Challenge to Hammers on August, 9th: West Ham-Sampdoria at Upton Park

A new step in Sampdoria’s summer way. An international appointment
organized in London, the city that, pleasure and pain for us, twenty-two
years ago was the prestigious and mocking theatre of the highest point
of the Genoese football. About 30 km on the east of Wembley there is the
“Boleyn Ground" of Upton Park, in the Newham headquarter: that is the
home of West Ham United, the club that on August, 9th at 3 p.m. local
time (4 p.m. in Italy) will face the blucerchiati of Sinisa Mihajlovic
for an European-taste friendly match: the first-ever 'Marathonbet Cup'.

History. Founded in 1895, the Hammers personify the spirit of the Londoner working class, the one of the Thames Ironworks boatyards that gave the name to the club on its first five years of life. Despite the noble and fierce city rivalry, the humble and combative claret and blue have been able to conquer many appreciations – and not only in England – and winning a Cup Winners' Cup  (1964/65), three FA Cups (1963/64, 1974/75 e 1979/80) and a Charity Shield (1964), they can consider themselves as a medium-high level team.

Manager. Solidity of managers is one of West Ham peculiarity. Since 1905 the Irons (another nickname, even more loved by the supporters) have had only fourteen managers. After the not too positive experiences of the Italian Gianfranco Zola and the Israeli Avraham Grant, the first two not British misters of the club, the English Sam Allardyce brought back the club of President David Sullivan in Premier League, winning the Championship playoff in 2011/12 and conquering, in the following two years, a middle position in the table.

Academy. Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters (three World Champions in 1966), Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard (both father and son), Rio Ferdinand and Joe Cole are only some of Hammers’ symbols and legends and it is not by chance that the club is also known as Academy of Football. Now the team – 13th in the table on last championship – rely on the quick-tempered talent of Mauro Zárate, who was bought a month ago and who has already become an idol for those who, since the years 20 of last century, sing with love I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.