After 27 years at the Club, West Ham United kitman Eddie
Gilham left some tough boots to fill when he retired at the end of
last season. But Steve Rigby is prepared to step into them and
usher in a new era as the next Hammers kitman.
"It's been good so far, it seems a really nice place to work," he said "All the people are decent, I just want to get the season started now really. I'm waiting for all the new kit to come in and then it's all systems go.
"It's quite odd timing that Eddie's going and we're leaving Reebok and I'm coming in with Umbro. So it's a fresh start all round."
Steve and Eddie have been close friends for many years. "He's been a mentor and a guru to me," said Steve. "Any problems I've ever had, I've given him a buzz or nipped over and seen him. We've always been in touch and hopefully I can carry on where he left off.
"I knew him from my days when I was at Leyton Orient and we kept in touch for about nine years now. I've known him a long time. I'm really excited about taking over from him.
"He's always someone I've looked up to. As a kit man at Orient I knew one day Eddie was going to retire and I was always looking at whether the prospect would come up. Now, with Eddie going and with Curbs coming in, it worked out perfectly really."
Having joined from Charlton, Steve is also close to Hammers boss Alan Curbishley. "He's a top man," said Steve. "The Club have got the right man for the job. He's laid-back, happy-go-lucky. I've got a lot of time for him and I'm sure he'll do really well.
"I was only at Charlton with him for a year and a half. He took me there from Orient so he must have liked what I did and had a lot of trust in me to bring me in. As soon as he made the phone call to see if I was interested it was always going to happen. It was excellent.
"When I said yes to the job seven weeks ago it looked like Charlton was the team that was going to stay up and West Ham would be going down, so I'd fully accepted the fact that it looked like we'd be going to Scunthorpe next season! But it's fantastic how it's turned out - I'm really pleased.
"I know a few of the players already and they know me so it helps being a familiar face. Hopefully to settle in it should be ok and fingers crossed we have a really good season, it's a good laugh and everyone gets on."
"It's been good so far, it seems a really nice place to work," he said "All the people are decent, I just want to get the season started now really. I'm waiting for all the new kit to come in and then it's all systems go.
"It's quite odd timing that Eddie's going and we're leaving Reebok and I'm coming in with Umbro. So it's a fresh start all round."
Steve and Eddie have been close friends for many years. "He's been a mentor and a guru to me," said Steve. "Any problems I've ever had, I've given him a buzz or nipped over and seen him. We've always been in touch and hopefully I can carry on where he left off.
"I knew him from my days when I was at Leyton Orient and we kept in touch for about nine years now. I've known him a long time. I'm really excited about taking over from him.
"He's always someone I've looked up to. As a kit man at Orient I knew one day Eddie was going to retire and I was always looking at whether the prospect would come up. Now, with Eddie going and with Curbs coming in, it worked out perfectly really."
Having joined from Charlton, Steve is also close to Hammers boss Alan Curbishley. "He's a top man," said Steve. "The Club have got the right man for the job. He's laid-back, happy-go-lucky. I've got a lot of time for him and I'm sure he'll do really well.
"I was only at Charlton with him for a year and a half. He took me there from Orient so he must have liked what I did and had a lot of trust in me to bring me in. As soon as he made the phone call to see if I was interested it was always going to happen. It was excellent.
"When I said yes to the job seven weeks ago it looked like Charlton was the team that was going to stay up and West Ham would be going down, so I'd fully accepted the fact that it looked like we'd be going to Scunthorpe next season! But it's fantastic how it's turned out - I'm really pleased.
"I know a few of the players already and they know me so it helps being a familiar face. Hopefully to settle in it should be ok and fingers crossed we have a really good season, it's a good laugh and everyone gets on."