Former Player Blog - Kevin Nolan

The former midfielder and captain on West Ham United's fine season so far and an exciting year ahead for the Hammers
Former midfielder and captain Kevin Nolan made 157 appearances for West Ham United between 2011 and 2015, scoring 31 goals and leading the Hammers to promotion in May 2012...

Hello again!

It’s been a few months since I left the Club, but you can be sure I’ve been keeping a close eye on how the boys have been getting on – and I’ve been really impressed.

The lads have done absolutely fantastic. It was always a risk to change over so many players in the summer, but Slaven has come in and knew exactly how he wanted to go about things, and the lads have really bought into it.

He had a great core of lads already at the Club when he arrived, which has obviously helped, but you can see that the new and old players have a great camaraderie. You can see how well they are playing and how hard they are working for each other.

It is great to see the Club striving forward. When you look at where we were five years ago when I arrived, the Club was in a bit of a sorry state and everyone was feeling sorry for themselves.

Since then, everyone has really executed well and we are now in a really exciting year for everyone associated with the Club – West Ham are playing great stuff, are fifth in the table and looking comfortable against every team they face.

I’ll be watching the game at one of my other former clubs, Newcastle United, on Saturday, and I am anticipating an exciting 90 minutes. Newcastle came back well against Manchester United on Tuesday, but I think they play open and West Ham can exploit them with their counter-attacking style.

As my last club, I want West Ham to do well this year, but I also want Newcastle to stay up, which I am sure they will do with the quality they have up there.

Off the pitch, everyone I speak to is really excited about the Stadium move and where it could take the Club in the future.

I still live in Essex and when I’m out and about it is great to meet fans, shake hands and be thanked and recognised for the role I have played in recent seasons, scoring my share of goals and as captain. I’ve always said how much I enjoyed being part of such a big Club and that will never change.

Nobes has done a great job as captain this season and I’m delighted that he has asked me to play in his Testimonial match in March.

I’m really looking forward to it, because when you leave a Club you don’t get the chance to say goodbye and show your appreciation to the fans, your teammates and the staff for the support you have received.

I spent four really good seasons with West Ham and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Club, so it will be a nice touch to be out there with all the lads again – the current squad, the boys I played alongside during my four years at the Club, and loads of other Hammers legends.

Although I am not training with a Club now, I have been keeping myself fit and ticking over. I am doing regular gym sessions with a lad called Jamie Goldsmith, who was part of the backroom staff for a couple of seasons at West Ham. I am ready to go, when the chance comes around to play again.

I am looking forward to seeing you all again for Nobes’ Testimonial on 28 March.

Come on you Irons!

Nobby