The association has enjoyed a close relationship with nearby Premier League football club West Ham United for a number of years. 2023 was no exception.

West Ham United FC made it a match day to remember in December as they rolled out the claret and blue carpet for Blesma Members and sprang an added surprise for one passionate fan. The Premier League club laid on a training ground experience for three Members who are Hammers fans as part of their support for the Association’s Operation Christmas Cheer that also delivered 225 hampers to socially isolated Members.

Members Barry May, Nigel Smith and Matt Weston were guests of honour at the club’s Rush Green training ground and met manager David Moyes and senior players who presented them with signed club shirts and Christmas hampers.

The club scheduled a Blesma awareness day for its home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 17 December but went one step further and hatched a stealth operation with West Ham TV.

“They came to my flat to do a bit of filming and I just thought it would be an interview with me about my support for West Ham and the club’s links with Blesma,” said Matt Weston (opposite page), a season ticket holder, who would watch the club’s home games with his dad before his father passed away in 2022.

“But when they turned up there seemed to be a lot of cameras involved. Then, suddenly, Mark Noble stepped out from behind the lights. He was my dad’s favourite player, a local lad who played for the club he supported and eventually became its captain – a total fan’s favourite. It was a bit of a shock but a great one and an opportunity to meet a player my dad idolised, both for his on-pitch performances and his loyalty to his local club.”

Mark Noble, who played 550 games for West Ham through an illustrious career, spent time chatting with Matt before signing the West Ham shirt Matt had worn at his father’s funeral. He also invited Matt to be a pitch-side photographer at the Wolves game that ended in a 3-0 victory for the Hammers.

“It was amazing to meet Mark. He is a great bloke and character, and is a great example of what West
Ham means to its fans and community,” added former Royal Engineer, Matt, who lives in east London. “I’m really keen on photography so it was an added bonus to be invited pitchside. The action was close-up, with players less than a metre away at times. It was an incredible experience!”

Matt’s father passed away before Mark’s final match in May 2022 and the player told Matt: “It’s an honour to meet you. It was an emotional day for me and it’s a real shame that your dad wasn’t there, but he was there in spirit. I supported West Ham as a kid and gave my life to the club, but you made a decision to do what you did… that was so unselfish and you’re a hero Matt, let me tell you.”

The fans showed their support for Blesma on match day during the Wolves game by donating £760 in a  collection that went some way to funding the hampers that were delivered over Christmas.

“West Ham and its incredible fans have always been very supportive of Blesma and those hampers were full of goodies such as chocolates, biscuits, tea and coffee, puzzle books, a Christmas card and decorations,” said Chris Knight, Blesma’s Corporate and Regional Fundraising Manager.

“As we all know, Christmas should be a special time of year, but unfortunately that isn’t the case for everyone. Being alone at that time of year is difficult. When a Blesma Member received a hamper from our ‘Operation Christmas Cheer Appeal’, we hope it gave them a huge boost to realise that somebody who doesn’t know them was thinking about them at Christmas.

“And it is absolutely fantastic to have the support of West Ham and their fans. Over the last few years, the club has been magnificent and very generous with its support to the Association,” said Chris. “We really cherish our close connection with the football club. It continues to support Blesma and our work, and you can see that the club regularly goes the extra mile for our Members.”