Broadcaster and Hammers fan Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams pays his personal tribute to David Gold...
It’s rare in football to meet someone who would always greet you with a smile and a friendly word, but David Gold was one of those people.
I first met David when he was Chairman of Birmingham City. David was a studio guest one morning at TalkSPORT, not at the modern studios near Waterloo, but at our previous ones at Blackfriars.
Despite being at Birmingham, we pretty quickly got around to chatting about West Ham, and his love for the Club came over loud and clear. It was that day he first told me he’d grown up in Green Street, he was so proud to tell the story about living at number 442. He often recounted that growing up at 442, not 441 or 443, was a sign he’d be involved in football. He told me about playing for the youth team but never the first team. I remember jokingly telling him he should buy West Ham one day. I’m sure it was always on his agenda.
And so, 13 years ago came the news David, along with David Sullivan, had taken over at West Ham. For David Gold it was going home. I remember going to the first press conference with David at the Boleyn Ground and talking to him about the long-term vision he and David Sullivan had to move West Ham to the Olympic Stadium. Having lived opposite the Boleyn ground, David knew how West Ham fans felt about leaving but explained that while being the Club’s spiritual home, Upton Park, as we knew it, wasn’t the same as it was when he grew up. He also said when he closed his eyes, he could see the greats playing at Upton Park.
David was always hands-on, always around for a chat. He was not an absentee owner, not reclusive, always visible. The amount of times I’d arrive at Chadwell Heath for a press conference or interview, and see a helicopter parked on one of the pitches. David Gold was in the house. He’d come and say ‘hello’, and even ask my opinion every now and then. The same would go for games. I recall one chat in particular at Upton Park. The Spanish goalkeeper Adrián had just joined the Club and it was the day of his home debut. I walked out pitchside and within a few minutes joined David and Adrián in a chat. Adrián had to go and get changed, but David and I went and sat in the dugout and continued our conversation.
David wasn’t just a businessman or Football Club owner – he was a gentleman, as many have testified to since his passing. Every year, he’d open up his gardens for people to visit and raise money for charity, and David would be there to greet those who came. I also remember him telling me he had a golf course on his land. We always said we’d have a round, but sadly never did.
David also had many friends in football, like Barry Fry, and never would I meet Barry and David’s name wouldn’t come up, he was that sort of figure.
Like everyone, despite knowing David was ill, news he had passed away came as a shock, and like everyone I’d like to extend my condolences to Lesley, Jacqueline and Vanessa and all his family.
David Gold was unmissable, down to earth, and I’ll miss his smile.
I’ll leave you with the beginning of the last interview I did with David on in January 2020. “David, you’ve been here ten years, did you expect to be here that long?” I asked, David replied, with a smile and a chuckle: “Yes. I expect to be here for the rest of my life to be honest with you. That’s what I want.”
And he was.
Rest in peace, David.
