David Moyes has paid a touching tribute to West Ham United co-owner David Gold after the club announced he had passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. The Premier League club confirmed the British businessman “died peacefully” with his family by his side after it emerged he had been suffering from a short illness.
Gold, a former owner of Birmingham City, had been joint-chairman of West Ham for 13 years alongside business partner David Sullivan after the pair completed a takeoverof the club in 2010.
The pair are credited with saving the east London outfit from financial ruin after years of mismanagement from previous owners. Under Gold and Sullivan, the club were relegated and promoted back to the Premier League between 2011 and 2012.
And Moyes, in his second spell as manager after being hired in 2019, spoke in glowing terms about Gold’s presence at the club, hailing him as a “true supporter” and “source of encouragement” for his players.
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Sullivan said it was with “profound sorrow and a heavy heart” that the club were mourning the death of Gold as he gave a heartwarming tribute to a “colleague and friend”.
“Of all our joint ventures, none gave us more pride and happiness than the day we took ownership of West Ham United, our club, in January 2010,” Sullivan said.
“David had a long-standing connection with the Hammers, having grown up opposite the Boleyn Ground in Green Street, and represented the club at junior level. He always wanted what was best for West Ham United, and his passing is a great loss for all of us.”
A lifelong and ardent West Ham United fan, Gold was born in Stepney and grew up directly opposite the Boleyn Ground. As a schoolboy, he represented the Hammers’ youth team between the ages of 13 and 16 and later appeared in the youth team before forging his career as a successful businessman.
Gold is survived by his two daughters - Jacqueline and Vanessa - and his fiancée Lesley.
