sensational story if it were to
happen but I just can't see it for now. The club are very keen to keep this
transfer quiet.

I have mentioned the players who will be leaving in my previous columns. It
appears that Valencia's departure appears even more likely now as the weeks
go by. As I have said many times; Song, Moses, O'Brien, Emineke, Lee and
other youngsters will go and Valencia is likely to now.

The last day at the Boleyn ground is almost upon us and I can't quite get my
head round it. It really is such an emotional thought and such a hugely
significant event in our history, obviously. It feels like I am going to a
funeral but I still believe it is for the best and when we actually set foot
into the Olympic Stadium we will all realise this. It is essential that
fans do not invade the pitch like they did against Swansea. The club have
put a huge amount into the post-match event. I have been asked by the club
to not disclose what is happening but it should be special including a
fireworks display and live music. The proceedings will be ruined if any
fans come onto the pitch so please don't. It promise to be a very special
and highly emotional night so let's not ruin this.

We were delighted to easily sell out our fanzine, we could have in fact sold
it two or three times over and we will be making it available online too.
The fanzine will be a regular feature. Please stay tuned for that. It was
a pleasure to speak to Danny Gabbidon and Kriss Akabusi before the match on
the West Ham Way Tv. Please have a look here. The site is ready to launch
a brand new site at the end of the season and we are so excited by it. It
will improve the performance, layout and options available to the readers.
We raised another for £550 for charity this week and we are very grateful to
@neilapp1986 and @frizzierascal for providing us with the tickets that we
sold giving half the money to Jonjo and half to DT38. We will also be
announcing the competition winners for the Alvin Martin tickets tomorrow at
12.

Tuesday promises to be highly emotional and special and significant for our
Europe chances. Let's hope memories are created in more ways than one.
The youth team winning the league cup is just a small glimpse of how bright
our future is. Congratulations to them. COYI

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Fans face criminal record for pitch invasion
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham supporters have been warned they face a possible criminal record
and a day in court which could result in a football banning order – as well
as cancelling the Boleyn Ground closing ceremony if they invade the pitch
after the stadium's final game on Tuesday night. Police match commander
Superintendent Dick Blanchard says any disorder will be met with robust
action from the authorities after Sir Trevor Brooking, Captain Mark Noble
and co-Chairman David Gold pleaded with fans not to disrupt the club's
'Farewell Boleyn' plans with a pitch invasion. Superintendent Blanchard
said: 'I want to remind supporters that any incidents of disorder or
anti-social behaviour on the night will be dealt with robustly by police.'
'Where criminal offences are committed inside the ground we will seek to
work with the club to bring those that break the law to court.'

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Juventus deadline extended again
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have twice extended the deadline for 52,000 season ticket holders
and corporate members to buy their reserved tickets for the first friendly
against Juventus on 7th August in what the club are billing as the opening
ceremony. The initial deadline on Monday 9th May was extended to Wednesday
11th May over the weekend but this was quickly extended on Monday to Sunday
15th May at midnight. A source close to the ticket office told Claret and
Hugh "We have extended due to the fact sales are still flooding in and
haven't slowed and we know a few fans are struggling to actually understand
the process to active their account but also we have had feedback that most
people have one eye on tonight and haven't thought about a game in August. I
can say that with current sales and expected demand from members (taking
into account how many of them are on the waiting list) it's not likely to
reach general sale and we are planning to process sales as a ballot again"
Some supporters have complained about the pricing strategy with tickets
priced between £30 and £50 for adults is too expensive for a friendly while
others have pointed to financial pressures being so close to Olympic Stadium
season ticket balances due by the 4th June. West Ham are understood to have
paid Juventus a significant amount of money to appear on 7th August and they
are hoping to sell out the 60,000 seater stadium.

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My final farewell …and it hurts so much!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 10, 2016 in Fans Forum, Hugh's Blogs, News,
Whispers
C and H

This is another piece I was commissioned to write which again appears this
morning on www.goal.com and contains most of my emotions on this very
special day!

I've had many loves in my life, a lot of which have involved very painful
farewells, but never one like this.

My personal love affair with the Irons and the Boleyn began way back in 1962
at a match involving the Hammers and Blackpool. I was there on the orders of
the editor of the newspaper I was to work for. During my interview for my
first job in London he told me: "You will need to come to Upton Park
tonight. I think you may fall in love."

I'd not been much of a supporter of anyone until then because playing the
game had taken up all of my time, but I'm grateful to that man whose name –
amazingly – was Tony Cottee. His namesake, the future West Ham great, was to
be born three years later.

This Cottee was right. From the moment I disembarked from the tube at
Plaistow, took in the sights and sounds of Queen's Market and Green Street,
my soul was lost to the west enclosure of Upton Park – a ground where all my
best footballing experiences have been played out, with the exception of
Wembley on that glorious summer's day in 1966.

That west enclosure – a place written deep in my heart – was also the
viewing point as I watched the likes of Hurst, Peters, John 'Budgie' Byrne,
actually the best centre forward I've ever seen, John Bond – who became one
of the game's greatest extrovert managers – Ken Brown, goalkeepers Jim
Standen and Phil Parkes – now a friend – and all the rest. I feel like a
teenager again as I recall them all.

Later came the amazing legend that was the buccaneering Bill Bonds, now
somebody I regularly interview, as well as Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire
– perhaps the best I've ever seen as he waltzed his way across some mudbath
pitches – Julian Dicks, Cottee, Paolo Di Canio and Frank MacAvennie. The
Boleyn was the cradle of all my dreams and holds my most beautiful memories.

The season of 1985­-86 saw Upton Park erupt in near glory, although a dismal
start saw the Hammers win just once from our first five games and gave
promise only of a regular flirtation with those around us at the bottom.

But Frank MacAvennie or 'SuperMac', grabbed a couple in the defeat of QPR
and, as September arrived, everything changed and we were off on what was to
become the team's best ever season.

They lost only eight games from that point and finished third behind the two
Liverpool clubs. Of course, there's an irony to the expression 'The Boys of
'86' – heard so regularly around the club­ – because it's an implicit
recognition of how little we have won down the years. It doesn't matter.
West Ham is a lifestyle, not a winning routine.

But for me the star of the show – the heart of the experience that is
supporting West Ham – was the 'old lady' herself. It is, though, very
unlikely that Lady Boleyn ever set foot anywhere near the castle that
adorned our badge for so many years.

Once through those antiquated turnstiles another reality took over in a
stadium that was at the heart of this East End community. It was the
epicentre for those living in the area and part of the growing-up process
for those of us who came from further afield.

When you returned it mattered not if you were a millionaire or on the dole –
you were simply a Boleyn boy. We all grew up this dear 'old lady' we love so
much and that she will be gone forever after Tuesday is just desperate.

I once wrote that you change your wife before you change your football club
but saying farewell to Upton Park feels worse than a divorce. It resembles
more sitting at the deathbed of a family member knowing there's no way back.

Yes, we will move on, yes we will create a new Olympic Park history because
that's what we do at West Ham. Just not before a tear or 10,000 have been
shed.

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Shearer remembers abuse from Chicken run
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 10, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Alan Shearer pens his thoughts on tonight's game in his Coral betting blog.
"West Ham fans say their farewell to the Boleyn Ground. They've had some
fantastic times there over the years. I played there a few times and it was
always a difficult place for away teams to travel to." "I remember the old
Chicken Run terrace which is now the East Stand. You always got abuse from
there as an opposing player. It's been an iconic ground in this country and
it will be sad to see it go. Tomorrow evening will be a grand occasion as
they have the biggest club in the country playing there in the last ever
game so it should be a fantastic atmosphere."
"It was a real damp squib for the Hammers there on Saturday when they were
well beaten by Swansea. They will certainly want to put in a better
performance than that. I am sure the manager will remind them of that. Some
great players have played at that ground over the years so they won't want
to go out with a whimper. It will be a tough game for Manchester United who
obviously have a lot riding on the result."
Photo of Alan Shearer leading out Newcastle as captain in 2001 in the Boleyn
ground across building works for the West Stand. West Ham were the 3-0
victors on 23rd September with Di Canio, Hutchinson and Kanoute getting the
goals.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 10th May 2016

Preview - Man Utd
WHFC.com

The background

West Ham United reflect on 112 years of history on Tuesday night when they bid farewell to the Boleyn Ground with the visit of Manchester United.

Not only will it be a momentous occasion for the 35,000 fans inside the Boleyn Ground and millions more watching on television, but it is also a hugely important match with European football at stake for both sides.

West Ham are in need of the points after their defeat to Swansea City on Saturday and weekend victories for Liverpool and Southampton tightened up the race for UEFA Europa League spots, while the Red Devils harbour hopes of catching Manchester City for a UEFA Champions League berth.

The Hammers will also be keen to get one back on the Red Devils after they knocked them out of the FA Cup in a sixth round replay last month, when James Tomkins' goal was not enough to cancel out efforts from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini.

Fans are reminded that a special celebratory event to mark the final Boleyn Ground match will follow the final whistle of Tuesday night's game. To ensure the event runs to plan, supporters are reminded of the importance of staying in their seats come the final whistle. Click here for more information.
The history

The Boleyn Ground has played host to a whole host of memorable moments over the Hammers' 112-year stint in E13, and Hammers fans will be hoping for one final hurrah.

The Hammers have enjoyed plenty of entertaining matches against the Red Devils over the years, with the most recent victory here – a 4-0 League Cup success against Alex Ferguson's 2010/11 side standing out as one of the best games in the ground's history.

Overall, the teams have met 133 times in all competitions, with West Ham winning 42 and the Red Devils 62 of those clashes.

West Ham and Manchester United have already played three times this season, with the 0-0 Barclays Premier League draw in December, being followed by a 1-1 scoreline in March's FA Cup tie. That brought the teams back to the Boleyn Ground, where van Gaal's team edged the Hammers out.
The match

Team news

West Ham United

The Hammers will again be without Adrian, who is suffering with a calf injury. Darren Randolph will continue to deputise in goal.

The Spaniard is West Ham's only absentee, as Slaven Bilic has the luxury of an otherwise-fully fit squad.
Manchester United

Red Devils forward Anthony Martial is a doubt after withdrawing from Saturday's victory over Norwich City with a hamstring complaint.

Matteo Darmian is out with an ankle injury, while Marouane Fellaini is banned, but Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford could be recalled.
Match info

Tuesday's match referee is Mike Dean. He will be assisted by Simon Long and Simon Bennett. The fourth official is Roger East.
This will be West Ham's 384th and final Premier League game at Upton Park. A win will take them to 601 points at home in the competition (W167, D97, L119).
Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Swansea was their worst home loss of the season - and first at Upton Park since August.
Louis van Gaal's side have lost only once in their last seven Premier League games (W5, D1).
They need two points to surpass their lowest ever Premier League tally of 64 points.
United have kept a league-high 18 clean sheets this season.
Wayne Rooney has scored 11 times in 15 Premier League appearances against West Ham, including a record seven goals at Upton Park by a visiting player.
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info

Tickets for Tuesday's game have totally SOLD OUT.
The District & Hammersmith and City lines are set to serve Upton Park station as normal on Tuesday. Click here for the latest travel info.
Tuesday is set to be a damp day, although the rain could clear up by kick-off. The temperature is predicted to reach 17C (63F).
If you can't make it to this momentous occasion, you can follow all the action on our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre will have live audio commentary, social media updates, in-running stats, photos and more. You can also get involved in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WHUMNU

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Bilic backs Hammers to show character
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic admits he was shocked by the 4-1 defeat against Swansea but hopes his side can show the spirit and character to bounce straight back against Manchester United on Tuesday. The Hammers suffered their first home defeat in the Premier League since August and it was a disappointing afternoon in the final ever Saturday game at the Boleyn Ground. Bilic knew his side's defensive display was not good enough and hopes the players will have learned from their mistakes. Bilic said: "It was a very bad result for us and it shocked us. We didn't expect it. At the beginning it looked really good and it was one of our best starts. "The only thing that was missing was our finishing product. That made us complacent because they didn't look dangerous.
"But we made a couple of mistakes and to be fair we were thinking that our colleague behind me will take the ball and let me be in a good position. But if you let their players have a one on one they are very capable of hurting you and we didn't help our defenders at all. "We then conceded a goal and then when you concede a second it is very hard to come back. We have done it a few times but we needed to pull the goal back. To be fair we didn't deserve it. "With the ball we showed the character and determination but our finishing product was not there today. Without the ball it was simply not good enough in the Premier League."
Bilic is hoping his players can bounce straight back against Manchester United and make it a night to remember in the final ever game to be played at the Boleyn Ground. Bilic added: "We have to bounce back. We have two games left and want to finish high. Whatever happens we have had a good season. "But our aim is to show a good spirit and character that has been with us all season and we hope to show that against Manchester United. "It will be an emotional night and is a big game when you always play United, but the fact that it is the final ever game makes it even more special and we have to stay cool and stay fo cused because we want to win the game. "We have been thinking about a European place since we knew it was reachable and we can still do it. When we give our best we still have a lot to offer."

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Season Tickets sell out at the new Stadium
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that all Season Tickets and Club London seats in the Club's magnificent new home on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have now been sold. West Ham confirmed in March that the Stadium's capacity would be increased to accommodate 6,000 more fans each matchday, but those remaining seats have now quickly been snapped up by members of the Priority List to take the total number of Season Ticket Holders and Club London members to more than 50,000. As a result of the unprecedented demand, West Ham will now boast the highest number of Season Ticket Holders in London, and the highest percentage of Season Ticket Holders in the whole of the Premier League. The Club's increase in capacity from 35,000 at the Boleyn Ground to 60,000 at the former Olympic Stadium also makes it the biggest and most successful stadium move in Britain in the modern era. Commenting on the sell-out, West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady said: "David Sullivan, David Gold and I have always believed in the West Ham fanbase and knew we could fill the new Stadium "Reports consistently show that we have highest average capacity in the Premier League and every game in our final season at the Boleyn Ground sold out within days of going on sale. "So having made the bold decision to move to the former Olympic Stadium, we are delighted to see how it has captured the imagination of the Hammers fanbase. We find ourselves going into our first season with more than 50,000 Season Ticket holders and tens of thousands of people on the Priority List for seasonal seats in 2017/18. "I know there will be some disappointed fans on the Priority List who did not get Season Tickets, but I can assure them they will be first in the queue should any become available for our second year and they will very much continue to be a part of our great Club. "Without doubt, our stadium move is an unrivalled success story, but we know the hard work does not stop now. We must deliver a stadium that exceeds our Season Ticket Holders' expectations and support Slaven Bilic in building a team on the pitch that matches our stunning new home. "I would like to conclude by saying a personal thank you to everyone who has bought a Season Ticket or Club London package for next season. Together we will make history for West Ham United."

Today's announcement practically guarantees that the new Stadium will be sold out for every Premier League game next season, meaning an extra 1.5 million people will visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park each year - generating millions of pounds of extra revenue for the taxpayer in the process. All supporters on the Priority List who were unable to buy a Season Ticket will now be transferred to a waiting list and notified as and when seats become available at the new Stadium, in the order that they joined. Anyone wishing to join the Season Ticket Waiting List can do so by visiting https://www.eticketing.co.uk/whufc/. The Club will also soon be launching the 2016/17 Claret Membership, the best way and, in all likelihood, the only way to secure match-by-match tickets at the Hammers' new home next season.

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Slaven Speaks - Manchester United
WHUFC.com

Slaven Bilic says West Ham United can channel the emotions of the Final Game at the Boleyn Ground to beat Manchester United on Tuesday night. The Hammers will bid farewell to their home of 112 years with the visit of the biggest club in the country, with a raucous atmosphere and a fair few tears sure to affect those of a Claret and Blue persuasion. Bilic knows that feeling will get to his players, but is sure they will rise to the occasion, rather than allow it to affect their performance.

Slaven, how are you feeling a day ahead of the Final Game at the Boleyn Ground?

"It's a big game for a couple of reasons and one of them is that this is the last game ever at Upton Park. Then, if you add to that it's a very important game for us and for Manchester United, as both teams need to win the game, it makes it mega-big! "It will be a game of emotions and you can't stop it. It's impossible to tell the players, the staff and spectators that it's a normal game, but it's not a normal game. It's a special one and a once-in-a-lifetime kind of game. "It's going to be emotional but we have to channel those emotions to be our motivator and our detonator in order to win."

So, your job is to make the players perform as they would in a 'normal' game?

"We already spoke about this game and everything but we're not going to try to make them think about this game only as a football game, because that's impossible. "There's nothing wrong with being emotional, as long as you channel it in a way that you are positive. I think we're going to manage to do it on Tuesday night."

Personally, are you feeling proud that you will be the final manager to lead West Ham United out at the Boleyn Ground?

"I am a bit proud. I knew this would happen when I came at the start of the season on paper, but now it has come it is special for me, and also a special time for the Club. "I played for West Ham and now I'm the manager of West Ham, so for me it is mixed emotions like it is for the players and the fans. One part of me is happy we are moving forward with more capacity and everything, but another part of me will miss this special kind of stadium. It's like a home. "No matter where you move, even if it is to a fancier house or apartment, still your favourite home is your first."

It is fitting that Manchester United will pose the opposition on Tuesday evening?

"Yes, it is fitting. Since we found out we would play them in the Final Game, it couldn't be bigger. It would be big against any team, but being against Manchester United is like it has a cherry on top! "Now, after this past weekend, both clubs need the points to have a good chance to get their targets. It's unbelievably important, so it really is a one-off. "It's going to be impossible to wipe out the emotions and all that, but we have to channel them and limit the negative part of those emotions. They can be very positive for us, because they will make us be more on our toes than usual, and be on the front foot from the start. "We must make sure we're not over-emotional or over-motivated and I am sure we are going to do it."

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Bonds shares 'wonderful' Boleyn memories
WHUFC.com

West Ham United legend Billy Bonds MBE bids a personal Farewell Boleyn ahead of the Final Game against Manchester United...

I have wonderful memories of Upton Park. When I first went over there in 1967 from Charlton Athletic, West Ham had just won the World Cup, thanks to Hurst, Peters and Moore. I went into that dressing room but, all I can say is that Bobby Moore welcomed me straightaway. What a fantastic footballer and a lovely bloke he was. You didn't feel that he felt he was above you – despite being a World Cup winner. It was a great environment at the time, the Club was really buzzing. We had some great nights. The 1976 Eintracht Frankfurt European Cup-Winners' Cup semi-final was probably the most atmospheric game I have ever played under. Though we were 2-1 down from the first leg, we won the second at home 3-1 to progress 4-3 on aggregate into the final. It was a sensational night. West Ham fans are the greatest in the country. They have treated me brilliantly down the years. Upton Park is a very atmospheric football ground. Opposing teams have never liked coming there. You had all the Dockers on the other side of the pitch, standing in the 'old chicken run'. It felt like the crowd were always on top of you and played a real part in your success. There are so many memories. I'll always recall the anger of Alex Ferguson, who lost two league titles there with Manchester United, in 1992 and 1995.
There have been some fabulous games there. I'm sure a lot of the older people, those around my age of 69, will be sad to leave the place. But it's progress, and the club has to move on.

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Noble ready for 'huge night'
WHUFC.com

Hello everyone.

Well, what can I say? Tuesday is going to be a huge night for everyone associated with West Ham United, for so many reasons.

We have been speaking about our Final Game here at the Boleyn Ground for the past couple of years, but it always seemed like something that was going to happen ages in the future. Well, now that day is almost here.

I don't mind admitting that I will be feeling emotional on Tuesday night. I've been coming to this place since I was a kid, when my Dad used to bring me to matches.

Then I got signed by West Ham and played here for the youth team, then I made my first-team debut at 17 and walked home to Canning Town afterwards.

Since then, we've been promoted twice, relegated, reached the FA Cup final and had so, so many unforgettable afternoons and nights here.

There are so many memories that spring to mind when I think of this place – my debut, scoring my first goal, the Great Escape, victories over the best teams in the country, waving to my wife and kids in the stand, my Testimonial – that I could fill this whole website writing about them!

​Well, on Tuesday night I will say farewell to the Boleyn after nearly three decades of coming here to watch and then play for my team, and after that all I will have are those memories.

I turned 29 on Sunday and I want Tuesday to be a celebration, too, not only of the Boleyn Ground and of the fantastic season we have had, but of a victory that will give us a great chance of playing European football at our new Stadium next season.

I won't dwell too long on Saturday's game, because it was just a blip and it serves no purpose going over it and digging ourselves out. We didn't take our chances and Swansea did – simple as that.

We still have a chance of finishing in the top six, but to do so we will need to play well, both on Tuesday night and at Stoke on Sunday.

Whatever happens, we have so many things to be proud of this season – a season I have enjoyed more than any other in my career.

We have set a new record for points and goals scored in the Premier League and we have not been doubled by anyone – a hat-trick of achievements in what is a really difficult league full of top teams.

I want to thank everyone who has made this season possible. First, my teammates, who have shown amazing spirit and togetherness. Second, Slaven and his staff, who have prepared us brilliantly and supported me as captain.

Third, I want to thank the owners and Karren Brady for everything they have done away from the pitch, whether that was signing some top players and securing them on long contracts or all the hard work that has gone into getting the Club ready for the move. Fourth, thanks to my family and friends for always being there for me.

Last but not least, I want to thank every single one of you for your amazing support this season. Yet again, wherever we have been, you have been there in your thousands, out-singing the opposition fans and creating fantastic atmospheres that we have thrived on so often.

On Tuesday, like me, you will be bidding farewell to a stadium that you know and love. The Boleyn Ground has been great to us, and it is right that we show it the respect it deserves.

Please try as best as you can to enjoy the game, and the post-match ceremony, which promises to be a spectacular show that we will never, ever forget.

Come on you Irons!

Nobes

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com

I'm just getting over the defeat by Swansea and now it is beginning to build up to the final game at the Boleyn Ground. It will be a hugely emotional time, but equally I can also feel the excitement of moving to the new Stadium so it is mixed feelings. I am going to be very sad to leave my spiritual home which has been part of my life, all my life and it is coming to an end. But I believe that we will have a fitting send-off for the fans and we could not have a bigger club coming to celebrate that event than Manchester United. But I am looking forward to it and also the big game that we have to play. It is an important football match and not just some end of season kick about. This is a serious match that Slaven, the players and the fans want to win. I have so many memories of the Boleyn Ground and they go back a number of years. I can go back to the 1950's when I was just 16 and I played here against Portsmouth. We beat them and I scored the winning goal in front of 500 fans which was very exciting for a young 16 year old. Those are my personal memories because playing here was so thrilling. I played here a number of times but that particular moment is one that stands in my mind. I have stories of the the club being in the old Second Division, but here we are playing in the Premier League and are now in the top half of the table.We would like to finish fifth, but sixth is more realistic. The reason for that is because we have a great manager and some great players. I am sure they will become legends in their own time so this is a great time.

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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

I think it will be emotional when we play Manchester United in our final ever game at the Boleyn Ground, but first and foremost it's a very big football game.

I didn't anticipate Southampton winning at Tottenham and even Manchester United at Norwich, they could have dropped something and now we have to win otherwise it's not in our hands to be in Europe.

And of course if Manchester United win, it's in their hands to be in Champions League so it's now a huge, huge football game as well as being an emotional night.

I think there will be more tears spilt in one place and in any place in the United Kingdom since Highbury shut.

There will be more men crying tomorrow night than you'll see anywhere in the UK.

Perhaps we'll be in the Guinness Book of Records! It is sad and it is emotional and at that moment in time we'll all wish we weren't moving, but the next day you'll wake up and realise it's the right thing.

It will be very emotional in August when Juventus come to the new Stadium and that will be the start of a new era.

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West Ham United v Manchester United
TUE, 10 MAY 2016PREMIER LEAGUE
19:45
Venue: Boleyn Ground

TEAM NEWS

West Ham goalkeeper Adrian is the only injury absentee for the club's final game at Upton Park after 112 years. The Spaniard is out with a calf injury so Darren Randolph will deputise.

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial is a doubt after withdrawing from Saturday's win at Norwich because of a tight hamstring. Matteo Darmian is sidelined by an ankle injury and Marouane Fellaini is banned, but Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford could be recalled.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic: "It's a big game for a couple of reasons and one of them is that this is the last game ever at Upton Park. Then, if you add to that it's a very important game for us and for Manchester United, as both teams need to win the game, it makes it mega-big! "It's a special one and a once-in-a-lifetime kind of game. It's going to be emotional but we have to channel those emotions to be our motivator in order to win. "One part of me is happy we are moving forward with more capacity and everything, but another part of me will miss this special kind of stadium. It's like a home. "No matter where you move, even if it is to a fancier house or apartment, still your favourite home is your first."

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "We have to win our matches because otherwise we cannot be in the first four - that's the pressure that we have. We have to fight until the end.
"West Ham are a very good team - it's not for nothing they're in the top six of the table. We were lucky in the FA Cup. I think we deserved to win but we were lucky West Ham had a goal disallowed in the last minute."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Manchester United are unbeaten in the last 14 Premier League meetings (W11, D3).
The Hammers have failed to score in eight of the last 13 league encounters.
West Ham United

This will be West Ham's 384th and final Premier League game at Upton Park. A win will take them to 601 points at home in the competition (W167, D97, L119).
Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Swansea was their worst home loss of the season - and first at Upton Park since August.
That result also ended West Ham's 10-match unbeaten run, as well as their Champions League hopes.
The Hammers have only averaged 0.93 points from Premier League games played on a Tuesday (P29, W6, D9, L14). Manchester United have averaged an unrivalled 2.19 points from Tuesday fixtures (P43, W28, D10, L5),
Manchester United

Louis van Gaal's side have lost only once in their last seven Premier League games (W5, D1).
They need two points to surpass their lowest ever Premier League tally of 64 points.
United have kept a league-high 18 clean sheets this season.
Wayne Rooney has scored 11 times in 15 Premier League appearances against West Ham, including a record seven goals at Upton Park by a visiting player.

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There won't be a dry eye in the house
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Paul Turner

As far as football seasons go, this one has been quite eventful for WHUFC. Besides the inescapable fact that West Ham United are leaving the Boleyn Ground after 112 years for pastures new (and publically owned), results on the football pitch have not been too bad.

Wins away to Arsenal, Liverpool (finally after so many years) and Man City as the first three away matches, unlucky not to have done the double over Chelsea, and reached the FA Cup quarter finals are just some examples. There have been disappointments along the way as well like sacrificing our place in the Europa League, the manner in how we exited the FA Cup and refereeing decisions in recent months.

Back in August I moaned about the lack of overall squad depth and this was addressed by the club with its transfer day deadline dealings. One has been sold on (Jelavic), another looks surplus to requirements already (Song), a stockpiled Chelsea player left their depot only to be returned when the season ends (Moses) and a man with his ice cream cart rocked up from Nottingham Forest (Antonio).

Gone were Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan and Modibo Maiga and previously, Stewart Downing. January saw the addition of Sam Byram in the face of competition from Everton and Emmanuel Emenike as the replacement for a China-bound Jelavic.

Overall and a nice change for once, we find ourselves with a squad that is stronger than where we started with room to manoeuvre in replacing those on loan to ourselves or on the peripheries of the first team squad. Usually we are lumbered with complete dead wood throughout the squad but even before factoring in West Ham United's usual penchant for trying to polish a turd, the playing squad looks promising going forwards.

Strong players who previously enhanced our squad - like Kouyate and his drive and willingness to directly run with the ball - have been supplemented with the likes of Lanzini to thread the play together. Cresswell's attacking intent is assisted with the addition of Payet on his wing. Any combination of centre half can be the player who presses the attacker whilst Ogbonna is the no nonsense "see ball, win ball" defender who also isn't afraid to play the ball from the back.

Over the park all season there have been contributions and a strong collective spirit which has seen the club reach its highest points total since football began in 1992. This has not been achieved through luck.

Slaven has been a breath of fresh air for a set of fans that have spent the last couple of seasons fighting among themselves about the previous manager. There has been no negativity from the manager towards the fans. The results have helped but even if the results which currently see us sitting in 6th place with an outside chance of 'Champions' League qualification were not there and we were adrift in mid-table, the playing style alone has been enough to see a marked change in attitude from fans towards the clubs playing staff management.

This last season at our famous Boleyn Ground had seen West Ham United unbeaten in the league since August prior to last weekend's 4-1 reversal and delivered plenty of memories in such a poignant season for our club. Mark Noble fully deserved his testimonial at the old ground and the day itself was a great celebration of both the faithful servant to the claret and blue cause and the club itself.

The FA Cup replay against Liverpool with Ogbonnas dramatic last gasp winner and the atmosphere that night captured in this YouTube movie, beating Chelsea and Tottenham so they can never laud it over us as winning their last matches at our ground. There is so much more I could list but this season, regardless of how it will end in Stoke-On-Trent on the 15th May has been one to remember.

It's easily within our remit to do a West Ham and flop next season. So many brave new dawns have failed to materialise in the past as those fortunes are always hiding but with the move to the new stadium, coupled with the new TV deal kicking in from next season you just never know and we could be on the verge of something good here on a consistent basis.

The current squad and manager look much happier than in previous years and the togetherness comes across as natural and not forced. It might just be me being cynical but I am always waiting for everything to come crashing down and to be the punchline to the joke.

At the moment the joke is on "football experts" in various media forms and misogynistic dinosaur pundits currently working on beIN sports in the Middle East. Be careful what you wish for, you'll regret changing managers, good luck fighting relegation. Think I'll stick with what we have at the moment thank you very much, come what may.

A reversal in form and performances next season should not see the start of discord with the manager. Teams need time to build and not everyone can pull off a Leicester. This team since promotion has been built and has been added to with further additions to come in this summer, European football or not. Rome was not built in a day and short term solutions to longer term issues has been the norm for too long at West Ham United.

Now things have started to take an upwards trajectory, it is time to carry on building and to seize on the opportunities that present themselves to us now. Not before however giving the Boleyn Ground the send off it deserves.

There won't be a dry eye in the house in the home end tomorrow night but let's not make it a wake, let us celebrate everything about the previous 112 years and regardless of any campaigns on West Ham United's website which state history starts in 99 days or so, your history helps to make you who you are and guides you towards your future. A history of triumphs and failures that can never be erased or forgotten.

The official capacity of the Boleyn Ground is just north of 35,000 but there will be more then that there on Tuesday 10th May. Family and friends both here and no longer with us will be present as they always are, blowing those pretty bubbles in the air.

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Collins named in provisional Welsh squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's James Collins has been selected in the provisional Welsh squad for the forthcoming European Championships.

The 32-year-old central defender is one of 29 players selected by manager Chris Coleman for a training camp in Portugal later this month.

Coleman's squad will be based in Dinard, Brittany for the European Championships, with their campaign starting against Slovakia in Bordeaux on 11 June.

Provisional Welsh squad

Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Daniel Ward (Liverpool), Owain Fôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Ashley Williams (Swansea City), James Chester (West Bromwich Albion), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), James Collins (West Ham United), Chris Gunter (Reading), Adam Matthews (Sunderland), Neil Taylor (Swansea City), Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers), Paul Dummett (Newcastle United), Ashley Richards (Fulham); Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace), Joe Allen (Liverpool), David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest), Emyr Huws (Wigan Athletic), Jonathan Williams (Crystal Palace), David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), George Williams (Fulham), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Andy King (Leicester City); David Cotterill (Birmingham City), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Tom Lawrence (Leicester City), Simon Church (Milton Keynes Dons), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Wes Burns (Bristol City), Tom Bradshaw (Walsall).

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Sullivan confirms two major bids
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has claimed that West Ham United will have made two major bids for strikers by the end of the week.

West Ham's co-owner, speaking live on Sky Sports News this afternoon revealed that he had made bids of €30million for a European-based forward and £25million for a UK-based goalscorer.

"We're hoping to bring in one or two top players," he told Sky's Jim White. "We've put a bid in today for €30million for a player and other bids will be going in.

"We're going to make a £25million bid for a player in England maybe later this week, so whatever happens we intend to bring a top striker in.

When pushed by White, Sullivan refused to name either player but confirmed it would be one or the other, rather than potentially signing both.

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Monday musings: no swansong for Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: Graeme Howlett

West Ham United's supporters marked the final Saturday match at the Boleyn Ground with a rousing and emotional chorus of 'Bubbles' ahead of the game. However that was as good as it got for the 35,000 fans packed inside this famous old ground, which closes for good next week, as the visitors breezed to a surprising and most unexpected 4-1 win. West Ham's first defeat at home in the Premier League since last August, it was as comprehensive a win for the visitors as can be hoped for. 2-0 down at the break West Ham were little better in the second 45, despite grabbing a consolation goal, and got exactly what they deserved from the game - absolutely nothing. Slaven Bilic admitted during his post-match press conference that the team carried "too many passengers". However the manager also bears some responsibility having picked the wrong team for the occasion - where the biggest problem was the selection, again, of Michail Antonio at right back.
A winger by trade, Antonio had a nightmare as the visitors attacked his side of the field relentlessly - with great reward. Meanwhile James Tomkins, a natural defender and someone with experience of playing on the right side of defence, kicked his heels on the bench throughout. Additionally, last season's leading goalscorer Diafra Sakho remained alongside Tomkins until the hour mark - although he at least made some impression when replacing loanee Victor Moses by contributing to West Ham's only goal of the game on 68 minutes. Whilst rumours of a fallout with Bilic have been strenuously denied by the club, there is clearly something amiss with the once-prolific striker and it would come as no shock were Sakho to move on to pastures new this summer. That possibility probably won't concern Bilic or his employers unduly, for they are committed to signing a big-name striker - or two - this summer to herald the club's impending arrival at the Olympic Stadium.
However there is the small matter of a clash with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground before that happens - and Tuesday's night's match, which also carries great significance in terms of Premier League placings, promises to be a hugely sentimental affair. For West Ham United FC's tenure of the Boleyn Ground ends after 112 years this week, with the bulldozers set to move in later this summer. Many a tear will be shed on Tuesday night as the fans fondly remember the years - and the people - gone by. It's almost 40 years to the day since my father first took me to the Boleyn Ground for a Division One clash with Derby. My team haven't won a great deal since then - but the move to Stratford will at least offer West Ham United the opportunity to mix it up with the Premier League's key players.

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Everything will change
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 9th May 2016
By: James Longman

Last summer, two of my fellow West Ham United season ticket holders and I made the short trip to Stratford to the Olympic Stadium to watch France play Romania in the Rugby World Cup.

We aren't rugby fans, we were on a spying mission to check out West Ham's new stadium, and we weren't the only ones - the stadium was littered with fellow Hammers. Walking to the ground, topics of conversation included what pub would we head to before and after games, will the staff behind the bar at the ground be as brilliantly inefficient, will we ever have reason to make use of the champagne bar, will the toilets ever overflow, will the tube stop for 15 minutes just before the ground.

The match began and to be honest, I can't remember a single moment from it other than a few words that kept going around and around in my head: Everything. Will. Change.

My family and West Ham have been the only constants in my life. Both sides of my family grew up around The Boleyn - Plaistow, East Ham, West Ham. Some even lived on Parr Road next to the ground and my Grandad and Dad ran a shop five minutes away on the Barking Road.

I don't ever remember choosing West Ham as a club, it was just there. My family were from there, my older brother had West Ham wallpaper, I just loved football, it was that simple. Getting a West Ham kit for Christmas was always my favorite thing in the world and even to this day, opening a present and seeing the badge on it excites me a lot more than it should at my age.

My first real remembrance of a season was the 1985/86 one. That Christmas I got (and still have) the VHS of the season highlights - snowy pitches, orange balls, TC and Macca, Ward, Devo, all superstars in a young kid's eyes. I have a picture on my wall of my Dad, my Mum, my brother, and I in the sun on holiday in Cornwall, with me proudly wearing the away AVCO kit. I LOVE that kit and that time.

In school holidays I used to go to my Dad's shop - 'Longmans' on Barking Road - and I'd wander up to the ground. Back then the club shop was an old portacabin outside the ground. Looking back, it was like Santa's grotto to me and i'd hang around in there, buying anything I could afford with my pocket money - usually the small pictures of the players which proudly went up on my wall.

On one occasion the players had been training at the ground and came out, and they all signed my club shop leaflet as I didn't have anything else for them. My school asked me to write about the best thing that had ever happened to me and I wrote about that. It meant the world to me.

I remember going to watch a match at the Boleyn for the first time, walking up the stairs to see a beautiful sea of green and thinking how big it was. A place for magic. The years post 1985/86 when I started to go regularly weren't the best in terms of results but I didn't mind - I just loved being there.

My mate's dad had a furniture shop on Green Street - 'Focus' (which is still there but different owners) - and as he was a bit older, I was allowed to go to the matches with him. We started off standing on the North Bank as that was the least naughty of the two banks but we progressed to the more mischievous South Bank.

So many fond memories, even the bad ones I can now think about with a smile (being on the pitch for the final game of the 1990/91 season and hearing on the tannoy that Oldham had scored in the last minute to deny us the Championship - so very West Ham). I still have a scrap book where I used to cut all of the articles about West Ham out and glue them into my book.

As the years progressed, I played football for my school on Saturdays and as I loved playing, i didn't get to go as much but my support never wavered. All roads always led back to it. I remember being on holiday, and pre internet, i would have to hunt down a shop selling English newspapers and check out the scores. It became more than a passion, it became a way of life.

When age caught up with me (and a cruciate ligament injury) I got my season ticket and the Saturday trip to the Boleyn with my friends became a highlight of the week. Bonds are formed at football matches that are difficult to describe. I guess it's rare in life that you experience such moments of pure joy and such lows on a regular basis with people, and those emotions bring you together in ways you can never put into words. It's just there. Experiencing it in a place like the Boleyn makes it even more special.

There is something beautiful about supporting West Ham, something oddly romantic. Its a special club, a knowing smile about the heartache we go through, a real family. Even in my line of work, TV Producing, I have ended up working with Hammers a lot - Ben Shephard, Russell Brand, James Corden - there is something comforting about knowing that they have experienced the same feelings as you.

And co-hosting the KUMB Podcast with Chris Scull has been one of the best things I've ever done - meeting fellow fans, chatting to current and ex players, chatting to the Chairmen, their sons and daughters - just chatting about West Ham, what a joy!

Chris and I would get emails in from West Ham fans on oil rigs in Australia, from Oman, from Somalia. My brother runs a bar in Singapore (the Dog and Bone - go say 'hi') and my niece texts me updates when they are watching. Now i'm in LA I chat to Hammers from around the States.

West Ham is special and no matter where you are, there is someone near you who wants to talk about the same thing. Since taking a job in the US, missing the matches has been tough - I mean, I REALLY miss it. My head is here but on a Saturday afternoon my heart is in the East End. And as I embark on the journey back for the final two matches, it has dawned on me that this is it - The Boleyn, the beautiful heart and soul of the East End, will soon be no more.

Things change, it's inevitable. Football is big business and business requires growth. Wouldn't it be great if West Ham were challenging for the title, for the cups, for the Champions League each year? Well, yes it would be and no it wouldn't be. See, here's the rub.

This season has been amazing because our team has come together and pulled off some huge wins - Liverpool (twice!), Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and we were only a few very poor decisions away from being third and in the semi final of the FA Cup.

And the joy of it, for many, is that we are the underdog punching up. We never play the top teams expecting to win so that makes winning even more glorious, the feeling that you're walking on air. The first half of Big Sam's final season, when we clicked and it all came together, people were walking into the ground with a hop skip and a jump; the feel-good factor even had the staff behind the bars smiling. Winning is contagious.

We've had that even more this season with a manager who has embraced everything we love about the club. He has made us stand 10 feet tall. But what if we become a club who expects to win? Then that changes things as winning becomes a process more than a wonderful surprise. It's stupid, I know, to even bemoan potential success but I LOVE beating Spurs when we are expected to lose and I definitely won't LOVE beating Spurs as much when we are expected to win.

But times, they are a changing. West Ham, and its fans deserve some time in the sun and I'm in no doubt that our stadium move will bring it. I'll miss everything about The Boleyn, even the things i moan about.

I'll miss the wave of claret and blue walking down Green Street on match day, the flooded toilets in the Queens; the Queens market where I used to run around with my mate; Ray's audio store where Dad bought me my first walkman; Focus Furniture shop where we would jump around on sofas; Ken's cafe, the Black Lion in Plaistow and all of its tiny toilets; my Dad's old shop; seeing the ground appear; the Meccano turrets; the turnstiles; the terrible bar service; the walk up the steps; the smells, the memories, the ghosts - i'll even miss things I never knew but have only heard about.

But things change. Someone said to me that maybe the future of the club is about the kids now, the ones who may only know success rather than us thirty-somethings who have only ever known 'almost'. A new adventure is about to start for West Ham and i'll be supporting them every step of the way. I just know that some of my heart will be left in that old stadium on Green Street and i know that as I leave it for the last time, my legs will get heavier, and my heart will yearn but my head will be saying it is time.

It'll hurt very much. For better, I hope for better, not for worse, Everything. Will. Change.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.

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West Ham bid £24m for top striker and more offers expected, says co-owner David Sullivan
By Lyall Thomas
Last Updated: 09/05/16 6:33pm
SSN

West Ham have made a £24m bid for a top forward in France and will bid £25m for another in England this week if they are unsuccessful, co-owner David Sullivan has confirmed. Sky sources reported back in March that the Hammers had made Marseille's Michy Batshuayi, Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette and Liverpool striker Christian Benteke their three priority targets this summer. Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ as part of a special farewell to the Boleyn Ground on Monday, Sullivan said the club are intent on signing a top-class striker and are confident of bringing one to their new home at the Olympic Stadium. "We are hopefully going to bring one or two top players in. The Olympic Stadium gives us about £12m extra revenue a year, but not £100m," he said. "We put in a bid today for €30m (£23.7m) for a player and other bids will be going in. We are going to make a £20m or £25m bid for a player in England this week. So whatever happens, we'll bring a top striker in. "It's a statement of intent. We'll spend between £30m-£50m on transfers this summer. But you've got to build it up gradually. You can't compete with the likes of Manchester United overnight. "We might have to put our own money in - we've done it before - but we hope we're clever enough for the €30m bid."
France say that both West Ham and Juventus have already had one offer for 22-year-old Batshuayi rejected in recent months, while the likes of Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are also interested in the Belgium striker. Several British newspapers including the Daily Telegraph have reported that West Ham also like Manchester City's Ivory Coast international forward Wilfried Bony.

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West Ham v Manchester United preview: Boleyn Ground goodbye live on Sky Sports
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 09/05/16 6:02pm
SSN

West Ham will bid farewell to the Boleyn Ground when they play host to Manchester United in their final home game of the season on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm.

The match will be the last competitive fixture played at the 112-year-old ground by the Hammers before they move to the Olympic Stadium.

Slaven Bilic's side will be desperate to sign off with a win, particularly after suffering a shock 4-1 home defeat to Swansea at the weekend.
That loss ended the Hammers' slim chance of a top-four finish but they could still end the season in fifth.

"It's going to be emotional," said Bilic. "After the past weekend, both clubs need the points to have a good chance to get their targets. It's unbelievably important.

Manchester United's top-four fate is in their own hands after Manchester City's draw with Arsenal on Sunday.

If the Red Devils beat West Ham and then win their final match at home to Bournemouth, they would be guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League. Louis van Gaal's side have won three of their last four Premier League matches, including a 1-0 win at Norwich at the weekend.

Team news

West Ham have no new injury concerns but Adrian remains unavailable so Darren Randolph will continue to deputise in goal.

The visitors are likely to be without Matteo Darmian after he suffered an ankle injury in the win over Norwich.

Anthony Martial (hamstring) is a doubt for Manchester United after pulling up prior to the clash with the Canaries while Marouane Fellaini is suspended, but Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford could be recalled after not featuring at the weekend.

Opta stats

Manchester United have lost none of their last 14 Premier League games against West Ham United (W11 D3 L0).

Wayne Rooney has scored 11 goals in 15 Premier League appearances against West Ham for Manchester United, as well as a record seven as an opposition player at the Boleyn Ground in the competition.

The Irons have failed to score in eight of their last 13 Premier League matches against Man Utd.

Manchester United have averaged 2.19 points from Premier League games played on a Tuesday (P43 W28 D10 L5), the best rate of any side in the competition.

This will be West Ham's 384th Premier League game at the Boleyn Ground, and a win will take the Hammers to 601 points won on home soil in the competition (W167 D97 L119).

Louis van Gaal's side have lost only once in their last seven games in the Premier League (W5 D1).

Paul Merson's prediction

It's unbelievable that this is the last-ever game at the Boleyn. What a game! I watched West Ham on Soccer Saturday and they were poor. They had a chance of getting into the Champions League and now that's gone following their heavy defeat to Swansea. I hope they didn't have an eye on this game when they were playing on Saturday because that game was key.

It looked like they turned up against a Swansea side - who made six changes - thinking they would win. It pains me to say it, but I think Manchester United are going to win and keep the race for the top four in their hands. No disrespect to Manchester United, but I don't want to see West Ham lose their final game at the Boleyn Ground.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Betting

Manchester United are Sky Bet's 13/10 favourites for the victory as West Ham go up against odds of 21/10 for a winning end to life at the Boleyn Ground, while the draw is priced at 23/10.

The Red Devils were cut from 7/2 to 6/5 to secure a top-four finish after gaining ground on City over the weekend, while the Hammers are out to 5/2 just to make the top six after losing to Swansea.

Marcus Rashford and Andy Carroll share favouritism in the first goalscorer betting at 11/2 apiece, while Wayne Rooney is enhanced from 3/1 to 4/1 to net in a Manchester United victory in Sky Bet's Price Boosts.

Phil Thompson is tipping a 2-2 draw with Carroll to net first at 66/1 in his Sky Bet tip. Find out what the other pundits are predicting here.

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What channel is West Ham vs Manchester United on? TV channel information and more here
21:23, 9 MAY 2016 UPDATED 21:23, 9 MAY 2016
BY MIRROR FOOTBALL
West Ham bid farewell to their famous home on Tuesday night and would love to go out with a win
The Mirror

West Ham will bid farewell to Upton Park on Tuesday night as they take on Manchester United. The clash will be the club's final game at their beloved home after 112 years ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium.

It promises to be an emotional night - but will United spoil the party?

They won here in the FA Cup replay last month and can still finish in the top four. Here is all the information you need on how you can watch the encounter.

1. When is the match and how can I watch it?
The match kicks off at 7.45pm on Tuesday May 10. It will be shown exclusively live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Coverage gets underway at 7pm. If you can't make it to a TV in time, MirrorFootball will also be running a live blog.

2. Team news
West Ham
Adrian is the hosts' only injury absentee for their final game at Upton Park. He is out with a calf injury so Darren Randolph will deputise.

Man United

Anthony Martial is a doubt after pulling up at Norwich in the warm-up. Marcus Rashford could come back in, alongside Daley Blind, but Marouane Fellaini is banned. Matteo Darmian is also out with an ankle injury.

3. Predicted sides


4. Reasons for West Ham fans to be optimistic
The Hammers would love to bid farewell to Upton Park with a win
West Ham have only lost one of their last 16 home games

5. Reasons for Man United fans to be optimistic
United won at Upton Park in the FA Cup replay last month
The Red Devils have lost just once in their last nine games
Louis van Gaal's men can go fourth with a victory

6. Last five meetings
13/4/2016 - West Ham 1-2 Man United (FA Cup replay)

13/3/2016 - Man United 1-1 West Ham (FA Cup)

5/12/2015 - Man United 0-0 West Ham

8/2/2015 - West Ham 1-1 Man United

27/9/2014 - Man United 2-1 West Ham

7. Recent form
West Ham

West Ham 1-4 Swansea

West Brom 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Watford

Leicester 2-2 West Ham

West Ham 1-2 Man United

Man United

Norwich 0-1 Man United

Man United 1-1 Leicester

Everton 1-2 Man United

Man United 2-0 Crystal Palace

Man United 1-0 Aston Villa

8. West Ham's key man
Dimitri Payet has had a staggering season for West Ham. The Frenchman has taken the Premier League by storm, scoring nine times and providing a further 10 assists. With a spot in France's starting line-up at Euro 2016 in his grasp, he will be desperate to end the season on a high.

9. Man United's key man
Louis van Gaal probably hadn't heard of Marcus Rashford 12 months ago. Yet he was rested for Saturday's trip to Norwich ahead of United's final few games of the season. He scored a stunner here in the FA Cup tie and could yet make England's Euro 2016 squad.

10. Betting odds
West Ham - 19/10

Draw - 5/2

Man United - 6/4

*Odds collected from Unibet and are subject to change.

11. Quote corner
Slaven Bilic: "The Upton Park stadium was a first home. No matter where you move after that - if you move to a fancy apartment, a big house or to a mansion - your favourite one is always the first.

"You are losing something because it is impossible to make the Olympic Stadium a fortress."

Louis van Gaal: "We have a lot of respect to West Ham United. We are not trying to spoil their party. But we do need the three points, that is different.

"It will be a big night and an emotional night for them. It is a negative for us. We have to play against an opponent who says goodbye to the stadium so they don't want to lose.

"They have already lost to Manchester United in the last FA Cup match so that is not very good for us and West Ham United are a very good team."

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Lyon may be forced to sell Lacazette this Summer
May 9, 2016
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
BKHammer

Lyon may be forced to sell its star names this summer, including reported Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham target Alexandre Lacazette, according to Get French Football News, which cites L'Equipe. A draw against Reims on Saturday will secure Lyon's qualification for next season's Champions League group stages, however, GFFN reports the sales of key players are likely "to satisfy the demands of the French football financial watchdog, the DNCG." The report claims Lyon would demand €35m plus bonuses for Lacazette, who they are reluctant to lose. However, it adds they may not have a choice, even if other sales go ahead. Mauricio Pochettino last month confirmed Spurs' intention to sign a new striker, while the Mirror reported them to be leading Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton in the race to land Lacazette. The Mail later claimed that West Ham were plotting talks over the 24-year-old, for whom they would be prepared to smash their transfer record as they begin life at the Olympic Stadium. Lacazette has scored 23 goals for Les Gones this season and 92 in 229 appearances since graduating the club's youth system.
GFFN reports that Lyon plan to keep fellow homegrown stars Samuel Umtiti and Nabil Fekir, despite Pochettino admitting Spurs' interest in the former. However, Roma are said to have made the only concrete approach for Umtiti so far. According to GFFN, another reported Hammers target, Wissam Ben Yedder, is high on Lyon's list to replace Lacazette.

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Slaven Bilic has got West Ham fans dreaming ahead of move to Olympic Stadium
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 09/05/16 9:51am
SSN

As West Ham prepare to play their final match at the Boleyn Ground, Nick Lustig examines the impact Slaven Bilic has had on the club ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium…

"Be careful what you wish for"

That's what the vast majority said when Sam Allardyce left West Ham at the end of last season. Many feared West Ham could go the same way as Allardyce's former sides - Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle - in being relegated from the Premier League following his departure.
The impending move from the Boleyn Ground to the Olympic Stadium made relegation unthinkable - West Ham could ill-afford to be playing Championship football in their new 60,000-seater home.
It was not the season to be gambling on a manager, least of all a manager with no Premier League experience. But David Sullivan and David Gold rolled the dice when they decided to appoint Slaven Bilic. It was a brave and bold decision. Yes, Bilic had impressed considerably during his time as Croatia head coach, but his less successful spells in club management with Lokomotiv Mosc ow and Besiktas left question marks over him. His appointment was a risk - Sullivan even labelling it a "gamble" himself - but the West Ham ownership have been rewarded for their bravery and then some. There can be no doubt now that the decision to part company with Allardyce was the right one. Bilic has led West Ham to their best ever Premier League points total and implemented a brand of football befitting of the 'West Ham Way'. Flair, creativity and plenty of attacking intent - that's the 'West Ham Way' and Bilic has brought that in abundance. The signings of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini have been integral in helping Bilic transform West Ham from an uncompromising, direct, defensive unit into an inventive, quick, exciting side that other teams have come to admire. They have hit their highest ever total for goals in the Premier League - 61 - and with two matches left, there's every chance that could increase. But this West Ham team not only has style, it has substance. The resilience, gained under Allardyce, has not been sacrificed by Bilic. His adaptability and tactical know-how has been evident throughout the season, and this was no more apparent than late last year when West Ham suffered an injury crisis, leaving Bilic with few attacking options. A run of draws against West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United, Stoke, Swansea and Aston Villa during that period may have looked uninspiring, but it proved Bilic was able to overcome tricky challenges and be pragmatic when he needed to be. His influence has also brought the best out of captain Mark Noble, who has enjoyed arguably the greatest season of his career to date. Other new signings Michail Antonio and Angelo Ogbonna have blossomed under Bilic, while James Collins and Chiekhou Kouyate have provided a reassuring presence in defence and midfield. Even Andy Carroll has rediscovered his goalscoring touch, achieving his best goals tally since the 2010-11 season. Off the pitch, Bilic has shown he is not a man to be messed with. A "breach of discipline" led to Morgan Amalfitano being banned from first-team training. It proved to be the beginning of the end for the midfielder at the club. Amalfitano was released two months later and returned to his native France. It was a clear and strong message to the rest of the squad - step out of line and there will be consequences.
Aside from Amalfiitano's act of indiscretion, the West Ham squad has united behind Bilic's way of working and have produced a season fitting of their final year at the Boleyn Ground. The last hurrah to the famous old stadium has produced a host of memorable moments, an unbeaten run that had stretched back to August until Saturday and a challenge for European qualification.
Home and away, Bilic's West Ham currently look a force to be reckoned with and as they prepare to enter a new era in the club's history, no one can dispute the impact that the Croatian has had.

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Nobes used to pretend he was a first team player
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 9, 2016 in News
C and H

West Ham captain Mark Noble has been speaking about his early memories of the Boleyn Ground to Sky Sports News as part of their LIVE coverage at the stadium all day. "When we played in the FA Youth Cup here, we would pretend we were first-team players." said Noble "Then another time, I was sitting upstairs watching the game once and one of the scouts came in and said come to the ground in your tracksuit tomorrow because you're traveling with the first team." "I think I was 16 at the time and Alan Pardew was in charge. I sat there with the first team, I was just sitting in awe of all the players and now I'm one of those players. It was pretty surreal."

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Claret membership scheme launched
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 9, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham have launched their new membership scheme to replace the old Academy membership scheme. With the latest news that the 52,000 Season ticket have sold out, the scramble will be on for the 3,000 tickets available for general admission required under Premier League rules.
Claret Membership is priced at £39 for adults, whilst Claret Kids, for U16s, is £25 giving you the ticket priority for all West Ham United fixtures plus other other benefits including:
One week ticket priority
Access to ticket trader exchange
Ticket ballot access
Reduced booking fees – £1 saving per game
£5 discount on official away coach travel
Exclusive retail offers throughout the season

Gift pack
£5 off if you join the Season Ticket Waiting List. When you buy a Claret Membership, you can add yourself to the 30,000 strong Season Ticket Waiting List for an additional £5 (saving £5).
International members will be charged an extra £5 for delivery. If you're already on the Season Ticket Waiting List then you can get £5 off by selecting one of the Priority options.

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Hammers target Lyon defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 9, 2016 in News
C and H

West Ham United are today reported as being interested in signing Lyon full-back Rafael this summer. The Brazilian joined the French outfit last summer from Manchester United and rapidly established himself as the club's first choice right-back, ahead of French international Christophe Jallet. ClaretandHugh reported last summer that the Irons were keen on the defender but eventually went for Sam Byram later in the campaign. Twenty five year old Rafael made 109 appearances at Old Trafford, scoring five goals along the way. A right back is definitely on the target list for the Irons this summer and according to L'Équipe the interest is genuine.

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West Ham's Slaven Bilic tells players to relish final game at Upton Park
• Boleyn Ground will host its last match on Tuesday night
• Bilic: 'It's impossible to lose the emotion. It can't be bigger'
Monday 9 May 2016 14.25 BST Last modified on Monday 9 May 2016 14.38 BST
The Guardian

Slaven Bilic has told his West Ham players to embrace the emotion of their final match at Upton Park. The Hammers will run out at the Boleyn Ground for the last time when they host Manchester United on Tuesday night. To add extra spice to what is already a momentous occasion for the club, they also need a victory to keep their bid to qualify for the Europa League on track. And their visitors will be in no mood to roll over as Louis van Gaal's side are right back in the chase for a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Yet Bilic is counting on his players to rise to the occasion, rather than be overawed by it. "It's impossible to lose the emotion," said the Hammers manager. "Let's say if the game didn't mean a lot to us or to Manchester United, in the sense of this season, it would be big anyway because it's the last game at Upton Park. "But it means a lot to them and to us – both things have clicked, so it's big, big. It can't be bigger. "If they beat us they are very close to fourth place and for us, if we want to secure a Europa League slot, we need to beat them. It's massive. "So the players would be emotional even if just one of those couple of things were involved. But there's nothing wrong with being emotional."
West Ham's final Saturday at Upton Park ended in a damp squib, with a surprise 4-1 defeat by lowly Swansea ending their faint Champions League hopes. It also allowed Southampton to leapfrog them into sixth place, although the Hammers would climb back above them with a win on Tuesday night. "We were disappointed not to do better in that game," added Bilic. "We'd said before that the gap below was smaller than the gap to Manchester City in fourth. To be fair Southampton did a great job with wins against City and Spurs, and now they are with us."
Darren Randolph will deputise for injured goalkeeper Adrián but Bilic has an otherwise fully-fit squad for the match.

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Dancing with Bobby Moore and watching a game during the Second World War... 100-year-old West Ham fan Mabel Arnold shares memories ahead of final game at Upton Park
By TOM ALLNUTT, PRESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHED: 13:26, 9 May 2016 | UPDATED: 13:26, 9 May 2016

Dancing with Bobby Moore is all well and good but for 100-year-old West Ham fan Mabel Arnold, it is the little things she will remember. As the Hammers get set to bring 112 years at Upton Park to a close, ushering in a new era at Stratford's Olympic Stadium, some supporters are wondering whether their club's identity will still remain. Arnold, who first walked through the gates of the Boleyn Ground in 1934, and has since watched just shy of 2,000 West Ham matches, is sure she knows the answer. 'Chelsea and Arsenal, they're in the upper parts of London, and I like those clubs, but there's a sense of community at Upton Park,' Arnold said. 'We all talk with one another. If I'm unwell, my son Graham says all he gets from the other fans is "where's Mabel? What's up with Mabel?" 'They all knew my 100-year-old birthday was coming up and they kept coming up to me, "you're alright aren't you Mabel? Nothing wrong with you is there?" 'It's lovely. And when we move to the Olympic Stadium we're not all going to stop talking to one another are we? It's up to us to make it the same.' Her love affair with the Hammers blossomed after Richard, who would later become her husband, asked her to attend a match on their first date. It was 1934 and she was 19 years old. 'I had just met my husband-to-be the week before and he said, "would you like to go the football?'' Arnold said. 'I think it was the worst yes I've ever said because I've been going ever since. 'We stood on an old chicken run watching the game. I fell in love with Richard so I had to take West Ham with it. I didn't have a choice.'
Brought up in Camberwell and the ninth child in a family of 10, Arnold's husband took an administrative role with the West Ham youth team while she occasionally filled in as a tea lady at the training ground in Chadwell Heath. She remembers first meeting Moore when the future England captain was 15, and she was struck by the teenager's politeness in asking for a glass of water. A few years later, however, she enjoyed a more significant encounter after the 1964 FA Cup final, when West Ham had beaten Preston North End 3-2 at Wembley. 'All the staff and their wives, right down to the toilet ladies, went to this hotel and stayed the night after the game,' Arnold said. 'After the dinner, Bobby asked me to dance because he knew Richard was a dancer and I was quite nifty on my feet too. 'I said "you better ask Richard because he has the first dance wherever we go". Richard said yes alright, so I danced with Bobby Moore. 'All the girls wanted to dance with him. But we only got down the length of the room. He didn't dance very well our Bobby. He had football feet.'
Upton Park has been like a second home to Arnold, particularly since her husband passed away almost 30 years ago. She recalled a match held at the ground during the Second World War, in which the game's best-known stars turned out to raise money for troops away on duty. 'I don't know why they chose Upton Park but they did,' Arnold said. 'It made a little break from the war. They said "what are you going to do if the air-raid sirens go off during the game?" 'I said, "I'll be staying exactly where I am. Same as I always do. If one has your name on it there's not many places I'd rather be."'
Arnold has been a season ticket holder this season - her favourite player is Diafra Sakho - and she has been impressed with the team's form, growing impatient with fans that complain. 'This one chap behind me calls out and complains even when they are about to score,' she said. 'My son Graham has to give me a dig and say, "stop swearing mum". He really gets on my nerves.'
When she turned 100 on April 2 this year, the club paraded Arnold on the Upton Park pitch at half-time of their 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. The Hammers have certainly gone out with a bang, enjoying an excellent final campaign on Green Street, and many fans will feel hesitant about what their future home may bring. Arnold show no signs of nerves. 'Upton Park, it's been our life, it gives you something to grab hold of and look forward to,' Arnold said. 'But moving is progress. I've worked in business and everything changes. Some of the old West Ham boys, they make me cross. 'They say they're taking our club away from us. But if we don't go and support them what are they going to do then? 'The boys are going somewhere else, so of course we'll still support them, because at the end of it all, they still need us. And of course, we need them.'

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Upton Park is a fortress... it's 'impossible' to replicate atmosphere at Olympic Stadium, admits West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
West Ham will play last game at Upton Park against Manchester United
Tuesday's tie is set to be an emotional occasion for fans and players alike
Slaven Bilic admits atmosphere will be 'impossible to replicate' next term
The Hammers will begin a new chapter by playing at the Olympic Stadium
Club captain Mark Noble opened up about breaking into the first-team
By MATT MALTBY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11:49, 9 May 2016 | UPDATED: 11:56, 9 May 2016

Slaven Bilic has no doubt that the Upton Park atmosphere will be 'impossible to replicate' when the Premier League club kick-off in their new home, the Olympic Stadium, next season. The Hammers manager is preparing for an emotional farewell on Tuesday night when his side host Manchester United in their last ever match at their home of 112 years. Bilic, a fans' favourite during his playing days in east London, has done a glorious job since taking over the reins last summer and his side are chasing a European spot. 'I like the connection and I'm going to miss this stadium a lot. No matter how the new one is going to be, newer, better and more fancy. This is like a fortress,' he said. 'It's going to be impossible to replicate this kind of atmosphere. I wish we can and I wish we will but no chance. It going to be different.' Bilic returned to Upton Park last summer after former manager Sam Allardyce's contract was not extended and the 47-year-old has impressed this season. The Hammers were chasing a top-four spot, though the weekend's 4-1 defeat by Swansea appears to have ended those hopes. Bilic admits returning to familiar surroundings allowed him to hit the ground running immediately and he was delighted to return to east London. 'For me it was like deja vu, because I was here in the same stadium, same training ground, same people, it's the same kit men; Pete or Shirley from the kitchen staff. It's much easier. 'When I joined in January 1996 I needed no time to gel in because the staff and players were so friendly that you enjoyed it and felt one of the guys in the first couple of days. That's the biggest value of the club. Meanwhile club captain Mark Noble, who has come through the youth ranks to become a key member of the current squad, has opened up about breaking into the first-team. He told Sky Sports: 'When we played in the FA Youth Cup here, we would pretend we were first-team players. 'Then another time, I was sitting upstairs watching the game once and one of the scouts came in and said come to the ground in your tracksuit tomorrow because you're traveling with the first team. I think I was 16 at the time and Alan Pardew was in charge. I sat there with the first team, I was just sitting in awe of all the players and now I'm one of those players. It was pretty surreal.'

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West Ham sell more than 50,000 season tickets for Olympic Stadium
Guardian sport
Monday 9 May 2016 09.14 BST Last modified on Monday 9 May 2016 10.33 BST

West Ham have sold more than 50,000 season tickets for their new home at the Olympic Park – the second highest in the Premier League. Tuesday night's match against Manchester United will be the club's last at Upton Park before they move to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the summer. West Ham confirmed in March that the stadium's capacity would be increased to accommodate 6,000 more fans each matchday, taking the capacity to 60,000.
A statement on the club's website on Monday confirmed that all season tick ets and VIP Club London memberships are already sold out for next season. "As a result of the unprecedented demand, West Ham will now boast the highest number of season ticket holders in London, and the highest percentage of season ticket holders in the whole of the Premier League," read the statement. "The club's increase in capacity from 35,000 at the Boleyn Ground to 60,000 at the former Olympic Stadium also makes it the biggest and most successful stadium move in Britain in the modern era."
The club's vice-chairman, Karren Brady, added: "David Sullivan, David Gold and I have always believed in the West Ham fanbase and knew we could fill the new stadium "Reports consistently show that we have highest average capacity in the Premier League and every game in our final season at the Boleyn Ground sold out within days of going on sale. "So having made the bold decision to move to the former Olympic Stadium, we are delighted to see how it has captured the imagination of the Hammers fanbase. We find ourselves going into our first season with more than 50,000 season ticket holders and tens of thousands of people on the priority list for seasonal seats in 2017-18. "Without doubt, our stadium move is an unrivalled success story, but we know the hard work does not stop now. We must deliver a stadium that exceeds our season ticket holders' expectations and support Slaven Bilic in building a team on the pitch that matches our stunning new home. "I would like to conclude by saying a personal thank you to everyone who has bought a season ticket or Club London package for next season. Together we will make history for West Ham United."
Last month, it was confirmed that West Ham would pay just £2.5m a season in rent, with the London Legacy Development Corporation also covering all the running costs for the stadium including corner flags. But West Ham, have insisted the new deal will bring benefits to the local community. "Today's announcement practically guarantees that the new stadium will be sold out for every Premier League game next season, meaning an extra 1.5 million people will visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park each year – generating millions of pounds of extra revenue for the taxpayer in the process," it says. Manchester United currently have the biggest number of season ticket holders with 55,000, with Arsenal estimated to sell around 45,000.

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West Ham confirm 52,000 season tickets sold at Olympic Stadium as Karren Brady reveals ambition to become 'one of the top 10 most successful clubs in Europe'
West Ham are playing their final season at the Boleyn Ground
Hammers will move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford next term
Club confirmed 52,000 season tickets have been sold already
Only Manchester United (55,000) can attest to having sold more
Vice-chairman Karren Brady has outlined an ambitious vision
By LEE CLAYTON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:33, 8 May 2016 | UPDATED: 08:55, 9 May 2016

West Ham supporters on the melting Underground heading to the final Saturday game at the Boleyn Ground were discussing pathways to their new Stratford home while excitedly gazing at the Premier League table. 'If Man City lose. If Man United lose. When we beat Swansea. Top four, Champions League . . .' Then the automated tube announcer declared: 'Next stop is Upton Park.' Not for much longer, it isn't. Karren Brady was away from East London on Saturday with a pre-arranged filming commitment for The Apprentice (she will be back in her seat when Manchester United visit on Tuesday night), but the Baroness who has overseen the transfer to the Olympic Stadium was impressed to learn of the buzz. 'I understand the emotion of leaving Upton Park,' she said. 'I know generations of families have been loyally part of the history of our club and that these final matches are about memories. 'But I don't look back. I only look to the future. We are at the start of something here. 'I see West Ham challenging for the top six consistently, becoming one of the top 10 most successful clubs in Europe — and short term (I see) breaking our transfer record this summer, selling nobody we want to keep, filling our new stadium . . .'
And announcing season ticket sales for next season of 52,000. 'Yes, only Manchester United sell more,' she added. 'Getting the stadium is one thing, selling it out is another. Our attendances next season will include 10,000 children because of our affordable seating (£99 for U16 season tickets) and we have 30,000 supporters on our waiting list. So the demand and desire to see West Ham at our new stadium is there.' The club will announce on Monday morning that they have sold out all season tickets and hospitality packages, despite only increasing the capacity to 60,000 a little more than a month ago. 'I take great pride in what we have done,' Brady adds. 'On and off the field. I want to praise the manager. I always think the manager is the most important person at any club and Slaven Bilic has done an excellent job in his first season. There is a connection with the fans, who remember him as a player, and he understands the values of West Ham. Some people have asked 'what is the West Ham way?' 'The way Slaven plays is the answer — that's the West Ham way.'

Never one to stand still, Brady confirms: 'The new target now is to raise the capacity from 60,000 to 66,000.' Not everyone wants to join in the celebration of 'saving the Olympic Stadium' but she has done a remarkable job. If you want to criticise her, then saying 'she got a good deal for West Ham' is not likely to receive complaints among the majority of locals. 'West Ham fans share the desire to make progress and that is reflected with the sale of the tickets for the new stadium. Their support is essential for this transition,' she said. 'People on the outside will always be negative and say we have been opportunistic. The opportunity was there and we have taken it through a fair and transparent process which was open to everyone, but we were the only ones with the vision, the foresight to achieve this. 'Yes, it's a good deal for West Ham. Should I have to apologise for that? 'The timing is right, the club is moving in the right direction and now we have to push on. We cannot stand still. 'The co-chairman, David Sullivan, has recruited well and has been working on new players for months. We want a goalscorer, someone who can score 20 goals in the Premier League. Easier said than done, but David loves hunting for players on behalf of the manager and the team. 'We are all about looking up. In that list of Europe's top 20 most valuable clubs, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona were at the top. West Ham were 19th. I want to get into the top 10. This is a perfect storm.' Not quite perfect, as Swansea proved on Saturday. Losing 4-1 at home is not how this was meant to go; draining the optimism of what the remaining games of this season may hold. Don't tell Karren Brady that; she's looking towards a very different future.

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West Ham must work to beat Man United and give Boleyn a send-off
ESPN

Mark Noble says their chances didn't fall in the right places, looking towards massive match vs Man United. The likes of Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna, Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini have had a fairly easy ride during a largely successful inaugural season at West Ham. But the shock 4-1 defeat against Swansea, in the last Saturday game ever to be played at the Boleyn, has produced an inevitable response. The backlash from the fans has been quick and damning.

Some of the more experienced players are fully aware of how quickly the mood can turn at West Ham, but for the newcomers it may be a bit of a shock.

In a week that was destined to finish with two vital games, the atmosphere around the East End leading up to Saturday could best be described as bullish. Hammers related social media was buzzing with videos and stories of the club's end-of-season awards ceremony, where Payet received five awards including the Hammer of the Year accolade.

Amusing footage of manager Slaven Bilic and midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate singing the "We've Got Payet" song was posted on all the Hammers related websites and everyone found it funny. Antics at a richly-deserved ceremony were only to be expected. After all, Swansea were destined to be brushed aside and the real clash was expected on Tuesday when Manchester United arrive in Green Street for the stadium's last hurrah.

It wasn't so much the 4-1 defeat that irked everyone revelling in the weekend sunshine at the Boleyn, it was the manner of the performance. Certainly, Bilic couldn't hide his anger after the game; quite savagely pointing out that some players went hiding. There was more to the defeat than that though, and the inevitable question asked with hindsight was, should the club have held an end-of-season ceremony when the campaign wasn't even over?

In these days of extreme professionalism, where player's lives are regimented by the club, it seems odd that West Ham couldn't have held their end of season bash exactly when the name suggested it should be held. At the end of the season.

Nobody is suggesting that the players were suffering any type of hangover -- literal or otherwise -- but, mentally, the players looked as if they had switched off. There were seemingly more individual errors in one match against Swansea than there had been in the whole of the unbeaten 11 matches previous.

Wayward passing, poor positioning, snatched shots at goal; all were on display against an impressive visiting side. It may seem a harsh assessment for a team who lost at home for the first time since August, but the football cliche about treating each game as it comes was just screaming at the players on Saturday.

As a result of the Swansea debacle, the Hammers now have a major task on their hands. With Southampton also surprisingly beating Spurs at White Hart Lane, the Saints have now risen above West Ham to snatch sixth place in the table.

Bilic now has the unenviable task of trying to galvanise his men for a huge game against Manchester United. With Louis van Gaal's team chasing a Champions League spot, it won't be easy but, if the Hammers lose at home again, it will all come down to a last day scramble for a European place and it's not one the club can be certain of winning.

To finish below Southampton, and possibly even Liverpool, would be cruel blow to Hammers fans after a season which promised so much more, but it's a possibility they now have to face.

Winning against Manchester United under the Boleyn floodlights for the final time, would change that equation. Be certain the supporters will be up for it; it's going to be a hugely emotional evening and it would be nice to say farewell to the beloved ground win an inspiring win.

As the team found to their cost on Saturday though: nothing is certain; nothing comes easy. You have to work for everything.

Peter Thorne, aka Billy Blagg (@BillyBlaggEsq), is the author of a regular column at WestHamOnline.net and the East London Guardian.

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Alexandre Lacazette leaves door open for summer switch as Tottenham and West Ham plot summer moves
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Monday, May 9, 2016

Alexandre Lacazette admits he is uncertain if he will be at Lyon next season - amid reported interest from Tottenham and West Ham. The striker has bagged over 20 goals this season, to add to the tally of 31 he racked up last year. The France international's form has led to clubs from around Europe expressing an interest, including the London rivals. And now Lacazette has added fuel to the fire by revealing he could leave Lyon in the summer. "Will I still be in Ligue 1 next season? I will think about it. I need to take good decisions," Lacazette told Canal+.
"I am very happy at the club. If there is better elsewhere, then I will see. I am happy at the club, but we will think about it."

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