David Gold, who has died at the age of 86 after a short illness, had West Ham in his heart throughout his life. When Gold was a boy he did not have to look far for his boyhood club. West Ham’s former co-owner grew up at 442 Green Street, in a house directly opposite Upton Park, and there was never any chance of him becoming anything other than a lifelong Hammer.
Gold, whose death was announced by the Premier League club on Wednesday, loved West Ham. He was a promising schoolboy footballer who represented represented the club’s boys’ team between the ages of 13 and 16 and later appeared in the youth team. Football was in his blood. He did not make it as a professional, but he would find a way to return to the game after forging a successful business career.
