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Hurst backing stadium move


Filed: Thursday, 9th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sir Geoff Hurst has given his support to West Ham's plans to move to the Olympic Stadium in 2014.

With the official decision as to who has won the rights to the Stratford-based arena still some weeks away, the 1966 World Cup hero says that he would be delighted if his former club were given the keys.

Speaking via his personal website, Hurst said: "Even now, 55 years after I first pulled on the claret and blue shirt, I remain a committed supporter of West Ham United, the club that has played a significant role in my career and my life.

"Like most other West Ham fans I have a special attachment to the old stadium with all its memories of great times playing alongside legendary figures like Bobby Moore, Martin Peters, Johnny Byrne, Billy Bonds and Trevor Brooking.

"But I accept that in the modern game the club has to evolve and move with the times if it is to remain competitive at the highest level.

"Careful consideration has gone into the proposed move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and I feel strongly that the club should, given the opportunity, move into this state-of-the-art facility.

"There are so many advantages involved in moving to the Olympic Stadium," he continued. "Better facilities, easy access - and, of course, we would remain in our 'manor' preserving the unique East End identity of the club. I made 500 appearances for West Ham and would have loved the opportunity of playing regularly on such a magnificent stage.

"Instead, the current team, newly-promoted to the Premier League, and all those players who follow in the years ahead may now have that chance. The challenge will be for them to fill the stadium with 60,000 cheering West Ham fans. It is an exciting prospect."


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Your Comments


by Besty
05:17PM 19th Sep 2012
''The time is nigh, one month to go and we (Hammers fans) may well have a new 'home' to go to in 2014.

I have been a Hammer for all of my 50+ years and have taken the highs and lows with great pride, I like everyone would like to see us competing at the top and to do it in a new stadium would be great, but I am not sure if this is the right move.

I live with my family in Guernsey, and to make the trip over for a match is just financially not on. But this April we made the trip over for the Brighton match, my first time in about 40 years. Walking down Green Sst and seeing the stadium with the twin towers brought a tear to the eyes. My 10-year-old daughter's eyes were a picture, even she knew just where she was, even though we were a long way from home. What a day; 6-0! I could not have wished for better...

Now I have heard all the advantages to the move to the Olympic stadium, but I doubt if it could ever give that feeling that we encountered on that day. Also there is the matter of the stadium being HOME. We have been at the Boleyn for over 100 years, it is ours, the Olympic stadium will, for a better word be RENTED. That is fine for now, but what about in 20 or 40 or 60 years, will we still be renting it, or will we even be in it?

Whatever will be, and what ever happens we will all still be Hammers.''

by Tell it how it is Charlie!
09:11AM 9th Aug 2012
''No one doubts him, but the seats look an awful long way from the pitch plus the roof only covers half the seats. It's not a case of nostalgia, it's more the case whether this stadium is designed for watching football. It's not just a running track, there are further additions.

It looks like it needs to be knocked down and rebuilt.''

by spyinthesky
09:09AM 9th Aug 2012
''Well done Geoff for seeing this marvellous opportunity. I wish everyone had his vision.''

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