Mark Noble paid a visit to ‘real heroes’ G Company 7 Rifles at West Ham Army Reserve Centre as the Hammers prepare to pay their respects to the armed forces in their final home game before Remembrance Sunday against Liverpool.
Noble, who grew up near the Reserve Centre in Canning Town, delivered tickets to The Rifles for Saturday’s game, where they will form a guard of honour ahead of kick-off.
After presenting the tickets and a special West Ham shirt embossed with a poppy to Captain Lee Flitcroft and his team, Noble was given a tour of the barracks and shown a display of the weaponry, equipment and supplies carried by Servicemen during tours of duty.
“It has been an honour to be here,” he said. “I have so much respect and admiration for these guys and what they do for our country.
“We play a sport, and I know it means so much to everyone, but it is a sport at the end of the day. What these guys do is life and death.
“We get disappointed when we lose a game, but we all go home to our families in good health. Sometimes, these men and women don’t.
“To come and speak to them, and see the equipment they have to carry on 12-hour shifts – sometimes longer, it’s phenomenal, and a real pleasure for me.
“In my view, the soldiers who are going on tours and fighting for our country are the real heroes.”
Captain Flitcroft added: “It has been fantastic to see Mark, and an honour to have him here at the West Ham Army Reserve Centre.
“Most of the guys here support West Ham, and they have been buzzing all week to meet Mark and show him some of the stuff that we do and share some of our experiences.
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“We have been involved in the club’s Remembrance tributes now for around ten years, and we really look forward to that date on the calendar when we get the chance to be a part of a fantastic tribute.
“West Ham fans have always shown it such great respect, and it is a huge honour for us.”
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