Archive for February 1, 2023
David Gold Funeral
A special celebration for a unique and fulfilling life
A moving and emotional celebration for the life of West Ham United’s beloved late Joint-Chairman David Gold was held at London Stadium on Wednesday, following a poignant final journey through the streets of East London where he grew up.
The Joint-Chairman, who passed away on Wednesday 4 January at the age of 86, had stated his wish for his final farewell to be a joyful occasion themed around his deep love and connection for West Ham United – a story that began as a young boy supporting his local team and came full circle in January 2010 when he returned to take joint-ownership of the Club.
The celebration of life ceremony at London Stadium followed the Joint-Chairman’s symbolic final journey, which included a touching moment of reflection at the site of the former Boleyn Ground, where he played for the Club as a schoolboy, and his childhood home just a few yards away at 442 Green Street.
Floral tributes were laid at both locations by daughters Jacqueline and Vanessa and his granddaughter Scarlett, before the family followed the cortège back to London Stadium. There, well-wishers heard the Club’s anthem ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ as his coffin was carried from the players’ tunnel to pitchside and, as the Joint-Chairman had requested, his family took their seats in the home dugout.
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan and Vice-Chairman Karren Brady were joined by the Club’s Directors, alongside manager David Moyes and his men’s first-team playing squad and coaching staff, and head coach Paul Konchesky and the women’s first-team playing squad.
Also present to pay their respects were former manager Slaven Bilić, former players including Sir Trevor Brooking, Brian Dear, Kenny Brown Jr, Steve Potts, Kevin Keen, Mark Robson, Jimmy Walker, Carlton Cole, Marlon Harewood, James Collins, Andy Carroll and Alvin and David Martin, former Academy managers Tony Carr and Ricky Martin and several notable figures from across the game, including Premier League Chairman Richard Masters and his predecessor Richard Scudamore, Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham, Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom, Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish and former Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck.
In a moving service led by Celebrant Nicola Taylor, tributes were paid to a man known affectionately to many as ‘DG’, including West Ham United Sporting Director Mark Noble – the longest-serving player during his 13-year tenure as Joint-Chairman – former Birmingham City manager and close friend Barry Fry, and his son-in-law Dan Cunningham. All carried the same theme of remembering a generous, decent and humble man, who had time for everyone he met and never, ever forgot his East London roots.
Noble said: “When you look at the history and what he went through, as in growing up in East London and supporting West Ham United, I was very lucky enough to do that and play for the club, and he obviously went that one better and owned the football club.
“It’s incredible that a man from nothing did as well as he did, and to stay true to himself, he was a real good man, and I had a lot of time for him. It’s incredibly sad and emotional that he passed away. But you’ve got to celebrate a life like that because for sure he lived it to the full.”
Following the service, the Joint-Chairman’s coffin was carried out of the stadium to the sounds of ‘Twist and Shout’, and a private committal took place at a nearby crematorium for close family and friends, before a reception was held back at the stadium, giving guests the opportunity to share further tributes and stories in loving memory of a wonderful man who carried West Ham United in his heart throughout his long and fulfilling life.
➡️ David Gold:
A special celebration for a unique and fulfilling life
Two Austrians in the PL
Two weeks ago rumour had it that Marko Arnautovic could be on his way back to the Premier League with Everton interested in bringing the Bologna forward in, but instead of Marko two other Austrians now are plying their trade in the world’s best football League: Maximilian Wöber and Marcel Sabitzer.
On transfer deadline day Manchedter United signed Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich. Full back Maximilian Wöber had completed his move to Leeds United earlier in the month, coming to the Premier League from RB Salzburg. He will be coached at Leeds by former Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch.
Both players also played successfully for Rapid Vienna some years ago:
Maxi Wöber played for Rapid from 2015 – 2017 when the Greens twice were runners-up in Austria’s Bundesliga, twice qualified for the group stages of the Europa League and once reached the knock-out round of the EL and the Austrian cup final. Wöber was quite young at this time, but everybody knew that he was a great defender in the making. He was transferred at the age of only 19 years to Ajax Amsterdam from where he went to Sevilla and then to RB Salzburg.
Marcel Sabitzer played more than forty League games for Rapid and scored 10 goals for them in 2013 and 2014, before he was signed by Red Bull and played in Salzburg as well as in Leipzig. 2021 he made a dream move to Bayern Munich where he was reunited with his former coach at Leipzig, Julian Nagelsmann. But as the midfielders playing time seemed to be limited at Bayern, he was allowed to leave on loan for the rest of the season.
I wish both players who also play for the Austrian national team every success for the second half of the season with United and Leeds respectively – albeit not if they come against West Ham United!
March 1st (FA Cup) Manchester United v. West Ham
May 6th (PL) West Ham v. Manchester United
May 20th (PL) West Ham v. Leeds United
EXTRA TIME 
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