Former West Ham and Manchester City goalkeeper turned BT Sport pundit David James says that the Hammers should look to City as an example of how a move to a new stadium can help transform a club.
The Hammers move into their new stadium for the start of next season and are getting to play there for a very small rental fee with most of the cost paid for by the London Legacy Development Corporation.
James, who played 91 league games for West Ham, says that despite the sorrow of leaving Upton Park, the Hammers should embrace the move and suggested that European success isn’t beyond the realms of possibility for the London club.
It will be a sad time for West Ham to leave the Boleyn Ground, but if Man City are a good example of leaving their spiritual home then perhaps West Ham can follow in their footsteps and who knows, there could be European success ahead.
The former England international keeper also spoke about his time as a West Ham player, and admitted that despite having some ups and downs, he still looks back on his Hammers’ career with fondness and pride.
I’ve got plenty of memories of [Upton Park]. It’s funny being in the home changing room again actually. It’s slightly different, but there’s definitely an essence of the changing room when I first came in when the new stand was built. There were so many memories playing here. I got injured playing for England before my debut for the club, missed a few games, eventually made my debut against Tottenham and lost 1-0. That was memorable. We got relegated, which was sad. I stayed here in the Championship, and I think strangely playing essentially as England’s number one with West Ham in the Championship made me very proud. It meant I could stay with the club. I was part of the reason why we didn’t stay in the league, despite our record-breaking relegation points total, but I felt I had to represent the fact I wanted to be at the club. I was proud to be a West Ham player.
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