The former Club captain, who retired after 550 games and 18 years in Claret and Blue last May, took the time to meet supporters at the Stadium Store. This is the story of a brilliant footballer, a genuine ambassador and a local legend. This is the unforgettable autobiography of Mark Noble.

You’d be surprised how many players are struggling. They’re going through issues but don’t say anything. But it is getting so much better now because some players are talking about [mental health] … and when I speak to academy players now I say: ‘Forget what you see in the public eye. Forget the nice cars, the big houses and the nice watches. That’s 2% of what it means to be a footballer.’” The simple joy of football shines in Noble – as it will when he embraces the breaks from recruitment and monitoring mental health to step out on the academy pitch with teenage hopefuls to whom he can give a few pointers. All the headaches of being the Boleyn boy trying to keep up with clubs owned by countries will be forgotten for a while. And maybe, I suggest, the academy kids will look up to him as their local version of Messi. Noble said: “It was really good to see so many supporters at the store and I’m very grateful for the effort that everyone made to come along and wait in the queue. The boyhood Hammer who lived the dream, Noble’s book documents his journey from Canning Town to the Academy of Football, and through the ranks, to the first team as an 18-year playing career concluded with a run to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in 2021/22. We need to be in the market of probably 25 teams across Europe. Maybe from fourth to eighth in the Spanish league, the same in the German league. Those are our rivals when we are recruiting players because we can’t afford to buy who we want. It’s not going to happen. So we’ve got to be clever and find ways of recruiting young players and developing them, bringing them from the academy to the first team because that’s a massive plus. We’ve seen that with Declan Rice [who succeeded Noble as club captain], Ben Johnson [the West Ham defender], myself and others. A good young English player is worth 40 million quid. It’s incredible. So if we can produce three or four of them, we’re doing something right.”If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us

How will Noble react when part of his remit as sporting director will be to help West Ham cope with the astronomical wealth accumulated by rivals such as Manchester City? “You’ve got the top six, maybe even seven in the Premier League. You’ve got two or three in the German league and the same in the Spanish league. In the French league, obviously you’ve got PSG [owned by Qatar] and one or two others. So we’re not in that market because the Champions League is a massive draw for players. A modern footballing legend, Mark Noble is the embodiment of what it means to be a Hammer, pouring his heart and soul into the club he supported as a boy. Born and raised in Canning Town, Mark joined the West Ham youth squad in 2000 and made his senior-team debut aged just 17.

I’ve had some lovely comments about the book and I hope all those who have bought it enjoy reading it.” Mark Noble delighted a hatful of West Ham United fans as the legendary skipper signed copies of his new autobiography, Boleyn Boy, at London Stadium on Thursday 17 November.

Mark Noble leaps on Declan Rice after West Ham’s Europa League last-16 victory over Sevilla in March. Photograph: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images Yet West Ham’s fans seem disillusioned with the season so far. “Probably a group of fans, yes. But there’s always going to be that at every club now. You hear people saying the fans are not happy with [Jürgen] Klopp at Liverpool. That’s the industry we work in now and, because of social media, it has become a lot louder.” Mark Noble (right) making his West Ham debut in 2004 against Southend United. Photograph: Reuters/Alamy This is the remarkable story of a local lad who grew up in the shadow of Upton Park and became ‘Mr West Ham’: a one-club man who lived the dream. Mark joined the team aged just 15, making him the youngest player to appear in their reserve team. He was later awarded his first of many Young Hammer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards, the mark of a footballer with true potential. After scoring his first goal in 2007, Mark went on to score his first penalty, celebrate his 100th appearance in 2009, and regularly play in the Premier League.I wasn’t prepared for two middle-aged men to spot me in the street,” Noble recalls in his book. “‘Well done, Marky boy,’ one shouted. ‘Oh my God, Mark,’ Carly said as we walked on. ‘He knew who you were.’” David Moyes prepares to embrace Mark Noble, who believes his relationship with the manager helped him to get his job as sporting director. Photograph: Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images I’m not sure about that,” Noble says amid his laughter. “But I love football. I love all parts of football.” We all spend so much time on our phones now, and so it’s actually really nice to spend some time meeting people - kids, adults, grandparents, having a chat and hearing their stories about being a fan.