Hammers fans ready for London 2012

With London 2012 now just a few short days away, an army of volunteers is preparing to make sure that the Olympic Games pass off without a hitch.

Among them will be many West Ham United supporters, who will be fulfilling a host of vital roles at the Olympic Park in Stratford and at other venues across London.

While fellow fans James Tomkins, Mark Hunter and Ellen White go for Gold, whufc.com caught up with the Hammers who will be doing their bit to make London 2012 the best Olympic Games ever!

Tom Ellis

Tom Ellis

Tell us a bit about yourself?
TE - My name is Tom Ellis although my professional name is Ellis Mcfarland and I'm a 20-year-old actor currently based in Royal Tunbridge Wells. I've lived in London and around Dorset most of my life but went to boarding school for ten years so didn't spend much time at home.

What will your job title be at London 2012? What exactly will you be doing and where?
TE - At London 2012 I will be a Games Maker involved with security at the Olympic Park and Wembley Stadium.

Why did you apply to participate in London 2012?
TE - I applied to participate in London 2012 partly for the atmosphere and just to be involved as well as because I knew I probably wouldn't get tickets!

Do you have tickets for any of the London 2012 events?
TE - Unfortunately not although I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of James Tomkins in action at Wembley.

Why do you support West Ham United?
TE - I briefly lived in London as a child although didn't settle anywhere particularly long enough to choose a team on location and my Dad isn't much of a football supporter. However, at school I was always surrounded by West Ham fans. As such, I naturally grew fond of the club and as I got older began to go to games. I've just purchased my first Season Ticket so I'm looking forward to 2012/13 even more than usual.

What is your favourite West Ham United memory?
TE - My favourite match is a tough choice between thrashing Manchester United 4-0 in the Carling Cup at Upton Park under the floodlights, in the snow, on my birthday, and this year's Play-Off final. I think I'd have to choose the first one, though, due to almost magical circumstances surrounding it. My favourite players of my generation would probably have to be Paolo Di Canio, Scott Parker, Joe Cole, James Tomkins and Mark Noble. Imagine them all in one team! Finally I think my favourite moment would have to be Paul Konchesky's goal in the 2006 FA Cup final or Ricardo Vaz Te's winner at Wembley. The adrenaline and excitement with both those goals was incredible. Unfortunately Konchesky's wasn't as decisive.

What are your hopes for West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League in 2012/13?
TE - I reckon if we play to our potential, with a couple more additions, we can challenge for a top ten spot. Realistically I think we'll finish 12-14th. I think Sam Baldock could be a real surprise package this year, though, scoring 15 or more goals as an outside bet.

Joseph Shambrook

Joseph Shambrook

Tell us a bit about yourself?
JS - I am Joseph Shambrook, I'm 21 and I'm a web developer from Hornchurch in Essex.

What will your job title be at London 2012? What exactly will you be doing and where?
JS - I'm going to be an Opening Ceremony Volunteer. As I write this, the ceremony hasn't happened yet, so I can't provide much detail regarding what I'm doing. However, I can say that I'm an actor doing a couple of roles during the first hour of the ceremony, involving mainly role-playing.

Why did you apply to participate in London 2012?
JS - I applied simply because I wanted to be a part of the Games one way or another. I really have wanted to be a part of it since we won the bid 7 years ago, either by helping out the many visitors London will have, or by helping during events. Eventually this amazing Ceremony opportunity arose and I applied without hesitation. It's something I'll be able to tell my grand-kids about one day.

Do you have tickets for any of the London 2012 events?
JS - Yes! I have tickets to see some men's football and women's handball.

Why do you support West Ham United?
JS - I've grown up supporting the Hammers, and it has to be the atmosphere that only Hammers fans could produce that keeps me firmly in support. We are strong in unity.

What is your favourite West Ham United memory?
JS - In my lifetime, Carlos Tevez's first goal for West Ham, the free-kick against Spurs. We lost that game but that moment of celebration was epic.

What are your hopes for West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League in 2012/13?
JS - I'm extremely confident the Hammers can make this the start of another long stay in the Premiership, and show we mean business. A mid-table finish.

Dimitris Sfiris

Dimitris Sfiris

Tell us a bit about yourself?
DS - My name is Dimitrios Sfyris - my surname in English translates as 'Hammer' - I'm 43 and I am a service engineer. I'm from Greece but I have relocated permanently to live in Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex.

What will your job title be at London 2012? What exactly will you be doing and where?
DS - My job title is Specialist Driver for the Press Operations Team and I'll be located in the Media Press Centre

Why did you apply to participate in London 2012?
DS - Because I'm Greek and this will be my third Olympic Games - Athens, Beijing, London.

Do you have tickets for any of the London 2012 events?
DS - No, because I will not have the time to go due to my job.

Why do you support West Ham United?
DS - Because I'm a Hammer!!!!

What is your favourite West Ham United memory?
DS - The seasons with Frank Lampard in the team.

What are your hopes for West Ham United in the Barclays Premier League in 2012/13?
DS - We have to make our best and be where we are supposed to be, the Premier League!