You have a chance to bid for a piece of West Ham United history...and raise funds for our Christmas Toy Appeal.

EastEnders star Ricky Grover not only kicked off our Toy Appeal last week…he has also given us a piece of Hammers history for us to auction to raise fund, which will then be turned into new toys for the appeal.

Irons fans get ready to bid for a shirt signed by the Irons winning FA Cup team of 1980, you know the one where Sir Trevor helped us beat the Gooners at Wembley.

The 1980 Cup Final was the 99th final to be played since 1872, and the 52nd to be played at Wembley since 1923.

England internatiional Brooking was the fastest player to react when, with the Arsenal defence stranded he flicked a header past Pat Jennings for the only goal of the game after 13 minutes. The shirt is authenticated and signed by all the Hammers team.

Ricky said: “It is my pleasure to give you the shirt to raise funds for the appeal.”

We are hoping to raise as much as possible for the shirt.

There is a reserved price of �50, which a Spurs supporter has promised to pay if we don’t get more than that. But let’s prove how generous we can be.

You can e-mail your bid from now to the editor Colin Grainger. E-Mail your bid to colin.grainger@newhamrecorder.co.uk The bids can be made by e-mail only until 5pm on Wednesday November 30.

The bidder must agree to pick up the shirt from Kevin Jenkins at Community Links and pay by cash to the charity. Please include your address and phone number with your bid. Come On!

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We have had a good start to our biggest challenge to date.

For the 35th year we have proudly launched our Christmas Toy Appeal in conjunction with Community Links, a care group at the very heart of local life, writes Colin Grainger.

We need to collect almost 15,000 toys to ensure that no child loses out at this special time of year.

Launched

In the first seven days, we have collected almost 500 toys,

But we now have just another five weeks to collect the other 14,500 gifts that are needed.

The appeal was launched last week by actor Ricky Grover, who is currently enjoying life with the fictional EastEnders in the BBC1 soap.

And now we need the real East Enders to step up to the plate and dig deep for our campaign.

I ask you to help with this most important appeal. I want you to include some very special people in your Christmas shopping budget and see it in your heart to add some special youngsters to your Christmas shopping list.

When you buy gifts for loved ones and friends, please add another – for a child in Newham. If you give a special person some money for their own gift, perhaps you could put aside some money for a needy child.

Please help prove that the Christmas spirit is alive and well in Newham. All toys need to be new and unwrapped and can be for any age up to 16. In particular, the appeal is always short of toys for teenagers.

We promise that every pound donated will be turned into toys for children in Newham. Every toy will be wrapped and distributed to youngsters who can then enjoy the magic of Christmas. You can stage your own event to raise funds for the appeal or come along to the events we will be mentioning over the coming weeks.

We cannot do this without you...we need your help and we need it now.

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Come on down and join the quiz event of the year on December 1. Our quiz night competition is a chance to raise money for the Community Links and Recorder Christmas Toy Appeal.

Our annual challenge quiz will be held from 7.30pm. Participants can arrive from 7pm at Links’ base in Barking Road, Canning Town.

It always provide tension, drama and above all else, fun. The Recorder’s own team will be there.

Tables of eight cost just �75, which will enable one family of disadvantaged children to have a really special Christmas. As well as the chance to hold the trophy for a year, each member of the winning team will get a bottle of wine.

To enter call (020) 7473 2270.

Each table taken up equates to another family of children having a Christmas to remember this year.

n You can stage a sponsored event for the appeal to raise cash.

Editor Colin Grainger will make his annual dip for charity, as he has done since 1976, swimming 50 lengths at Becontree Leisure Centre.

The sum will be matched by the Recorder’s parent company Archant.

Any donation is welcome. If you want to sponsor Colin or send a donation, send it to Colin Grainger, Editor, Newham Recorder, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1UD.

Cheques should be made payable to Community Links please, not Archant or the Recorder.

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Community Links are staging a Christmas on the Farm event at Newham City Farm, Stansfeld Road, Beckton on December 17 and 18.

The event raises money for the farm, run by Links and funds for toys for the annual Toy Appeal staged by Links and the Recorder.

There’s a nativity scene with attractions such as Father Christmas, Newham’s tallest Christmas tree, Nativity plays, workshops, refreshments, a Christmas farm trail (with a winning prize for the children who complete) and carol singing!

n From noon until 4pm, there is table space available for craft and seasonal products. Anyone interested, contact Kevin Jenkins at kevin.jenkins@community-links.org or call (020) 7473 2270.

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Newham charity Community Links are staging a Christmas lunch to raise funds for the appeal and buy new toys.

Places for the meal on December 15 have to be booked. A meal of soup, turkey main course, ham, roast spuds and sprouts and carrors, parsnips, followed by mince piesor custard and trifle and glass or wine costs �9, or �65 for a table of eight. Veggie options are available. The meals are served from noon to 1.30pm and then from 1.30pm to 3pm.

Phone (020) 7473 9685 or (020) 7473 2270 or e-mail kevin.jenkins@community-links.org for details. If you want to stage an event or raise money for the appeal or collect toys, call (020) 7473 2270. To find out more about the appeal or Links, call the same number.

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You can leave gifts at a number of venuesin Newham:

There is a network of drop-off points all over Newham where you can leave toys. These are at:

NEWHAM RECORDER: The reception desk, Media House, 539, High Road, Ilford, 9am to 5.30pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS: Main Centre, Barking Road, Canning Town, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS CENTRAL PARK CENTRE: 2 Central Park Road, East Ham, during opening hours.

COMMUNITY LINKS ASTA CENTRE: Camel Road, Silvertown, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

COMMUNITY LINKS ROKEBY CENTRE: Rokeby Street, Stratford, 9am to 6pm weekdays.

NEWHAM CITY FARM, Stansfeld Road, Beckton, during opening hours.

ASDA SUPERSTORE: Tollgate Road, Beckton, during store opening hours.

THE LORD STANLEY PUB: St. Mary’s Road, Plaistow, during opening hours.

THEATRE ROYAL, STRATFORD: Gerry Raffles Square, during opening hours.

LORD LISTER HEALTH CENTRE: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, 9am to 5pm weekdays.

NEWHAM BOOKSHOP: Barking Road, Upton Park, 9.30am to 5pm, during opening hours.

ST MARK’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Lorne Road, Forest Gate, during centre opening hours.

WEST HAM UNITED SUPPORTERS CLUB: Castle Street, Upton Park, 9am to 10pm any day.

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH AND CENTRE: Barking Road/ St Bartholmew’s , East Ham, 9am to 5pm any day.

EAST HAM TOWN HALL: Barking Road, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

THE OLD TOWN HALL: Stratford Broadway, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

BECKTON LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Kingsford Way, during opening hours Monday to Saturday.

GREEN STREET LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Green Street, Upton Park, during opening hours.

STRATFORD LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: The Grove, Stratford, during opening hours.

EAST HAM LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE: Barking Road, East Ham, during opening hours.

THE GATE LOCAL SERVICE CENTRE and LIBRARY: Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

PLAISTOW PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE: Queens Road West, Plaistow, during opening hours.

BARCHESTER, WESTGATE HOUSE NURSING HOME: Romford Road, Forest Gate, during opening hours.

* We can arrange for toys to be collected if you wish to make a donation but are housebound. Contact Kevin Jenkins, Paula Blake or reception at Community Links on (020) 7473 2270. Alternatively, call Pat Coughtrey, Kay Atwal, Melissa York, Luke Jacobs or Colin Grainger on the Recorder’s Toy Appeal Desk on (020) 8478 4444. You can also make a cash donation. We promise that every penny given will be spent on brand new toys for needy youngsters in our community. Please make any cheques payable to Community Links