- Academy therapist Steve Quinton will take part in a 100-mile bike ride later this month
- Steve will raise money for two Hammers-related charities
- The 50-year-old is fundraising for the Dylan Tombides Foundation and the Bobby Moore Fund
West Ham United Academy sports therapist Steve Quinton will take part in the 2016 Prudential RideLondon Surrey 100 at the end of the month, raising money for two charities associated with the Hammers.
The 50-year-old, who is also a supporter of the Club, is looking to reach a total of £2,000 to donate to both the Dylan Tombides Foundation and the Bobby Moore Fund at Cancer Research UK.
Steve is training for the Sunday 31 July ride alongside his role at the Academy – which involves work with all age-groups as well as stepping in when cover is needed – that he has been in for the last eight years.
Excited for the event, Steve said: “I can’t wait to complete the ride for two amazing charities that mean so much to me personally. I’ve done an event like this before – the Ride Around London which was 115 miles – but this one is going to be great.
“I’m hard at training right now and every chance I get when at the Club I sneak in a bit of spinning in the gym if the opportunity arises. I also join in with the players’ rehab and with their warm-ups.
“To be raising money for these charities is brilliant. I didn’t feel that it was the right time until now, when everything has come together with the Club moving to the new Stadium and the ride starting on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It just seemed perfect.”
Steve, who has now worked in professional football for the last 24 years, usually works pitchside with the younger Hammers players, but last season provided cover for the U18s away at Chelsea and a number of the U16s’ games.
He expressed his pride at being able to help two fantastic causes while completing the 100-mile ride.
“The Dylan Tombides Foundation is an amazing charity in the name of an amazing young man who unfortunately passed away in April 2014,” Steve continued. “I worked with Dylan, who was a young Hammer, every Saturday in my first season at the Club, and there wasn’t a Saturday that went by without him making me laugh!
“He had an infectious character and you couldn’t help but like him as both a young man and as a footballer. On the pitch, everyone could see he had talent and he was prepared to work hard to achieve things.
“Then, there is the Bobby Moore Fund. I hadn’t realised that although Bobby sadly passed away from cancer, he had earlier in life been treated and cured of testicular cancer and it tied the whole cause together. It’s an honour to raise money for the charities.”
Steve has been a lifelong West Ham supporter and recalled the day he first walked into the Club’s training ground.
“It was 22 years ago that I first entered Chadwell Heath while working for Leyton Orient at the time. I remember talking to Tony Carr and Jimmy Frith, and saying to Jimmy how much I’d love to work here.
“His reply was “you never know!” and 16 years later, I was here! I love the Club, the staff, the fans and all the young Academy players keep me going.
“West Ham are moving forward now, and look like they could challenge for the top four again next season. Slaven Bilic has got them playing some great football and I’m looking forward to seeing some games in the fantastic new Stadium.”
To help Steve reach his fundraising target, donate on his Virgin Money Giving page here.
“The Dylan Tombides Foundation is an amazing charity in the name of an amazing young man who unfortunately passed away in April 2014,” Steve continued. “I worked with Dylan, who was a young Hammer, every Saturday in my first season at the Club, and there wasn’t a Saturday that went by without him making me laugh!
“He had an infectious character and you couldn’t help but like him as both a young man and as a footballer. On the pitch, everyone could see he had talent and he was prepared to work hard to achieve things.
“Then, there is the Bobby Moore Fund. I hadn’t realised that although Bobby sadly passed away from cancer, he had earlier in life been treated and cured of testicular cancer and it tied the whole cause together. It’s an honour to raise money for the charities.”
Steve has been a lifelong West Ham supporter and recalled the day he first walked into the Club’s training ground.
“It was 22 years ago that I first entered Chadwell Heath while working for Leyton Orient at the time. I remember talking to Tony Carr and Jimmy Frith, and saying to Jimmy how much I’d love to work here.
“His reply was “you never know!” and 16 years later, I was here! I love the Club, the staff, the fans and all the young Academy players keep me going.
“West Ham are moving forward now, and look like they could challenge for the top four again next season. Slaven Bilic has got them playing some great football and I’m looking forward to seeing some games in the fantastic new Stadium.”
To help Steve reach his fundraising target, donate on his Virgin Money Giving page here.