As the season draws to a close, West Ham legend Mark Noble is counting down his final hours in a claret and blue jersey before retirement.
The long-serving midfielder has dedicated over two decades of his life to playing for his boyhood club, and he has spent all of his adulthood as a professional footballer.
Green St. Hammers writer James wrote this heartfelt tribute to the club captain, summing up how Noble has grown through his time at West Ham and what the future will be like for him.
A poem to West Ham’s retiring legend and club captain Mark Noble
A KID FROM CANNING TOWN
Twenty-two years have gone by so fast
As Mark Noble hopes to make every minute last
It seemed like yesterday you came through the club’s door
And made your debut for West Ham in 2004
First-team was the dream, but you needed to go out
On loan at first to get in with a shout
Of playing for the Irons, by then little did you know
That stadium you’d play at would become your second home
Over time this club would grow into your heart
It’s been a long ride, Nobes, so where do I start?
Let’s go back to the 06/07 season
You remember that time, as do fans, for a very good reason
Relegation was likely, but never say never
What you and the lads achieved went down in folklore forever
That game at Old Trafford was a memorable day
Do you know that some lessons were learned along the way?
Like how football can be cruel and draw a bitter blow
And how you need to work hard and reap what you sow
Survival was secured, a great day in MCR
For the Hammers who travelled to support near and far
You were going from boy to man, learning the football emotions
As those before you had, you’d come to see the game’s many commotions
You see, relegation battles and West Ham were always a thing
Yet you would stick by us with no regrets nor questioning
We went through good times, bad times over the years
You were helped out managers, friends and peers
2015, a dream of yours came true
And you’d be named captain of the Claret and Blue
Di Canio, Dicks, Bonzo, Moore
You were now one of them, whom the supporters adored
As the club prepared to say goodbye to its scared place
You wore the armband with a strong sense of grace
The time to say goodbye came on May 10th, 2016
A 3-2 win, in the last game the Boleyn would ever see
At the place where players become heroes for others
You stood on the stage with your claret and blue brothers
It was hard to say goodbye, you wanted to cry
And although it’s gone, Mark, its legacy will never die
We moved to a new place, the one we call “The Bowl”
The changes and atmosphere must have taken a toll
It wasn’t West Ham, it wasn’t working-class
It saw bad times, but these times – I promise you – they will pass
In the heat of the moment, the anger got the best of you
We get why though, Mark, we know you’re one of us too
You started to look for a new successor, someone in the long term
It was that person’s job to take the armband you’d earned
To you, it was easy, you didn’t have to think twice
You just knew you saw a leader in a young Declan Rice
He idolises you, Mark, and he’s making you smile
Watching him grow has been so worthwhile
You now sit on the bench, but you fully understand
How Declan leads, and how the team with him is in good hands
We are sad to see you go, but the next job must be done
To spend quality time with your wife, daughter and son
She needs her husband, and they need their dad
Trust me, these two titles are the best for any lad
From skipping school to watch your idols train
To playing heat, snow, and heavy rain
We remember every goal, every penalty kick
How you looked out for the young, the old, and the gravely sick
You did it, Mr. Noble, you lived a football dream
Now we say goodbye around these parts of E15
When the time comes and the final curtain comes down
We will miss you, Mark, Nobes, 16, the kid from Canning Town