Hello everyone,
I have some great news regarding an extra-special guest player who has agreed to turn out for me in my Testimonial match.
I have been in contact with Paolo Di Canio's agent and have had written confirmation that Paolo will play for me and will be wearing the claret and blue again on 5 May.
I'm sure you are all as excited as I am about the prospect of seeing Paolo doing his thing again, almost seven years to the day since he made his last first-team appearance for us at Birmingham City.
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Paolo is a big favourite of West Ham United fans and this is a big treat not only for myself, but for all the fans who never thought they would see him gracing the Boleyn Ground pitch again.
I have told Paolo that he will have to behave himself, though, and that there will be no pushing the referee or anything like that!
We are also working on another couple of special guest players, and I shall reveal their identities as and when we have confirmation from them.
I know there has been some discussion about whether or not the whole of Upton Park will be open on the night.
It is simply the case that, should the demand be there, then the whole of the stadium will be open.
Following discussions with the Testimonial committee, it was considered the best course of action to sell tickets for the lower tiers first, rather than have parcels of fans sitting all over the stadium if it is not full.
If the demand is there, then the whole ground will be open, and I hope that will be the case.
There are still six weeks to go until the match, and I understand that, with times hard, supporters will be saving their money and buying their tickets nearer to the date of the game.
We are looking forward to making it a good occasion, not only celebrating my 37 years at the club, but also the careers of the players who have come through the Academy and gone on to achieve success in the game.
Finally, my committee are thinking about holding a Testimonial dinner to round off the year's events later in the year - maybe in September or October - but that is still at the planning stage at this moment.
Suffice to say, I shall keep supporters up to date with any announcements through whufc.com and the matchday programme.
Tony Carr
Academy Director