From the Boardroom - David Gold

West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Gold looks ahead to the Stoke game and makes another memorable visit to the new Stadium

I was thrilled to be back at the new Stadium this week and spent the afternoon with Aaron Cresswell, Manuel Lanzini and Reece Oxford.


We were delighted to be joined by members of the Priority List and Founders who won a competition to join myself and the players at the new Stadium. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.


The new Stadium improves every time I go back there and it looks fantastic. It is about pride and we have achieved something very special by moving there.


We are absolutely thrilled that we have record season tickets sales for the new Stadium and it shows you the passion that is being generated.


This is a special time to be a West Ham United fan and this is a new era in the history of our great football club.


We had an outstanding display against Manchester United last weekend and I hope that the players will be able to maintain that level of performance and help us come away with all three points when we face Stoke on Saturday.


It is never easy going to Old Trafford but we got a well deserved point and it so easily could have been all three.


The fact that we are disappointed about only coming away with a draw shows how far we have come over the last decade.


It has been amazing for us to win four big away games and now get a draw with Manchester United.


We are currently having a bad run of injuries but we shouldn't be too disappointed and other clubs have their times when injuries pile up.


But the skill is to battle through. In the past we would have injuries like this and be decimated. But if you look at the line-up against Stoke it will still be a team full of quality.


We also have a few players coming back from injury. Alex Song started his first Premier League game of the season last weekend and has added to the strength of the squad.


Fingers crossed Enner Valencia is very close to making a first-team return and it gives the opportunities for players like Michail Antonio who has been waiting patiently for his chance and it was great to see him playing against Manchester United.


We know we are facing another tough game today against a Stoke side who will be full of confidence following their victory over Manchester City last weekend. There is no doubt they will be a challenge.


But we are also a good side and I am sure the players will be confident they can come away with a victory.