Fans turn out for signing session

West Ham United fans turned out in big numbers at the Club's Stadium Store on Wednesday to meet Jussi Jaaskelainen, Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho.

The trio took time out to meet supporters following a warm-down session at the Hammers' Chadwell Heath training ground after they all played in the previous evening's Capital One Cup game against Sheffield United.

The Hammers may have lost out on penalties on Tuesday but there was plenty of cheer as fans queued to meet the players, who happily signed autographs and posed for photographs with everyone.

Wearing the new adidas home, away and goalkeeper shirts, the players took time to sign a range of different items bought in-store.

For Sakho, he was delighted to have fans congratulate him on his first goal for West Ham, which he scored against the Blades.

"I was very happy that all our fans were pleased for me, for the goal. It was a shame we could not win on the night, but I told them that I hope to score more goals and help us to win more matches.

"I enjoyed meeting our supporters like this and I hope to play my best for them again in the next match I play."

Among the loyal supporters queuing up to meet the players were several from Valencia's home country of Ecuador.

The Hammers forward was surprised but delighted to see so many of his fellow London-based countrymen turn out and was simply happy to take time to see all the West Ham fans.

He said: "We have great fans, it has been great to play in front of them so far and I am looking forward to doing this more during the season. But it is good to meet them personally and thank them for the welcome they have given me since I arrived at the club.

"It was also great to see that since joining West Ham, we now have fans in Ecuador who are West Ham fans, I hope that they will join all our other supporters and follow the team."

Young Hammers fan Pete from Chafford Hundred was delighted to meet the first team players.

He said: "It was good to come down and meet them, especially as Enner and Diafra are new signings. I was impressed with Sakho's goal against Sheffield United and hopefully he can score many goals for us.

"I try to go to all these events to get as many of their signatures as possible and I'm looking forward to watching us this season and try to get as high as possible in the league."

Carl Jenkinson, Matt Jarvis and James Tomkins will meet fans in another signing session at our Lakeside Thurrock store on Tuesday 2 September from 2.30pm