In Focus: Noble’s best moments as he bids farewell to the Hammers

Mark Noble bid an emotional farewell to West Ham on Sunday as he played his final home game for the club against Manchester City.

After 18 years and 549 appearances for his boyhood team, ‘Mr West Ham’ was given the send-off he deserved in front of a packed London Stadium.

With the 35-year-old set to retire at the end of the season, we pick out his best moments in claret and blue.

First Hammers goal

In his first West Ham game since returning from a loan spell at Ipswich during the first half of the 2006-07 campaign, Noble notched his first senior goal for the club against Brighton in the FA Cup third round.

Playing alongside Carlos Tevez, the academy graduate was on hand to volley home the Argentine striker’s knock down to open the scoring in a 3-0 win at Upton Park.

Just 19 at the time, Noble’s breakthrough into the first team continued after that moment as he started the campaign’s final 10 Premier League games under Alan Curbishley.

It would prove to be the first goal of many for the Canning Town-born midfielder.

Return to the Premier League

Some difficult times in the following years meant West Ham dropped down to the Championship for the 2011-12 season.

But despite being linked with a move to remain in the Premier League, Noble stayed loyal to the East London club and spearheaded their return back to the promised land at the first time of asking.

Managing eight goals in 45 appearances under Sam Allardyce that campaign, the No16 was one of the division’s standout performers and earned his first Player of the Season award at West Ham.

A dramatic 2-1 play-off final win over Blackpool eventually confirmed the Irons’ promotion back to the Premier League, where they and Noble have stayed since.

Farewell to Upton Park

Possibly one of the few times that could match the emotion of Noble’s final swansong on Sunday was West Ham’s memorable farewell to Upton Park in the 2015-16 season.

Captaining the side for an occasion he will have known the significance of more than most, Noble saw the Hammers bring the curtain down on the ground they called home since 1904 in marvellous style with an epic 3-2 win over Manchester United.

Having fallen 2-1 down with 18 minutes to play, Michail Antonio drew the Irons level before Winston Reid’s winner sent the historic stadium into pandemonium.

And tasked with making a speech to the fans after the game, the skipper emphasised just how important the club and its supporters were to him.

Noble said: “That was the best atmosphere I’ve ever played a game in in my life, by far. I’ve got a lot of my family up there in the corner, my children and my wife.

“When I say my family, every West Ham fan is my family. Thank you and we will see you next season.”

Leicester wonder strike

Of Noble’s 62 goals for the club, you will be hard-pressed to find a better one than his stunner against Leicester during the 2017-18 season.

Another season spent flirting with relegation meant West Ham were far from safe ahead of their trip to the King Power Stadium in May 2018.

But after Joao Mario had opened the scoring in the first half, Noble made sure of the victory 19 minutes into the second half with a simply sensational long-range volley.

A free-kick into the box was headed clear into the path of Noble, whose technique was perfect to fire home a rasping first-time effort into the far corner from some 25 yards out.

The win would ensure David Moyes’ men were safe from relegation with two games of the Premier League season to spare.

European adventure

Given West Ham have seen their fair share of struggles while Noble has been at the club, it is hard to think of a better season for him to sign off after than the current one.

The East Londoners have enjoyed their maiden Europa League campaign this term, with their club captain with them every step of the way as they reached the semi-final of the competition.

While he was denied the fairytale ending of lifting the trophy for his beloved Hammers, aggregate wins over the likes of Sevilla and Lyon mean it will live long in the memory.

Having featured in every group game as well as those victories, he has ensured what is a significant chapter for the club is also the final one of his glittering career.

While he has played his final home match as a West Ham player, Noble will get one final run-out at the London Stadium during Soccer Aid for UNICEF on June 12.