Remembrance Day
West Ham United will be marking Remembrance Day and commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War with a host of special events at Saturday's game.
Soldiers from G Company 7 Rifles, based at the Army Reserve Centre in West Ham, will form a guard of honour surrounding the Boleyn Ground pitch before representatives from the Royal British Legion (East Ham Branch) are presented to the crowd.
A wreath-laying ceremony will then take place in the centre circle led by Joint-Chairman David Gold, Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales and Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox.
This will be followed by a minute's silence that will begin and end on the sound of the referee's whistle.
West Ham's players will join those from their 19 fellow Barclays Premier League clubs by wearing shirts emblazoned with the special 'Football Remembers' poppy.
Prior to kick-off, representatives Diane Hannan and Bill Daly from bus operators Stagecoach (London) will also present a cheque for in excess of £5,000 to Ken Hill, secretary of the Royal British Legion (East Ham Branch).
The funds were raised by the sale of a special badge designed by a member of staff at Plumstead Garage, which was then distributed and sold through the nine garages that form Stagecoach (London).
The company provided the 'B' bus purchased by the War Office in 1914 and used in France and Belgium throughout the Great War as a troop carrier. The bus has recently been returned to its wartime livery and is taking part in Remembrance ceremonies in Britain, France and Belgium.
Every year, the Hammers support the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal by wearing match shirts with the official Poppy on them. For Remembrance Day 2014, the Royal British Legion has approved a one-off Poppy with the citation '1914-2014 Football Remembers'.
The Royal British Legion is the UK's leading Service charity providing care and support to serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans of all ages and their families.
Fans can donate to the Poppy Appeal in a variety of ways:
• By phone on 0845 845 1945
• By mobile. To donate £3, text POPPY to 70020* (*Cost £3 plus standard network charges - typically £2.97 goes to the Poppy Appeal). To donate £10, text POPPY to 70111* (*Cost £10 plus standard network charges - typically £9.92 goes to the Poppy Appeal).
• By post to The Royal British Legion, FREEPOST SN1457, Melksham SN12 7BR.
In brief
West Ham United host Aston Villa this Saturday as the Hammers look to extend their unbeaten run of five games.
The Villans are currently 16th, having taken ten points from as many games. Paul Lambert's side have struggled recently in losing their six league games, scoring once in the process.
Sam Allardyce's team are eleven places ahead of Saturday's visitors, sitting in fifth position after drawing 2-2 away at Stoke City having been 2-0 down. Goals from new signing Enner Valencia and Stewart Downing, who has been recalled by England manager Roy Hodgson, salvaged a point.
Last season the Hammers took four points from the Villans, drawing 0-0 at home before securing a 2-0 away win with a brace from Kevin Nolan.
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Who are they?
Formed in 1874 from members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapal cricket team Aston Villa enjoyed a very succesful start to life winning the FA Cup in 1887, 1895 and 1897 as well as winning the First Division five times in the 1890s.
Aston Villa moved into their iconic Villa Park stadium in 1911, going on to win another two FA Cups later that decade.
Villa's crowning glory came in 1982 when they won their first European Cup final, beating Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam.
They have competed in the top flight of English football without relegation since the 1988/89 season.
Team news
West Ham United
Diafra Sakho is back in contention for Saturday's game after overcoming a shoulder injury, as is Winston Reid who could return after shaking off a dead leg he suffered at Stoke City.
England striker Andy Carroll is also back in contention after he played in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the week. Carroll could make his first appearance of the season after recovering from ankle surgery.
Guy Demel is out with a thigh problem, however he should be back in the squad after the international break.
Aston Villa
The visitors are missing some crucial squad memebers such as Fabian Delph after he dislocated his shoulder in training.
They will also be without talismanic striker Christian Benteke following his red card against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Villa will give central defender Phillippe Senderos a late fitness test to determine whether the Swiss international has overcome a thigh strain.
Referee
Saturday's referee will be Jonathan Moss, who was born in the North East. The 44-year-old played for Sunderland and Millwall as a schoolboy.
Moss won a football scholarship at Central Connecticut State University in the United States before completing a degree in teaching and physical education at the University of Leeds.
After progressing through the Northern Counties East League and Northern Premier League, Moss was promoted to the National Group of assistant referees in 2003.
He refereed the 2005 Conference Play-Off final between Carlisle United and Stevenage Borough before being promoted to the National Group of Referees who officiate in the Football League the same year.
After seeing his first Premier League appointment - Wigan Athletic versus today's visitors Aston Villa - postponed due to snow in December 2010, he made his top-flight debut in Blackpool's home defeat by Birmingham City the following month.
He was promoted to the Select Group of referees in June 2011.
Moss will be assisted by 2014 FIFA World Cup assistant referee Mike Mullarkey and Derek Eaton, while the fourth official will be Mike Jones.
Statistics
(2014/15 season - Barclays Premier League only)
Matches refereed: 7
Yellow cards shown: 26
Red cards shown: 4
Penalties awarded: 4
One to watch
West Ham United
The in form has been called up for England duty by Roy Hodgson.
Aston Villa
American goalkeeper Brad Guzan is one of standout 'keepers in the league. He is an integral part of the Villa defence having played every minute of every league game this season.
If Guzan is on top form, the Hammers' strikeforce will have to be at their best to get past him.
Tickets
Standard tickets for this game have now sold out. However, tickets may become available online as Season Ticket Holders relist their seats.
Tickets for the Hammers next home game with Newcastle United are available here.
Weather
Saturday is set to be an overcast day with rain forecast for the second half. The predicted temperature at kick-off is 13C (55F)
Last home meeting
West Ham United 0-0 Aston Villa
Barclays Premier League
2 November 201
The Hammers picked up a valuable point in the same fixture last season, ending a run of three straight home defeats.
The visitors had the better chances with Christian Benteke's header hitting the post yet the Hammers clung on to their seventh clean sheet of the season.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Vlaar, Baker, Clark, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Lowton, Bacuna, Sylla, Benteke, Weimann (Kozak)
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid, Tomkins, Rat, Downing, Jarvis (J Cole 62), Collison (C Cole 63), Morrison, Nolan
Subs: Adrian, O'Brien, Potts, Maiga