Key Points
- West Ham United Women are hosting an exclusive supporter meet-and-greet session with forward Riko Ueki on Sunday.
- The event takes place from 12:30pm to 1:15pm in the Ted Hardy Suite at Victoria Road, ahead of the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) fixture against Chelsea.
- Access is granted exclusively to match ticket holders upon presenting proof of purchase.
- Supporters are invited to bring club memorabilia, including shirts and matchday programmes, for photographs and autographs.
- The fixture coincides with the men’s international break, offering fans an opportunity to support the women’s team in east London.
Dagenham (East London Times) October 3, 2026 — West Ham United have confirmed that supporters will be granted an exclusive opportunity to meet Japan international forward Riko Ueki prior to the club’s upcoming Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Chelsea at Victoria Road on Sunday.
The special meet-and-greet event is scheduled to take place between 12:30pm and 1:15pm in the Ted Hardy Suite, situated inside the Dagenham & Redbridge Clubhouse at Victoria Road. During this 45-minute window, the 25-year-old attacker will be available to engage with fans, pose for individual photographs, and sign personal autographs.
Who Is Eligible To Attend The Fan Event At Victoria Road?
Entry to the Ted Hardy Suite for the session is strictly reserved for valid match ticket holders. Supporters wishing to participate in the event must present valid proof of their match ticket upon arrival at the clubhouse venue.
The club has advised attending supporters to bring along personal West Ham United merchandise, such as official replica shirts, matchday programmes, and other memorabilia, for Ueki to sign during the designated period. Match tickets for the London derby against Chelsea remain available for purchase via the official club ticketing channels prior to kick-off.
Why Is This Weekend An Ideal Opportunity For Supporters To Attend?
The fixture arrives during a scheduled men’s international break, meaning the West Ham United men’s senior squad is not in action this weekend. Consequently, the club is encouraging the broader fanbase to direct their full support toward Rehanne Skinner’s side as they prepare to host reigning WSL champions Chelsea in east London.
Supporters planning to attend are advised to arrive early at Victoria Road to clear venue security checks, access the Ted Hardy Suite within the operational timeframe, and secure their seats ahead of the afternoon’s derby match.
Background Of West Ham United Women And Riko Ueki’s Arrival
West Ham United Women have continually sought to deepen engagement with their fanbase through dedicated matchday interactions and community-focused events at their home ground, Victoria Road in Dagenham. Moving matchday activations to accessible spaces like the Dagenham & Redbridge Clubhouse has formed a core part of the club’s fan integration strategy in recent seasons.
Riko Ueki joined West Ham United in the summer of 2023 from Japanese Nadeshiko League side Tokyo Verdy Beleza. An established international for the Japan women’s national team, Ueki made an immediate impact in east London, becoming a primary focal point in the Hammers’ attacking line. Her work rate, physical presence, and key goal scoring contributions have made her a focal figure for the club in the Barclays Women’s Super League, as well as a popular figure among the West Ham United support base.
The visit of Chelsea represents one of the highest-profile domestic fixtures on West Ham United’s calendar. Confronting local rivals and perennial league title contenders, the club routinely utilizes such high-visibility fixtures to maximize crowd turnouts and promote women’s football across the local borough of Barking and Dagenham and the wider east London area.
Prediction: How Will This Development Affect West Ham Supporters And Matchday Operations?
This event is set to have a direct, positive impact on matchday supporters, local event logistics, and overall venue attendance on Sunday.
For attending fans, particularly young supporters and families, the meet-and-greet provides direct, low-barrier access to one of the club’s key international stars. Restricting entry strictly to ticket holders creates an added tangible value for ticket purchases, which is likely to encourage late ticket uptake among undecided supporters seeking a fuller matchday experience.
Logistically, opening the Ted Hardy Suite from 12:30pm will encourage supporters to arrive at Victoria Road well ahead of the standard pre-match rush. This early distribution of spectator arrivals will likely ease queue times at turnstiles and concessions, leading to smoother venue entry operations leading up to kick-off.
Furthermore, leveraging the men’s international break provides a natural window to capture casual or men’s-team-focused supporters who are seeking live football during the hiatus. A well-attended fan activation paired with a high-profile London derby against Chelsea is calculated to improve long-term fan retention and sustain higher average attendances for West Ham United Women throughout the remainder of the WSL campaign.
