Preseason fixture streaming decision benefits the 45,000 as West Ham wise up

BY ANOTHER tiny step, West Ham walk themselves away from the bad old days of fans being ‘customers’ and into the new era of harmony and engagement between board, club and fan base.

The West Ham web site reports this afternoon that the pre-season fixture against Southend tomorrow is to be streamed live at a cost of £5 to supporters – but free to season ticket holders.

Quite right too.

Another sensible, loyalty-rewarding decision. I have no idea if the club did this last year and – short of time – will let better-informed fans who might have paid for the Premier League Summer series in Florida last summer let readers know in the comments section. If memory serves me right everyone paid for the preseason games last year but – I may well be wrong.

Your Saturday afternoon of watching – ahem – all those new signings in their first official Hammers start – now starts at 3.00 pm with the live stream starting at 2.45. The link to sign up or access your free stream is here.

If nothing else it’ll be a chance to see the new away kit – all white – on display for the first time. Unless the Hammers go all-in for the funky third kit which looks far more memorable.

As always, there’ll be a post match report for those of you who don’t get to watch the game tomorrow and an opportunity after the final whistle to comment ‘live’ in the Claret and Hugh ‘comments’ section to make your first impressions clear to every C and H reader.