- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Hammers’ Boleyn farewell
- Updated: May 10, 2016
As West Ham say a fond farewell to the Boleyn Ground, we round-up the big moments from the night…
Pre-match trouble outside the stadium
In the days building up to West Ham’s final fixture at the Boleyn Ground, there had been plenty of talk about the electric atmosphere often created inside the stadium. However, co-chairman David Gold had warned against any potential post-match pitch invasions, saying: “We’re going to have arguably the whole football world watching this event, so don’t spoil it chaps. It’s so important.”
Unfortunately for the club, there were ugly scenes over an hour before kick-off, with Manchester United’s team bus “smashed up”, as captain Wayne Rooney put it. The Metropolitan Police reported one police officer and a member of the public sustained minor injuries but there were no arrests.
“It wasn’t nice,” Rooney told Sky Sports. “The coach got smashed up, but we are here now. I’m sure you’ll see the images. It’s not for me to say, but it was disappointing of course. It’s a big night for West Ham, but I’m sure West Ham as a club will be disappointed with what the fans have done.”
Gold’s fellow co-chairman, David Sullivan, took a different view. “Man United should have got here at 4pm,” he argued. “They know it’s our last game. They had the same problem at Tottenham a few weeks ago. I think the police and officials have been kind. I’d make them kick-off at 7.45pm if I was in charge.”
The disruption meant Manchester United’s players didn’t arrive at the ground until 7.10pm, just 35 minutes before the scheduled kick-off. At the request of Manchester United, the start was delayed until 8.30pm. “The Manchester United club secretary went to the referee’s room and asked for an extension, to give them exactly the right amount of time as they would usually get to prepare,” reported Sky Sports’ Geoff Shreeves.
Sakho gets West Ham off to a flyer
There had been a very real possibility West Ham’s final goal at the Boleyn Ground could have been a consolation own …
continue reading in source www.skysports.com
