West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League, London Stadium, Saturday 5 April 2025, 3pm BST
West Ham United continue a busy April schedule with a home Premier League contest against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, looking for a strong reaction to away disappointment at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out.
Prior to that, the Hammers had lost just one of four top-flight games, with that only defeat coming against Newcastle United on 10 March, and Head Coach Graham Potter will be hoping that Molineux defeat doesn't sidetrack his side's steady progress, and that they can continue to try to work their way up the league table in the remaining eight matches.
Our opponents have been something of a surprise package this season, and as 2024/25 approaches its conclusion, AFC Bournemouth are hoping the campaign reaches an epic and historical climax. The Cherries have never before finished above ninth in the English top-flight - achieved under Eddie Howe’s management in 2016/17 - and never before qualified for a UEFA competition.
Despite a tricky run of four defeats and one draw in their last five games, the Dorset club remain only five points behind sixth-placed Chelsea, and they will be determined to bounce back to form and secure European football for next term.
All signs point to an enticing match-up at London Stadium then, with both teams battling for crucial points at either end of the table.
Read on for everything you need to know ahead of the fixture...
Tickets…
Tickets for this sold-out game are still available on the Ticket Exchange, with Season Ticket Holders who cannot attend this fixture relisting their seats for other supporters to buy. Click HERE to check availability or relist.
Travel…
There are no planned disruptions to TfL Underground services on the Central, Jubilee, Bakerloo, Circle, District, Metropolitan, Northern or Elizabeth lines, although there are set to be issues on Docklands Light Railway services. Supporters using these services are highly recommended to check their routes before departure.
There are no planned issues on the c2c mainline, but there are set to be disruptions to Greater Anglia services and the Southeastern network that serves Stratford International.
Stratford and Stratford City Bus Stations are located in close proximity to Stratford station. Buses that run to these stations are numbers: 25, 86, 97, 104, 108, 158, 241, 257, 262, 276, 308, 425, 473, D8.
Supporters using public transport are advised to check their journeys before they travel, using resources such as TfL’s Journey Planner and the TfL Go app. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website if travelling on the rail network.
There is no parking available at London Stadium. Restrictions will be in place and enforced in the local area.
How To Follow…
Saturday’s 3pm kick-off will NOT be broadcast live in the UK, but will be shown across the world by the Premier League’s international broadcast partners.
If you live outside the UK, click HERE for details of Premier League listings in your territory.
You can follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app, and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle on our website and social media.
Live audio commentary will be available in the UK on BBC Radio London and talkSPORT 2, and worldwide on our official website and app.
Official Programme…
Our 18th issue of the season is led by an extensive interview with the 'Portobello Pirlo', Andy Irving, who discusses his unconventional route to east London and his burning desire to succeed with the Hammers. Scottish midfielder Irving features on the striking programme cover, which has been created by up-and-coming illustrator, Ruby Hutchins.
We have Jarrod Bowen's captain's column and words from Head Coach Graham Potter, while Steve Blowers recalls the contribution made by the late ex-West Ham midfielder Graham Paddon on the Irons' road to FA Cup success 50 years ago, in 1975.
With the latest news from our Academy, women’s team and Foundation, plus puzzles, statistics and the lowdown on our opponents from the Vitality Stadium, the Official Programme is packed full of content for you!
Click HERE to get your copy!
Bobby Moore Fund…
We are pleased to celebrate the brilliant work of The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK at Saturday’s game.
The Bobby Moore Fund raises vital funds for bowel cancer research and aims to increase public awareness of the disease.
The fund was set up 32 years ago in memory of West Ham United and England great Bobby Moore, who sadly died of bowel cancer in February 1993, aged 51. Since then, the Bobby Moore Fund has raised more than £31m thanks to the generosity of their supporters.
The Bobby Moore Fund’s flagship campaign, Football Shirt Friday, is back on Friday 25 April. It’s easy to get involved: wear your favourite football shirt, share a selfie on your social media and donate £5 to tackle bowel cancer. Get your friends, colleagues and family involved too. To find out more, click HERE.
No Room For Racism...
All Premier League matches between 5 and 14 April are being dedicated to No Room For Racism, highlighting the ongoing work the league carries out to tackle discrimination and promote diversity within football.
During this period, the league and clubs celebrate diversity on and off the pitch and demonstrate how it makes the game stronger, while reinforcing the message that discrimination will not be tolerated in football or wider society.
Players will take the knee before kick-off at these matches to demonstrate unity against racism.
Click HERE for more information.
Team News…
West Ham go into Saturday’s clash with the Cherries with a few players a doubt through injury.
Mohammed Kudus and Danny Ings were both unavailable at Molineux with their respective injuries, while Crysencio Summerville continues to valiantly work hard in his recovery from a hamstring problem. Michail Antonio remains sidelined.
Opponents AFC Bournemouth were without top scorer Justin Kluivert against Ipswich Town on Wednesday, after he suffered a setback in the FA Cup game against Manchester City last weekend.
The Cherries are already without Enes Ünal (knee), Marcus Tavernier (ankle) and Luis Sinisterra (hamstring), but Julián Araujo is back in training and could play a part against West Ham.
Opposition…
Bournemouth raised a few eyebrows when they replaced former West Ham United midfielder Gary O’Neil as head coach with former Athletic Club and Spain international right-back Andoni Iraola in June 2023.
Iraola had impressed in leading Rayo Vallecano to La Liga and the Copa del Rey semi-finals, but this was his first job in English football, so when the Dorset side failed to win any of their first nine Premier League matches, that decision looked like a gamble that had gone wrong.
The 42-year-old kept his calm, though, and with his team playing exciting, enterprising football, Bournemouth won seven of the next nine to rise to the comfort of mid-table by the season’s halfway point.
A seven-match winless run followed, but another surge of seven wins in eleven games in March and April saw Iraola’s entertaining side rise into the top half. Three closing defeats saw them finish 12th.
Runs to the fifth rounds of both domestic cup competitions were further cause for optimism and that positive feeling has continued to grow throughout an eye-catching campaign that has seen Iraola’s side put together an outstanding eleven-match unbeaten run between late November and late January that saw them climb into the European places.
While the congested nature of the Premier League table mean the Cherries dropped in the standings in February and March, the move to appoint Iraola still looks to have been an inspired one, with today’s visitors still in the race for a top-six or, even, a top-four Premier League finish, should they finish the season strongly.
Without being patronising, Cherries supporters must be absolutely loving their team’s recent performances, especially when you consider their club was in the fourth tier as recently as 2010. Now, having become a Premier League side for a second time, the next aim for those supporters, Iraola, his players and the club’s ambitious American owners will be that historic first-ever European qualification.
Previous Meetings…
Saturday’s contest will be the 16th time that West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth have met in the Premier League.
Each of the last three top-flight matches between the sides have finished in a 1-1 draw, including a lively reverse fixture at the Vitality Stadium in December 2024, where two set-piece goals in the final three minutes saw the spoils shared on the South Coast.
However, as we return to London Stadium this weekend, we will be hoping to maintain our superior all-time home record against the Cherries, having only lost to AFC Bournemouth twice in our entire history in east London.
Prior to the Premier League, the Irons overcame then third-tier Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic in the pair’s first meeting, in the FA Cup fifth round back in February 1929.
The two clubs met in the old Second Division in 1989/90, when Harry Redknapp was Bournemouth manager, and the Londoners secured League Cup second and third-round successes over the Dorset club in August 2024 and October 1999, respectively.
Match Officials...
Referee: Tim Robinson
Assistant Referees: Eddie Smart and Steve Meredith
Fourth Official: Steve Martin
VAR: Jarred Gillett
Assistant VAR: Darren Cann
Tim Robinson will referee Saturday’s Premier League fixture with AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium.
One of the Premier League’s newest regular officials, Robinson took charge of his first top-flight match in December 2019, which resulted in a 1-0 win for Burnley over Newcastle United, and was later promoted to Select Group One ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The official from West Sussex refereed 21 top-tier matches last season, showing 89 yellow cards, but he did not send a single player off.
He will referee a West Ham game for the third time this season, having taken charge of our 1-1 Premier League draw at Fulham in September and 2-1 Emirates FA Cup third-round defeat at Aston Villa in January - Graham Potter’s first match as our Head Coach - while he served as the fourth official for our home games against Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers before Christmas.
In terms of other high-profile fixtures, Robinson took charge of the EFL League One Play-Off final in 2023, as Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley 1-0 after extra-time at Wembley Stadium.
For more information about the officials, click HERE.
