Midfielder Andy Irving was proud to make his first start for West Ham United – and in the Premier League – at Chelsea on Monday night.
The 24-year-old Edinburgh-born playmaker - nicknamed the 'Portobello Pirlo' in honour of the area of the city he grew up, and the Italian midfielder Andrea - was named in Graham Potter’s starting XI, beginning a first-team game in Claret and Blue for the very first time, and he didn’t let the Head Coach down, putting in an industrious performance that the Juventus icon would have been proud of.
After a strong first half at Stamford Bridge, the Hammers went into the break with a deserved lead through Jarrod Bowen's sixth top-flight goal of the season, but were pushed back as the game wore on, and two goals in ten second-half minutes sent West Ham to defeat, with Pedro Neto's strike and an unfortunate Aaron Wan-Bissaka own-goal turning the tide in the hosts' favour.
Following eight Premier League appearances off the bench since returning from his loan back at former club SK Austria Klagenfurt in pre-season,Irving had clearly caught Potter’s eye, and was understandably thrilled to be given his opportunity at Stamford Bridge in place of the injured Edson Álvarez.
Irving has become something of a cult hero in Claret and Blue, and is lucky enough to already have several songs dedicated to him by the West Ham faithful, though he was disappointed about the result in West London and felt his side were unlucky to be beaten by the Blues.
“To have my first start in the Premier League with West Ham, it's an amazing feeling," Irving confirmed. “I'm just disappointed that it didn't go the way that I would have loved it to by taking three points, but I think on the whole it was a really good performance from the team, to be honest.
“I think since the Head Coach has come in, it's been brilliant. Anytime he or the staff have spoken with me, it's been really positive, and I think it's been like that with every player.
“Every day in training has been brilliant, really enjoyable, and I think I've been training well. I've been working really hard, and I feel that hard work is paying off at the moment, and I'm delighted with that."
Irving admits it has taken him time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, but the way he's taken it all in his stride has been fantastic, and his persistence has paid off.
“It definitely takes time to adapt [to the Premier League], but I think I've had enough tasters of that so far this season to get a grip of it, and I feel that I handled it pretty well for 75 minutes just before I went off as I had a little knock," said Irving. “In terms of the intensity, it's mad to be honest, the intensity and the physical output that you have to put in, but I'm working like mad in the gym three or four times with Cal (fitness coach Callum Foster) a week to try and adapt to it. I'm just delighted with the opportunity.”
His performance on the pitch at Stamford Bridge earned him songs, which he was serenaded with during the most part of the Premier League contest against Chelsea by the travelling supporters – a moment which our No39 won’t forget in a hurry.
Irving also revealed post-match that, even before he had returned from his loan in the Austrian Bundesliga in June, his girlfriend Zoe had applied for – and was subsequently successful in getting – a job as a teacher in east London, showcasing the belief she had in her partner achieving his dream of becoming a Premier League footballer.
“I could hear it! It took me a second to realise that it was about me,” Irving beamed. “It's brilliant, the support is great, and it definitely gives me and the team that extra boost. You see them at the end there, still in their numbers, applauding us off. The fans were absolutely brilliant. Shoutout to my girlfriend, who was also in that stand, hopefully singing along, and also to my family as well because I wouldn't be here without them.
“At the end of May there was a job available at a school in Tower Hamlets, and my partner opted to go for the interview, which I was all for. She had massive belief that I would be staying for this season, but the pressure was on throughout pre-season. She's amazing. I'm super proud of her, the way she's taken to life in London and her job!”
After Monday evening, Zoe is likely super proud of the way her boyfriend has taken to life in London and his job too!
