Gary Speed - 1969-2011

Gary Speed - 1969-2011

All at West Ham United would like to send their condolences to the family and friends of Gary Speed.

The 42-year-old Wales manager passed away on Sunday morning, and the news was received with shock and deep sadness during training at Chadwell Heath.

Speed was known to many at the club, not least manager Sam Allardyce, who signed Speed for Bolton Wanderers in July 2004 and selected him more than 100 times over three seasons. He became the first player to make 500 Premiership appearances when he played in the Trotters' home victory over West Ham in December 2006.

He was also a former team-mate of Kevin Nolan, Joey O'Brien and Abdoulaye Faye, while Jack Collison played under him with the national team.

Hammers goalkeeper coach and former Wales international Martyn Margetson fulfilled the same role with the national side and was a close friend of Speed, while West Ham sports therapist Takahiro Yamamoto is also part of the Welsh backroom team.

The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his loved ones at this very difficult time.