West Ham United
West Ham United was founded in 1895 and at that time it was named “Thames Ironworks F.C.” The club belonged to the metallurgy and shipbuilding factory “Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd”, whose managers were Arnold Hills and Dave Taylor. “The Irons” began playing in London League in 1896. The club began professional after it joined the Southern League Second Division. The team won the tournament for the first time. In 1990 the club became the limited liability company; it got the name “West Ham United F.C.”.
West Ham joined the Football League in 1919 and it entered the top rating in 1923. The team won the Football Association Cup three times: in 1963-64, in 1974-75 and in 1979-1980.
West Ham United deserved recognition in 1964 when the manager Ron Greenwood led the team to its first trophy – the Football Association Cup. The captain of the team had to be the captain of the National English team at the World Cup in 1996, which England hosted and the club got into the finals.
The club had only 12 managers during its history:
Alan Curbishley 2006-2008
Alan Pardew 2003- 2006
Billy Bonds 1990-1994
Charlie Paynter 1932-1950
Gianfranco Zola 2008
Glenn Roeder 2001-2003
Harry Redknapp 1994-2001
John Lyall 1974-1989
Lou Macari 1989-1990
Ron Greenwood 1961-1974
Syd King 1901-1932
Ted Fenton 1950-1961
The club personnel:
Assistant Manager: Steve Clarke
Chief Medical Officer: Nikos Tzouroudis
Chief Scout: Roger Cross
First Team Coach: Kevin Keen
Fitness Coach: Antonio Pintus
Goalkeeping Coach: Luděk Mikloško
Head of Corporate Affairs: Ian Tompkins
Kit Manager: Steve Rigby
Manager: Gianfranco Zola
Physiotherapist: Andy Rolls
Reserve Team Coach: Alex Dyer
Reserve Team Physiotherapist: Dave Singleton
Technical Director: Gianluca Nani
Youth Academy Director: Tony Carr
The records:
The League highest position: the 3rd place in the Premier Division League in 1985/1986.
The highest attendance is 42 322 viewers on the October, 10th in 1970.
The biggest victory is 10-0 against Bury in 1983.
The biggest defeat is 8-2 against Blackburn in 1963.
The emblem and the club colors
At the Pure merinos, the emblem of West Ham was a couple of crossed revert hammers which are used in shipbuilding. The castle was added to the emblem in 1900 and it’s symbolized the famous local building. At the end of 90s in the 20th century the emblem was changed. London design agency “Springett Associates” showed a yellow castle with cross-like windows and with a bit nibbed peens.
The claret and sky blue were the domestic uniform colors.
The football Academy
West Ham United is well-known as Football Academy. The club got such reputation because of fostering many young talented players. Such a name was given to the club by the mass media in the 60s and it has remained up to the present. At the “West Ham” Stadium right on the lawn there’s an artificial covering which has the club emblem and the sing “The Football Academy”.
Such image is laughed at by the other team fans, but there are some who consider their method of training young footballers best in England.
Many famous players of “West Ham” and the National team are the graduates of the Academy. Among them are Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Sir Trevor Brooking, and Tony Cottee etc.
The current squad
1. Alessandro Diamanti (forward)
2. Bondz N'Gala (defender)
3. Calum Davenport (defender)
4. Carlton Cole(forward)
5. Danny Gabbidon (defender)
6. Dean Ashton (forward)
7. Fabio Daprelà (defender)
8. Frank Nouble(forward)
9. Guillermo Franco (forward)
10. Hérita Ilunga(defender)
11. Jack Collison (midfielder)
12. James Tomkins (defender)
13. Jonathan Spector (defender)
14. Josh Payne (midfielder)
15. Julien Faubert (midfielder)
16. Junior Stanislas (midfielder)
17. Kieron Dyer (midfielder)
18. Luís Boa Morte (midfielder)
19. Luis Jiménez (midfielder)
20. Manuel da Costa(defender)
21. Marek Stech (goal-keeper)
22. Mark Noble (midfielder)
23. Matthew Upson (captain)
24. Nigel Quashie (midfielder)
25. Oliver Lee (midfielder)
26. Péter Kurucz (goal-keeper)
27. Radoslav Kováč (midfielder)
28. Robert Green (goal-keeper)
29. Scott Parker (midfielder)
30. Valon Behrami (midfielder)
31. Zavon Hines (forward)
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