David Gold, who has died aged 86 after a short illness, had West Ham in his heart all his life. When Gold was a boy, he didn’t have to look far for his boyhood club. The former West Ham co-owner grew up at 442 Green Street, in a house just opposite Upton Park, and there was never any chance he would become 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 school footballer who represented the club’s boys team between the ages of 13 and 16 and later featured in the youth team. Football was in his blood. He didn’t make it as a professional, but he would find a way back into the game after forging a successful business career.
It was a hard road. Gold recalled growing up in “extreme poverty” and said his family had no money. He started working at the age of 14 to try to make ends meet. Gold and his brother, Ralph, would later own Gold Group International, the parent company of Knickerbox and the Ann Summers chain of adult stores. In 1986, the Gold brothers helped David Sullivan launch the low-profile Sunday Sport newspaper.
Sullivan’s association with Gold grew. In 1993 they entered the world of football with the purchase of Birmingham City, which nine years later would gain promotion to the Premier League. Karren Brady has been appointed managing director of the Midlands club, making her the first woman on the board of a Football League side.
A fruitful relationship was born. Sullivan, Gold and Brady left Birmingham in 2009 and appeared at West Ham in January 2010. It was a difficult time. West Ham’s Icelandic owners had left the club in deep financial trouble and relegation from the top flight was on the cards. As West Ham said in their statement yesterday, Gold was partly responsible for helping “to steady the ship and protect the future of the Club during a period of great financial uncertainty”.
It wasn’t always easy. West Ham were relegated in 2011 and won promotion a year later. At times, supporters have hit out at Sullivan and Gold, accusing the pair of a lack of investment in the club. However, people who know Gold, who was part of the campaign to take the east London club from Upton Park to the London Stadium in 2016, have always spoken of his passion for West Ham .
“On behalf of everyone at the football club, it is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of our colleague and friend, David Gold,” Sullivan said of his old friend yesterday.
“Of all our joint ventures, none gave us more pride and happiness than the day we took over West Ham United, our club, in January 2010. David had a long-standing connection with the Hammers, then having grown up opposite the Boleyn Ground. on 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 to us all.”
Gold, who was proud of his Jewish heritage, was a popular figure. He was a regular presence at West Ham’s training ground and many people described him as a kind and generous man.
“I am very saddened to hear this news and on behalf of all the players and my staff at the training ground I would like to express our deepest condolences to David Gold’s family at this very difficult time,” he said. said West Ham manager David. Moyes said. “Mr Gold was a regular visitor to Rush Green and always a source of great support and encouragement to me and the players.
“It was clear that he had a genuine and sincere love for the Club and that he was a true fan at heart. He took a keen interest in the people working behind the scenes and was always willing to help in any way he could. He will be greatly missed.”
It is expected that Gold’s 25% stake in the club will pass to his daughters, Vanessa and Jacqueline, and that the family will continue to have a presence on the board. Sullivan is the club’s largest shareholder with a 38.8% stake. Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky is an increasingly influential voice after buying a 27% stake in November 2021.
West Ham added that Gold’s daughters and his fiancee, Lesley, were by his side when he died.