The director in charge of the building work at Upton Park, Chris
Manhire, has spoken of his "delight" that the Dr. Martens
stand has been given the safety certificate needed for the game to
go ahead tomorrow.
"It has been a huge effort and it has been successful without compromising the important aspects of safety," he says.
"It is fantastic and everybody has worked well together - Newham, the builders, the club, contractors have all pulled out all the stops.
"We've had the licensing officers here at seven or eight at night and then eight in the morning.
"Everyone has co-operated, including the local residents who have had to put up with 24 hour
noise.
"They have been as good as gold and hopefully now the noise levels will be reduced as we revert to normal working hours."
The go-ahead to stage the game was all the more remarkable given the tight schedule that the demolition work was under, and Chris adds:
"It's interesting, because someone said today, and I hadn't thought about this, that 15 weeks ago the old West stand was still standing.
"We've managed to get the new stand into use without a loss of seats, and it has been a pretty
incredible achievement.
"It will be great tomorrow; the sun will shine and we will all have a good day.
"There have been problems during the building contract and the the weather has been appalling.
"No one wanted to be in this position of rushing right at the end but it's the situation we were in and we have got the result that everyone wanted."
And, allaying any fans' fears that they will be disorientated tomorrow, he adds:
"There are a lot of stewards, good circulation space, and it is the same numbers that normally come on a match day at the moment.
"Any problems we have can be ironed out for November 5th when the lower tier opens and we'll have 35,000 here.
"It is slightly different but the main entrances haven't changed the huge percentage are season ticket holders so they are used to coming every week, so that helps enormously."
Fellow director Trevor Brooking, who was at the ground to look at the building work yesterday, adds:
"The playing surface is very good, and hopefully the atmosphere will not be lost while the building work goes on.
"The stand looks impressive and tomorrow will be a marvellous occasion."
"It has been a huge effort and it has been successful without compromising the important aspects of safety," he says.
"It is fantastic and everybody has worked well together - Newham, the builders, the club, contractors have all pulled out all the stops.
"We've had the licensing officers here at seven or eight at night and then eight in the morning.
"Everyone has co-operated, including the local residents who have had to put up with 24 hour
noise.
"They have been as good as gold and hopefully now the noise levels will be reduced as we revert to normal working hours."
The go-ahead to stage the game was all the more remarkable given the tight schedule that the demolition work was under, and Chris adds:
"It's interesting, because someone said today, and I hadn't thought about this, that 15 weeks ago the old West stand was still standing.
"We've managed to get the new stand into use without a loss of seats, and it has been a pretty
incredible achievement.
"It will be great tomorrow; the sun will shine and we will all have a good day.
"There have been problems during the building contract and the the weather has been appalling.
"No one wanted to be in this position of rushing right at the end but it's the situation we were in and we have got the result that everyone wanted."
And, allaying any fans' fears that they will be disorientated tomorrow, he adds:
"There are a lot of stewards, good circulation space, and it is the same numbers that normally come on a match day at the moment.
"Any problems we have can be ironed out for November 5th when the lower tier opens and we'll have 35,000 here.
"It is slightly different but the main entrances haven't changed the huge percentage are season ticket holders so they are used to coming every week, so that helps enormously."
Fellow director Trevor Brooking, who was at the ground to look at the building work yesterday, adds:
"The playing surface is very good, and hopefully the atmosphere will not be lost while the building work goes on.
"The stand looks impressive and tomorrow will be a marvellous occasion."