A winner of one of England’s only football trophies Geoff Hurst has backed West Ham’s bid to lease the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
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The football medals have been contested for , the Olympics and Paralympics have concluded and now the question of who will be allowed to use the football stadium will be raised again.
West Ham have long been in contention, along with three other clubs including rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Leyton Orient have been against the Hammers moving into the stadium from the start, saying that it would be disastrous for their football club as they would be moving into Orient’s back yard, almost literally with the two stadiums being only a nine minute walk apart – a football’s kick away in stadium proximity terms.
Orient Chairman Barry Hearn has also said earlier this year that the stadium simply isn’t built for football with the first tier 50 yards away across a running track. He also said that it is not about avoiding white elephants, it’s about turning one into a Pink Flamingo.
Hurst has supported the bid for the newly promoted West Ham to move their by saying it is essential if they are to fulfill their destiny as a large Premier League club. The Hammers did win a bid last year to move to the stadium, but the deal was scrapped due to legal issues.
It may not even have the chance to have football nets installed, as there are also plans to turn part of the stadium into an F1 track.
West Ham have played at Upton Park since 1904 and it will be a massive step in their history if they were to move to a new stadium, certainly many fans will not like the idea of being so far away from the pitch – those seated at the top may have to use binoculars to identify the different football kits – and it will be a bitter pill to swallow.
Especially as the bid is for a 99 year lease.
