Sutton’s predictions v singer & West Ham fan James Smith

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Sutton’s predictions v singer & West Ham fan James Smith

James was born in Upton Park, close to West Ham’s former home, and is a lifelong Hammers fan.

“My dad had a market stall in Queen’s Market, right next to the ground,” he told BBC Sport. “That was where I grew up – I worked on the stall myself and used to sing to draw the customers in.

“We ended up moving to Barking, which is also a big West Ham area… and then we moved out to Essex and it is still all West Ham around here, so the Hammers have just followed me around everywhere.

“From the block of flats where we lived in Upton Park you could see the stadium, but the block that my dad grew up in was the one right next to the ground. We used to climb to the top sometimes and try to look in from there.

“Upton Park was a proper ground, and I was gutted when we left although I understood why. The London Stadium is getting there now, though. It feels like the old spirit is back and it is a really exciting time for the club.”

Jarrod Bowen is James’s current favourite player but growing up he idolised long-serving former captain Mark Noble, who played for the club for 18 years between 2004 and 2022.

“He was Mr West Ham for me,” he explained. “I was a big Noble fan, because he was from the East Ham area too. Some of my family and friends knew his family, so we always loved Mark.

“I grew up in the Carlos Tevez era too and was a big fan – signing him in 2006 was huge for us – but Noble was always my hero and it was sad when he stopped playing for us.

“You look at the team now and Bowen is definitely our best player, plus he always gives it everything. It feels like he lives and breathes West Ham, like Noble did.

“It probably helps that [actor and West Ham fan] Danny Dyer is about to become his father-in-law, but you can tell he really loves the club.”

Chris Sutton and James Smith were speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan.

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