West Ham United favourite Jack Collison joined fans at COSM in Los Angeles to meet fans for this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
COSM is an immersive sports and entertainment venue that uses shared reality technology to transport fans into live events. The venue based in Hollywood Park became the home of the LA Hammers, one of the Club’s Official Supporters Groups, as plenty in Claret and Blue packed into the unique venue.
Despite an early start for the 7am Pacific Time kick-off, the LA Hammers were in for a treat as Collison was on hand to give plenty of gifts to fans, whilst sharing memories and stories from his playing career, including his involvement the Club’s memorable Championship Play-Off final victory in 2012.
Collison met with fans, signed plenty of autographs and posed for selfies, on an occasion that will long in the memory for the fans in attendance in LA. The former midfielder also signed and presented a home shirt with 'LA Hammers' proudly printed on the back, as a token of the Supporters' Club’s appreciation for their support.
This latest activation comes fresh off the back of the recent Premier League Summer Series tour which saw The Hammers meet fans in New Jersey, Chicago and Atlanta as part of the Club’s pre-season preparations.
Collison is a fond favourite within the West Ham family, the former midfielder played for the Club 121 times between 2008-14, winning promotion in 2012. The former Hammer is now a Club Ambassador, where he meets fans at events across the USA, alongside his role as a coach at USL League Two club Southern Soccer Academy Kings, based 20 miles north of downtown Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia.
He said: “I have been fortunate to have been in the US for six years, so to see the growth of the sport and West Ham United is really nice. There are fan groups popping up everywhere, so it’s nice for me as an ex-player to have the opportunity to come to these events, but most importantly meet fans.
“They are so passionate about everything, so knowledgeable on our history, to come to this incredible venue to watch the game, was amazing even if the result didn’t go our way. I love hearing the stories of how the fans came to support our Club, how they met one another, it really is the West Ham family in the USA. You can see the love they have for the Club, it’s been a positive day, you can guarantee they’ll be up early to cheers us on against Crystal Palace.
“As a player your career goes so quick, you don’t ever get chance to take stock and review everything, so its really poignant for me to still have love from the West Ham family at these events. I was talking to a fan today and he was telling me about his experiences watching the Championship play-off final in 2012 and Vaz Te’s goal, it’s incredible to hear. To see people unite together in their love for this wonderful football club is great to see.”