Considering Mark’s international success, it is no surprise that he is in high demand on the speaking circuit, due to his understanding of optimum performance. His touching anecdotes centre around the club that has given him a lifetime of career highlights, West Ham United, engaging with fans of the team and general audiences alike. I will also have an impact on the academy, because I’ve come through that system, and now my son, Lenny, is there. Other sports are fantastic but they don’t [generate] that affection, yes obsession, we have with football.

They just bring relief because points are so sacred in the Premier League that if you win it’s relief more than joy.

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. We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. in photo illustrated stiff card covers, 108pp, photos in colour and b/w, etc CONDITION: A well preserved FINE very clean and tight unmarked copy (hint of tanning to covers) ] . By using the Web site, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by the Terms and Conditions. David Sullivan and David Gold, West Ham’s owners since January 2010, enjoy their reputation as local wheelers-and-dealers, but how does the prospect of half the Premier League being owned by countries make Noble feel?

I remember when Chelsea played against him and JT [John Terry] came flying across and he was on the touchline ready to try and body him into the stands and Messi stood there, took it and bounced JT. People love football, globally,” Noble says as he prepares to begin his challenging position in January. I’ll speak to players who we are considering bringing in and, most importantly, I’ll be honest when giving an opinion on how we should do things.As Mark Noble considers the enormous task he will face in his new role as West Ham’s sporting director, he shares his belief that, “in the next 10 to 15 years probably half of the Premier League’s teams will be owned by countries”.

From 2007 to 2009, he played for the older team, making 20 appearances, and scoring three goals on the international stage. Manu’s a genius with the ball but he said: ‘I swear to you, when he passed me the ball, I was so nervous because he was on my team. It will be very different from his life at West Ham over the past two decades, but he says: “I feel energised and I’m ready for this next challenge in my life. The effervescence of Noble’s personality shines through in his book, but there is also the desolation of relegation which, as he looks forward to the first day in his office at the club’s training ground, has more relevance following the team’s recent dismal run.We carry a wide selection of titles in The Arts, Theology, History, Politics, Social and Physical Sciences. In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications. 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 also remember Manu Lanzini [his former West Ham teammate] coming back from Argentina duty and I was like: ‘Oh mate, what was Messi like? When I start, the transfer window will be open and, for me, it will be a case of looking, listening and learning how it works.