The best youngsters to come out of West Ham United’s Academy have been the heart and soul of the East London club. West Ham established the Young Hammer of the Year Award many years ago to inspire their youngsters. A midfielder called Mark Noble won that award in 2004 – which was a start of a long and inspiring career.🗣 Mark Noble on his favourite Premier League memory: “The last game at the Boleyn, the atmosphere was phenomenal, and for me to be part of that history and lead that team out… to do that was pretty special.” pic.twitter.com/wwAGV5o5UQ— COYIrons (@COYIronscom) April 27, 2022 As the long-serving midfielder prepares to hang up his boots at the end of an 18-year career, the award has been renamed after him. As a mentor to young players, the club’s board felt it was a fitting way to pay tribute to a man who has given so much to the club.Wednesday, 21.30: (4.90) Leeds (3.60) Chelsea (1.79)Noble made his 548th appearance for his boyhood club in Sunday’s 4-0 Premier League win at Norwich City, boosting the Hammers’ hopes of securing European qualification through their final league position for the second successive season. He is now sixth in the Irons’ all-time appearance charts alongside 1930s England international Jimmy Ruffell.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Although the final game of the Premier League season is set to be officially the last match of Noble’s career, he will pull on his boots and an England shirt again in June – and for a good cause. UNICEF and Soccer Aid invited Noble to play for England in a friendly against the Rest of the World team at London Stadium to raise funds for the humanitarian organisation.”I was touched when Soccer Aid for UNICEF invited me to play for England. Playing for your country is the greatest honour for any professional athlete – and Sunday 12 June will be no different for me or my kids, who are big Soccer Aid fans! Add to that the fact this is for such a special cause, and I can’t wait to run out in front of 60,000 fans at the London Stadium one last time. It will be an emotional day, for sure – but I want you all to share it with me.”A special day for a special player ❤️🗓 #OnThisDay in 2016, Mark Noble’s Testimonial took place at the Boleyn Ground pic.twitter.com/McEK8VGhAe— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 28, 2022 Noble ensured his place in West Ham’s history in more ways than one. He was the man who captained the team in their last-ever game at the Boleyn Ground in 2016. That day, at the end of the 2015/16 season, the Hammers beat Manchester United 3-2 in an entertaining and thoroughly emotional match. It was the perfect game to mark the club’s 112 years at their beloved Upton Park as they moved to the Olympic Stadium.In years to come, the best youngsters from West Ham’s reputable Academy will earn the Mark Noble Award and will continue to cherish the memories of a man that gave his all to the claret and blues.
