FOOTIE fans were able to meet two West Ham players as part of the opening of the club’s new store in Romford.

Frank Nouble and Jordan Spence officially opened the West Ham store in the Liberty Shopping Centre in Romford on Saturday November 6.

Vice Chairman of West Ham United, Karren Brady said: “There is no question that Romford is the West Ham United heartland.

“We have more supporters in and around this area than anywhere else. Our supporters have been asking for a shop to return to Romford for some time now, so this is our Christmas gift to our loyal supporters and puts us right back at the centre of the community.”

As part of the opening event it saw hundreds of fans queuing up outside of the store before it opened.

There were also prizes up for grabs for the first person to walk through the doors and there was a competition to find three golden hangers hidden in the shop.

Karren said: “The shop is just another sign of the club’s growth since we took over in January.

“We are expanding the opportunities to grow the clubs revenues, have a string of league games ahead of us that we know we can win, an exciting quarter final cup tie against Manchester United on 30 November and are eagerly waiting to find out whether we have made the shortlist to occupy the Olympic Stadium.

“One thing I will say to our supporters in Romford is that these are exciting times for West Ham “

Annette Edwards from Jersey Road, Rainham, was the first person in the store and she was given a bouquet of flowers plus a �100 voucher after finding the golden hanger, which she spent on buying West Ham memorabilia for a charity disco for St Francis Hospice and The Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund on Friday November 19.

Annette said: “It was really nerve wracking because I got the opening time of the store wrong so I was waiting around for a long time but it was great because West Ham have been very helpful and the prizes are going to a worthwhile cause.”