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West Ham announce pre-season Australia tour with Tottenham friendly fixture confirmed

23 mar   /   autty.

West Ham have announced the first details of their pre-season tour ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, with the club set to be based in Perth for two friendly matches

West Ham United have announced they will be jetting off to Australia this summer for their pre-season tour ahead of the 2023/24 season. The tour will take place in July with two friendly matches being played in Perth.

One of those warm-up games will be a London derby Down Under, as the Hammers take on rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Optus Stadium on July 18. Before that, David Moyes' side are due to take on A-League outfit Perth Glory at the same stadium three days prior.

Speaking at today’s tour launch in Perth, former West Ham striker and current ambassador Carlton Cole said: “We’re really excited to be heading to Australia this summer. As well as looking forward to playing two exciting pre-season fixtures in Perth, we also have a great opportunity to visit a wonderful country, one that I know loves its sport and is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about football.

“We’re looking forward to meeting our incredible supporters from Down Under and hope that our fans from home and around the world can join them for a festival of football this summer in Western Australia. We can’t wait to be part of this unmissable football experience in Perth.”

Tickets for the fixtures against Spurs and Perth Glory will go on pre-sale on Friday March 24, with the link being live from 4am UK time through to 2am on Monday March 27. A venue pre-sale window, for those who registered for pre-sale via the event website or those who are currently on the stadium’s database, will then be active from 4am on March 27.

Tickets will then go on general sale from 4am on Tuesday March 28. It remains to be seen which league the Hammers will be preparing to compete in next season as their fight for Premier League survival continues.

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West Ham United pre-season tour 2023: Fixtures, how to watch, tickets and everything you need to know

West Ham United are on the plane to Australia for their pre-season tour under David Moyes in 2023. So here is everything you need to know about the Hammers’ schedule this summer.

The Irons announced in March 2023 that the Premier League club were heading down under for two friendlies in Perth. They delayed adding to their fixtures as West Ham went on to win the Europa Conference League . While their top-flight survival had also been in some doubt.

Moyes will hope to oversee a solid run of results during West Ham’s pre-season friendlies in 2023 to then have a more comfortable Premier League campaign in 2023/24. The Hammers only finished the 2022/23 season in 14th place and were just six points safe from relegation.

When does West Ham United’s pre-season start?

Moyes instructed the West Ham first-team squad to reconvene at Rush Green to start their pre-season training on July 6, 2023. It marked a later start date for the Irons’ players to last year when they regrouped on June 26. While their first friendly of 2023 followed on July 10.

West Ham United’s fixture list for their 2023 pre-season

As of June 28, West Ham United have announced six pre-season friendlies with two forming their 2023 tour of Australia. Moyes’ team will head down under in July to face A-League side Perth Glory. The Irons will also play a London derby with Tottenham Hotspur three days later.

Boreham Wood also helped West Ham start their pre-season plans in 2023 in a repeat of last year’s 1-1 draw. This time, the Hammers won 4-1 at Meadow Park with Danny Ings , Kamarai Swyer, Jarrod Bowen and Gideon Kodua scoring. West Ham then start their tour of Australia.

West Ham will also continue their pre-season plans upon returning to Europe with a further two away friendlies. The Irons will face another London outfit in Dagenham & Redbridge on July 22. They will then fly to France to face Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais for the very first time.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

One final friendly for the summer will follow in Germany as West Ham round out their pre-season at Bayer Leverkusen. The Hammers will visit the BayArena natives managed by Xabi Alonso a week before the new Premier League season. They start the term at Bournemouth.

• July 10, KO 19:00 BST: Boreham Wood vs West Ham, Meadow Park, Borehamwood
• July 15, KO 11:00 BST: Perth Glory vs West Ham, Optus Stadium, Perth
• July 18, KO 11:00 BST: West Ham vs Tottenham, Optus Stadium, Perth
• July 22, KO 15:00 BST: Dagenham & Redbridge vs West Ham, Chigwell Construction Stadium, Dagenham
• July 29, 17:00 BST: Stade Rennais vs West Ham, Roazhon Park, Rennes
• August 5, 12:30 BST: Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham, BayArena, Leverkusen

How to watch West Ham United’s 2023 pre-season fixtures

West Ham United have confirmed that fans in the UK can watch their pre-season friendly against Perth Glory for free on WHUFC.com or the Irons’ app via a free club account. The Hammers are charging for streaming passes to watch their London derby with Tottenham.

Fans in the UK can watch West Ham United’s pre-season friendly with Tottenham Hotspur via WHUFC.com or the Irons’ app for £5. The game will be under the WHTV tab on the app.

Tickets for West Ham United’s summer schedule

Tickets for West Ham United’s pre-season games with Perth Glory and Tottenham Hotspur went on sale in March. While an exclusive pre-sale window also started the on-sale window.

While West Ham confirmed details regarding tickets for their pre-season friendly with Bayer Leverkusen on July 11. The Irons are still yet to confirm details about tickets for West Ham’s friendly Stade Rennais, though. While Dagenham & Redbridge have sold tickets since July 3.

Bayer Leverkusen have offered West Ham an allocation of 1,790 unreserved standing tickets for their friendly. While all tickets are priced at just £9. Fans can also buy tickets through the official West Ham club website or by calling the Irons’ ticket office hotline on 0333 0301966.

On-sale dates for tickets to the Hammers’ pre-season matches:

Tickets for West Ham United’s pre-season friendlies in Australia go on sale on these dates:

• March 24, 04:00 until March 27, 02:00 BST: West Ham pre-sale window
• March 27, 04:00 until March 28, 02:00 BST: Venue pre-sale window
• March 28, 04:00 BST: General sale ( buy here )

Tickets for West Ham United’s pre-season friendly with Dagenham & Redbridge:

• July 3 ( buy here )

Tickets for West Ham’s pre-season friendly at Bayer Leverkusen go on sale on these dates:

• July 12, 12:00 BST: Bondholders
• July 12, 15:00 BST: West Ham away scheme members
• July 13, 10:00 BST: West Ham 23/24 season ticket holders

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Tottenham and West Ham heading to Australia for pre-season tour 🇦🇺 | OneFootball

OneFootball

Dan Burke · 23 March 2023

Tottenham and West Ham heading to Australia for pre-season tour 🇦🇺

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United will both descend on Western Australia this summer as part of their pre-season plans.

West Ham will take on A-League side Perth Glory in a friendly at Optus Stadium in 15 July.

OneFootball Videos

London ➡️ Perth Hammers on Tour ⚒️  –  Thursday, 23 March 2023

Then, on 18 July, the Hammers will face London rivals Spurs in a match at the same venue.

📲 Ledley King has a message all the way from Perth 🇦🇺  –  Thursday, 23 March 2023

Tottenham’s last trip to Australia came in 2016, when they visited Melbourne under former manager Mauricio Pochettino, having also played in Sydney the year before.

While West Ham haven’t been Down Under since way back in 1995, when they took part in a four-match tour.

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The West Ham Way

Home of the #1 West Ham related podcast

As exclusively revealed by The West Ham Way previously, the club have now confirmed a pre-season tour of Australia this summer, with ExWHUEmployee providing details on a special event set to take place.

Our man-in-the-know reported on The West Ham Way Patreon on 27th January that a tour down under was looking highly likely and then confirmed shortly after that would be the case – with Perth the confirmed location.

Ex has since revealed further details on the tour whilst also confirming that The West Ham Way are set to host a special Pre-Match Event with former players in attendance.

The club seem to have persuaded the Australian authorities to let the tour go ahead despite their league status not being officially confirmed in the top flight.

The Hammers’ pre-season tour will take place in July, with two friendly matches in Perth.

West Ham will play A-League outfit Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on Saturday 15 July, before a London derby Down Under against Tottenham Hotspur, again at Optus Stadium, three days later on Tuesday July 18. Kick-off times for both games will be confirmed shortly, with the Club set to be in Perth ahead of the two games to meet with fans and explore the city.

We had already been working with the official Perth supporters group and have a venue confirmed for a Pre-Match event. We will let you have more details of this within the next couple of weeks.

Ex will be keeping fans fully up to date on the tour with further advice on the event and how tickets can be purchased on The West Ham Way Patreon.

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Tottenham to play preseason friendly with West Ham in Australia

Spurs are going back Down Under!

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Lots of news this morning, but let’s start with something fun — Tottenham Hotspur announced early today that the team is heading Down Under for a preseason tour! Tottenham will play against West Ham in a preseason friendly in Perth on Tuesday, July 18.

We are delighted to announce that our Men’s First Team will visit Perth to take on London rivals West Ham United on Tuesday 18 July in the opening match of our Asia-Pacific Tour 2023. — Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 23, 2023

The trip to Perth is apparently the first stop in a Spurs Asia-Pacific tour, the full details of which were not announced. Tottenham will play West Ham at the Optus Stadium in Perth, the third largest stadium in Australia with a capacity of 65,000 fans in “football configuration,” and the home of Australian Football League’s Fremantle and West Coast Eagles teams.

Spurs didn’t reveal further details of their Asia-Pacific tour, but did say that they’ll play two additional friendly matches after the trip Down Under in two different Asian cities. It’s very clearly the big international tour for the summer, so American fans hoping for a Spurs return States-side will be disappointed and hoping for next season.

This is the second time in recent memory that Spurs have visited Australia; the last time was in 2014 when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge. Spurs played matches against Atletico Madrid and Juventus and lifted the “AIA Cup” at the end of that tour.

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Home > News > Why two Premier League clubs are playing a 125-year-old derby 15,000km from home

Matt Comito

Why two Premier League clubs are playing a 125-year-old derby 15,000km from home

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There’s plenty of respect between former West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Spurs defender Ledley King – but there was no love lost when KEEPUP asked them both to describe the London rivalry before the two clubs meet Down Under in July.

Whenever these two old foes face off, the message is always simple: “You must win, by any means necessary.”

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United is no ordinary derby. The two London clubs first met in September of 1898; West Ham were then known as Thames Ironworks. Almost 125 years have passed since that first encounter – which Tottenham won by three goals to nil – and today, the rivalry rages on. 

Their respective home stadiums are no more than 10 kilometres apart – but in July of 2023, the two long-standing foes will travel almost 15,000km to Perth, Australia for one of the most unique instalments in the derby’s history.

Club legends Carlton Cole (West Ham) and Ledley King (Tottenham) made the trip Down Under as it was revealed their former sides would compete alongside Isuzu UTE A-League club Perth Glory in a two-game series at Perth’s Optus Stadium in July.

Glory will take on West Ham on Saturday, July 15 before the two London clubs face off on Tuesday, July 18.

LOCKED IN: West Ham and Tottenham are coming to Australia in July. Here’s what you need to know

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Two of England’s biggest clubs are coming to town. Get your tickets now! 🎟️: https://t.co/DM2H7pyOYu pic.twitter.com/1l7l4fD7AU — Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) March 28, 2023

Born in Croydon, London, Cole’s career began at Chelsea – but he’s best remembered for his 293-game spell at West Ham, which produced 68 goals in all competitions. 

KEEPUP asked the 39-year-old the question so many fans of rival clubs love to pose: 

What do you think of Tottenham?

“I haven’t really got that many good words to say about them, I’m not going to lie to you,” Cole told KEEPUP.

“When we’re talking about rivalries between West Ham and Spurs, it’s one of the biggest games of the season for West Ham.

“The fans will not let you live a day without saying: ‘Listen, I don’t care what you do. You can lose all the games this season, but just don’t lose to Spurs’.

“That is what it is, because the fans really cannot handle the banter that comes (their) way if you do lose.

“We as players have a responsibility not to lose to Spurs. Obviously we lost to Spurs this season, so it hasn’t been great! And the players have to take that. But being a player and losing to Spurs is never good.”

Spurs have enjoyed playing West Ham in 2022-23; Antonio Conte’s side defeated the Hammers 2-0 at home in February, after drawing 1-1 in the reverse fixture in late 2022. West Ham’s last win over Tottenham came in October, 2021 in the form of a 1-0 win at London’s Olympic Stadium, and the Hammers’ home ground since 2016. 

Former Spurs captain King says the outcome of each instalment of the derby is of extra importance to the many families in London where allegiances are split down the middle.

“It’s a London derby. You must win them, by any means necessary,” King told KEEPUP. “With West Ham, the thought when we play them is the two sets of teams are pretty close to each other in terms of their stadiums, their fans, and you often get within the same family a West Ham supporter and a Tottenham supporter. 

“It’s all about bragging rights. It always is. When you lose those games, it’s a difficult week after that.

“It’s never nice to lose them games. It’s always been a good rivalry, and it will be great for the fans over here to get an opportunity to see what it really feels like.”

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European clubs have at times descended on Australia for tour friendlies in the immediate aftermath of a domestic season, but in this instance, Tottenham and West Ham will touch down in Perth as part of the preparation for their respective 2023-24 campaigns. 

Whether West Ham will be preparing for a Premier League charge or a push for promotion from the Championship is yet to be confirmed; David Moyes’ side currently sit 18th on the Premier League table, and are at risk of losing their place at the top table of English football. 

But regardless of the club’s position in the English football pyramid when arriving in Australia, Cole says the objective will remain the same.

“We’re going to come back here and enjoy it, and make sure the fans get their money’s worth and the city gets its money’s worth as well,” he said. 

“Glory are going to be coming out of the traps, making sure they leave no stones unturned. They’re going to make it hard for the boys. But it will be a great game. Managers (will be) trying stuff, playing different players, players out of position to try and get minutes… just to get fitter quicker.”

Cole added: “(The fans) better come down, support, make loads of noise, get that atmosphere going, get the juices flowing – and enjoy the (games).”

For Perth, it’s the third meeting with a Premier League opponent in recent years after hosting Chelsea and Manchester United at Optus Stadium in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Glory and Socceroos striker Adam Taggart told KEEPUP that, as a Perth local, he understands the importance of European clubs visiting the state for the sake of growing the game and inspiring young fans.

“It’s massive,” Taggart said. “It’s big for the club. It’s big for all the Perth community. I know everyone’s looking forward to it. Especially myself; I think just being from Perth I understand the magnitude and excitement behind it, for everyone who is from Perth.

“It’s a great chance for Perth Glory to test ourselves against world-class opposition. It will also be great for the spectators and for us boys to watch their game. 

“I think as a football fan, first and foremost, I think it brings a lot of attention to the game. 

“From that point of view, it’s helping to promote the sport, grow the game and allow kids and all young people playing the sport to really get a taste of what it’s like when you make it to the top.”

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West Ham's Australia pre-season tour ahead of next season postponed

The Hammers were due to take part in the inaugural Queensland Champions Cup later this summer

• 06:00, 22 APR 2020

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West Ham's pre-season trip to Australia later this summer ahead of the 2020/21 season has been postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hammers were due to take part in the EVA Air Queensland Champions Cup with matches against Brisbane Roar on July 15 in Gold Coast and Crystal Palace three days later on July 18 in Brisbane.

But the Covid-19 outbreak, which has seen football suspended for the past five weeks and with that the likelihood of the season being extended well past it’s usual May cut-off, the decision has been taken to call off the tournament.

The club, as well as organisers TEG Live, are working on rescheduling the tournament for a later date.

Hammers boss David Moyes said: "It is a real shame that we will no longer be able to make it over to Queensland this summer, however, it is the right decision to postpone given the circumstances.

"The players and I were really looking forward to seeing our fans and the people of Australia, especially as there was great excitement and support for the tournament.

"This is a situation that has affected the entire world, though, and the only thing that matters at this time is that people stay safe and well. We hope the tournament can be rearranged at a later date once things are back to normal, and we look forward to visiting Australia in the future."

The trip to Australia was set to be a fairly lucrative one for the club, who are starting to tour further and further abroad in order to raise the profile of the club across the globe. Last summer, the Hammers took part in the Premier League Asia Trophy in China as it attmepted to raise its profile abroad..

Any Hammers fans who had bought tickets for either of the two games in Australia will have their tickets refunded.

Moyes is also expected to get in touch with the Australian West Ham fans groups such as Brisbane Hammers, Sydney Hammers, West Australia Hammers, Melbourne Hammers and Aussie Hammers personally.

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Remembering Dylan Tombides – the young Australian who left a lasting legacy at West Ham

Every day when George Moncur wakes up, he thanks God for letting Dylan Tombides come into his life. April 18 will mark 10 years since the former West Ham United forward lost a three-year battle with testicular cancer at the age of 20. For Moncur, the date evokes a deeper bond with Tombides.

“The biggest sign is my daughter’s (Saylor Rose) birthday is the same day,” says the now Leyton Orient midfielder. “She will be five on Thursday and her birthday being on the same day Dylan passed away means a lot to me. That just makes me think how real God is, because not only is it the day a special kid was born, but a day my best friend sadly left us.”

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Tombides, who was born in Perth, Western Australia and joined West Ham in 2008, had been diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 2011. Initially, he thought it was a cyst but when he played for Australia at the Under-17 World Cup in Mexico, he was selected for a random doping test and it uncovered a tumour in one of his testicles.

He had been hit by a ball in the groin in a match against Brazil and thought it was nothing more than a routine dull ache. He was told it was testicular cancer while on holiday in the Mexican resort of Cancun with his dad, Jim, and he would need to have a testicle removed.

Tombides fought hard for three years but passed away with his family by his side. There were tributes from West Ham majority shareholder David Sullivan, co-owner David Gold, their long-time academy director Tony Carr, Australia international stalwart Tim Cahill, world football governing body FIFA ’s then president Sepp Blatter and others.

It was a life cut short but many cherish the memories they experienced with Tombides. The forward was regarded as one of the brightest young talents at West Ham and was given his first-team debut by Sam Allardyce in September 2012. He was a team-mate but, more importantly, a close friend of whom Moncur, Matthias Fanimo, Kieran Sadlier and Elliot Lee , a star of Wrexham ’s recent resurgence who wears the No 38 shirt to this day in his honour, will always have a lasting legacy — all have his name tattooed on their wrists.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Elliot (@elliotlee9)

West Ham retired Tombides’ No 38 shirt and paid tribute to him in their first Premier League game after his untimely passing, against Crystal Palace .

“The game was a special moment, knowing what it was representing and the Australian football community,” says Mile Jedinak, Tottenham Hotspur ’s assistant coach and a former Australia international who got the only goal as Palace won that day, but did not celebrate. “I scored a penalty in the game and it was a surreal moment. For Crystal Palace, it meant we were safe in the Premier League but I was mindful of what the game was after I scored.

“I was a young parent then, and all I could think about at the time was wanting to offer my condolences to his family. I could do it after the game, and from that moment, I stayed in touch with them. I was aware Dylan was making waves at West Ham. You don’t play for a club like that if you don’t have something about you. It would’ve been nice to play against Dylan but sadly it wasn’t meant to be. He was well on his way to becoming a big star in the game.”

Last Sunday’s 2-0 loss against Fulham was used to highlight the charity set up in Dylan’s memory, called DT38. Both sets of supporters commemorated Tombides with a minute’s applause in the 38th minute of the match.

Ten years on, The Athletic has spoken to former team-mates, managers and family in tribute to Tombides.

Tombides played his early football in his hometown of Perth and in Hong Kong before joining West Ham as a 14-year-old. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of Australians Cahill and Jedinak by playing in the Premier League. It did not take long for him to impress.

“I remember Dylan turning up to training with a strong Aussie accent, terrible gear and a terrible trim (haircut),” says Dan Potts , who is now at Luton Town in the Premier League. “We came back for pre-season one summer and he looked a completely different player. He was frightening in training. His finishing and touch improved, and then it went on from there.”

For Moncur, his bond with Tombides grew off the pitch, after a slow start.

“When Dylan joined the academy, he was a striker,” says Moncur. “He rocked up to training with this mullet haircut, me and Elliot Lee said, ‘Who is this geezer?’. Then we saw him play, and he was so good. He made his debut under Big Sam (Allardyce) and he was the only one at that time who got near the first team.

“My earliest memory of Dylan is a pre-season trip to Hong Kong. He was in the age group below me for the academy, but because my birthday is in August I got to play with him. We weren’t really close on that trip and we had a little bit of an argument about something, but we just became inseparable after.

#PicOfTheDay – Great mates. Dylan Tombides, the inspiration for our charity, with DT38 Ambassador George Moncur during their #Hammers days 🙌⚽️ #DT38UK #Charity #RaisingAwareness #TesticularCancer #WestHam #Irons #Football #coyi pic.twitter.com/jaKwd9etCs — WeAreDT38 (@Dylantombides) October 14, 2020

“Once, he got the worst haircut in the world; and two days later, I decided to get an even worse haircut. One day, he bought pink football boots, then I decided to do the same. We were brothers. I’m very loud and Dylan was the Australian version of myself. That’s why we got on so well.”

Sadlier, the now Wycombe Wanderers midfielder, often roomed with Tombides on away trips. He would watch his team-mate take his medication daily but, out of respect, never asked Tombides about his mental state.

“You could physically see Dylan was becoming weaker than the others, but I’ve never seen someone so bubbly and happy when they’re going through so much behind closed doors,” says Sadlier. “We’d come back to the changing room after training and our clothes would be taped up — Dylan was a prankster. He was still the same and I used to admire that so much about him.

“I often think seeing us was his release. I never once saw Dylan cry or feel sorry for himself. He was always happy and that’s what sums him up.”

The DT38 Foundation was launched in memory of Tombides in February 2015.

Tracy, his mother, has made it her objective to raise awareness of testicular cancer, the importance of education and self-checking to enable early diagnosis through the charity.

“Dylan was so inspirational,” Tracy says. “Every day, he would get out of bed to fight his disease, even though no one would blame him if he wanted to stay curled up in bed. He pushed himself as much as he was allowed, as West Ham’s medical staff would keep a very close eye on him with regular testing.

“He made it easy to be around him. He made everyone else comfortable about him having cancer. Seeing him get up every day and go in to training gave me such hope that he was winning this fight for his life.

“I don’t know where the time has gone, but the one thing I do know is that he has shaped my existence. I talk to Dylan every day.

“Dylan had an incredible zest for life. He was so determined to be the best version of himself, and the person he inspired the most was me. After Dylan passed away, I was numb. The only thing that was important to me was to give (sibling) Taylor the tools to manage the loss of his brother. We all grieved differently and my focus had to be Taylor and the charity, DT38, that we started in Dylan’s memory.

“This was my reason to get out of bed. I would always say to myself, ‘What would Dylan do?’, and Dylan would be strong and lead by example and make something good out of this heartbreaking situation.

“ I’ve started many things over the past 10 years but the one thing that I’m so immensely proud of is the charity in his memory, and the wonderful legacy that he has left behind. He was such a loveable character and his death will not be in vain.”

Tracy recalls a moment when Dylan, Taylor and Jim were playing their usual round of golf one afternoon and the latter shanked one off the tee. The trio laughed as they wondered where it had ended up. It was only when they returned to the car park that they found what it had hit — their own car’s windscreen.

Tombides once described himself as the “happiest kid with cancer” you could meet.

In January 2012, he had surgery to remove his lymph nodes. Family, friends and staff at West Ham thought Tombides’ condition was improving but the cancer returned. Every time there was a breakthrough, Tombides would receive devastating news of a setback.

Reflecting on his friend’s initial diagnosis still feels surreal for Moncur.

“I’ll never forget the day we found out Dylan was ill,” he says. “It was a Saturday and we had a game at Chadwell Heath (the old West Ham training ground) but Dylan wasn’t there and no one said why. Afterwards, Tony Carr sat us down and said he has testicular cancer. It was out of the blue, and we didn’t see Dylan for ages because he was having his treatment.

“There are so many moments with Dylan that I cherish. We went on a trip and there was this goalkeeper called Jake Larkins. We all got on well but he (Larkins) hated people touching his stuff. We’re at the airport waiting for our flight and he bought the book Fifty Shades Of Grey. I haven’t got a clue why he bought it but he loved the book and read it every day. Me and Dylan managed to get his room key. We’ve both gone in and… made a mess in his book — that’s the PG way of me explaining what happened! Jake eventually found out and went crazy.

“That’s just one crazy story of me and Dylan. We used to throw players’ clothes in the ice bath. Just lots of crazy stuff.”

West Ham are famed as the academy of football, so why are so many youngsters leaving?

Tombides was 18 years and six months old when he made his West Ham debut, off the bench in a League Cup match away to Wigan Athletic on September 25, 2012.

“I gave him his debut on the basis he was fit and well at the time,” says Allardyce. “His hair was growing back, his muscles were redeveloping and he was enjoying his training. We didn’t make a big fuss out of it. He was in the squad on merit.”

Moncur had made his own first-team debut for the club one round earlier in the same competition, against Crewe Alexandra, but there was an acceptance from him and his peers that Tombides would have become a first-team regular.

“Big Sam doesn’t mess about,” says Moncur. “He wouldn’t play kids if he didn’t think they were good enough. People might think Dylan playing was out of sympathy but there’s no chance in that. Myself and others were on the bench loads of times but never came on, so it showed what the manager thought of Dylan.”

Four months after that debut, Tombides was back on high-dose chemotherapy and needed a stem-cell transplant twice within eight weeks. He wanted to represent Australia at the Under-20 World Cup in 2013, but the cancer had spread to his liver.

“It looked like Dylan was heading in the right direction with his recovery and then he kept suffering setbacks,” says Allardyce. “He came back three or four times and you can only imagine the chemotherapy he was going through. From Dylan’s point of view, he probably would’ve found it frustrating, the stop-start nature of his recovery, plus feeling pain.”

George Earthy, the big West Ham talent given a painful Premier League debut

For Moncur, there is always the lingering thought of what could have been: How many appearances would Tombides have made for West Ham in another world? Would he have played for the national team? What type of parent would he have been? Witnessing his friend die so young has given Moncur perspective on life.

“I was in Scotland, on loan at Partick Thistle, and his mum phoned to say Dylan had passed away,” Moncur recalls. “I had to sit down to process what she told me. When I left West Ham, Dylan was getting better and I thought he was on track to fully recovering. I was in shock but for whatever reason he was taken from us. I know Dylan is in a better place and as much as it’s sad and upsetting, my faith in God has helped me cope as the years have passed.

“No matter how tough life gets, you have to enjoy every day. Time goes so fast. You don’t know when your last day is. That’s what Dylan’s death has taught me. He was an unbelievable player but, more importantly, a brother.”

Sadlier was informed of Tombides’ passing by coaches at the training ground. Ten years on and his daily reminder of Tombides adds extra motivation.

😍 SAAAAAAAADDSSSSSS YOU BEAUTY! pic.twitter.com/frZoQVCXUF — Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) February 22, 2022

“The hardest part was phoning some of the lads like Elliot and Dan,” he says. “They were the most difficult phone calls I’ve made in my life. That day, me and Dan planned to go to the cinema to watch Spider-Man. I told him what had happened, we decided to still go, so it could help clear our heads, but I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in the film.

“A few days after, me, Elliot, and Matthias decided to get tattoos as a tribute to Dylan. When I score a goal, I always kiss mine. He’s always in our thoughts.”

(Top photos: Tombides playing for Australia and a tribute to him in West Ham’s most recent home game/Getty Images)

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• Services & Software

Watch Europa League Soccer: Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen From Anywhere

The Hammers need to overturn a two-goal deficit against the newly crowned champions of Germany.

West Ham have it all to do on Thursday as they host Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of this UEFA Europa League quarterfinal at the London Stadium. 

Despite a disciplined defensive display in the opening encounter in Germany last week, the Hammers slipped to a 2-0 defeat, leaving them with the challenging task of beating a side that has yet to suffer a defeat in any competition this season. 

The hosts will be without suspended pair Lucas Paquetá and Emerson Palmieri, but could be boosted by the return of top scorer Jarrod Bowen.

Bayer Leverkusen secured the first Bundesliga title in their history at the weekend, and Xabi Alonso will be determined to ensure his side don't suffer any hangover from that triumph, as they go in search of another piece of silverware.  

Below, we'll outline the best  live TV streaming services  to use to watch every game live wherever you are in the world.

Victor Boniface scored Bayer Leverkusen's potentially decisive second goal in his side's 2-0 victory in the first leg. 

West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen: When and where?

West Ham host Bayer Leverkusen at the London Stadium on  Thursday, April 18 . Kickoff is set for  8 p.m. BST local time in the UK, which is  3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PT in the US and Canada, and 5 a.m. AEST on Friday, April 19 in Australia . 

How to watch West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen online from anywhere using a VPN

If you find yourself unable to view Europa League matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the action -- that's where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it's also a great idea if you're traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

With a VPN, you're able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. So if your internet provider or mobile carrier has stuck you with an IP address that incorrectly shows your location in a blackout zone, a VPN can correct that problem by giving you an IP address in your correct, nonblackout area. Most VPNs, like our Editors' Choice, ExpressVPN , make it really easy to do this.

Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you're streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

Best VPN for streaming

ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, and you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 35% -- the equivalent of $8.32 a month -- if you get an annual subscription. 

Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the US

American soccer fans can stream this fixture via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the Europa League.

Paramount Plus

Watch the europa league in the us from $6 a month.

Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $6 per month and Premium for $12 per month. Both offer coverage of the Europa League.

The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.

Read our Paramount Plus review .

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in the UK

Europa League live broadcast rights in the UK are held by TNT Sports. 

Watch Europa League games live in the UK with TNT Sports

TNT Sports is offering Europa League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in exactly the same way as its predecessor BT Sport, including via Sky Q as a TV package, as well as the option of streaming online. It costs £30 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus' library of documentary content.

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in Canada

If you want to stream Europa League games live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the tournament this season.

Watch Europa League in Canada from CA$30 a month

A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Champions League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.

As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there's a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.

Livestream West Ham vs. Bayer Leverkusen in Australia

Football fans Down Under can watch Europa League matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the competition live in Australia this season.

Watch the Europa League in Australia from AU$25 a month

Stan Sport will set you back AU$15 per month (on top of a AU$12 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.

A subscription will also give you access to Champions League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.

Quick tips for streaming UEFA Europa League matches using a VPN 

• With four variables at play -- your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN -- your experience and success when streaming Europa League games may vary.
• If you don't see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the "search for city or country" option.
• If you're having trouble getting the game after you've turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs -- like Roku -- don't have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you'll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you're using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
• All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network's sports app, you'll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location. 
• And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you're using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend  Brave .

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Last chance for UK Express Delivery

Stadium Tours

Go behind the scenes of the home of West Ham United Football Club and one of the world's most versatile venues.

Since becoming London Stadium, it has played host the 2015 Rugby World Cup, London 2017 World Athletics Championships, 2019 Major League Baseball London Series, Soccer Aid for UNICEF, and performers like the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Beyoncé, Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

There is plenty of modern history to discover on this tour as you make way through the stadium with your knowledgeable tour guide.

Follow in the footsteps of the first team as you head through the players entrance, leading into the home dressing room. Run on the original warm up track from the 2012 Olympics, before lining up and heading down the tunnel and taking a seat in the dugouts.

What's Included

• Go behind the scenes of the home of West Ham United, the centrepiece of London 2012, British Athletics and much more
• Take a seat in the stands and team dugout, walk the players tunnel, go pitch side and more
• Discount at the West Ham coffee shop

To book your special visit to London Stadium now, click here

London stadium tour prices, tour products.

London Stadium Tour (Guided)

Opening Times:  Daily, 11am-3pm (10am-3pm weekends)*

Duration: 60-75 Minutes

*Timings may vary, please check website to book or check prior to travel.

Legends Tour

Opening Times: Dates and Legends may vary. Please booking advance to avoid disappointment.

Duration: 2 hours (90 minutes stadium tour followed by a 30 minutes Q+A session)

Tour package includes a signed photo with your chosen Legend (1 per booking group)

London Stadium VIP Tour

Opening Times:  Weekends, Bank Holidays, School Holidays (times and dates vary)

Duration: 90 Minutes

Tour package includes a FREE personalised photo (per booking group) and a FREE hot or soft drink on arrival (per person)

Matchday Guided Tour

Opening Times:  Last Tour finishes four hours before kick-off

Matchday VIP Guided Tour

Opening Times:  Dependent on kick-off time

Gift Vouchers

Perfect for any Hammer, buy a gift voucher for a London Stadium Tour now! Selected Tour Types Available. Vouchers valid for 12 months from date of purchase.  Purchase here!

Book your London Stadium Tour here!