Jeff Cardy va néixer ara fa 60 anys i ha estat seguidor del West Ham des que tenia deu anys. Treballa per al Ministeri de Defensa Britànic a Essex, Anglaterra i fa 8 anys que és soci amb abonament dels Hammers. Seu a la primera fila de la part superior de la grada Bobby Moore, just a l’equerra del gol.

Anys enrera, feia un programa a la ja despareguda Radio Basildon, en el que va tenir l’oportunitat d’entrevistar jugadors com Bobby Moore, Jimmy Graves, Trevor Brooking i David Cross.

Actualment, escriu les cròniques dels partits que el West Ham juga a casa per a la web dels Vilatorta Hammers.

Jeff Cardy is 60 years old and has supported the Hammers since he was 10 years old. He works for the M O D (Ministry of Defence) in Essex, England. He and his son have been season ticket holders for 8 years now and sit in the Bobby Moore Stand Upper Tier in the front row, to the left of the goal.
He used to do a sports programme on local radio station Radio Basildon which has since closed down. He once met and interviewed Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Trevor Brooking and David Cross.

Nowadays, he cooperates with Vilatorta Hammers writing the reports of WHUFC home matches for our web.

Although Liverpool were on top at this stage the Hammers were not out of it and a clever ball from Noble saw Tristan head towards goal but the goalkeeperm does well to save. Tomkins was playing well at the back for the home side and certainly wasn’t worried by the Liverpool striker Torres. Torres does manage a shot after 15 mins but it goes over the bar for a goal kick. West Ham were playing well without having many chances up front and the Liverpool defence was holding firm and looking good.

Stanislas made a couple of runs down the left for the home side but his crosses came to nothing. 35 mins and Boa Morte was clearly fouled but the referee said “play on” which just frustrated the home supporters and another chance was gone for the luckless Hammers. A minute later and Boa Morte was doing some defensive work when he semmed to make contact with Torres in the area and it was a penalty to Liverpool. Gerrard took the kick and Green dived to his right hand post and saved the shot but the ball somehow bounced to his left and there was the Liverpool captain to squeeze the ball home for the second goal of the game. West Ham didn’t deserve to be two down but it was typical Liverpool who just seemed to make the most of almost every chance which was the difference between the two sides. HALF TIME West Ham 0 – 2 Liverpool

The second half started with both sides taking their time getting back into the game. 55 mins and Liverpool nearly score again as a header from Torres goes just over and it’s a let off for the home side. 60 mins and West Ham bring on Collison for the tired Stanislas who had done a lot of running on the left for the Hammers. During the next 10 mins the game flowed from end to end with Boa Morte and Collison going close for West Ham and Kuyt being unlucky for the reds. Collison was starting to play well laying on some good passes to his team mates without actually breaking the Liverpool defence who were looking good with the impressive Carragher being the pick of the rest. Di Michelle,Noble and Boa Morte all had chances during a good spell from the home side. 85 mins and Liverpool score again. Kuyt’s cross finds Babel unmarked and his header seems to hit Green on the body and the ball goes back to Babel who scores from close range and it’s game over at 0 – 3 which somehow didn’t seem to be a fair reflection on the run of play as West Ham hadn’t played that bad.

FINAL SCORE West Ham 0- 3 Liverpool.

A really sunny day at Upton Park with some 34,000 fans waiting in anticipation of the teams. A good reception was given by the home crowd for former Hammers star Anton Ferdinand making his first appearance at Upton Park since joining Sunderland last year. Young Hammer Junior Stanislas was in the starting line up making his first team debut which was a poular decision with the home supporters who like to see youngsters coming through into the senior set up. Straight from the start Stanislas linked up with Ilunga and West Ham had their first corner. A good cross sees a glancing header go just wide of the Sunderland goal and West Ham were in the mood and looking to do well. During the first 8 mins it was all West Ham who were showing great strength and and skill without finding the final touch in front of goal. Sunderland started to play some good football themselves and after 12 mins Cisse had Green making a great save to keep the score at 0-0. Boa Morte was trying to impress in front of the home fans and he was linking up well with Noble on the left of midfield who was also having a good game. After 20 mins Malbranque had a chance to score but his shot went wide of the right hand post . West Ham were having the more chances and left back Ilunga went on the attack and was unlucky with a chance in front of the Sunderland goal. 43 mins GOAL. A good move sees Boa Morte away on the left and he looked up and passed to the unmarked STANISLAS who greatfully tucked the ball into the net for his first Hammers goal. West Ham were looking impressive and kept the presure up until the half time whistle. Half Time West Ham 1-0 Sunderland It was Sunderland who started the stonger at the start of the second half and a good shot from Bardsley had Green saving well and pushing the ball away for a corner. The corner was cleared and the home side went on the attack with Di Michelle shooting just wide. 55 mins GOAL. another goal to West Ham. Noble took a corner at the Bobby Moore end and the ball was headed into the net by yet anthother West Ham youngster TOMKINS for his first senior goal. The crowd went wild with excitement and the Hammers were starting to dominate this match. A free kick to Sunderland after 65 mins but it was Green again to the rescue making another great save. How this goalkeeper isn’t the England no 1 is a mystery to everyone as he keeps plenty of clean sheets each season and fully deserves a full England cap. Shortly after this SPECTOR goes down and had to be stretchered off with a bad looking injury. The replacement was Collins in defence and West Ham were not going to let this put them off from an important win. 80 mins Substitute;Dyer on for the tired Di Michelle who had done a lot of running for the team. The final minutes of the match were played at a leasurely pace as the heat was getting to the players under the late afternoon sunshine. Final Score; West Ham 2-0 Sunderland Spector suffered concusion from a head injury but is expected to make a full recovery soon.

Tothom esperava la sortida dels jugadors al camp per veure quina rebuda tenia Bellamy en la seva tornada a Upton Park. No es va haver d’esperar gaire per veure com el públic escridassava el jugador del City.

Els 8 primers minuts van servir perquè els equips busquessin el seu lloc al camp sense que passés gaire res més. Va ser Ilunga qui, al minut 10, va fer una centrada que Cole va dubtar a rematar tot perdent una claríssima oportunitat.

Fou el City qui poc després va tenir una ocassió a la sortida d’un còrner que un espectacular Ilunga va rebutjar, allunyant el perill. Poc després, el jugador visitanta Mica Richards va ser substituït per lessió i Caicedo va ocupar el seu lloc al camp.

Green va haver-se de lluir amb una grana aturada per evitar el gol de Robinho. Al minut 23, Bellamy va fer una centrada que el mateix Robinho va rematar de forma desviada tot perdent una clara oportunitat. Va ser Di Michelle quei, poc després, va veure com el porter visitant evitava amb una gran intervenció el primer gol dels Hammers.

Al minut 40, Behrami lessionat va abandonar el terreny de joc emmig dels aplaudiments del públic i fou substituït per Savio. No hi va haver temps per més i es va arribar al descans amb el resulytat inicial.

El West Ham va començar amb empenta la segona part i, ben aviat, Collison va disposar d’una clara oportunitat a la sortida d’un còrner. A partir d’aquest moment, el partit va ser una anar i venir d’ambdós equips si bé el West Ham arribava amb molta més claredat a la porteria del seu rival.

Fruit d’aquest domini, al minut 70, després d’una gran jugada de Savio per banda esquerra, Collison va intentar un espectacular xurt per sobre el porter que va acabar al fons de la porteria tot fent embogir el públic assistent.

Durant els darrers 20 minuts, ben poc va succeir i, al final, els Hammers van aconseguir els tres punts que els situen en 7a posició a la lliga.

L’afició esperava amb ganes l’entrada del WHU al camp i li va dispensar una calurosa benvinguda quan va sortir del túnel de vestidors per enfrontar-se al Boro en partit de copa. Behramy va ser la única baixa de l’equip local amb molèsties i Boa Morte el va substituir.

Els primers cinc minuts de partit, varen ser dominats pels visitants els quals, amb millor joc, van tenir dues ocasions per avançar-se al marcador. La primera va ser un canvi de joc que Johnson no va encertar a rematar i la segona una ovcasió, encara més clara d’Alfonso, que la defensa local va encertar a rebutjar.

Després de dos còrners consecutius favoprables als locals, va ser el Boro que, al minut 23 s’avançava al marcador mitjançant una rematada de cap de Downing.

Al minut 30, Tristan va haver de substituir Cole lessionat i l’afició va començar a pensar que les coses no acabarien bé. Durant els segúents deu minuts, els locals van tenir ocasions a peus de Boa Morte, Tristán i Noble que d’una gran jugada hagués pogut aconseguir l’empat. Tot i així, es va arribar al descans amb el resultat de 0 a 1.

A l’inici de la segona part, Sears va substituir Boa Morte lessionat, fet que va coincidir amb dues perilloses arribades del jugador visitant Alves.

Més tard, en gran jugada, Collins i Sears podien haver aconseguit l’empat però, finalment, va ser ilunga qui va establir l’igualada amb una rematada de cap a centrada del jove Savio al minut 84. Des d’aquest moment, ambdós equips van buscar la victòria però el resultat no va variar.

Si bé tots dos equips entraran al sorteig del proper cap de setmana, un partit de desempat al camp delñ Boro decidira qui juga la següent fase.

We were waiting for the arrival of the two teams at Upton Park in the 5th round of F A Cup and both West Ham and Middlesboro came out to a rousing reception from the packed crowd.

The only change for the home side was Behrami who was out with a slight hamstring pull so it was Boa Morte who got the nod from the manager to start the game.
Middlesboro had started the brighter and in the first 5 mins had two chances to get an early lead.

The first was a cross which fell to Johnson but he couldn’t find the finishing touch and the second was an even better chance for Alfonso but West Ham got the ball away and the danger had passed for now.
West Ham were looking nervouse in front of some 34,000 fans who were all hoping to see their side through to the next round.

After 15 mins Cole had a half chance to score but the tall striker saw his shot deflected.
Upson was having a hard game up against Alves but the England man was getting the better of his opponent.
West Ham had a couple of corners in succesion which came to nothing,but it was Middlesboro after 23 mins who took the lead through Downing following a good cross to the far post which the England wide man managed to get his head to and the ball was in the net.

After 25 mins Di Michele beat everyone to the ball and his shot dipped goalwards but just went wide of the post.
Cole was injured after 30 mins and had to be placed by Tristan and we were starting to think it wasn’t to be our day and we could see a possible upset.

Over the next 10 mins West Ham had chances from Boa Morte,Tristan and the best chance to Noble but it wasn’t to be and we reached half time with the score on 0-1.
Boa Morte went off injured at the start of the second half and was replaced by young Freddie Sears.

Middlesboro’s Alves had a couple of half chances that went wide and afetr 64 mins Collins and Sears combined well together only for Sears to cross the ball straight to the keeper. West Ham were now getting on top and it seemed an rqualiser was on the cards,but it wasn’t until 84 mins that we got the goal we were all hoping for.
Savio who replaced injured Boa Morte was having a good game and it was his cross into the box that was met by the oncoming Ilunga for his second goal in a Hammers shirt.
Both sides were now going for the winning goal but we came to the finish of the game with the score at 1-1.

Both teams go into Sunday’s Cup draw but it will be Middlesboro who will feel more confident with a home replay to come.

35.000 espectadors vam omplir Upton Park a vessar per rebre el tot poderós Manchester United. El partit va començar amb el WHU atacant per l’esquerra si bé l’embestida no va obtenir fruit en no ser capaç Cole de connectar amb cap company d’equip

Durant els següents 10 minuts, els de Manchester van ser els dominadors del matx tot movent l’esfèrica i obligant els locals a replegar-se i aguantar.

Tot i així, al minut 15, Ferdinand, d’un fort xut, obligava Van Der Saar a lluir-se quan la pilota ja entrava a la porteria.

Només un minuts més tard, Neil va derribar Cristiano Ronaldo sibé, afortunadament, no va ser amonestat. El mateix Ronaldo va fer efectiu el llançament que la defensa local va rebutjar amb solvència.

Davant el seleccionador anglès Capello, Upson va fer un bon partit, solucionant amb efectivitat totes les complicacions amb que es va trobar.

Al minut 30, Gree va haver de rebutjar a còrner un xut desviat per un defensa amb una gran aturada. Ambn topt això, 0-0 al descans i partit obert de cara a la segona part.

Només 4 minuts després de la represa, Neil va engaltar un fort xut de fora l’àrea que va obligar Van Der Saar a lluir-se de nou.

Va ser Cole qui, poc després d’una bona jugada individual enviaria fora un xut perillós. Al minut 64 i després d’una bona jugada per banda de Giggs, el jugador del United aconseguiria l’únic gol del partit i el seu primer de la temporada amb un xut creuat al pal llatg.

Si bé ambdós equips ho van donar tot, va ser el United qui va tenir més sort i va acabar emportant-se els punts que li donaven el liderat al campionatÇ; salvant fins i tot a l’ultim minut una clara ocasió de Collison.

A packed Upton Park with some 35,000 fans anticipating the arrival of champions Manchester Utd.
 
The game started with West Ham attacking down the left and the first attack comes to nothing after Cole fails to find his teammate and the ball went off for a goal kick.

After this for some 10 minutes or so,Man.Utd are passing the ball and keeping the ball well with West Ham being limited to only a few touches,but Manchester fail to take advantage and eventually West Ham start to take more control and after 15 mins Cole gets the better of Ferdinand only to see his chipped shot saved by Van der Sar in goal. 

A few minutes later Neil brought down Ronaldo and gets a telling off for the foul and is lucky not to be booked. From the free kick Ronaldo floats over a cross but the West Ham defence get the ball away and the danger is cleared.

Upson was having a good day in front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello and had dealt with everything that came his way.

After 30 mins Green brings off a good save after a deflected shot almost caught him out but he managed to tip the ball over for a corner to United.

Upson and Tevez were having a hard time with each other but both were happy to hear the half time whistle with score at 0-0.
The second half started and after 49 mins Neil had a shot from outside the area which Van der Sar managed to save. The West Ham midfield were having a good day,but it was Cole after nearly an hour that turned and shot but got little reward from his his effort.
Just on 64 mins came a goal.  After a good run from Giggs he slipped his marker and shot into the far corner for his first goal of the season in the League.

Both teams had given their all but it was United who took their chance and just about deserved their lead although West Ham had been a little unfortunate.

Savio came on for Noble to try to freshen things up and hopefully get an equaliser. Both teams were trying to take the game to one another without really having many chances in front of goal. In the final minute Collison had a good shot saved by the United keeper and the game finished as it started with West Ham on the attack but not managing to score the goal they needed.