David Moyes and Karren Brady lead tributes as West Ham United co-owner David Gold dies
West Ham United announced on Wednesday (4 January) that co-owner David Gold has passed away after a short battle with illness.
The 86-year-old was joined by his fiancee Lesley and daughters Jacqueline and Vanessa by his bedside and tributes have been flooding in from the footballing world.
West Ham manager David Moyes was among those leading the tributes along with Gold’s fellow co-owner David Sullivan and vice-chairperson Karren Brady.
“I am extremely sad to hear this news and, on behalf of all of the players and my staff at the training ground, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to David Gold’s family at this very difficult time,” Moyes said in the club statement.
“To a great man, a great friend for over 30 years and a complete gentleman – you will be missed. Rest in peace,” Brady said via her personal Twitter account while Sullivan said: “On behalf of everyone at the football club, it is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of our colleague and friend, David Gold,” in the statement.
“Met David Gold a few times, always friendly,” Stan Collymore said on Twitter, “I remember a Monday debate on talkSPORT where we were squarely on opposite sides of a fan ownership debate, but after it finished he was incredibly gracious.”
“Sad to hear of the passing of West Ham co-Chairman David Gold. Whenever I spoke to David, you knew how much he loved the club and always had a warm smile to greet you,” Ian Abrahams said.
Hero
Not every decision Gold ever made as the West Ham United co-owner was universally agreed with but there won’t be anyone associated with the Irons who has any bad blood towards him.
He loved the football club with every fibre of his being and he never made a decision to put the club in jeopardy of any serious problems off the pitch.
It is a great shame that the final games he watched were not of the Hammers playing fast, attacking football and dominating teams but he knew better than most that football ebbs and flows and that not everything can be perfect all the time.
Anyone who met Gold either at a West Ham game or just in public would have had their lives and days enlightened because of it and he would happily talk West Ham with everyone for as long as he possibly could.
His loss will be felt at the London Stadium for an extremely long time.
Everyone at West Ham Zone sends their condolences to his friends and family at this heartbreaking time.