Key Points
- Callum Wilson, Freddie Potts, Riko Ueki and Anna Csiki took part in a festive signing session at West Ham United’s London Stadium Store on Thursday afternoon.
- The event formed part of West Ham United’s wider ‘United at Christmas’ campaign, aimed at supporting local communities over the festive period.
- Supporters from different age groups attended, collecting autographs, posing for selfies and buying Christmas gifts in an atmosphere described as full of “season’s greetings” and “Christmas cheer”.
- West Ham legend Tony Gale and West Ham United Foundation Ambassador Bobby Seagull attended, helping fans choose Hammers-themed gifts and adding to the community feel.
- Irons Supporting Foodbanks operated a dedicated donation station inside the Store, collecting food to be distributed across seven Newham and east London distribution centres.
- The foodbank initiative supplies seven distribution points seven days a week and hands out several hundred three‑day emergency food parcels monthly to families in need.
- As reported by the official West Ham United media team on the Club’s website, West Ham United Women’s forward Riko Ueki said it was “really fun” to meet supporters and “put smiles on all the fans’ faces” before Christmas.
- Men’s First Team midfielder Freddie Potts, quoted by West Ham United’s official media, said it was “important” for players and the Club to “give something back” to the community.
- The ‘United at Christmas’ campaign includes hospital and school visits, expanded West Ham United Foundation activity and the Night Shelter at The Foundry, supporting homeless people in the week leading up to Christmas.
- The Club has pledged to share further “community led moments” from the campaign via its digital channels, according to the official West Ham United report of the event.
West Ham United’s London Stadium Store was transformed into a festive fan hub on Thursday afternoon, as players from both the Men’s and Women’s teams met supporters, signed autographs and promoted a wider Christmas community campaign, according to West Ham United’s official matchday and Club media report.
The Club’s London Stadium Store in east London hosted a Christmas‑themed signing session bringing together Callum Wilson and Freddie Potts from the Men’s First Team and Riko Ueki and Anna Csiki from the Women’s side. As reported by the in‑house editorial team on West Ham United’s official website, the players spent the afternoon greeting supporters, posing for selfies and adding a personal touch to Christmas gifts and memorabilia.
Club media described “plenty of season’s greetings and Christmas cheer” as fans queued inside the Store to meet the quartet. The session was pitched not only as a chance to meet first‑team and women’s stars in a relaxed environment, but also as a showcase for the Club’s ‘United at Christmas’ initiative, which aims to combine festive celebrations with targeted community support across Newham and east London.
Which players and Club figures took part in the Christmas signing?
According to West Ham United’s official communications on the Club website, Men’s players Callum Wilson and Freddie Potts were joined by Women’s team duo Riko Ueki and Anna Csiki for the signing session at the London Stadium Store. The presence of players from both the Men’s and Women’s set‑ups was highlighted by Club media as an example of West Ham United’s “one club” identity, giving fans a cross‑section of the squads to meet in person.
Fans “young and old” were said to have been “delighted” to spend time in the company of the players, as reported by the Club’s editorial team. Supporters used the opportunity to bring shirts, scarves and other merchandise to be signed while they shopped for Christmas presents, turning routine retail activity into an informal meet‑and‑greet.
How did supporters engage with the players during the event?
As described in the official West Ham United write‑up, the players signed autographs continuously, posed for photos and selfies and engaged in short conversations with those who had waited in line. Many supporters combined the signing queue with browsing the Store’s Christmas range, purchasing Hammers‑branded gifts for friends and family while also securing signatures for themselves or their children.
The Club’s report emphasised that the event drew a varied demographic, from very young fans experiencing their first in‑person interaction with first‑team players, to longer‑standing supporters and families looking to make the most of the Christmas period around the London Stadium. The mood throughout the afternoon was characterised as upbeat, with Club staff, players and fans all interacting in a relaxed setting.
Why were Tony Gale and Bobby Seagull present at the London Stadium Store?
West Ham legend Tony Gale and West Ham United Foundation Ambassador Bobby Seagull added further profile and familiarity to the event. As reported by the West Ham United media team in its coverage, both were “on hand” inside the Store to help fans shop and pick out Hammers‑themed gifts.
Tony Gale, a well‑known former player and regular Club figure, was presented in the Club’s article as a link between West Ham United’s history and current squads, engaging with supporters and lending his experience to the community‑focused afternoon. Bobby Seagull, widely recognised as a broadcaster, teacher and Foundation Ambassador, brought the Foundation’s community‑education message into the retail environment.
How did their presence contribute to the atmosphere?
According to the official Club account of the event, Gale and Seagull interacted freely with fans, discussed potential purchases and recommended merchandise, effectively serving as informal hosts alongside Store staff. Their involvement was described as helping supporters “pick out the perfect Hammers themed gift”, adding a personalised, advisory element to the event.
This support from familiar West Ham figures contributed to what the Club’s write‑up described as a “great sense of community spirit in the air”. Their role bridged the gap between the Club’s commercial operation, its fanbase and its community outreach objectives, reinforcing the idea that the signing session formed part of something wider than a simple retail promotion.
What is Irons Supporting Foodbanks and how did it feature at the Store?
As highlighted by West Ham United’s official media report, the signing session prominently featured Irons Supporting Foodbanks, which had a dedicated station inside the London Stadium Store. This allowed fans attending the event to donate food items that will be distributed to foodbanks across Newham and east London, with the express aim of helping those who need support over Christmas.
Irons Supporting Foodbanks is described in the Club’s coverage as an organisation that supplies seven distribution centres across the borough. These centres operate seven days a week, handing out several hundred three‑day emergency food packs each month to families experiencing food insecurity.
How significant is the food donation element at this time of year?
The official West Ham United article positioned the foodbank collection as a core part of the event’s purpose, not an add‑on. The timing is notable: demand for foodbanks often increases in the run‑up to Christmas, as household costs rise and pressures on low‑income families intensify. By hosting Irons Supporting Foodbanks at a high‑footfall, festive event, the Club used fan enthusiasm around Christmas to channel practical support into local communities.
Supporters attending were encouraged to bring non‑perishable food items to the Store. While exact quantities collected were not detailed in the official report, the emphasis on the scale of Irons Supporting Foodbanks’ existing work — operating seven days a week and distributing several hundred emergency packs monthly — underscored the real‑world impact of any additional donations made during the session.
How did Riko Ueki describe the experience of the signing session?
Speaking after the event, West Ham United Women’s forward Riko Ueki reflected positively on her interaction with supporters. As reported by West Ham United’s in‑house media on the Club website, Ueki said:
“It was really fun to meet all the fans today and get into the Christmas spirit. There were so many people here which was amazing to see, it’s great to be able to put smiles on all the fans’ faces before they celebrate Christmas. They always give us great support, so it’s nice to meet them and appreciate them.”
Her remarks, quoted in full by the Club, framed the session as an opportunity not only for fans to meet players, but for players to show gratitude in return. Ueki’s reference to “so many people” attending underlined the level of interest in the Women’s team and in the Club’s festive activities more broadly.
Why are comments from Women’s team players important in this context?
The decision to include Ueki’s comments prominently in the official coverage reflects West Ham United’s emphasis on giving equal visibility to the Women’s team in Club‑wide community initiatives. By highlighting her appreciation of fan support and the chance to “put smiles on all the fans’ faces”, the Club’s report positioned women’s football as integral to its identity and its local engagement, rather than as a separate or secondary element.
Her remarks also reinforce the two‑way nature of the relationship described by the Club: fans provide vocal and visible backing throughout the season, and players, in turn, use events like this to show recognition and thanks.
How did Freddie Potts link the event to the Club’s community responsibilities?
Men’s First Team midfielder Freddie Potts used his post‑event comments to highlight the importance of reciprocity between the Club and its supporters. Quoted by the official West Ham United media team, Potts said:
“The fans and the community give so much for us, so it’s important that as players and as a Club, we can give something back to them, so today has been a great opportunity to do that.”
His statement positioned the signing session as part of a broader commitment, rather than an isolated engagement. By explicitly mentioning both “fans and the community”, Potts framed West Ham United as embedded in the local area, with obligations that extend beyond the stadium and matchdays.
What does his statement suggest about the purpose of such events?
Potts’ remarks, as carried verbatim in the Club’s coverage, suggest that West Ham United views these public appearances as a means to balance the strong backing it receives with tangible acts of goodwill. The phrase “give something back” aligns with the charitable and community‑focused components of the day, including the foodbank collection and the Foundation‑led activities.
The Club’s editorial framing of his quote linked directly to the ‘United at Christmas’ campaign, implying that this event is one of several opportunities being created for players and staff to respond practically to community needs during a period when many households experience additional pressures.
How did the Club describe its ‘United at Christmas’ campaign?
The London Stadium Store signing sits within a broader seasonal initiative branded ‘United at Christmas’. According to the official West Ham United report,
“The latest event is part of West Ham’s ‘United at Christmas’ campaign, which will see a wide range of activity take place across the Club and the local community.”
The Club outlined the campaign as an umbrella for multiple strands of activity involving players, staff and the West Ham United Foundation. The stated aim is to support local residents and vulnerable groups while also connecting more closely with fans during the festive period.
What specific community activities are planned under the campaign?
As reported by the Club’s editorial team, the ‘United at Christmas’ campaign will include:
- Visits to local hospitals, bringing players and staff into contact with patients and healthcare workers in the run‑up to Christmas.
- Visits to local schools, expected to involve player appearances, educational sessions or festive events with pupils.
- Expanded activity through the West Ham United Foundation, the Club’s charitable arm.
One of the flagship Foundation initiatives mentioned is the Night Shelter, which
“will see The Foundry open its doors to support the homeless for a week in the run‑up to Christmas.”
The Foundry, a key community facility linked to the Foundation, will host individuals experiencing homelessness, offering shelter and support at a time of year when cold weather and isolation can be particularly severe.
The official West Ham United article further stated that there will be
“a wide range of other community led moments which will be shared across the Club’s digital channels.”
While full details of all of these activities were not itemised, the commitment to documenting them online indicates an intention to keep supporters informed about the Club’s off‑pitch work and to encourage wider awareness of local issues.
In what ways did the signing session go beyond a standard retail promotion?
Based on the information provided via the official West Ham United media report, the London Stadium Store signing session combined commercial, fan‑engagement and charitable elements. While the setting was a Club retail outlet during the busy pre‑Christmas shopping period, the presence of Irons Supporting Foodbanks, the involvement of the West Ham United Foundation and the linkage to ‘United at Christmas’ all gave the event a broader social dimension.
The quotes from Riko Ueki and Freddie Potts, as carried by the Club, emphasised appreciation of fans and a sense of responsibility towards the wider community. Tony Gale and Bobby Seagull’s roles pointed to a deliberate effort to bring together different parts of the West Ham United family — current players, former players, ambassadors, staff and supporters — under a single festive theme.
What message did the Club send about its priorities during the festive season?
Through its coverage of the event and the detailed description of associated initiatives, West Ham United used the signing session to project an image of a Club that is mindful of its place in Newham and east London. The prominent mention of foodbanks, homeless support and visits to hospitals and schools underscored an awareness that Christmas can be a challenging time for many local residents.
By committing, in its official reporting, to share further “community led moments” across digital channels, the Club signalled an intention not only to carry out these activities but also to keep them visible to its fanbase and the wider public. In doing so, West Ham United positioned the festive signing session as a key early expression of a campaign that seeks to marry Christmas cheer with practical support and year‑round community engagement.
