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Taken from a man posting on from 'Stop! Hammer Time'
"As you may know, my dad is seriously ill with all sorts of cancer. He has been having treatment for most of this year and he moves into Chemo in a few weeks as a means to control rather than cure. He's pretty frail now and with the next treatment in mind, I decided that yesterday's Villa game was probably his last chance to go and see West Ham live.
He is a season ticket holder, has been for years and has been watching West Ham forever. But there was no way he could sit in h...is seats, so I wrote to the club to ask if they could do anything to help. What they did in return was mind-blowing.
First, they gave us an executive box for 6 people, a perfect view about three-quarters of the way down the pitch towards the Bobby Moore stand. There were enough seats for me to take Ross Killington, Lorraine Killington, Nick Killington and Jill Pullinger.
We were met at the entrance by Tracy, she looked after us all day, later joined by Frankie from the Disabled Supporters team.
I've done hospitality at football loads of times, but it was really nice for my dad who has never seen football this way before; a much more gentle experience.
Before the game we had a really nice meal and a few drinks, a really nice couple of hours. I was then allowed to wheel him down next to the pitch where we settled right next to the players tunnel where Stewart Downing and Kevin Nolan stopped for photos, both really of guys and very obliging. For the game, we stepped outside the patio doors into our seats; West Ham huffed and puffed and went close a few times.
At half time we went in for a coffee, and my dad nipped into the toilet. He has had a laryngectomy so can't talk. At that moment, in walks the chairman David Gold. I knocked on the toilet and said "dad, hurry up". Mr Gold said "don't worry, let him take his time". He was at least 5 minutes in there, but as soon as the door opened I said "dad, the Chairman has come to meet you", which was greeted with a massive grin.
He hobbled out of the loo, shook David's hand and they took a few photos. David Gold wrote a personal message on his programme, and my dad wrote in response "good to meet you, sorry I can't talk". David read the message and said "I'm gonna keep that". I cannot begin to tell you what a lovely man David Gold is, so quiet and unassuming, a real gentleman. He is a busy man, but he must've been with us for at least 10 minutes.
Anyway, the game rolled on and we nearly won it with a really exciting finish, but at least we didn't lose.
Massive thanks to Julie Pidgeon for making this possible and for Tracy and Frankie who looked after us from start to finish.
I asked West Ham for something special and my God how they delivered. What an absolutely fantastic family West Ham is, they made us all very proud. Thank you West Ham United."
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