A special VIP guest enjoyed West Ham United's matchday helicopter experience on Sunday before the Club's Premier League match with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Santa Claus took a break from his preparations for Christmas to fly by private helicopter into the West Ham training ground at Rush Green. He was greeted on arrival by Club legend Marlon Harewood, who took Lapland's biggest international star on a special behind the scenes tour of the Rush Green facilities.
Santa then collected a sack full of presents donated by West Ham United, and boarded a top-of-the-range, chauffeured Porsche to whip across the Eastend to the London Stadium.
After being dropped at the Club London VIP entrance, Santa made a tour of the pitch in the run-up to the 2pm kick-off against Wolves and handed out presents to dozens of lucky young Hammers fans in the stands.
Then it was back inside to West Ham's exclusive Club London facilities to meet more fans, hand out more gifts, and enjoy a well-earned sit down in the luxury of The Forge restaurant, which celebrates West Ham's origins in the 1890s as the Thames Ironworks football team.
After an exhilarating few hours, Santa was escorted to his seat behind the players' tunnel to enjoy a perfect view of the Hammers 3-0 over Wolves. He would not be drawn on a score prediction, but said before the match that he was looking forward to watching James Ward-Prowse, a fellow delivery specialist.
The midfielder said: "West Ham is a great family club, so it is wonderful to see the kids in the stadium enjoying Santa's visit and getting some early Christmas presents. We delivered a win over Spurs and a place in the last 16 of the Europa League so far this month, and I am really pleased to see the team deliver another convincing result today, to set everyone up for a happy Christmas week."
Santa's visit was arranged by West Ham as a treat for young fans attending the Wolves game, but also to showcase the Club’s unique luxury Matchday Helicopter Experience.
This matchday experience offers a tour over the London skyline in a private helicopter, landing at Rush Green for a behind the scenes tour, and being chauffeur-driven in luxury across London to the Stadium, where they will sit down for a three-course meal and complimentary drinks at a private table in The Forge restaurant, enjoy a Q&A with a Club Ambassador, before taking their seat for the game in the lower-tier behind the players' tunnel.
Packages are available throughout the second half of the season on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be arranged by the Club as an unforgettable gift for birthdays and anniversaries for the special Hammers fan in your life.