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West Ham pay tribute to David Gold by covering his empty seat with a Hammers shirt and a bouquet of flowers in the directors box… before a minute of applause on Elland Road ahead of their clash with Leeds
- West Ham co-chairman David Gold passed away on Wednesday aged 86.
- The longtime Hammers fan died after a brief illness ahead of tonight’s game.
- A West Ham shirt with Gold’s name and number 1 was on his seat.
- Both sets of players wore black armbands during the Premier League match.
- The fans also erupted in spontaneous applause in tribute to Gold before kick-off.
West Ham and Leeds have paid tribute to David Gold ahead of their Premier League game on Wednesday following his sudden death earlier that day.
The Hammers announced Wednesday that Gold had passed away peacefully this morning after a brief illness at the age of 86.
In tribute to the Hammers part-owner and lifelong fan, a West Ham shirt bearing his name and number 1 was placed over the seat where he would have watched the game at Elland Road.
A West Ham shirt bearing David Gold’s name and number 1 was attached to his seat at Elland Road.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan sits next to the empty seat with the flowers laid out.
West Ham announced earlier in the day that Gold had passed away at the age of 86.
A bouquet of flowers was also placed on the seat as both clubs paid their respects. A bouquet of flowers was also placed on the seat as both clubs paid their respects.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan took his seat in the director’s box without his business partner before spontaneous applause broke out on the pitch before kick-off.
Both sets of players also wore black armbands in tribute to Gold.
Players from Crystal Palace and Tottenham also paid their respects to Gold with a minute-long applause before kick-off at Selhurst Park at 8pm.
West Ham boss David Moyes praised Gold ahead of his team’s Premier League clash at Elland Road on Wednesday.
Moyes said: ‘We knew David was ill for a while, but unfortunately he passed away today. Our condolences to his entire family.
‘He was a very, very good man. He would come to the training camp every Thursday or Friday and have lunch with us, we missed him in the last few months when we didn’t see him as much.
“Obviously, he was someone we were very fond of.”
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Gold worked alongside David Sullivan (right) as co-chairman at West Ham from January 2010
Co-Chairman signs fan shows at the Mark Noble Testimonial Match in 2016