It is 19 years to the day since Mark Noble made his West Ham United debut.
Born and raised in Canning Town, lifelong Hammer Noble went onto make 550 first-team appearances in Claret and Blue before retiring as Club captain at the end of the 2021/22 season, aged 35.
After becoming the youngest player ever to feature for the reserve team at 15, Noble’s senior debut arrived two years later on 24 August 2004, when he was introduced by manager Alan Pardew as a 68th-minute substitute in a Carling Cup first-round tie with League Two side Southend United at the Boleyn Ground.
Marlon Harewood scored twice as West Ham, who were then in the Championship, edged past the Shrimpers in front of 16,910 supporters, none of whom would have known that the fresh-faced youngster in the No24 shirt would go on to become a living legend!
“To be honest, it was a little bit of a surprise for me,” Noble said, reflecting on that unforgettable Tuesday evening all those years ago. “I think it’s been well documented over the years that I was named on the bench. My Mum and Dad were in Cyprus at the time, but I was just overwhelmed and with our support there it was unbelievable. I had five of my mates there.
“I remember the emotion of coming on in front of the crowd and playing and coming off after and being in the changing room with the first team and being in awe of everything.
“Then, realising my wife now, my girlfriend then, Carly, was waiting in the Players’ Lounge for me and we decided to walk home because it was only through East Ham and over the bridge to Beckton, it was a surreal feeling really. It’s gone so quick since then as well, really quick!”
You can enjoy the highlights of an historic night in modern Hammers history right here with West Ham TV!
