Three lucky West Ham fans got their hands on the new Cockney Kit in our giveaway to celebrate the launch of the strip this week.
The Cockney Kit is inspired by the Hammers’ East End roots and for our competition we were out and about at landmark locations across east London and Essex to gift a special surprise.
As part of the launch film for the strip - which showcases the characters and stories of people and places that embody the vibrant, authentic community surrounding our home - we filmed on location at three places special to Hammers from far and wide.
From Romford Snooker Club, located a stone’s throw from our Rush Green Training Ground, to the Bow Bells pub, one of our locals for London Stadium, and the Accra Palace Ghanaian restaurant in Clapton, where Mohammed Kudus made a splash in the film, we captured a festival of people, places, colour and attitude.
And for the competition, we rewarded the first Hammers to arrive at each location at opening time with a Cockney Kit shirt.
Our winners were Andy Quaife at Romford Snooker Club, James Atkinson at Accra Palace and Christine Ketteringham at the Bow Bells pub, with each being presented with their shirt by Hammers ambassador and former player Anton Ferdinand.
Bow resident Ketteringham, who arrived at the pub sporting a classic Bobby Moore No6 Hammers shirt, said: “It was a lovely surprise to see Anton and be given the new shirt!
“I’ve always loved football, my family are football fanatics. My nephew came over from Spain last year and the first thing he wanted to do was to walk around the stadium, so we did, and I’ve got a picture of him in the dressing rooms.
“I think it’s a brilliant kit. The third kit a few years ago was black and I liked that one. I bought it for my nephew and he loved it as well - but I’m keeping this one!”
Quaife, from Romford, said: “I’m down here on a Wednesday morning most weeks and I didn’t expect this when I came to the snooker club today!
“It’s a nice shirt - I normally get them as birthday or Christmas presents, so it’s nice to get one straight away and ready for the start of the season. It was brilliant to meet Anton too."
Wilkinson, also from Romford, said: “I don’t normally work in the area, but I was here today and had a quick scroll on social and realised it was five minutes from where I am.
“So I had a quick run down here and discovered I had won, so it has worked out perfectly!
“The first year I had a Season Ticket was when Anton was playing, so it was great to talk about the Fulham goal and things like that with him.”
Hammers ambassador Ferdinand was delighted to present the fans with their shirts, saying: “It was a fantastic morning, getting out to the local venues and giving out the shirts. This is what the Club does best, integrating into the community and using three iconic locations which featured in the kit launch.
“To give the kit to three totally different types of people tells you what the community of east London is all about. I’m thankful to be a part of it.”
You can join our winners in owning the Cockney Kit for yourself now, with the strip available to purchase at shop.whufc.com and at any of our four Official Club Stores – London Stadium, Liberty Romford, Lakeside Thurrock and Basildon Eastgate.
