“I don’t think that six months could have gone any better, apart from winning the FA Cup,” Ashton recalled. “It was just a fairytale six months. We had great fun and I found it so easy to get integrated into the side. It was no surprise for me that I could play and express myself in some of the games as well as I did and make an impact and score goals. It didn’t feel difficult. It felt easy to join in at what was a really buoyant place to play football.
“For us to go on to the FA Cup quarter-finals, get past Manchester City away, get to the semi-finals and beat Middlesbrough. The semi-final was one of the best days I’ve ever had in football. To be part of that cup final was amazing. I can look back now with a lot of pride but, obviously at the time, it was gutting to not get our hands on the trophy. That would have been an unbelievable end to an incredible season for everybody.
“Hopefully the West Ham fans could be proud of the performance we were giving in the FA Cup final against the reigning European champions. Every West Ham fan loves football and it was so hard to not love the football side of that FA Cup final. It will go down as one of the best in history because of how exciting it was. It was just unfortunate we couldn’t get it over the line because I felt we had deserved the victory.
“It’s lovely to think though that, even though you’ve lost a final, the supporters are still as proud of you as if we had won it because of the display we put on and the way we held ourselves.”
Club London presents ‘Icons’ is selling fast, so don’t miss out on a night in the presence of true West Ham greats.
Standard Admission is priced at just £99, and Kings Row seats are priced at just £199.
VIP packages include premium West Ham United Club London hospitality, kicking-off with a welcome reception and meet-and-greet with legends, a three-course gourmet meal with unlimited drinks, entertainment, an exclusive auction of one-off memorabilia and experiences and a VIP after-party.
VIP Tables are priced at £5,400 for ten guests, or you can enhance your night by sharing a Legend Table with your heroes for £7,500 or £10,200.
Join Dean Ashton at Club London ‘Icons’ this December by securing your place or Table HERE.
All prices are inclusive of VAT. This event is open to supporters aged 18 and over.