John Lyall gates up for sale
Three of these famous gates were relocated to the new club shop but the club claim there was no room in the Olympic Stadium for the remaining three gates. Supporters had submitted ideas how the gates could be used to the club. Suggestions included: incorporating them into the new development by Galliard homes at the Boleyn Ground as a permanent reminder of West Ham, relocating them to the club’s training ground at Rush green or using them to create a memorial to replace the Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters champions statue at the corner of Green street and Barking road.
The decision to sell the gates to the highest bidder has angered some Hammers fans who believe the current owners are merely custodians of the club’s memorabilia.
Friend of the site, Nigel Kahn contacted Claret and Hugh to register his disappointment telling us:“The club owners do not own the history, they are the guardians of it! The selling of the John Lyall gates together with the Martin Peters collection and trophies, the club has picked up over the years is akin to selling the grandmother’s heirlooms before she’s even had the good grace to die. A shameful way to treat the past they are supposed to protect”