Captain ‘honoured and grateful’ to board

Newham Recorder: West Ham's Mark Noble is all smiles during a visit to the Richard House Hospice (pic: whufc.com)West Ham's Mark Noble is all smiles during a visit to the Richard House Hospice (pic: whufc.com) (Image: Arfa / Griffiths Photographers NO FREE USE)

West Ham United captain Mark Noble has been granted a testimonial next year, it was announced by the club this week.

The long-serving Noble will be honoured with a match between the current first team and a West Ham United All Stars squad at Upton Park on Easter Monday, March 28 with a 2pm kick-off.

Canning Town’s Noble signed for the club aged 13 and has made close to 350 appearances for the first team and said: “I am hugely honoured and grateful that the board have awarded me a testimonial match at the Boleyn Ground.

“This is where I come from and this is my club so I can think of nothing better than having my testimonial at the stadium where I have laughed, cheered and cried, as a fan and a player.

Newham Recorder: West Ham's Mark Noble meets a young fan at Richard House Hospice (pic: whufc.com)West Ham's Mark Noble meets a young fan at Richard House Hospice (pic: whufc.com) (Image: Arfa / Griffiths Photographers NO FREE USE)

“To have the opportunity to share a pitch with the players I have grown up with will be fantastic.

“I’m pleased and proud to say we will be donating all the proceeds to charities that mean a huge amount to me – Richard House Children’s Hospice, Help for Heroes and the DT38 Foundation.”

Joint chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan added: “Mark is the modern day Mr West Ham so it was natural he would be granted a testimonial. Mark has been a tremendous servant to West Ham on and off the field.

“It is a mark of the man that he will donate all the proceeds from this match to three charities that mean so much to him and to everyone at the club.”

Ticket details will be released at a later date.