Final-day fixture to be televised



West Ham United’s final match of an unforgettable 2015/16 season will be screened live by Sky Sports on Sunday.

The Hammers travel to Stoke City for a 3pm kick-off that would result in the Hammers securing a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said the decision to screen West Ham’s trip to the Britannia Stadium was yet more confirmation of how far the Club have come this season.

“It is great news, first and foremost because it means our supporters all over the world will be able to watch our final game of the season live on television,” said Mr Sullivan.

“We have nearly 3,000 fans making the trip to Stoke and I am sure they will end what has been a fantastic season by singing their hearts out in support of the team.

“Slaven and his players will want to finish with a win to guarantee us European football when we move into our new 60,000-capacity Stadium next season.

“We have set a few Club Premier League records this season and will set another record of least away defeats, whatever happens at Stoke.

“We have only lost four away league games this season, and we would love that number to be the same on Sunday night, because that will give us a good chance of qualifying for Europe through our league position for just the second time ever.”

Victory over the Potters, combined with a draw or defeat for Manchester United at home to AFC Bournemouth, could see West Ham equal their record-high Premier League finish of fifth.

A fifth-place finish would see the Hammers go straight into the UEFA Europa League group stage, while sixth would send West Ham into the third qualifying round, as Manchester City have already qualified for Europe by winning the League Cup.

Should Manchester United defeat Bournemouth, a win at Stoke would mean West Ham finish sixth – their highest finish since 1998/99.

With City guaranteed to qualify through their league position, the Europa League place allocated to the League Cup will go to the sixth-place finisher.

There is also a possibility of seventh place being good enough for a UEFA Europa League third qualifying round spot if Manchester United win the Emirates FA Cup.

The only previous occasion on which West Ham qualified for Europe through league position was in 1998/99, when they finished fifth to reach the now-defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup.

When West Ham finished third in 1985/86, English clubs were banned from European competition.