West Ham United travelled to the other side of the world in preparation for the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season
West Ham United travelled to and recruited from far and wide in preparation for the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season.
The Hammers jetted off to France for a week-long training camp before taking on Stevenage and Ipswich Town in their opening pre-season matches, drawing both.
The squad then boarded long-haul flights to the other side of the world for the eagerly-anticipated Football United Tour to New Zealand, where they faced A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, received a traditional Maori welcome, visited the world-famous Weta Workshop film studios and made thousands of new fans in the process.
It was then back to Europe for the Schalke 04 Cup in Germany, where the Hammers defeated the host club on penalties before losing out to Spanish side Malaga.
To complete a cosmopolitan pre-season, Sam Allardyce’s side then welcomed Italian club Sampdoria to the Boleyn Ground for a thrilling Marathonbet Cup clash that ended 3-2 in the Hammers’ favour, with Mark Noble, Mohamed Diame and young Academy star Reece Burke on target.
A busy summer also saw the Club active in the transfer market, with Argentinian forward Mauro Zarate, powerhouse Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, Ipswich Town left-back Aaron Cresswell, Charlton Athletic Player of the Year Diego Poyet, Ecuador FIFA World Cup striker Enner Valencia, Arsenal and England right-back Carl Jenkinson and prolific FC Metz forward Diafra Sakho all arriving in east London ahead of the big kick-off.
Going the other way, Matt Taylor, Alou Diarra and Stephen Henderson all departed on a permanent basis, while George Moncur joined Colchester United on a six-month loan deal.
*To watch this and many other entertaining West Ham TV features, interviews, highlights and more, completely free of charge, sign-up or log-in to My West Ham now!
The Hammers jetted off to France for a week-long training camp before taking on Stevenage and Ipswich Town in their opening pre-season matches, drawing both.
The squad then boarded long-haul flights to the other side of the world for the eagerly-anticipated Football United Tour to New Zealand, where they faced A-League sides Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC, received a traditional Maori welcome, visited the world-famous Weta Workshop film studios and made thousands of new fans in the process.
It was then back to Europe for the Schalke 04 Cup in Germany, where the Hammers defeated the host club on penalties before losing out to Spanish side Malaga.
To complete a cosmopolitan pre-season, Sam Allardyce’s side then welcomed Italian club Sampdoria to the Boleyn Ground for a thrilling Marathonbet Cup clash that ended 3-2 in the Hammers’ favour, with Mark Noble, Mohamed Diame and young Academy star Reece Burke on target.
A busy summer also saw the Club active in the transfer market, with Argentinian forward Mauro Zarate, powerhouse Senegal midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, Ipswich Town left-back Aaron Cresswell, Charlton Athletic Player of the Year Diego Poyet, Ecuador FIFA World Cup striker Enner Valencia, Arsenal and England right-back Carl Jenkinson and prolific FC Metz forward Diafra Sakho all arriving in east London ahead of the big kick-off.
Going the other way, Matt Taylor, Alou Diarra and Stephen Henderson all departed on a permanent basis, while George Moncur joined Colchester United on a six-month loan deal.
*To watch this and many other entertaining West Ham TV features, interviews, highlights and more, completely free of charge, sign-up or log-in to My West Ham now!