A moving and emotional celebration for the life of West Ham United’s beloved late Joint-Chairman David Gold was held at London Stadium on Wednesday, following a poignant final journey through the streets of East London where he grew up.
Smiles, applause and tears of affection and pride were the order of the day as the Joint-Chairman’s daughters Jacqueline and Vanessa and fiancée Lesley were joined by family, friends, colleagues and associates from throughout his unique life and career, paying tribute to a wonderful man, respected and admired by all who knew him.
The Joint-Chairman, who passed away on Wednesday 4 January at the age of 86, had stated his wish for his final farewell to be a joyful occasion themed around his deep love and connection for West Ham United – a story that began as a young boy supporting his local team and came full circle in January 2010 when he returned to take joint-ownership of the Club.
The celebration of life ceremony at London Stadium followed the Joint-Chairman’s symbolic final journey, which included a touching moment of reflection at the site of the former Boleyn Ground, where he played for the Club as a schoolboy, and his childhood home just a few yards away at 442 Green Street.
Floral tributes were laid at both locations by daughters Jacqueline and Vanessa and his granddaughter Scarlett, before the family followed the cortège back to London Stadium. There, well-wishers heard the Club’s anthem ‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’ as his coffin was carried from the players’ tunnel to pitchside and, as the Joint-Chairman had requested, his family took their seats in the home dugout.
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan and Vice-Chairman Karren Brady were joined by the Club’s Directors, alongside manager David Moyes and his men’s first-team playing squad and coaching staff, and head coach Paul Konchesky and the women’s first-team playing squad.
Also present to pay their respects were former manager Slaven Bilić, former players including Sir Trevor Brooking, Brian Dear, Kenny Brown Jr, Steve Potts, Kevin Keen, Mark Robson, Jimmy Walker, Carlton Cole, Marlon Harewood, James Collins, Andy Carroll and Alvin and David Martin, former Academy managers Tony Carr and Ricky Martin and several notable figures from across the game, including Premier League Chairman Richard Masters and his predecessor Richard Scudamore, Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham, Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom, Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish and former Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck.
In a moving service led by Celebrant Nicola Taylor, tributes were paid to a man known affectionately to many as ‘DG’, including West Ham United Sporting Director Mark Noble – the longest-serving player during his 13-year tenure as Joint-Chairman – former Birmingham City manager and close friend Barry Fry, and his son-in-law Dan Cunningham. All carried the same theme of remembering a generous, decent and humble man, who had time for everyone he met and never, ever forgot his East London roots.
Noble said: “When you look at the history and what he went through, as in growing up in East London and supporting West Ham United, I was very lucky enough to do that and play for the club, and he obviously went that one better and owned the football club.
“It’s incredible that a man from nothing did as well as he did, and to stay true to himself, he was a real good man, and I had a lot of time for him. It’s incredibly sad and emotional that he passed away. But you've got to celebrate a life like that because for sure he lived it to the full.
“To grow up on Green Street, and then own West Ham United, one of the biggest football Clubs in the world, his life should be celebrated.”
Assistant coach Kevin Nolan, who captained the Hammers from 2011 to 2015 and led the team to promotion to the Premier League in 2012, added: “I just remember his smile and his warmth. You could just see the passion and love he had for the Club.
“I just have really fond memories of him. You wouldn't believe he owned a football club as he was always giving his time to everybody. He was such a genuinely caring man, and you can see that with all his family. Whenever you met his family, they were always very respectful, they're always lovely people.
“But I'm just delighted that we have given him some really good years over the last couple of years. Because it was what he deserved to see his boyhood team, being in Europe, fighting against the heavyweights and going toe-to-toe with heavyweights of the Premier League as well.”
Guests present were invited to make charitable donations in memory of the Joint-Chairman via a dedicated legacy fund that has been created in his name by the West Ham United Foundation, raising vital money to help people in the East London community that David Gold was such a devoted supporter of.
Following the service, the Joint-Chairman’s coffin was carried out of the stadium to the sounds of ‘Twist and Shout’, and a private committal took place at a nearby crematorium for close family and friends, before a reception was held back at the stadium, giving guests the opportunity to share further tributes and stories in loving memory of a wonderful man who carried West Ham United in his heart throughout his long and fulfilling life
