He’s one of breed that is all but extinct – Mark Noble is the heart and soul of football – a guy who allows us to remember when the game meant community rather than corporate.
That so many of our former greats have gathered to honour him this afternoon at the Boleyn tells us all we need to know about this great young man.
The love of his club means everything to him – the money from today’s testy is immaterial and will go to local charity. For Mark Noble, pride passion, glory and West Ham United comes way before any financial reward the day may bring.
We hear so much about some footballers being poor role models and of misbehaviour both on and off the pitch. Mark Noble has, and always will, defy the stereotype beloved of headline writers.
He’s a great pro and a cracking bloke who rises to every new challenge and is in a tradition of truly great West Ham captains.
Earlier this season he was being discussed as the most likely person to make way for Alex Song. Instead Nobes has forged an incredible partnership with Dimi Payet and is playing the best football of his life .
That’s what great players do – they defy the critics to reach new heights and make you feel supremely happy that you were around to see them in their pomp.
I hope today is the greatest of his life…I hope it’s one the fans will forever remember because I tell you this …WE ARE UNLIKELY TO EVER SEE HIS KIND AGAIN.
Thank you Mark for everything – have a fantastic day! Never did a player carry a more appropriate surname!
Spot an article Noble in name Noble in nature 🙂
Superb article. My only contention is that I am looking forward to his next testimonial in 10 years!
Bonds will always be my favourite, but Noble is another of that rare one club role-model in the Moore mould. A gentleman battler who gives 100% for 100% of the time. Loved and respected by all. A true WHU great…and still only 28!
Noble by name, Noble by nature!
Yes noble is the closest thing to a bIlly bonds generation player. im pleased that Slav recognised what he gave early on and handed him the captaincy. I personally think people who called for noble to be dropped just don’t get the tradition. Don’t get the British bulldog die hard spirit. Don’t understand the importance of a player like noble giving everything for the cause. Don’t understand West Ham. They should go and support one of these teams that try and buy their way to success and then realise that lots of expensive foreign players doesn’t necessarily make a team.
And 1st and foremost that Mark Noble is and always has been a brilliant player.
All the other stuff comes to nothing without that. BUT with that, it makes him a TRULY REMARKABLE player:
One club man,
gives 100% for 100% for the time,
loved and revered by fellow players, owners and fans,
superb club captain, role model and ambassador:
Sets him apart from ALL the rest in football (other than the likes of Giggs etc): A very rare breed and a real WHU legend…with another 10 years left in the tank!
The English team managment cost us the World Cup because they didn’t take Scott Parker (in my opinion – but probably that of MANY others).
I hope it isn’t the same again for the Euros because they stick with the failing mediocre over the supreme Noble. Everyone loses…
Here’s a little gem from Shakespeare Henry V specially for quote-master extraordinare Slaven a Laugh (!), for something the WHU family appreciate as opposed to Woy and others miss:
“Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”
…well, something like that anyway!
HAPPY HAMMERS WHO KNOW SOMETHING GOOD WHEN THEY SEE IT!
End the madness: COME ON WOY, CAP HIM!
So endeth the sermon.