Nothing would make Darren Randolph happier than stepping out onto the London Stadium pitch for the first time since his return to West Ham United this afternoon.
The shot-stopper, who signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Hammers on Wednesday, returning from Middlesbrough, could make his second debut for the Club in today’s Premier League clash with Everton.
With Lukasz Fabianski unavailable, Randolph’s first week back in Claret and Blue could come with his 43rd appearance in all competitions for West Ham; the thought of which has Randolph chomping to get back out in front of 60,000 supporters at London Stadium.
“I’ll be over the moon to step back out at London Stadium again and try to contribute to us moving up the table,” Randolph told whufc.com. “It will be a pretty special thing to get a chance to be back out on the pitch and play in front of the fans again.
“The fans have always been brilliant with me and I’ve always tried to repay that with performances.”
I’ll be over the moon to step back out at London Stadium again and try to contribute to us moving up the table.
Darren Randolph
Having played 106 Championship matches during his two-and-a-half years with Middlesbrough, Randolph is excited for a return to Premier League action.
The opportunity to play top-flight football does not come around too often, and the 32-year-old could not turn down this chance when offered it by the Irons.
“When I left and moved to Middlesbrough, the ambition was to get them back up,” he explained. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t able to happen and I’m lucky enough that this Club has given me the chance to be back in the Premier League.
“It’s a massive opportunity and I’m just excited and I’m really happy to be back, and just get going again.”
With so many fond memories from his first spell at West Ham, from the final game at the Boleyn Ground to the very first match at London Stadium, Randolph is hoping to add even more magic moments to the list in the coming weeks and months.
Today’s match – possibly his first back as a West Ham player – could be the first.
He added: “The final season at the Boleyn Ground, there was some special memories there. I also have some special memories from games at the London Stadium.
“The Manchester United game, the last game at the Boleyn Ground, that definitely stands out. The first game at London Stadium too. Beating Chelsea in the Cup, the Crystal Palace game when Sam Allardyce returned was another big one.
“They’re the memories and things that stick out to me. Other people may have other ones but, for me, they’re the moments that I remember personally.”
