West Ham United’s new home now has an even more familiar feel about it, with signs bearing the iconic Bobby Moore Stand and Sir Trevor Brooking Stand being installed at either end of London Stadium.
As had been the Club’s commitment from the very outset, the two Hammers legends will be honoured with a stand at the new Stadium, just as they were at the Boleyn Ground.
The stand replacing the old South Bank was named The Bobby Moore Stand shortly after the legend’s passing in 1993, while the Centenary Stand would become the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand in July 2009.
Owing to London Stadium’s configuration and the position of visiting supporters, the new North Stand is to be named after the late, great Bobby Moore, while the South Stand will be dedicated to one-club man Sir Trevor Brooking.
The two stands will officially be opened during the opening ceremony ahead of the Betway Cup, when the Hammers entertain Italian champions Juventus on Sunday 7 August.
Bobby’s grandson Freddie is set to do the honours for England’s one and only World Cup-winning captain, while Sir Trevor will open his newly-named South Stand in person.
Elsewhere, the first of 86 Claret and Blue banners, comprising the Stadium’s fabric wrap, was installed on Wednesday. This will account for 88 per cent of the external ring of the Stadium and will be in place, in its entirety, for the Premier League curtain raiser against Bournemouth on Sunday 21 August.
The remaining 12 per cent will be covered by the spectacular digital screens. Due to planning permission delays, Europe’s largest digital screen will be fully operational for the meeting with Sunderland in October. In the interim, temporary screens or alternate West Ham branding will stand in its place.
Finally, the accelerated process of moving the retractable seating is going extremely well. The repositioning of the lower tiers on three sides of the Stadium began on Sunday in readiness for the visit of Slovenian outfit NK Domzale in the return leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.