Hello anyone,
I wanted to communicate to you personally and instantly, from the heart, to share my thoughts now that my departure from West Ham United has been confirmed.
The previous couple of times and weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of emotion, but it is important to me that I have the chance to say goodbye and replicate on what has been this kind of a distinctive and unforgettable section of my lifetime.
Where by do I start out? I guess at the really starting, in the spring of 2013, when I travelled all the way from my residence in south west London to Essex for a demo with West Ham at the age of 14, not genuinely knowing what to anticipate, or no matter if it was a fantastic concept to think about the chance of participating in for a club miles away from my family members and the place I experienced grown up.
However, I knew from the quite initially minute I walked into Chadwell Heath that I had found a different area I could contact residence. It really is tough to demonstrate the emotion – I can only explain it as a sense of comfort and ease and familiarity, almost as however it experienced been waiting for me. I equipped in straight absent and realised just what a special club I experienced joined.
My days keeping at the Academy club home in Romford convey back some of the happiest reminiscences of my existence. Sharing digs with lads on the very same journey at that age was such a good affect on my advancement. I discovered my voice, my self-confidence, my perception of humour – and created friendships that will previous for good.
The females who supervised the household, Caroline and Jackie, seemed just after us like 2nd mums, and then we had the likes of Tony Falco and the late Dennis Lepine, who not only drove us to the education ground in the minibus each individual working day, but would fortunately pick us up at any time of the evening or day if ever wanted.
The natural environment at Chadwell Heath is a little something genuinely exclusive. Even just after turning out to be a to start with-staff player, I however loved likely back again, just to pop in for a cup of tea and a chat with the workers or the boys coming by. As a lot of have reported, the Academy at West Ham isn’t going to just make great players, it also makes good men and women.
I seem back again now and realise how critical my time at Chadwell Heath was in shaping me, as a footballer and as a male. As another person who had some setbacks early on in my football profession, it could have easily gone yet another way, but I identified the best spot to establish my assurance, enabling my focus, resolve and ambition to flourish.
It looks insane to think that it can be now extra than 6 several years considering that I built my 1st-workforce debut, as a substitute in the past pair of minutes of the final recreation of the period, away at Burnley. I came property on the coach with my mum and father that working day, buzzing at owning played in the Leading League for the very first time – but I could under no circumstances have imagined how things would go from there.
So numerous good memories and highlights – my initial purpose for the Club two days just before my 20th birthday, ending in the best six of the Premier League, winning the Hammer of the Yr award 3 times, the magical European evenings beneath the lights at London Stadium – and all topped off by the way previous year finished.
Even though our Premier League marketing campaign failed to pan out the way we hoped, the crew confirmed terrific character and willpower to get ourselves out of a rough situation and complete strongly. The Under-18s then gave everybody at the Club a massive lift by successful the FA Youth Cup and League double – which set the tone for what was to follow …
The celebrations in the dressing-area right after Pablo’s final-moment goal absent at Alkmaar had been unforgettable – specifically soon after the disappointment in Frankfurt a 12 months earlier. I wasn’t sure something could better the scenes in Alkmaar, but we managed to consider it to yet another level in Prague.
To have followed Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, getting to be only the third captain in the Club’s heritage to carry a important trophy, is one thing that indicates so a lot to me. It was the end result of a great deal of hard get the job done, determination and dedication – not only from the gamers, but from everyone connected to the club. I was genuinely dropped for terms when the ultimate whistle blew. It was this kind of an psychological launch, getting built up about so lots of decades.
There are so lots of folks I have to thank for actively playing section in my enhancement and journey at West Ham – customers of the board, coaches, staff members, colleagues and pals who have usually been there for me. Way too lots of to listing right here, but they all know who they are, and I will never ever forget about any of them.
Exclusive point out ought to go to the coaches, managers and crucial figures who have had a direct affect on my progress as a participant, and have helped me to get to exactly where I am nowadays. Dave Hunt, the scout who introduced me to West Ham. Tony Carr, Paul Heffer, Terry Westley, Steve Potts, Liam Manning, Mark Phillips – who, together with the team at Chadwell Heath, all helped steer my path by the Academy – Slaven Bilić, who gave me my senior debut. Manuel Pellegrini, who stored his religion in me when I thought I may possibly want to go out on bank loan to additional my job, and David Moyes, who reliable me to be his captain and taught me the value of never ever, ever permitting expectations drop.
The excellent team-mates and gamers that I have been privileged to perform together with. All have been good buddies and some like brothers to me. So numerous excellent reminiscences, laughs and excellent stories. I can honestly say the group we have experienced below in the previous two to 3 seasons is just one of the ideal set of lads I have at any time acknowledged, and these kinds of a significant variable in the results we loved this year.
And, of program, Mr West Ham himself, Nobes. What a man. I could not have questioned for a superior captain to enjoy under when I began out, nor a much better particular person to learn from in the years that followed. He has taught me so significantly – about the sport, about leadership, about daily life. He is the heart and soul of West Ham United and I count myself so fortunate to contact him a wonderful buddy.
Lastly, my very last thank-you have to go to you, the supporters. The faithful, passionate, devoted, at situations hilarious, and always genuine Hammers, who are substantial everywhere you go…!
You have taken me into your hearts as a single of your very own from working day just one. Even when it was just a handful of admirers at the Underneath-18 or Less than-23 online games, I felt that adore, and it has just grown more robust as the decades have handed. Enjoying in front of you has been an honour, we have experienced this sort of wonderful periods collectively, and you all indicate so considerably to me.
I want you to know how tough a final decision it has been for me to depart an natural environment that I have cherished and cherished so substantially. Eventually, nevertheless, it has only ever been about my ambition to participate in at the quite maximum degree of the activity.
Participating in on the reverse workforce to West Ham for the first time will be an unusual experience. I am not certain yet just how I will really feel, but I also know you will all fully grasp and respect that my specialist loyalties have to now lie with my new Club. I will always give 100% just about every solitary time I pull on the shirt – because that is how I have been brought up at West Ham, and I am sure you wouldn’t be expecting nearly anything else.
Even so, that does not signify my like and regard for you all has been diminished in any way. This Club and its supporters will usually be in my heart, and permanently a component of who I am. What we shared with each other in Prague final thirty day period, and in the celebrations that adopted at Upton Park and Stratford the following day, will in no way, at any time be neglected. The very first significant trophy of my profession is a little something that indicates so, so significantly to me.
If there is one factor I have uncovered in my vocation so far, it can be that there are no assures in soccer. All you can do is function as tough as possible, test to be the finest particular person you can be, and consider to take the prospects that existing on their own. If you are fortunate, you make some very good memories alongside the way… and I have built so lots of at West Ham United.
Thank you to everyone below who has contributed to my journey alongside the way.
Dec x