West Ham United announce sad passing of joint-chairman David Gold

The Hammers announced the news on Wednesday afternoon.
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West Ham United have confirmed the sad news that joint-chairman David Gold passed away on Wednesday morning following a short illness.

The former Birmingham City co-owner was a lifelong Hammers fan and grew up living beside the Boleyn Ground. As a youngster, he represented West Ham’s boys teams and also went on to represent the Hammers youth team. After selling his shares in Birmingham in 2009, Gold returned to West Ham less than a year later when he purchased a 50% share in his boyhood club, telling The Times: “We are not potty fans. We are sensible in our approach, and are measured.”

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After securing promotion back into the Premier League 12 months after the takeover, Gold and fellow co-owner David Sullivan helped establish the Hammers in the top flight and oversaw the move to their new London Stadium home in 2016. The club also returned to European competition over the last decade and embarked on a run to the semi-final of the Europa League last season before seeing their hopes of silverware ended by a defeat against eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Speaking after Wednesday’s sad news was announced, fellow joint-chairman and long-term business partner Sullivan told the club website: “On behalf of everyone at the football club, it is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of our colleague and friend, David Gold.

“Of all our joint ventures, none gave us more pride and happiness than the day we took ownership of West Ham United, our Club, in January 2010. David had a long-standing connection with the Hammers, having grown up opposite the Boleyn Ground in Green Street, and represented the Club at junior level. He always wanted what was best for West Ham United, and his passing is a great loss for all of us.”

David Gold, Joint Chairman of West Ham United has passed away (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)David Gold, Joint Chairman of West Ham United has passed away (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
David Gold, Joint Chairman of West Ham United has passed away (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Manager David Moyes added: “I am extremely sad to hear this news and, on behalf of all of the players and my staff at the training ground, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to David Gold’s family at this very difficult time.

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“Mr Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and always a source of great support and encouragement to myself and the players. It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the Club and was a true supporter at heart. He took a great interest in the people working behind-the-scenes and was always keen to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed.”